An American Girl: Saige Paints the Sky 2013

Saige Copeland Sidney Fullmer begins her fourth-grade year in Albuquerque, New Mexico, carrying a pocketful of art and a stubborn belief that color can brighten any day. The school’s budget cuts, however, have scrapped the art class and replaced it with more music, leaving Saige’s sketchbook feeling suddenly out of place and her friendships feeling uncertain. Her best friend Tessa Jablonsky [Alexandra Peters]—a bright, aspiring musician—has grown closer to Dylan Patterson [Mika Abdalla] since summer camp, which stirs a quiet ache of jealousy in Saige. A spark of hope arrives with a new classmate, Gabi Pena [Alana Gordillo], who shares Saige’s love of drawing and quickly becomes a confidante. To navigate the shift, Saige talks to Mimi Copeland [Jane Seymour], her grandmother, who suggests turning frustration into a school-wide protest, while Saige also tries to rebuild her connection with Tessa.

Mimi’s encouragement comes with a hard reality: the challenges aren’t just school politics. When Mimi trips over Saige’s dog Rembrandt and ends up hospitalized with a broken leg and wrist, she uses the moment to urge Saige to persevere. At the hospital, the idea of a protest grows into a more organized plan. Saige announces a campaign named A Day of Beige, born from the hospital visit, with Dylan proposing a press conference to bring more attention because her mother works as a news reporter. Saige agrees, though reluctance tugs at her as she rehearses the idea of standing before reporters.

Back at the school, the principal, Principal Laird, explains the bitter news: there are no funds left to hire an art teacher, and they would need to raise $5,000 in six weeks to bring art back for the year. Mimi suggests a fund drive at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and she asks Saige to lead the parade in her place because of the looming time constraint. Saige worries about stage fright, even with the reassurance of her family and trainer Luis [Omar Paz Trujillo]. The four girls—Saige, Tessa, Dylan, and Gabi—try a variety of odd jobs to raise money, but results are mixed. Dylan suggests a concert at the fiesta as a way to split the funds between art and music, a plan that leaves Saige unsure about a shared future of painting and performance.

On the ranch, Saige works with her horse Picasso, attempting a practice ride for the parade. Concentration is hard, and Saige worries that the attention Dylan and Tessa’s plan is drawing away from her own efforts. A second try, however, brings a breakthrough as Saige and Picasso manage a confident gait. At Mimi’s ranch, a bond grows between Saige and Gabi, and a mishap occurs when Rembrandt knocks over Saige’s painting, sparking a new idea about turning mishaps into something meaningful.

At school, Saige and Gabi propose a joint fundraising effort, but Dylan and Tessa have already carved out their plan, sparking tension. Saige confronts the conflict, insisting that the Tessa she knows would support collaboration, not competition, and accuses Dylan of stealing the spotlight. Tessa recoils, and the two drift apart, leaving Saige frustrated and frightened that the fiesta could fail. Saige tries to recruit Mimi to participate more directly, but Mimi worries about her own limits, admitting that the situation is tougher than Saige lets on. The moment is heavy, and Saige runs off in distress. A practice session ends with Saige’s emotions spilling over as her parents and Gabi arrive, but she can’t go on.

During a hot air balloon ride, Saige’s father David Copeland [Kerr Smith] offers quiet guidance about how change can be painful but also offer new possibilities. The reassurance helps, and Saige begins to see a path forward. She reconciles with Gabi and apologizes to Mimi, then returns to Mimi’s studio where she paints over her horse painting with a painting knife, transforming it into an abstract piece that mirrors her evolving feelings. Tessa arrives, and both girls acknowledge their mistakes, choosing to work together for the fiesta. Saige also mends fences with Dylan, who apologizes for stepping ahead of Saige’s project.

With the Balloon Fiesta underway, Saige leads the parade, initially nervous yet gradually finding her rhythm as she moves from doubt to courage. The four girls stage a joint fundraising art exhibit and concert, merging art and music in a shared celebration of creativity. The goal remains $5,000, and Saige delivers a heartfelt speech about how important art is to her and to others, tapping into the generosity of the community to push the total higher. The donations finally surpass the target, and the art program is reinstated.

The film wraps with a memorable finale at the hot air balloon show: Saige, Tessa, Gabi, and Dylan ride a single, collaboratively designed balloon—an emblem of their hard-won friendship and the renewed belief that art and music can coexist harmoniously. The story closes on a hopeful note, with the four friends stronger than ever, each growth-driven by the shared dream that art matters in school and in life.