The Surrogate

An altruistic decision becomes a moral minefield: Jess Harris, 29, lives a self-determined life as a web designer in Brooklyn. When she decides to become a surrogate mother and egg donor for her best friend Josh and his husband Aaron, everything seems perfect. But when a prenatal test reveals a genetic abnormality in the unborn child, the idealistic convictions of the three begin to falter. While Jess advocates for a self-determined life for the child with disabilities, Josh and Aaron withdraw, emotionally overwhelmed and torn between responsibility and fear of social and financial challenges. Between their ideas of inclusion, parenthood, and ethical responsibility, their friendships begin to crumble. THE SURROGATE is Jeremy Hersh's feature film debut, which was selected for the 2020 South by Southwest Festival. Newcomer Jasmine Batchelor gives a compelling performance in the lead role with nuanced depth and emotional power. The film was nominated for the Gotham Award in the “Breakthrough Actor” category and received recognition for its unflinching yet powerful exploration of complex issues such as disability, reproductive ethics, and liberal identity.