Mateo wants to save his mom from doing something he believes is ‘hurtful’ to her. What he really needs is to try to understand he can’t fix everything; he needs to let go of the fantasies he was raised upon if he wants to understand issues he cannot see.

A ten-year-old boy is infatuated with superheroes, so much so that he is one for his community. Whether it’s mowing the neighbor’s lawn or letting his classmates copy his homework, there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to help someone. There’s nothing he wants more than to help someone in need. He does this with his red knitted mask with long ears and his makeshift cape made of various blanket fabric, all made by his mother. In fact, it all started with his loving mother, who raised him as a single parent at only 16. Mateo’s mother constantly puts herself through hell to protect Mateo’s upbringing; in Mateo’s eyes, she’s the first superhero he’s ever known. However, it's not until Mateo notices a shift in his mother’s behavior that he begins to grow worried. When he discovers his mother’s reliance on dangerous substances, he takes it upon himself to not only understand why but, more importantly, to do everything he can to help her.

General Look

“My Mother Can Fly” embraces a grounded, naturalistic visual style. Mateo's and Aurora’s environments are portrayed honestly: lived-in, imperfect, and emotionally heavy rather than stylized or exaggerated. The spaces around Mateo often feel larger than he is, emphasizing his isolation and vulnerability. He is either framed small within his surroundings or captured up close, retreating into his own inner world.

Camera Perspective & Coverage

The camera stays closely tied to Mateo’s perspective. Early on, it feels light, handheld, and playful, moving with the curiosity and energy of a child. A shallow depth of field reflects Mateo’s narrow understanding of the world and his belief that he can somehow fix it. As the story unfolds, the camera becomes heavier, steadier, and more controlled. The depth of field widens as Mateo begins to see reality more clearly and understand the emotional weight surrounding him.

Our $13,000 production budget is carefully allocated to the people, places, and resources needed to bring "My Mother Can Fly" to life. Every contribution helps us create the film safely, professionally, and with the level of care this story deserves.

• Locations & Permits -- Securing the spaces that become Mateo's world and covering necessary filming permissions.

• Crew -- Supporting the talented crew working behind the camera, including specialized positions that are essential to a safe and successful production.

• Art & Wardrobe -- Building an authentic, lived-in world through production design, props, set dressing, and costumes.

• Camera & Gear -- Providing the equipment and technical resources needed to achieve the film’s visual language.

• Cast -- Supporting the performers bringing Mateo, Aurora, and the rest of our characters to life.

• Meals & Craft Services -- Keeping our cast and crew cared for throughout production.

• Distribution -- Giving the film a life beyond production through festival submissions, exhibition, and other costs associated with getting "My Mother Can Fly" in front of audiences.

Reaching our $13,000 goal gives us the resources we need to bring "My Mother Can Fly" to life. But reaching beyond our goal would allow us to invest even further in the quality and future of the film.

• $15,000 -- ELEVATE THE FILM

Additional funding will support professional color grading, sound mixing, music, and other post-production needs, allowing us to give the final film the polish it deserves.

• $17,500 -- TAKE MATEO TO FESTIVALS

We'll expand our festival submission budget, allowing us to submit to more regional, national, and international festivals while covering submission fees, deliverables, and exhibition materials.

• $20,000 -- HELP THE STORY TRAVEL

Reaching $20K would allow us to build a more ambitious distribution and outreach campaign, including additional festival submissions, promotional materials, accessibility needs such as captions/subtitles, and opportunities to bring the film directly to communities that connect with its themes.

Every dollar raised beyond 100% will go directly toward strengthening post-production, expanding our festival strategy, and helping the film reach audiences beyond its initial release.

Everything poured into this film comes from a real place I’ve either lived through or experienced in some capacity. However, this story isn’t just about my life but my mother’s as well -- her mother's and the lives of several other family members and friends.

I was raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly to give me the life she never had. She protected me from a lot of hard truths that slowly leaked into my personal life as my curiosity grew.

I sometimes wondered why my mother worried more than other mothers, why she would cry at what felt like random moments, and why she would go the extra mile when she didn’t need to.

The older I got, the more I understood my mother and my family’s trauma. I realized that much of what I had experienced firsthand was more than just witnessing. It was experiencing.

I experienced what an immigrant mother had to endure when she was all alone, how she grieved privately, what she looked like when she was upset or defeated, and how she navigated a world designed against her. I experienced all of this without her ever knowing I was beginning to catch on.

I chose this film as my capstone because it felt like the culmination of everything I’ve wanted to get off my chest up until this point in my life. Packed into this film are several thank-yous, goodbyes, and “I love yous” to places, people, and my childhood.

This story feels deeply personal to me because I know firsthand what it means to be an immigrant: to build a life in a new country while carrying responsibilities that often force you to grow up too quickly. I know what it feels like to become a primary source of support for your family while still trying to figure out your own life, your future, and where you belong. There is a complicated mix of love, responsibility, fear, and resilience that comes with that experience, and I see so much of it reflected in "My Mother Can Fly". That is why this isn’t simply a film I want to produce; it is a story I genuinely understand and feel responsible for helping tell with honesty.

Ultimately, I want this film to be seen. I want it to reach people who recognize themselves or someone they love in these characters and remind them that their experiences are shared. If someone watches "My Mother Can Fly" and feels understood, finds comfort in seeing a piece of their own story reflected on screen, or simply feels a little less alone, then we will have created something truly meaningful.

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Artist Credit
All original digital artwork featured throughout this campaign was created exclusively for "My Mother Can Fly" by independent artist Masha Lutsiuk (16 y.o.) - @rem.zuu / @artz.rem. We are incredibly proud to feature her original work as part of the visual world of our film.