Becoming Taylor
World Premiere at Oak Cliff Film Festival
A short documentary by Dallas filmmaker Rahim Handy following Taylor’s journey through survival, mentorship, boxing, and the process of becoming.
ABOUT THE FILM
Becoming Taylor is a character-driven short documentary by Dallas filmmaker Rahim Handy. The film follows Taylor, a young survivor working through childhood separation, family instability, and the pressure of being labeled at-risk. Through boxing, mentorship, and community support, Taylor begins to reclaim her identity and imagine a different future for herself. A major part of the film centers Candace Fleming’s Families of Conviction / SuperSeed program, which creates opportunities for youth to be exposed to positive environments, mentorship, discipline, and new possibilities. The film presents Taylor not as a statistic, but as a young woman in the process of becoming.
The documentary also features Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf and world champion boxer Claressa Shields, connecting Taylor’s personal journey to a broader legacy of Black women in boxing, mentorship, resilience, and self-definition.
FILM DETAILS
Title: Becoming Taylor
Director: Rahim Handy
Production Company: Clear Motion Films
Runtime: 11 minutes
Year: 2026
Genre: Documentary Short
Language: English
Country: United States
Festival Status: World Premiere — Oak Cliff Film Festival
Screening: Documentary Shorts Block 1
Date: Friday, July 31, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM CDT
Venue: The Kessler Theater
PRESS RELEASE
Dallas Filmmaker Rahim Handy’s Becoming Taylor to World Premiere at Oak Cliff Film Festival
Short documentary spotlights Taylor’s survival, Families of Conviction’s SuperSeed mentorship work, boxing, and the power of positive exposure for youth.
Dallas, Texas — Becoming Taylor, a short documentary by Dallas filmmaker Rahim Handy, will have its World Premiere at the 2026 Oak Cliff Film Festival. The film will screen as part of Documentary Shorts Block 1 on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 6:30 PM CDT at The Kessler Theater.
Becoming Taylor follows Taylor, a young survivor working through childhood separation, family instability, and the pressure of being labeled at-risk. Through boxing, mentorship, and community support, Taylor begins to reclaim her identity and imagine a different future for herself.
A major part of the film centers Candace Fleming’s Families of Conviction / SuperSeed program, which creates opportunities for youth to be exposed to positive environments, mentorship, discipline, and new possibilities. The film presents Taylor not as a statistic, but as a young woman in the process of becoming.
The documentary also features Shurretta “Chiccn” Metcalf and world champion boxer Claressa Shields, connecting Taylor’s personal journey to a broader legacy of Black women in boxing, mentorship, resilience, and self-definition. Their presence helps show how exposure to strong examples, disciplined spaces, and positive guidance can shape how young people see themselves.
Becoming Taylor was created during Handy’s first year in the MFA Documentary Production and Studies program at the University of North Texas, while he continued his professional work as founder of Clear Motion Films.
“Becoming Taylor is not just about boxing,” said Rahim Handy. “It is about what happens when a young person is seen, supported, mentored, and given access to positive spaces. Taylor’s story is about survival, identity, discipline, and the quiet process of becoming.”
SCREENING DETAILS
Becoming Taylor
World Premiere
Oak Cliff Film Festival
Documentary Shorts Block 1
Friday, July 31, 2026
6:30 PM CDT
The Kessler Theater
Tickets:
https://ocff2026.eventive.org/films/6a1e30a2bdbf3808dd3e09d1
Press Contact:
Rahim Handy
Director, Becoming Taylor
Clear Motion Films
MFA Documentary Production and Studies, University of North Texas
310-908-5811
www.clearmotionfilms.com/becomingtaylor