The Toronto arts scene has long been a community for queer creatives. For J Stevens and Breton Lalama, Really Happy Someday tells a story about the intersection between identity and the arts.

Directed by Stevens, who co-wrote the film with Lalama, Really Happy Someday follows Z (Lalama), a rising musical theatre star in Toronto undergoing his gender transition. Though Z begins to feel comfortable in his body one year into taking testosterone, he finds that he has lost all control of his voice. While battling these circumstances, Z’s long-term partner, Danielle, feels out of touch with the person she once loved. Wandering through the city lost and fearful of his future, Z meets Santi, who encourages him to fight for his passion. 

Making its hometown debut at TIFF 2024, Stevens and Lalama say they feel proud to have their work shown on screen in Toronto. “Everything about this film brought me into the world of the Toronto arts community,” Stevens says. “It completely changed everything for me and made me feel comfortable in a way I never imagined feeling,” Lalama adds.

Shot over the course of a year, Z’s journey in the film mirrors Lalama’s real-life transition. “Obviously, we drew from our lives but it is all scripted,” he begins. “It is a fictional story that is not my exact experience or J’s, but being in this state of puberty was hard.”

Really Happy Someday beautifully captures the vulnerability of this experience, with an authentic performance from Lalama throughout. Though Stevens had a clear vision for the narrative of the film, they left space for change as Lalama’s transition progressed. “I’m grateful for Breton being so present and so open,” Stevens reiterates. 

Last year, Stevens launched the Spindle Films Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports emerging transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse Canadian filmmakers. Stevens says they hope to keep this momentum going and continue to welcome gender-diverse folk to the industry. Lalama says he sees a bright future for the trans community, looking up to filmmakers like Luis DeFilippis and Joseph Amenta, who made their directorial debuts at TIFF 2022. Both Stevens and Lalama want the future generation of trans filmmakers to keep creating and sharing their work with the world.

 “Your stories are valid, necessary and integral. Keep making the art that you’re making because we need it.”