Film Review: My Type

A short film that premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) earlier this year was shown again on Wednesday night at Centre Stage Theater, accompanied by a panel discussion on early detection of diabetes.

The film, My Type, was produced by sisters Nicole MacNaughton and Kimberly Danek Pinkson, and directed by Daniela Ruah. Nicole was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) in 2025, and the project was inspired by this life-changing event.

The panel speakers included two doctors from the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute: Dr. Swati Elchuri and Dr. Andrew Rhinehart, as well as Kimberly Danek Pinkson. They focused on early detection of T1D and advances in treatment.

My Type was inspired by a true story. The film’s message is embedded in the story of a young man and woman who have begun a relationship online, and are meeting in person for the first time. They both have T1D, resulting in hesitations about embarking on a romantic relationship.

While the film educates audiences about what it is like to live with the disease, it is first and foremost about the courage it takes to find real connection and love and all the messiness of relationships, a theme all audiences can relate to.

The setting for the film is a real treat – viewers will recognize many Santa Barbara sites, including Stearn’s Wharf and several State Street locations.

The filmmakers are planning to develop the short into a feature-length film.

To learn more about the film, go to: https://www.MyType.movie. To learn more about Type 1 Diabetes and early detection, go to https://sansum.org