Fear of Flying
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
Fear of Flying is a reflection on displacement and identity. Through the lens of an older immigrant woman, the film subtly engages with questions of home, belonging, and fear. In light of the current events, the movie suggests that displacement is not only a physical condition.
Fear of Flying
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Foreign Film
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
8 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$555
Goal: $3,000 for post-production
Fear of Flying is a reflection on displacement and identity. Through the lens of an older immigrant woman, the film subtly engages with questions of home, belonging, and fear. In light of the current events, the movie suggests that displacement is not only a physical condition.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Fear of Flying, or, how we like to call it, Medo de Avião, is a Brazilian-New Yorker short film about an immigrant woman in her sixties returning back to her home country.
We follow Sandra on her last days in New York, as she packs her suitcases while unpacking memories, grief and a secret she hasn't shared. As her life turns upside down, she discovers connection and closure are far more important than the life she once clung to.
The Post-production Stage
The short is now seeking support for its last stage: Post-production and Distribution.
Our Seed&Spark campaign was sparked by the exciting news that Medo de Avião will have its color and sound finished by Company 3*. Their involvement marks a major milestone for the film, and their craft will elevate the storytelling to an entirely new level. As we enter this final stage, we’re seeking support to cover remaining post-production fees so we can fully realize the film’s vision and give this story the care, precision, and finish it truly deserves.
*Company 3 is one of the most respected post-production studios in the world, known for shaping the final look and sound of countless acclaimed films, including Moonlight, Joker, Get Out, and Lady Bird.
Distribution (Festival Circuit)
After we wrap color and sound, we move into the next stage: distribution. Our team is carefully building a festival strategy tailored to the film’s themes, tone, and audience, with the goal of securing a strong world premiere, followed by Brazilian and New York premieres. We are prioritizing festivals that champion intimate, socially resonant storytelling and elevate immigrant voices, using the festival circuit as a platform to launch the film, build meaningful visibility, and support its life beyond festivals.
Why support "Fear of Flying"?
Our film tells a story of identity, displacement and rebirth. The film speaks to anyone who has had to rebuild themselves after loss, resonating especially with women who face the challenge of starting over later in life. It is a deeply human story about finding the courage to embrace change when the future feels uncertain.
Our cast plays it from the heart: Ana Fernandez, who plays Sandra, makes her debut at the age of 63. Maria Viana, who plays Edite, returns to the screen after a long hiatus marked by profound personal and life-changing experiences. Together with our third lead actress, they all share, in different ways, the lived experience at the heart of this film: immigrant women building new lives in New York while carrying the weight, traditions, and memories of another home. For each of them, Medo de Avião represents not only a film, but also a new chapter in their own artistic journeys.
Director's Statement
Writer and director Maria Ferreira created Sandra in close conversation with her own mother. Inspired by her resilience, contradictions, and everyday rituals, Sandra is an energetic and passionate Brazilian woman walking the delicate line between holding on to a past that no longer exists and embracing a future she never imagined. Maria's work blends fiction and personal memory, drawing from intimate family experiences and the realities she witnessed growing up. Medo de Avião is a testament of moments when life seems to stop. It is a a liminal space between the certainty of what once was and the possibility of what comes next. It is a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again. 
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sound & Color
Costs $2,000
Great sound and color will play a huge role in this movie! We want our film to be polished and ready for the festival circuit
Soundtrack
Costs $500
Our film is receiving a brilliant and touching soundtrack that will enrich the narrative. Composed by Joseph Nehring
Festival Distribution
Costs $500
We want to take Medo de Avião everywhere. Help us fund our festival submissions!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Maria Julia Ferreira is a writer/director and producer from Florianópolis, Brazil. Her work spans political realism and women-centered narratives driven by deep internal conflict, as well as dystopian and gender-bending worlds that challenge conventional structures of identity and power.
Bella Rieth is a Brazilian-German director, producer, and production coordinator based in New York City. She founded Kunsthouse Productions in 2021, producing and directing psychological dramas that explore identity, obsession, and the boundaries between perception and reality. She is currently developing multiple feature projects. As a production coordinator at Alldayeveryday, she supports commercial production across multiple director rosters and rep territories.
Kaique Brito is a multidisciplinary artist from Bahia. He grew up making videos on the internet, but soon expanded into other paths, including joining the cast of Sem Coração, a film that was pre-selected for the Oscars. Driven by coming-of-age stories, he is the author of the book Quase Exemplar, whose feature film adaptation marks his debut as a screenwriter and director.
Robert Jones is a fanatic about storytelling in words and pictures. He founded the production company Animum Pictures with a group of like minded creative storytellers and recently finished a Master’s of Fine Arts from Columbia University. His short films have played in competition and won awards at Palm Springs International Shortfest, Big Bear Lake International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and Très Court International Film Festival.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Fear of Flying, or, how we like to call it, Medo de Avião, is a Brazilian-New Yorker short film about an immigrant woman in her sixties returning back to her home country.
We follow Sandra on her last days in New York, as she packs her suitcases while unpacking memories, grief and a secret she hasn't shared. As her life turns upside down, she discovers connection and closure are far more important than the life she once clung to.
The Post-production Stage
The short is now seeking support for its last stage: Post-production and Distribution.
Our Seed&Spark campaign was sparked by the exciting news that Medo de Avião will have its color and sound finished by Company 3*. Their involvement marks a major milestone for the film, and their craft will elevate the storytelling to an entirely new level. As we enter this final stage, we’re seeking support to cover remaining post-production fees so we can fully realize the film’s vision and give this story the care, precision, and finish it truly deserves.
*Company 3 is one of the most respected post-production studios in the world, known for shaping the final look and sound of countless acclaimed films, including Moonlight, Joker, Get Out, and Lady Bird.
Distribution (Festival Circuit)
After we wrap color and sound, we move into the next stage: distribution. Our team is carefully building a festival strategy tailored to the film’s themes, tone, and audience, with the goal of securing a strong world premiere, followed by Brazilian and New York premieres. We are prioritizing festivals that champion intimate, socially resonant storytelling and elevate immigrant voices, using the festival circuit as a platform to launch the film, build meaningful visibility, and support its life beyond festivals.
Why support "Fear of Flying"?
Our film tells a story of identity, displacement and rebirth. The film speaks to anyone who has had to rebuild themselves after loss, resonating especially with women who face the challenge of starting over later in life. It is a deeply human story about finding the courage to embrace change when the future feels uncertain.
Our cast plays it from the heart: Ana Fernandez, who plays Sandra, makes her debut at the age of 63. Maria Viana, who plays Edite, returns to the screen after a long hiatus marked by profound personal and life-changing experiences. Together with our third lead actress, they all share, in different ways, the lived experience at the heart of this film: immigrant women building new lives in New York while carrying the weight, traditions, and memories of another home. For each of them, Medo de Avião represents not only a film, but also a new chapter in their own artistic journeys.
Director's Statement
Writer and director Maria Ferreira created Sandra in close conversation with her own mother. Inspired by her resilience, contradictions, and everyday rituals, Sandra is an energetic and passionate Brazilian woman walking the delicate line between holding on to a past that no longer exists and embracing a future she never imagined. Maria's work blends fiction and personal memory, drawing from intimate family experiences and the realities she witnessed growing up. Medo de Avião is a testament of moments when life seems to stop. It is a a liminal space between the certainty of what once was and the possibility of what comes next. It is a celebration of resilience, reinvention, and the quiet courage it takes to begin again.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Sound & Color
Costs $2,000
Great sound and color will play a huge role in this movie! We want our film to be polished and ready for the festival circuit
Soundtrack
Costs $500
Our film is receiving a brilliant and touching soundtrack that will enrich the narrative. Composed by Joseph Nehring
Festival Distribution
Costs $500
We want to take Medo de Avião everywhere. Help us fund our festival submissions!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Maria Julia Ferreira is a writer/director and producer from Florianópolis, Brazil. Her work spans political realism and women-centered narratives driven by deep internal conflict, as well as dystopian and gender-bending worlds that challenge conventional structures of identity and power.
Bella Rieth is a Brazilian-German director, producer, and production coordinator based in New York City. She founded Kunsthouse Productions in 2021, producing and directing psychological dramas that explore identity, obsession, and the boundaries between perception and reality. She is currently developing multiple feature projects. As a production coordinator at Alldayeveryday, she supports commercial production across multiple director rosters and rep territories.
Kaique Brito is a multidisciplinary artist from Bahia. He grew up making videos on the internet, but soon expanded into other paths, including joining the cast of Sem Coração, a film that was pre-selected for the Oscars. Driven by coming-of-age stories, he is the author of the book Quase Exemplar, whose feature film adaptation marks his debut as a screenwriter and director.
Robert Jones is a fanatic about storytelling in words and pictures. He founded the production company Animum Pictures with a group of like minded creative storytellers and recently finished a Master’s of Fine Arts from Columbia University. His short films have played in competition and won awards at Palm Springs International Shortfest, Big Bear Lake International Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and Très Court International Film Festival.