We’ve officially surpassed 100% of our goal and we couldn’t be more grateful!

We’ve also just wrapped filming, which is a huge milestone. As with any production, unexpected and miscellaneous costs came up along the way — and now we’re heading into post-production, where every dollar truly counts.

If you’re still considering donating, know this: every additional contribution doesn’t just help — it elevates what this film can become.

Beyond finishing the film, your support directly impacts our ability to share it with the world. Festival submission fees, distribution costs, and marketing all play a crucial role in getting this project seen by the audiences it was made for.

Independent filmmaking is all about resourcefulness, but increased funding allows us to spend less time cutting corners and more time fully realizing our creative vision. It means stronger production value, a smoother post-production process, and the opportunity to position this film for festivals and wider distribution.

This is your chance to be part of something magical, intentional, and unafraid to say something meaningful.

Help us carry this film through the finish line and into the world.

The Legend of the Duende:

Why?

This story matters right now because the feeling of being unseen isn’t limited to childhood. So many of us — children and adults alike — quietly carry that loneliness. Duende gives that feeling a voice. It reminds us that growing up is painful, that love can feel distant even when it’s present, and that being seen often begins with choosing connection, to family and to ourselves.

Director's Statement

This film explores how identity is shaped in the quiet moments of childhood, in the spaces where we feel unseen, overlooked, or unsure of where we belong. Through Abby’s journey, I want to show how friendship and imagination can both comfort us and challenge us to grow.

In a world where families are busier than ever and children are growing up faster than they should, Duende asks an urgent question: What happens when a child feels forgotten?

As a filmmaker, I’m drawn to stories that create emotional recognition/connection. I want audiences, especially young viewers to see that loneliness is not weakness and that the transition from innocence to awareness is both painful and necessary. Duende is important now because so many children and even adults quietly carry the feeling of being unseen. This film gives that feeling a face, a voice and ultimately, hope.

Why We Need Your Help:

Independent filmmaking requires more than passion, it requires resources. As student filmmakers, financial barriers are the greatest obstacle between an idea and a finished film.

Your support helps fund production design, costumes, equipment, meals for our hardworking crew, and festival submissions that allow this story to reach a wider audience!

Every donation — no matter the size — brings Duende closer to life. And every share helps this story travel further.

Follow our Instagram: @duendeproduction.26

Where We Are in the Process:

We’ve secured our key locations! Spaces that are essential to bringing this story to life. A significant portion of our budget is dedicated to these locations because they shape the emotional world of the film. The contrast between home and the woods isn’t just visual, it represents Abby’s internal journey.

Over the past weeks, we’ve been tirelessly scouting, hiking, and refining our vision. This semester, like any production, will bring obstacles and unexpected turns. But these scouting adventures have reminded us why we do this work in the first place: to explore, to collaborate and to tell stories that matter. Stepping outside, both creatively and literally has grounded our process and strengthened our commitment to this film.