"I want you to toughen up. Be a man. 'Cause I ain't raised any girls. You understand?" Award-winning young filmmaker Matthew Jones returns with another powerful urban drama. In Be the Man, 17-year-old Damien never realized that the only man he's ever looked up to might not be the best example of what it means to be a man. Damien's verbally abusive father has taught him to be strong, but that tough shell means trouble when Damien starts to treat his girlfriend the same way he's seen his parents interact. Be the Man dramatically explores a young man's coming of age in a harsh, sometimes cruel world. 18-year-old writer/director Matthew Jones follows up his internationally-acclaimed short film Distracted with this impressive and bold drama. Be the Man boasts high production value due to the work of an incredibly talented crew led by producer Joshua Sikora, while cinematographer Peter Borrud provides striking images in the film's gritty, real-world environments. The film's impressive cast is led by Deance Wyatt and Giovonnie Samuels—co-stars of Paramount Pictures upcoming Freedom Writers, with Hilary Swank. They are joined by short film veteran Morocco Omari, whose award-winning production, The Male Groupie, is currently playing on HBO.