Autumn is an enterprising college scholarship recipient and burgeoning TikTok influencer. Part of a close circle of friends growing up poor in rural Louisiana, she is determined to overcome the struggles and barriers defining them. Faced with limited minimum wage job options, Autumn devises an online sugar baby operation.

The key to her business strategy: no sugar — just talking, flirting, and sharing photos and videos to get what she wants from her followers, all without meeting the men who give her money. Autumn refuses to be defined by her economic status, using this online enterprise to reclaim control and assert power.

Director Rachel Fleit, known for her nuanced exploration of identity and belonging through female protagonists, skillfully and empathetically illuminates Autumn’s life and tight-knit community while drawing attention to pervasive economic challenges across the country. Sugar Babies stands out for its intimate, judgment-free portrayal of an impressively self-aware and ambitious young woman. Fleit’s film is both deeply personal and broadly resonant, offering a poignant commentary on poverty and dignity in modern America.—Ania Trzebiatowska

Available in person. Also available online for the public (January 30–February 2) and credentialed press and industry (January 29–February 2).

This film contains strobe effects.