Just Like You Films, Inc.

Just Like You Films, Inc. A nonprofit production company creating a kinder world through the power of film. and worldwide.

Just Like You Films is a nonprofit film company that offers a powerful tool in the fight against bullying. We develop films and materials that educate the local and global communities on how to communicate about difficult subjects, such as childhood cancer, burns, Down syndrome, and autism. JLY Films captures real life stories that teach children how we are more alike than we are different. JLY films have been viewed over 250,00 times on Youtube in 117 countries and are distributed across the U.S. Recently, the Brazilian government authorized a program where JLY - Down Syndrome will be played in every state health care facility in their country servicing 94 million people. We partner with national organizations like the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the National Down Syndrome Society, the Down Syndrome Guild and the Autism Society. In 2013, the United Nations presented our Down Syndrome film to its members in a general session. And, we were honored to receive the 2013 TASH Positive Images in the Media Award, the 2014 NDSC Education Award, The 2014 Kansas City Jewish Film Festival Trailblazer Award, the AMC Cares Award and we were nominated in four categories and won The 2014 Golden Door International Film Festival Raising Awareness Award. In October 2014, with the help of our public television partner, KCPT, we will launch our films on Learn 360, an educational video subscription platform reaching 8 million kids in 25,000 schools in the United States and Canada.

09/10/2026

On world su***de prevention day, we invite you to watch and share our film just like you, anxiety and depression.

Click the link bio to watch on Apple TV.

All proceeds go to supporting Just Like You Films mission of creating a more compassionate and empathetic world through the power storytelling

***depreventionday

RISE & SHINEHere she is. ☀️We are so excited to finally share the official poster for RISE & SHINE, inspired by the rema...
09/09/2026

RISE & SHINE

Here she is. ☀️

We are so excited to finally share the official poster for RISE & SHINE, inspired by the remarkable true story of Terri and Janice Steele.

Starring Ana Sharp in her feature film debut, alongside Rachel Bay Jones and Danny Burstein.

Like Terri, Ana lives with cerebral palsy, bringing her own lived experience to the role at the heart of this funny, joyful and deeply human coming-of-age story.
Terri wants friends. She wants independence. She wants romance.
And she really, really wants to go to Prom.
This is just the beginning.

Stay close. More news is coming very soon.

09/08/2026

Grief can feel easier to hide than to share.

After losing her best friend Sheila, Kelly Pascuzzi spent much of her grief in silence. She was afraid of what it would make her feel and how it might affect the people around her.

But when she began to lean into her grief, something changed.

She let people in. They showed up. They loved her through it.

Grief leaves a missing piece, but it can also reveal the kindness, compassion, and connection that remain.

Kelly chose to put her grief into the upcoming film Just Like you Films Grief, our documentary sharing real stories and lived experiences to remind people around the world that they are not alone.

❤️ Through our Give 9 campaign, you can help us bring this message of hope to more people. Make a tax-deductible gift of $9, $19, $99, $199, or any amount ending in 9.

🎬 Donate through the link http://onecau.se/justlikeyougrief

09/07/2026

What if, instead of trying to move around grief, we learned how to lean into it?

Grief asks to be acknowledged. That might look like talking with someone you trust, writing about what you’re feeling, finding community, or simply giving your grief the words it needs.

Leaning into grief does not make the loss disappear. But it can be an act of self-care and self-compassion.

That is the conversation we hope to deepen through Grief, our new documentary in production.

❤️ Help us bring these stories to more people through our Give 9 campaign. Give $9, $19, $99, $199, or any version of 9 to help create a kinder, more compassionate world for people who are grieving.

🎬 Donate through the link in our bio.

09/07/2026

Grief took Sally to a place she never could have imagined.

After losing her son Matthew, there were days when the weight of that loss felt impossible to carry. But the people around her kept showing up. They stayed, supported her, and made space for her grief, even when it was uncomfortable or frightening.

Today, Sally is choosing to keep leaning into grief, not because it is easy, but because she wants others who are grieving to feel less alone.

That is why we are creating Grief, a new Just Like You Film designed to help us better understand what grief can look like and how we can show up for the people we love.

❤️ You can help us bring these stories to more people through our Give 9 campaign.

Give $9, $19, $29, $99, or any version of 9 that is meaningful to you.

🎬 Donate through the link http://onecau.se/justlikeyougrief

09/05/2026

Sometimes the strongest thing a man can do is say, “I’m not okay.”

For fathers grieving the loss of a child, strength does not have to mean holding everything together. It can mean crying. Saying their child’s name. Asking for help. Admitting when the weight feels too heavy.

Grief is not weakness. Talking about it is not weakness. Asking for support is not weakness.

The pain exists because the love exists.

Through Grief, our new documentary in production, we’re sharing honest stories like this to help change the way we understand grief and show up for the people carrying it. is brotherhood supporting dads through baby and child loss

❤️ You can help us grow these voices through our Give 9 campaign. Give $9, $19, $99, $199, or any version of 9 to help us create a kinder, more compassionate world for people who are grieving.

And today, ask someone about their person. Say their name. Make space for their story.

🎬 Donate through the link in our bio.

(Part 3 of 3) From raising the funds that make the production possible to local businesses donating ice cream on hot sho...
09/04/2026

(Part 3 of 3)

From raising the funds that make the production possible to local businesses donating ice cream on hot shoot days, Kansas City has shown up for this little film with a very big heart.

Kansas City is becoming the Hollywood of the Heartland, and we couldn’t be prouder to have Kansas City natives heidilgardner Gardner and Casey Twenter at the heart of telling this Kansas City story, surrounded by a community helping bring it to life.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, none of this happens without you. Our donors, supporters, and community make it possible for us to tell stories like The Swimming Lesson and bring them to audiences who need to see themselves and others differently.

If this project moves you, we invite you to dive in with us. Click the link to make a tax-deductible donation to Just Like You Films and help us continue bringing stories like this to life. 🏊‍♂️❤️

This is only the beginning. Follow along as we take you behind the scenes of The Swimming Lesson.

KansasCityFilm

(Post 2 of 3) JLYF is equally proud of the extraordinary team bringing this story to life behind the camera, from Twente...
09/04/2026

(Post 2 of 3)

JLYF is equally proud of the extraordinary team bringing this story to life behind the camera, from Twenter and co-writer/producer Robison, to our other producers and executive producers, director of photography Mark Williams, production designer Matthew Holt, and the incredible crew who have poured themselves into this film.

Before production began, we screened our Emmy Award-winning film Just Like You Autism for our director, writers, cast, and crew, creating a shared foundation for understanding Autism and the community we are representing. We also gave our team access to leading Autism experts, creating space to ask questions, listen, and learn.

That commitment has continued throughout production. We have an Autism expert on set advising our team, helping ensure Hudson’s safety and comfort while also helping us protect the authenticity of Albee and his experiences on screen.

This is our Empathy Engine in action.

The impact of a film doesn’t begin when an audience sees the finished product. It begins with the people making it. Our director, writers, actors, and crew have the opportunity to learn directly from the people whose experiences we have been entrusted to represent, and that understanding becomes part of the storytelling itself.

And we’re doing it right here at home.

Jen Greenstreet, Mandi Kearns, and the Just Like You Films team brought their Kansas City relationships and production experience to the film, rallying the local community around the production in ways big and small. Kansas City executive producers Dan Koetting, Pete Clune and Tom Hipp were part of the project from the beginning, while JLYF helped expand that circle of support to include Amy and Grant Davis and Annie and Kevin Timmons. Together, their belief in the film and support helped make this production possible.

(Part 1 of 3)🎬 IN PRODUCTION: THE SWIMMING LESSONFor 20 years, Just Like You Films has believed that storytelling can he...
09/04/2026

(Part 1 of 3)

🎬 IN PRODUCTION: THE SWIMMING LESSON

For 20 years, Just Like You Films has believed that storytelling can help create a kinder, more compassionate world. For quite some time, we’ve been quietly working on a project that represents an exciting new chapter in that work, and we’re finally ready to share more of it with you.

We are incredibly proud to be producing our fifth feature film and second narrative feature, The Swimming Lesson, right here in our hometown of Kansas City, starring Kansas City native Heidi Gardner and William H. Macy.

Co-written by Casey Twenter and Jeff Robison and directed by fellow Kansas City native Twenter, The Swimming Lesson centers on Tay, played by Gardner, a single mother fighting to build a stable life for her Autistic son, Albee, while navigating family, relationships, and a custody battle. The story is deeply personal, inspired by Casey’s own nephew and created as a love letter to him and to Kansas City.

Before saying yes to this film, we shared the script with trusted partners in the Autism community and asked one question:

Would someone be able to say, “If you want to know more about me, watch this movie?”

Their answer was yes. Our board then voted unanimously to move forward.

Central to why Just Like You Films wanted to tell this story is Hudson Escudero, an 8- year-old actor who lives with autism, bringing Albee to life. Hudson brings not only his own lived experience to the role, but a remarkable craft beyond his years. His performance gives Albee an authenticity and humanity that matter deeply to us.

Watching Hudson and Heidi build this mother and son relationship has been extraordinary. Heidi carries the humor, chaos, and heartbreak of Tay with incredible talent, and witnessing her stamina, generosity, and absolute commitment to this film day after day has been inspiring.

Lamorne Morris, Abby Elliott, Michael Strassner and Joey Bicicchi join Gardner and Macy in the cast. Watching artists of this caliber pour their time, talent, and heart into a small, low-budget film because they believe in the story has been incredibly moving.

Back to school means new classrooms, new routines and new people responsible for keeping kids safe. 🍎🎒For families navig...
09/03/2026

Back to school means new classrooms, new routines and new people responsible for keeping kids safe. 🍎🎒

For families navigating life-threatening food allergies, understanding and awareness can make all the difference.

For a limited time, watch May Contain: My Life for 50% off on Just Like You TV and share it with the parents, teachers, school staff and caregivers in your community.

This film goes beyond awareness. It helps people better understand what living with food allergies really looks like and how we can all help create safer, more compassionate spaces for kids.

🎬 Back-to-School Special: 50% OFF
🔗 Click the link to watch.
https://na2.hubs.ly/H07CHP10

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Prairie Village, KS

Telephone

(816) 260-3187

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