Today & Tmrw (2026) Review – The Foundation Your First Love Sets
Today & Tmrw explores identity in a way that is tender and fragile between two teenagers, but while imperfect today, there is enough effort to keep trying tomorrow.
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“Today & Tmrw” Film Details
- Director(s): Mariales Diaz
- Writer(s): Mariales Diaz
- Runtime: 12 Minutes
- Film Festival – NewFest 2026 [More Coverage Of The 2026 Film Festival]): October 22, 2026
- Tagged As: Drama, Romance, Young Adult, LGBT+
Movie Summary
It’s been a while since Mariah saw Kim, but they get texted out of the blue. This leads to them hanging out, and the awkwardness implies both know something is there but don’t know if it might evolve into anything.
Character Descriptions
Please note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member.
Kim (Imani Lewis)
Mariah (b)
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
The Intimacy [87/100]
Exploration is underrated when it comes to intimacy shown on screen. Too often it is about lust that burns out quickly, not the effort to learn someone’s body as you took the time to understand their mind. Even in terms of just stripping off clothes, there is something about that in Today & Tmrw which can feel less sexual and more like asking for vulnerability or offering it.
Truly, the short reminds you not to be in a rush, and I wouldn’t say, at its heart, it is pushing for more foreplay, but certainly taking your time.
Teen Identity Struggles [85/100]
While love is love, and in New York City there is the assumption it is easier to be with who you have feelings for, Today & Tmrw reminds you that isn’t always the case. Yes, you can find someone you like or could love, but the transition from that being something private, intimate, and loving, to you coming out socially can be a challenge.
Take note, Mariah and Kim are teenagers, so sexuality is but one of many things they are trying to figure out when it comes to their identity. Mariah, for example, wears a binder. That doesn’t necessarily mean they are trans, but they could be non-binary. Maybe they simply don’t like to look feminine but do enjoy being a girl?
Just because Kim is the one shown to be struggling a bit more, due to the short’s focus on her relationship with Mariah, doesn’t mean Mariah doesn’t have their own thing going on. Both just might be at different points when it comes to how they define themselves and what they choose to present to the world as their identity at that time.
Overall
Our Rating (86/100): Positive (Worth Seeing) – Recommended
While Mariah and Kim’s relationship might be complicated, it doesn’t feel dramatic. Because of that, you want to see Mariah have patience, and Kim have courage. For while they may only be each other’s first love, perhaps not each other’s forever love, you can see them setting a beautiful precedent for each other.
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