Surveys show 44% of young LGBTQ+ people feel they can’t come home for the holidays as their true selves, fearing they won’t be accepted. They seek the same thing everyone does: to be surrounded by those who love and welcome them.
This short film, Going Home for the Holidays, developed by Grey, global advertising AOR for Pantene, aims to raise awareness of the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces, celebrate and encourage individual pride in who they are and inspire acceptance and inclusion by the broader community.
The film features a soulful rendition of the iconic song “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles interspersed with scenes of their members on the journey home. It ends with the line “Whenever, wherever, however you come home, coming home should be #BEAUTIFULGBTQ . Pantene.”
Going Home for the Holidays was directed by Madeline Kelly via production house Curfew.
Credits
Client P&G/Pantene Agency Grey New York and Townhouse John Patroulis, chief creative officer; Javier Bonilla, Joe Mongognia, executive creative directors; Arturo Macouzet, creative director; Bryan Burns, associate creative director; Emily Pracher, sr. art director; Keira Rosenthal, executive producer; Kelsey Longo, sr producer; David Lapinsky, VP, music producer; Leland Drake, music producer; Julia Perissinoto, global strategy director; Andrew Pattee, content architect. Production Curfew Madeline Kelly, director; Spencer Dennis, Mark Smith, managing partners; Kathryn Berk, exec producer; Alana Mitnick, line producer; Erik Henriksson, DP. Editorial Cut+Run Stacy Peterson, editor. Postproduction Jogger Mike Tockman, sr. producer; Joseph Grosso, lead Flame artist; Matthew Dolven, Flame artist; Rachel Driver, Flame assist. Music “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” performed by the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles
Stain remover Vanish presents this emotional short film--created by BETC Havas, Sao Paulo, and produced by LOBO--that explores the profound consequences of bullying and highlights the importance of open conversations between parents and children. Titled The Bully Monster, the animated film premiered at the Maquinaria Festival in Rio de Janeiro on February 15 in a special edition featuring family-focused programming.
The film’s protagonist is a boy who experiences bullying at school but keeps silent about his suffering. Isolation turns sadness into insecurity, creating invisible emotional scars that only grow in the absence of dialogue. When his mother notices stains on his uniform, these marks become the starting point for a revealing conversation. As words find space to make themselves heard, the stains begin to fade.
This initiative aligns with the Vanish Saves Your Uniform campaign, which, for the past three years during the back-to-school season, has engaged with parents by positioning the brand as a trusted partner in preserving school uniforms. This year, Vanish decided to broaden the conversation, bringing bullying into the debate as the real stain that can impact a child’s life.
The Bully Monster is being screened as preshow material in movie theaters starting February 20 and will also be available on streaming platforms and digital channels. In addition to the film, the campaign will include out-of-home activations and school initiatives through a partnership with Abrace – Preventive Programs, the founding organization of the “Bullying-Free Schools” program, which has been equipping institutions with resources to combat school violence for 12 years.
“Research indicates that stains on a uniform can... Read More
