Otherly is a series of seven short documentaries about belonging made for Instagram Stories.
Otherly is a co-production between the National Film Board of Canada and PBS' POV Spark. Premiering on Instagram Stories, Otherly is a series of seven short documentaries about finding one’s place in the 21st century. Using universal themes like love, inclusion, and loss as entry points, seven female, non-binary, and genderqueer creators have crafted films that are at once timeless and yet by definition of their form, ephemeral.
The stories range from family relationships to exploring LGBTQIA+ identities to a search for freedom and independence. During this time of enforced social distancing, it’s especially poignant that the films were created for Instagram, one of the few spaces in which we’re able to stay connected.
Watch Otherly series now on Instgaram at @otherlyseries
Watch select Otherly shorts now on PBS – POV Shorts
For more information, check out NFB's page about the series and Media Press Kit
For engagement resources and lesson plans, visit AmDoc's page about the series
Winner
THE DIGITAL DOZEN: BREAKTHROUGHS IN STORYTELLING AWARDS (2021)
Nomination
Social – General Social, Art & Culture
THE WEBBY AWARDS (2022)
Documentaries
Akmyrat served as the interactive producer at POV Spark, the interactive arm of the PBS documentary series POV, and co-produced the Otherly series as a whole, as well as three short documentaries in the series:
Elaine is Almost, Integrate.Me and FaceTime.
The documentaries premiered on Instagram Stories from March 15 - April 2, 2021. All of the films can now be viewed in Instagram Highlights at @otherlyseries.
Elaine Is Almost explores the unconditional love between siblings as they each navigate their place in the world. Directed by Em Yue.
Watch Elaine is Almost in Highlights of @OtherlySeries on Instagram Stories
Integrate.Me explores the use of an experimental therapy to treat Tristan’s PTSD, as they learn to navigate being queer and trans. Directed by Tristan Angieri.
Watch Integrate.Me in Highlights of @Otherly Series on Instagram Stories
FaceTime follows Andy and Farrah as they navigate their individual identities, chosen family, and relationship as bi-coastal siblings. FaceTime consists of five episodes. Directed by Jackie! Zhou.
Watch all five episodes of FaceTime in Highlights of @OtherlySeries on Instagram Stories
Otherly Series is a co-production of the NFB and POV Spark.
The POV Spark production team:
Producer: Akmyrat Tuyliyev
Associate Producer: Aja Evans
Executive Producer: Opeyemi Olukemi
The NFB’s production team:
Producer: David Oppenheim
Associate Producer: Kate Vollum
Executive Producer: Anita Lee
Website Design
Akmyrat was the creative producer for the Otherly website, managing the creation of the site and leading its design. The website served as a call for submissions for Otherly, seeking proposals for boundary-pushing Instagram Stories on the theme of “belonging” by visionary women, non-binary, and/or genderqueer storytellers from Canada and the United States.
Through the website, Otherly received 169 applications from a diverse group of people with a variety of backgrounds including filmmaking, animation, policy and research and podcasting.
Web design for a browser:
Web design for a tablet:
Web design for a mobile phone:
