Give It A Shot

Give It A Shot follows scientists in India and the U.S. developing a new male contraceptive that could revolutionize family planning and improve women’s lives globally.

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Length
90 minutes
Funding Initiative
Diversity Development Fund
Open Call
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Director/Producer

Vaishali Sinha

Vaishali Sinha is the director/producer of award-winning feature documentaries Made in India and Ask the Sexpert. Her films have shown on PBS, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Kanopy. She is an alumna of Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center. And co-founder of the Color Congress supported Bitchitra Collective: Indian Women in Documentary Film.

Other ITVS Films
Ask the Sexpert
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Producer

Hemang Chheda

Hemang Chheda, a seasoned Mumbai producer with 18 years of experience, has produced over 350 commercials and various long form projects, including Netflix India's young adult series Class. He's famed for producing the Cannes Glass Grand Prix-winning Touch the Pickle campaign, a gender equality initiative for P&G's Whisper Sanitary Napkin.

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Co-Producer

Lara Heintz

Lara Heintz is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist known for character-driven stories with a focus on immigration and healthcare. She contributed to the Peabody award-winning series Transnational, and most recently worked on We Are Ayenda, a critically-acclaimed film about the Afghan Youth National Football Team.

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The Film

Give It A Shot tracks the quest to launch the first new male contraceptive since the modern condom was invented in the 17th century, following scientists in both India and the United States. According to the Guttmacher Institute, there are now three methods of birth control for men—condoms, vasectomy, and the withdrawal method—compared with at least 17 options for women. This advancement could revolutionize family planning and profoundly improve women’s lives globally.

Give It A Shot provides a window into this high-stakes scientific and social experiment, from the roster of scientists and developers to the implications on society at large. The film also considers why a change has taken so long in coming when innovation in male contraception has the potential to reframe men’s responsibility around family planning.

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