Powerful short documentaries by high school filmmakers that explore topics like Identity, Mental Health, Connection, and the Modern Family.
Stories That Shape the Future
The 2025 Cohort Films
When Derrick Coney learns in childhood that the man raising him is not his biological father, it sets him on a journey of identity, belonging, and gratitude. Through candid conversations with his mother, grandparents, and stepfather, Derrick reflects on what it means to be a son, to inherit culture, and to search for roots. While questions about his Puerto Rican heritage and absent father linger, the film celebrates the love and resilience of the family who chose to stay, revealing that fatherhood is defined not by blood, but by commitment.Directed by: Derrick Coney
When Camila loses her mother just before her thirteenth birthday, the bright world of childhood suddenly dims. Through memories, home videos, and her own creative expression, she traces the profound impact of her mother’s love and strength — and the ways grief reshaped her adolescence. Finding comfort in poetry, filmmaking, family, and the small reminders of her mom’s presence, Camila learns that even in loss, love endures. The film is a tender meditation on memory, resilience, and the sacred bond between mother and daughter.Directed by: Camila Reyes Mendez
Raised by two mothers in a family of women, a high school freshman sets out to explore what it means to grow up without a father in a world still shaped by traditional ideas of masculinity. Through candid conversations with his moms, brother, and grandfathers, he traces how family values of openness and flexibility shaped his understanding of gender. Blending personal memory with cultural critique, the film becomes a thoughtful coming-of-age exploration of masculinity, identity, and the freedom to define oneself beyond stereotypes.Directed by: Nico Lee
On the brink of leaving for college, Oliver rekindles birding trips with his dad, a hobby they once shared closely. As they chase species and climb the county birding leaderboard, Oliver wrestles with the fear of growing distant from his father and the weight of life’s transitions. Their search for the elusive Swainson’s hawk becomes a symbol of their bond—proof that even as life changes, connection can endure.Directed by: Oliver Hufford
Seventeen-year-old Madeleine turns the camera inward to explore the long-lasting impact of her parents’ divorce. Through memories, family conversations, and intimate self-reflection, she traces the journey from childhood innocence to teenage understanding — grappling with divided homes, shifting family dynamics, and the arrival of half-siblings. What emerges is a tender coming-of-age portrait of resilience, belonging, and the complicated ways love continues to shape a family long after it breaks apart.Directed by: Madeleine Wilson
Madison Chau, a Vietnamese American teenager, reflects on a childhood defined by constant movement between cultures. Through family memories, personal reflections, and friendships, she explores how migration and identity shape a sense of belonging — and how embracing both sides of herself helps her find home.Directed by: Madison Chau
Directed by: Keely Shaller
Young comedian Keely Shaller (they/them) confronts the gendered double standards of humor. Through personal stories, archival clips, and stand-up, the film explores how cultural narratives have long sidelined women and queer voices in comedy. Both sharp and heartfelt, this short documentary celebrates those who dare to be loud, weird, and funny — and claims space for future voices to do the same.