The Immigrant Project
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
After Marco’s mother is taken by ICE, he turns to David—his white-passing best friend, experienced in fundraising for his own chemotherapy. When the campaign for her legal fund explodes online while David relapses, their fundraiser turns into a moral battle of survival, ethics, and exploitation.
The Immigrant Project
New York City, New York | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
1 Campaigns | New York, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $15,000 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
35 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
After Marco’s mother is taken by ICE, he turns to David—his white-passing best friend, experienced in fundraising for his own chemotherapy. When the campaign for her legal fund explodes online while David relapses, their fundraiser turns into a moral battle of survival, ethics, and exploitation.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
WHY NOW: Have you Looked Around America?
Our country of freedom - life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness - exists only in the most idealized versions of our mind. That dream, the dream that so many of us came to this country for, isn’t one that we can currently explore.
The Immigrant Project is a proof of concept for a feature film selected as a finalist in the Warner Brothers Early Talent Pitch Competition, and Univision PITCH MIA competition. It's a cautionary tale that plays like a cross between THE SOCIAL NETWORK, AMERICAN FICTION, and NIGHTCRAWLER - and what it warns against is happening right now.
SYNOPSIS: Shining Light on the Struggle
When Marco’s mother is taken during an ICE raid, he turns to David—his white-passing best friend who successfully raised funds to cover his own chemotherapy—to help launch a campaign to cover her legal fees.
When the campaign starts to explode online while David relapses, their fundraiser and friendship turns into a moral battleground over survival, exploitation, and the monetization of suffering.
The Immigrant Project interrogates the line between empathy and self-interest, between advocacy and exploitation, begging you to take a look, in a world obsessed with visibility, who’s really being seen?
THE FACTS: A Real Story, A Horrifying Reality.
Over the course of the Trump Administration, ICE has taken over 60 thousand immigrants, only 30% of which have criminal convictions. That means thousands of innocent migrants, many of whom came to this country legally have been wrongly deported.
Even as recent as the beginning of this year, there have been ongoing tragedies and mismanagements of justice at the hands of ICE. The most notorious of which being the tragic shootings in Minneapolis. This isn't a story that looks back to warn us of a dark future. It's already happening outside your window.
This film isn’t about policy. It’s about people, and the system that is turning their pain into content and statistics. Empathy is being repackaged as entertainment, and it’s time for us to take back control. When those who want to scream are stuck in silence, it is our job to speak up.
WHY US: Written on Spec to a Film Fest
Our team brings together award-winning filmmakers and top-tier industry professionals with Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, A24, The Walt Disney Company, and The Hispanic Scholarship Fund experience. Our work also spans assisting with outreach through the rollouts of marketing and publicity campaigns for titles like Marty Supreme, covering scripts for the producers of Memento, Arrival, and NEON’s I Love Boosters, as well as assisting in managing Kieran Culkin and Sebastian Stan during their Oscar and Golden Globe-winning campaigns.
We're excited to partner with consultants who’ve premiered award-winning films at Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, on an extensive marketing and distribution plan that utilizes our team’s experience running campaigns that have consistently crossed 800K monthly impressions across all social platforms, and short films that have turned a profit.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Join the Resistance
Every dollar donated goes towards the production and eventual distribution of the film. From renting equipment we are unable to access through NYU, ensuring the health and safety of our crew, bringing on the best talent possible - we need your help to bring our story to life at the highest quality.
After in house Post - Production at NYU, the we'll target a release at the New York Latino Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival, with the potential to leverage the relationships of our Creative Consultants for a shot at Sundance - all places where YOU! can come and support the film.
After a successful festival circuit, the film will be available to stream commercially wherever you watch your short films. Follow us @theimmigrantprojectfilm on Instagram to stay up to date as production moves forward.
We hope to have a first look cut to our Early Access donors by the end of May, two months after principal photography wraps! If you're wondering where that money is going: here's how the money breaks down.
But before then, even when this campaign reaches its end:
Share!
Share the info, the story, and the message behind it.
Speak up for your communities, for the people who might be too scared to speak up for themselves.
You never know when it might be too late.
And aside from just your financial support, you can also share this page with anyone you think is interested in making a difference.
Here is a pre-typed example that you are welcome to copy and paste:
Help support to make a drama film called The Immigrant Project — a story based on ethical concerns of visibility and abuse of empathy. Be a part of highlighting this important story and the current issues it points a finger at!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Arri Alexa 35
Costs $1,500
The highest quality camera, for the highest quality vision. Help our visuals stand out as much as our content!
General Camera and Electric
Costs $2,300
The actual equipment needed to make this film happen. Lights, Camera, Action!
Insurance
Costs $1,300
Help keep our cast, crew, and equipment safe and secure on set!
Craft Services
Costs $2,000
Fuel our cast and crew with nutrition for our two, twelve hour shoot days!
Props
Costs $1,000
Bullet proof vets, face coverings, and weapons are all to common in the raids we hope to fight against. Help us depict reality.
Wardrobe
Costs $1,000
Dress your best! From the film festival, to the dirty apartment raid: our characters need to look the part!
LOCATION: Film Festival
Costs $2,200
The capstone twist of the project revolves our entire film taking place within another film. Help us bring create this inception!
LOCATION: Apartment
Costs $500
David's home: where Marco turns when there is no where else else to go. Help us secure the space to create!
Transportation
Costs $1,000
Whether it's crew or rented equipment: we all need to get from place to place. Help us transport our story!
Special Crew
Costs $1,000
Certain crew positions imperative to safety are required by Guilds to be paid upfront. Help us keep our set safe!
Film Festivals
Costs $1,200
Help spread our message across the globe - submitting to festivals from Sundance to New York Latino Film Festival.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Diego Andaluz - Writer / Director / Producer
Diego Andaluz is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in producing, directing, and screenwriting. As someone from a Latin-American background, he is passionate about spotlighting urgent, timely work from diverse voices across the globe that can make a larger social impact, including upcoming documentaries about the US Paralympic Soccer Team, a narrative genre feature about the immigrant experience through a sci-fi/horror/thriller lens, and producing shorts film that have received over 4.5M combined views. Currently based in New York City and Miami, Diego has worked with studios including Warner Bros., Univision, and A24 and attended Sundance, TIFF, SXSW, and NYFF while serving on the boards of numerous entertainment-related organizations, having been featured in Deadline and Variety amongst other publications.
Lucas Acosta - Writer / Producer
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lucas had the opportunity to work for Ryder Picture Company, developing scripts sold to A24, Neon, Warner Brothers Discovery, and Netflix. Under his company, Costa Film, he has a slate of four short films, and one feature film to produce, focusing in stories that shed light on topics close to his heart and his Puerto Rican heritage. Lucas currently works in Sales at Cinetic Media.
Devon Tayman - Producer
Devon Tayman is a Brooklyn based producer specializing in narrative shorts and features. Devon’s production company, Delicious Monstera, currently has three features set to release this year: (Still Ohio, Benders, Between Rivers). Devon’s 20+ shorts have appeared at Slamdance, the Beverly Hills Film Festival, and the Austin Film Festival, among others. His producing work has garnered tens of millions of views online, and been distributed by Dust, Film Shortage, and Director’s Library.
Nicole Hernandez - Executive Producer
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nicole has worked at Warner Bros Discovery and Disney, currently focusing in Franchise Operation and Strategy for Marvel Studios. She is particularly passionate about stories that shine light on Latino representation and exposure, which is also what her previous film Encrucijada focused on. She plans to enter law school in Fall of 2026.
Shannon Corey - Casting Director
Shannon Corey is a Los Angeles–based casting professional with credits spanning studio, network, and award-winning independent film and television. Her work includes Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, HBO’s Love Life and Mrs. Fletcher, Netflix’s Manifest, Kaleidoscope, and East of Eden, AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and the feature Cabrini. She has collaborated with top casting offices including Romano/Benner, Ellen Lewis, Cindy Tolan, Rori Bergman, Julie Schubert, and Bialy/Thomas, and is currently casting Season 3 of Shrinking (Apple TV+) at Romano/Benner, alongside independent features These Men Die Young and Music for the Requiem Mass.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
WHY NOW: Have you Looked Around America?
Our country of freedom - life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness - exists only in the most idealized versions of our mind. That dream, the dream that so many of us came to this country for, isn’t one that we can currently explore.
The Immigrant Project is a proof of concept for a feature film selected as a finalist in the Warner Brothers Early Talent Pitch Competition, and Univision PITCH MIA competition. It's a cautionary tale that plays like a cross between THE SOCIAL NETWORK, AMERICAN FICTION, and NIGHTCRAWLER - and what it warns against is happening right now.
SYNOPSIS: Shining Light on the Struggle
When Marco’s mother is taken during an ICE raid, he turns to David—his white-passing best friend who successfully raised funds to cover his own chemotherapy—to help launch a campaign to cover her legal fees.
When the campaign starts to explode online while David relapses, their fundraiser and friendship turns into a moral battleground over survival, exploitation, and the monetization of suffering.
The Immigrant Project interrogates the line between empathy and self-interest, between advocacy and exploitation, begging you to take a look, in a world obsessed with visibility, who’s really being seen?
THE FACTS: A Real Story, A Horrifying Reality.
Over the course of the Trump Administration, ICE has taken over 60 thousand immigrants, only 30% of which have criminal convictions. That means thousands of innocent migrants, many of whom came to this country legally have been wrongly deported.
Even as recent as the beginning of this year, there have been ongoing tragedies and mismanagements of justice at the hands of ICE. The most notorious of which being the tragic shootings in Minneapolis. This isn't a story that looks back to warn us of a dark future. It's already happening outside your window.
This film isn’t about policy. It’s about people, and the system that is turning their pain into content and statistics. Empathy is being repackaged as entertainment, and it’s time for us to take back control. When those who want to scream are stuck in silence, it is our job to speak up.
WHY US: Written on Spec to a Film Fest
Our team brings together award-winning filmmakers and top-tier industry professionals with Warner Bros., NBCUniversal, A24, The Walt Disney Company, and The Hispanic Scholarship Fund experience. Our work also spans assisting with outreach through the rollouts of marketing and publicity campaigns for titles like Marty Supreme, covering scripts for the producers of Memento, Arrival, and NEON’s I Love Boosters, as well as assisting in managing Kieran Culkin and Sebastian Stan during their Oscar and Golden Globe-winning campaigns.
We're excited to partner with consultants who’ve premiered award-winning films at Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, on an extensive marketing and distribution plan that utilizes our team’s experience running campaigns that have consistently crossed 800K monthly impressions across all social platforms, and short films that have turned a profit.
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Join the Resistance
Every dollar donated goes towards the production and eventual distribution of the film. From renting equipment we are unable to access through NYU, ensuring the health and safety of our crew, bringing on the best talent possible - we need your help to bring our story to life at the highest quality.
After in house Post - Production at NYU, the we'll target a release at the New York Latino Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Latino Film Festival, with the potential to leverage the relationships of our Creative Consultants for a shot at Sundance - all places where YOU! can come and support the film.
After a successful festival circuit, the film will be available to stream commercially wherever you watch your short films. Follow us @theimmigrantprojectfilm on Instagram to stay up to date as production moves forward.
We hope to have a first look cut to our Early Access donors by the end of May, two months after principal photography wraps! If you're wondering where that money is going: here's how the money breaks down.
But before then, even when this campaign reaches its end:
Share!
Share the info, the story, and the message behind it.
Speak up for your communities, for the people who might be too scared to speak up for themselves.
You never know when it might be too late.
And aside from just your financial support, you can also share this page with anyone you think is interested in making a difference.
Here is a pre-typed example that you are welcome to copy and paste:
Help support to make a drama film called The Immigrant Project — a story based on ethical concerns of visibility and abuse of empathy. Be a part of highlighting this important story and the current issues it points a finger at!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Arri Alexa 35
Costs $1,500
The highest quality camera, for the highest quality vision. Help our visuals stand out as much as our content!
General Camera and Electric
Costs $2,300
The actual equipment needed to make this film happen. Lights, Camera, Action!
Insurance
Costs $1,300
Help keep our cast, crew, and equipment safe and secure on set!
Craft Services
Costs $2,000
Fuel our cast and crew with nutrition for our two, twelve hour shoot days!
Props
Costs $1,000
Bullet proof vets, face coverings, and weapons are all to common in the raids we hope to fight against. Help us depict reality.
Wardrobe
Costs $1,000
Dress your best! From the film festival, to the dirty apartment raid: our characters need to look the part!
LOCATION: Film Festival
Costs $2,200
The capstone twist of the project revolves our entire film taking place within another film. Help us bring create this inception!
LOCATION: Apartment
Costs $500
David's home: where Marco turns when there is no where else else to go. Help us secure the space to create!
Transportation
Costs $1,000
Whether it's crew or rented equipment: we all need to get from place to place. Help us transport our story!
Special Crew
Costs $1,000
Certain crew positions imperative to safety are required by Guilds to be paid upfront. Help us keep our set safe!
Film Festivals
Costs $1,200
Help spread our message across the globe - submitting to festivals from Sundance to New York Latino Film Festival.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Diego Andaluz - Writer / Director / Producer
Diego Andaluz is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in producing, directing, and screenwriting. As someone from a Latin-American background, he is passionate about spotlighting urgent, timely work from diverse voices across the globe that can make a larger social impact, including upcoming documentaries about the US Paralympic Soccer Team, a narrative genre feature about the immigrant experience through a sci-fi/horror/thriller lens, and producing shorts film that have received over 4.5M combined views. Currently based in New York City and Miami, Diego has worked with studios including Warner Bros., Univision, and A24 and attended Sundance, TIFF, SXSW, and NYFF while serving on the boards of numerous entertainment-related organizations, having been featured in Deadline and Variety amongst other publications.
Lucas Acosta - Writer / Producer
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Lucas had the opportunity to work for Ryder Picture Company, developing scripts sold to A24, Neon, Warner Brothers Discovery, and Netflix. Under his company, Costa Film, he has a slate of four short films, and one feature film to produce, focusing in stories that shed light on topics close to his heart and his Puerto Rican heritage. Lucas currently works in Sales at Cinetic Media.
Devon Tayman - Producer
Devon Tayman is a Brooklyn based producer specializing in narrative shorts and features. Devon’s production company, Delicious Monstera, currently has three features set to release this year: (Still Ohio, Benders, Between Rivers). Devon’s 20+ shorts have appeared at Slamdance, the Beverly Hills Film Festival, and the Austin Film Festival, among others. His producing work has garnered tens of millions of views online, and been distributed by Dust, Film Shortage, and Director’s Library.
Nicole Hernandez - Executive Producer
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nicole has worked at Warner Bros Discovery and Disney, currently focusing in Franchise Operation and Strategy for Marvel Studios. She is particularly passionate about stories that shine light on Latino representation and exposure, which is also what her previous film Encrucijada focused on. She plans to enter law school in Fall of 2026.
Shannon Corey - Casting Director
Shannon Corey is a Los Angeles–based casting professional with credits spanning studio, network, and award-winning independent film and television. Her work includes Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, HBO’s Love Life and Mrs. Fletcher, Netflix’s Manifest, Kaleidoscope, and East of Eden, AMC’s The Walking Dead: World Beyond, and the feature Cabrini. She has collaborated with top casting offices including Romano/Benner, Ellen Lewis, Cindy Tolan, Rori Bergman, Julie Schubert, and Bialy/Thomas, and is currently casting Season 3 of Shrinking (Apple TV+) at Romano/Benner, alongside independent features These Men Die Young and Music for the Requiem Mass.