In this moment, we are launching an initiative to ensure that what is being lived right now is not lost.

The situation in Minnesota continues, as do the ripples of its impact and the long-term healing that will be required. This is generational work.

The video above was recorded not that long ago, but our situation has already changed since. While some circumstances have changed, it remains an accurate reflection of what many people were experiencing then — and what many in our communities continue to live with today.

At the peak of federal deployment, more than 3,000 ICE agents were operating in Minnesota. While that number has drawn down, reliable estimates still place the current presence at around 500 agents statewide. The reduction is welcome — but for many communities, daily life has not meaningfully changed.

The body you're in dictates how you move through this moment. It shapes how you respond to a knock at the door. How you drive to work. How you send your child to school. How you gather. How you sleep. For some, routines continue uninterrupted. For others, every errand carries calculation and will continue to impact neighbors for some time. 

Progress toward justice depends on people documenting what they are seeing and experiencing — even when doing so carries real risk. When communities cannot safely record or share their lived experiences, truth disappears and accountability becomes impossible. That is why capturing these stories now is urgent. Many of the people most affected remain understandably afraid to publicly expose themselves. Their voices are essential to the historical record of this moment. 

At FilmNorth, we’re launching a documentary initiative engaging Minnesota-based filmmakers to record first-person stories from within their own trusted communities. These are not outside observers — they are neighbors documenting neighbors, with stories that need to be heard. Through carefully conducted interviews, we will preserve lived accounts of what this moment feels like in the body, in the home, in the workplace, in the neighborhood. 

This project is about:

• Documenting lived reality before it fades, hardens, or is rewritten
• Replacing headlines with human stories
• Honoring stories of trauma and resilience — and of community and hope
• Preserving these voices for historians, journalists, documentarians, and future generations
• Supporting local filmmakers financially impacted by the current situation through meaningful, paid work
• Supporting community members who are sharing their story with us. 

These stories are essential — not only for Minnesota, but for anyone trying to understand what sustained federal enforcement presence means for everyday life, and how communities endure.

Artists and filmmakers in Minnesota saw their communities change almost instantly. Data about “Operation Metro Surge” was released in February. "Operation Metro Surge" brought more than $203 million in economic damage. Many people stopped going to work, leading to $47 million in lost wages and $81 million in lost revenue for small businesses and restaurants. For artists, filmmakers, performers, and cultural workers—whose work relies on joint effort and community—these changes meant cancelled projects, lost jobs, unheard voices, and a creative ecosystem facing instability along with the neighbors whose stories they can no longer share.

The impact reaches the whole community. Immigrant households in Minnesota are now estimated to be $27 to $51 million behind on rent. More people are seeking mental health services, showing the stress they are facing. Calls to the Spanish-language 211 helpline jumped by 1,600 percent in just one month, and local reports say 76,000 residents now urgently need help. These numbers show how serious the situation is, but they do not capture the real experiences of families, artists, and communities who are dealing with fear, resilience, and uncertainty every day.

This documentary aims to capture those voices. Artists have always been witnesses to history, saving stories which might be lost as news moves on. By filming this moment, the documentary becomes a record of how Minnesotans lived through and responded to a defining time in their communities. It helps make sure these stories are heard, remembered, and kept for the future.

FilmNorth’s mission is to empower artists to tell their stories, launch and sustain successful careers, and advance The North as a leader in the national network of independent filmmakers. We achieve our mission by nurturing a vibrant, diverse community of film and media artists; providing education and resources at every stage of their careers; and celebrating their achievements.

FilmNorth’s trusted presence, ethical grounding, and longstanding relationships make it the right organization to ensure these stories are documented with care, authenticity, and accountability. This is not a one-time effort, but the beginning of a sustained commitment—one of many initiatives that will be necessary to document, preserve, and truly understand this historic moment.

FilmNorth will provide filmmakers with thorough training in trauma-informed interviewing and informed consent before any filming begins. Participants will have full control over how they are represented, including options for voice alteration and other identity protections. All footage will be stored securely under strict protocols, and participants will have review touchpoints before anything is released. Cultural and linguistic respect are central to this process, with translation support provided where needed.

MAY

Filmmaker Training & Preparation: FilmNorth will recruit and onboard Minnesota-based filmmakers, providing comprehensive training in ethical interview practices, trauma-informed filming, informed consent protocols, identity protection techniques, and secure footage storage. Filmmakers will be paired with communities and begin building trust relationships with potential participants.

JUNE

Production & Community Filming: Filmmakers will conduct interviews and gather audio and video within their trusted communities. All filming will follow established safety and consent protocols, with ongoing support from FilmNorth staff. Footage will be stored securely according to project guidelines throughout this phase.

JULY

Post-Production & Completion: Editors and filmmakers will work together to shape the collected stories into a cohesive documentary. This phase includes editing, voice alteration where requested, participant review touchpoints for approval, and final preparation for release and distribution.

$4,500 - Filmmaker Stipend:

We’re serving our filmmakers with this project. Three filmmakers will each receive a stipend to support their time, storytelling, and production work.

$2,000 - Project Coordination & Producer:

The project will require oversight and collaboration. These funds support the producer and coordination work needed to guide the project from development through completion.

$4,500 - Editing and Post Production:

Professional editing is essential to shape the collected stories into a cohesive, powerful documentary. This budget allows for a more refined, festival-ready final product.

$1,500 - Translation, Transcription & Accessibility:

To ensure the film can reach and represent multiple communities, this funding supports captioning, transcription, and expanded translation needs.

$1,500 - Legal & Ethical Review:

This project requires careful ethical oversight to protect participants and ensure responsible storytelling practices.

$1,000 - Secure Data Storage & Archiving:

Because the project documents sensitive stories, this funding ensures secure storage, backup systems, and archival preservation.

$1,000 - Sound Equipment for Filmmakers:

Audio kits will be provided to filmmakers to ensure clear, consistent sound across all recorded interviews and stories.

$4,000 - Community Stipend:

Those most impacted will be compensated for sharing their stories. Three community members will receive meaningful stipends in recognition of their time, vulnerability, and lived experience.

When you support us, you're a part of the community. The stories being lived in Minnesota right now will not wait. Fear fades from memory. Details blur. Communities move on — but the record of what happened, and how people endured it, deserves to be preserved with care and truth.

With your support, FilmNorth will ensure that the people at the center of this moment are the ones who tell it — on their own terms, in their own words, with their safety protected. This is how history gets told honestly. This is how communities are honored. Please consider supporting this work.

How to Support if you can't give:

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Find more ways to get involved at https://www.standwithminnesota.com/

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Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue