Girls State (2024)

January 18, 2024 (US) • Documentary • 95m

Overview

What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? In this documentary, young female leaders from wildly different backgrounds in Missouri navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up.

Directors

Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine

Writer

—

Top Billed

Faith Glasgow

Keywords

affectation biting democracy social documentary questioning meditative vexed usa politics candid grim thoughtful unassuming satirical reflective ironic complex political documentary social democracy social experiment political introspective documentary intimate provocative factual direct understated furious critical assertive audacious bold commanding compassionate complicated defiant dignified disheartening distressing earnest empathetic enthusiastic exuberant informative instructive modest powerful sincere

Where to watch

Free / Included

Apple TV

Apple TV Amazon Channel

Top Billed Cast

Faith Glasgow

Self

Cecilia Bartin

Self

Nisha Murali

Self

Brooke Taylor

Self

Emily Worthmore

Self

Maddie Rowan

Self

Tochi Ihekona

Self

Crew

Jesse Moss

Director

Amanda McBaine

Director

Amanda McBaine

Producer

Jesse Moss

Producer

Davis Guggenheim

Executive Producer

Nicole Stott

Executive Producer

Jonathan Silberberg

Executive Producer

Laurene Powell Jobs

Executive Producer

Amy Foote

Editor

Aurora Brachman

Co-Producer

Khaula Malik

Co-Producer

Erynn Patrick Lamont

Director of Photography

Keri Oberly

Director of Photography

Laela Kilbourn

Director of Photography

Laura Hudock

Director of Photography

Martina Radwan

Director of Photography

Thorsten Thielow

Director of Photography

Pax Wassermann

Consulting Editor

Sarah Haas

Line Producer

Natasha Duprey

Music Supervisor

Collection

Boys / Girls State Collection

Boys State

Girls State

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

April 4, 2025

Now more relevant than ever, “Girls State” is an inspiring documentary that shines a light on the future of American democracy through the eyes of ambitious, intelligent, and passionate young women.

This political coming-of-age film (a companion piece to 2020’s “Boys State”) follows 500 high school girls from Missouri as they gather for a week-long democratic experiment where they create a government from scratch. What emerges is an empowering look at how femininity and leadership intertwine, as these young women demonstrate the drive, intelligence, and ambition needed to shape the world.

The documentary captures a diverse group of teenage girls who are well-spoken and articulate, engaging in meaningful discussions about governance, policy, and the issues that matter most to them. Their passion for politics and their vision for the future are inspiring, offering hope for a generation of leaders ready to tackle the world’s problems head-on. Co-directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss take care to center their focus on a handful of participants, allowing an intimate glimpse into how the program transforms these young women.

One of the most interesting aspects here is the documentary’s exploration of the systemic inequalities that emerge between the Girls and Boys State programs, both of which are being hosted on the same campus for the first time. This shared setting naturally invites comparisons between the two, with the program for boys often receiving more attention and being taken more seriously as a venue for meaningful political discourse. The film doesn’t shy away from these disparities, subtly highlighting the gendered expectations that still persist in the world of politics.

What truly stands out is the way these young women embrace the ideas of cooperation and collaboration. Watching them navigate the challenges of building a government from the ground up while forming bonds and sharing their diverse perspectives is quite uplifting. Their willingness to engage with one another, even across ideological divides, offers a refreshing vision of what leadership can look like (and something our country so desperately needs at the moment).

“Girls State” is a well-made documentary that celebrates the potential of young women to change the world. It’s a film that leaves you hopeful for the future, as these teenage girls exhibit the determination and vision to reach extraordinary heights. They are, without a doubt, the future leaders we need.

By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS

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Girls State (2024)

Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine

—

Where to watch

Top Billed Cast

Crew

Collection

Boys / Girls State Collection

Boys State

Girls State

Reviews

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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Status

Original Language

Budget

Revenue

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