Every time I’m asked what I love most about my country, the answer is always the same: we don’t settle for injustice. What many might call political unrest, I’ve always understood as something else—caring, or better said, a refusal to be indifferent.

Home is a fictional short film inspired by the years when I first stepped out of my own indifference. Between 2019 and 2020, I became involved in feminist movements and student organizations alongside my best friend. At the same time, I worked at Colombia’s Truth Commission—an institution investigating political persecution and enforced disappearances—while “political unrest” once again erupted across the country.

As I read about disappearances and police violence in the 1980s, I began to see history repeating itself in real time. My university was raided. Colleagues went into exile. What I had once seen as past became painfully present.

As my boss at the Commission put it: “Narrar la guerra, durante la guerra”—Narrating war, during war. That idea has stayed with me.

When I moved to the U.S. in 2023 to study film, I knew this was the story I needed to tell for my thesis. Despite the logistical challenges of producing between Atlanta and Bogotá, I believe that honoring Latin American stories—our grit, our courage, our perrenque—is worth every obstacle.

And in case you are wondering why now. Because it’s happening again. Because history echoes. Because student movements have always been on the frontlines of social change—and they’ve always paid a price for it. And because in front of our eyes we are seing students being targeted one more time.

And yet, I’ve never felt more inspired than when I’m surrounded by students who still choose to care. Who still question, defy, and imagine better futures. Home is a tribute to them—to everyone who reminds us that caring is a political act and a love letter to what I love the most about Colombia and Latin America: our brave, caring hearts.

A N T O N I A

A shy, responsible, and determined girl born in Bogotá in 1961 inside a privileged household. Antonia was raised by a conservative mother, who taught her to look away from the political situations that marked Colombia during the second half of the XX century. However, that feeling has constantly contradicted her desire to make decisions by herself and create her own accomplishments through intellectual fulfillment. She tried to fulfill her desires by enrolling in the National University, even against her mother’s will, due to the convulsed environment the campus represented at that time.

L U C A S

The definition of a social butterfly is charming, smart, and charismatic. Born in 1960 in a small town in Colombia, Luca knew from a young age that he had to leave his home because of his sexual orientation. He then applied to the National University. After getting a scholarship there, he moved to Bogotá alone and depended on on-campus housing to finish his studies. Finally, because of his background he has developed a deep social sensibility, which has always interested him in societal issues.

A L I C I A

Antonia's mother, a sucessful self-made lawyer, from a priviledge background, who, like everyone else in her country, grew up in a context of terror, and

those fears are reflected in her attitude towards Lucas and Antonia's friendship and the class-based she carries that mark every interaction she has.

C A R L O S

Carlos is one of the leaders of the student movement that paved the way with his sharp mind and charisma. Carlos met Lucas at one of their sociology classes and got him politically involved.

The story takes place at the National University and Antonia’s house. These worlds aim to represent the opposite values that conflict with Antonia and to make evident visually the class differences between Antonia and Lucas. 

At the start of the story, Lucas is living with Antonia at her mother’s place since the university dormitories where he used to live were shut down because of “subversive activities” inside them. Antonia’s house is where Lucas faces multiple “micro” violence thanks to Alicia and her elitism, but it is also where her internal conflict is more evident as she struggles between protecting Lucas and hiding his activities from her conservative mother.  

In contrast, at the university, Antonia feels more at ease, even though there is tension all around her. This tension is evident in the University’s history, which is written through the graffiti and art on its walls. This is a place of community,  a place where Antonia can be more authentic without the sight of her mother and where she and Lucas can be more open with each other.

The location is the actual National University of Colombia. A place that has been witnessed but also an agent in the social transformations the student movements have brought to Colombia. 

O U R G O A L:

$8,000 USD

to cover the production and post-production costs of our short film.

This includes compensation for the cast and key crew, equipment rentals, locations, production design fundamentals to recreate the “Bogotá during the 80’s looks”, meals, and transportation. We will be bringing three members of our creative team from Atlanta to Bogotá for a seamless production process.

To manage potential challenges, a 9.5% contingency is included in the production budget to cover unexpected costs such as delays, last-minute changes, or service price increases. If needed, we are prepared to reallocate funds from flexible line items and seek in-kind contributions or supplemental fundraising to fill any gaps.

WHAT IF WE EXCEED OUR GOAL?

Some of the students in Colombia working on our film are doing so as volunteers. If we exceed our goal, we’ll be able to pay them fairly for their time and talent—something that’s deeply important to us and our goal of supporting Latin American filmmakers.

One of the most meaningful comments I’ve received about Home came from a Brazilian professor, who said:

“What I love most about the script is that it could have happened anywhere in Latin America.”

That meant the world to me. If we’re lucky enough to double our goal, we’ll also be able to submit the film to festivals across Latin America, not just in the U.S and Colombia. This story belongs to all of us, and we want to bring it home—to the people who know this reality, who have lived it and that inspires our team every day.

P R E - P R O D U C T I O N

• The project began with a research and development phase, which included gathering testimonies from the report Reventando Silencios (from the Archivos del Búho at the National University), interviews and mentorship from historians and filmmakers from the National University familiar with the team, and alumni that lived through some of the events that inspired the story. This initial stage also involved mentorship and guidance from professors at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Atlanta.

• Both teams, the one in Atlanta and the one in Colombia are currently in pre-production. Our team finished location scouting in Bogotá in March, and In-person auditions have already taken place.

• The cast is locked, and we will start with table reads and rehearsals in the upcoming weeks. 

• Finally most of our crew is locked and our team in Atlanta has already started to work with the students back at the National University.
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P R O D U C T I O N

• Principal photography will take place between June 20 and 24,  2025, in Bogotá. The producers in Atlanta and I will be flying by the end of May to finalize the last stages of pre-production and meet with the team in Colombia. 

P O S T - P R O D U C T I O N

• Post-production will begin immediately afterward, and it will be done in November 2025. Between July and November, our editor, sound designer, motion media designer, and scoring team will finalize the film.

F I L M F E S T I V A L S

• Once we are done, festival runs are time! We will premiere at film festivals here in Atlanta an. across the U.S.ously running for film festivals in Colombia and around Latin America. Furthermore, we are working on our plan for community screenings and screenings back at the National University.

We will keep you updated through our Seed&Spark and our social media: 

Instagram: @homeshortfilm2025

Tiktok: @homeshortfilm2025

If you made it to this point, I first want to thank you for your interest. This story is so deeply rooted in my heart, and it means a lot to be able to share it. 

While living here in the U.S. I’ve pushed myself to stay connected to my culture and to my home, and this project is a fundamental part of that. Furthermore, I’ve faced the stereotypes that exist about Colombia around the world. The series Narcos, or the name Pablo Escobar, has been brought up in multiple conversations when people talk to me. 

Home is also an attempt to show Colombia is so much more than that, and “narcos” is the least interesting part of that history. I want to put on the spotlight the people who have endured in the middle of the chaos, but also how that “chaos” comes from ideals and desires for a fairer country for all of us. 

Furthermore, my background in feminist activism has built principles in me that roots deeply into this project. To tell home, I've put together a team of incredibly team of Latin American woman, here in the U.S and in Colombia, who are collaborating with film and history students back at the National University of Colombia (If you want to learn more about them go to our team section). By supporting us, you support not only women led teams, but also, Latin American filmmakers inside and outside the U.S, along with independent Latin American cinema.

H E L P U S S P R E A D T H E W O R D

Being an international film student comes with a lot of challenges—one of the biggest: funding your thesis film. The only way we can make that possible is with your support. So please become a supporter of this story by donating, or even just sharing our Seed&Spark Campaing and Instagram page: @homeshortfilm2025

Here is a pre-typed examples that you are welcome to copy and paste!

Help support @alejitatheycallme a Colombian film student by checking her short film @homeshortfilm about how a colombian student back in the 80’s has to confront her values when her best friend gets involved in student movements. Follow them in @seed&spark: seedandspark.com/fund/homeshortfilm