2026 Finalist, Student Narrative Finalist

Made in America

Year: 2025

Runtime: 10 minutes 57 seconds

Synopsis:

Xiomara and Ana, two unaccompanied migrant teens, work the late-night shift at a garment factory. When Ana goes missing after staying for an extra shift, ‘Xo’ searches for her friend, only to uncover Ana never made it home. Her search leads her back to the factory, where she’s faced with a devastating truth.

Film Credits

Meet The Director:

I am a screenwriter and film director interested in exploring Latina girlhood and coming-of-age amidst great adversity. As a Chicana thrust into maturity at a young age, I found solace and hope in films about ordinary kids overcoming extraordinary challenges. Now, I write and direct stories that speak to this experience, often through a docu-fictional approach inspired by real-life tales of resilience from young people worldwide.

As a former multimedia journalist, I have directed and edited award-winning documentary shorts showcasing strong women facing adversity from Shelter Me, a film about homeless youth, to McHugh Takes Her Cue, a celebration of a blind music teacher’s remarkable impact. My debut narrative short, Acid Trip (2021) screened at the 24 Risas Por Segundo Film Festival in Mexico City.

Writer:

Maritza Cruz

Producer(s):

Care Dorghalli and Elizabeth Uribe