Mom & Dad's Nipple Factory
courtesy Mom & Dad's Nipple Factory
A still from the documentary "Mom & Dad's Nipple Factory."
A still from the documentary "Mom & Dad's Nipple Factory."
When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, her husband searches for solutions to aid in healing, eventually landing on the development of prosthetic nipples…which turns into a business that the couple attempts to keep hidden from their five kids and Wisconsin community. It’s the story of documentary filmmaker Justinsuperstar’s family, and Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory has been a hit on the festival circuit over the past year, including winning an Audience Award at the 2023 Milwaukee Film Festival. Its Madison premiere will be followed by a discussion by members of Gilda’s Club Madison and film producer Jason Cohen (a UW-Madison alum); a portion of ticket sales benefits Gilda’s.
media release: Award-winning documentary Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory, from Emmy-winning director Justinsuperstar is set for its Madison premiere on February 15, at 7PM at the historic Barrymore Theater. The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with members of Gilda’s Club of Madison and the film’s Academy Award nominated producer, Jason Cohen, a UW-Madison alum.
Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory is a humorous and heartwarming feature documentary that tells the incredible story of filmmaker Justinsuperstar’s Eau Claire-based parents. When mother Randi is diagnosed with breast cancer, her introverted husband Brian, a traditional family man, transforms their modest Midwest home into a secret prosthetic nipple laboratory, an act of love that blossoms into a truly unexpected business, kept hidden from their church, small-town community and five unsuspecting children.
Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory was the opening night film at the 2023 Milwaukee Film Festival where it went on to win the audience award for best feature film, followed by a Best of Fest selection at Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival and stops at multiple other festivals across the country. The documentary has been described as an “absolute delight” (Randy Myers, SF Gate), and “powerful, playful and intensely personal” (Alli Watters, Milwaukee Magazine.) The film recently sold for distribution to Kino Lorber and will be available to stream digitally in the Spring of 2024.
Director Justinsuperstar previously directed the award-winning feature documentary “Double Digits: The Story of a Neighborhood Movie Star” which played numerous festivals and was distributed by Gunpowder & Sky’s FilmBuff. Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory is produced by two time Independent Spirit Award nominee Noah Lang (The Climb) and Academy Award® nominee and UW-Madison alum Jason Cohen (Facing Fear).
“I could not be more excited to return to my roots by screening our film in Madison. This is truly a Wisconsin story!” director Justinsuperstar said in a statement. “This film represents my most personal work and is the most important film I will ever create. Being able to not only show the film publicly but let viewers immerse themselves in my family’s story is humbling and a responsibility I take seriously.”
“I’m so happy to bring “Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory” back to Madison where my career in film was first born as an undergrad,” producer Cohen added. “We make films so that they can be experienced by audiences and we are so happy to partner with Gilda’s Club to screen the film at such an amazing venue like the Barrymore.”
Mom & Dad’s Nipple Factory captures the heart of Brian and Randi's love story, nestled against the backdrop of a conservative community and further honed by the heartbreakingly common struggle of breast cancer. The film delves into the day-to-day of the nipple factory business and the struggles the family faced in trying to keep it hidden from their community, including their long-time pastor.The film takes viewers on a journey through Brian's many offbeat solutions, from a bean-based estrogen-reducing diet to a fat-grafting reconstruction involving medical suction pumps. The documentary is set to be publicly released later this year on VOD platforms.
Gilda's Club Madison uplifts and strengthens people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care. Gilda's Club Madison creates a community of free emotional support, cancer education, and hope for children and adults facing any kind of cancer and those who care for them. All programs are available at no cost.