Runner up - Saria

This short social issue film is based on the harrowing true story of a tragedy at a Safe Home in Guatemala, where young orphaned girls attempted to escape, only to face a horrific fate. Although brief, the film leaves a powerful impact, leaving viewers yearning for a feature-length version to explore its depth further. Be prepared to cry.

The movie begins by showing the day-to-day lives of these young girls, and even in the wake of the abuse they endured, they speak of hope. The girls’ relationships with each other are what truly drive the plot and tug at the heartstrings. They lift each other up, talk about their dreams and crushes. It’s incredible that despite facing such hardship, they grow numb to it but are not compliant, as they make plans to run away.

They do run, but with nowhere to go, they get caught and sent back to the orphanage. Locked in a room, a fire starts with no escape. In the 2017 Guatemala orphanage fire at the Virgen de La Asunción Safe Home, 41 teens lost their lives. Director Bryan Buckley brings us the story of why this happened and the neglect the girls faced. It’s a real-life event that deserves more attention, with 15 survivors left to tell their stories—hopefully, we will hear more of their voices.