The Davis Humanities Institute Presents “The Tallest Dwarf” Documentary Screening and Q&A with the Filmmaker

“The Tallest Dwarf” charts filmmaker and UC Davis Professor of Cinema and Digital Media Julie Wyman’s quest to find her place within the little people (LP) community at a moment when dwarf identity is poised to radically change. The feature-length documentary premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) in 2025 and will make its campus debut on April 8, 2026, followed by a conversation between the filmmaker and Mark Povinelli, an actor, lead participant in the film and former president of Little People of America. Reception and musical interlude by UCD music students to follow.

“A beautiful manifesto that shows the power of body acceptance.” (Forbes)

The Davis Humanities Institute (DHI) fosters research and collaborations within and beyond the humanities and arts, empowering scholars, students and communities to engage with the most pressing global and local challenges. Bringing scholars and artists together on stage, this screening of “The Tallest Dwarf” and conversation between Wyman and Povinelli will be an opportunity to see this mission in action.

Come celebrate the relaunch of the DHI and get a preview of what’s to come for the Institute!