Browse films

Ana Paula

Leigh Marling
United States, 2023, 46 min.

In Spanish with English subtitles.
Includes violence.

AIFF Award Winner:
Best Short Feature

ANA PAULA is the heartbreaking story of a young Mexican woman determined to escape her past and adopt her niece from a government orphanage in Durango. When a judge explains her case cannot proceed without a ‘suitable home’, Ana employs desperate measures to find the necessary cash. When Fernando sees her desperation and offers to help, a tender romance blossoms. But when Ana is forced back into a toxic life of vice she and Fernando must face the ruthless criminals who seek to exploit her.

Director's Statement

Femicide, domestic abuse and sexual exploitation have become endemic in Mexican society where around 10 women are murdered every day in gender based attacks. Add to those, the thousands of females who have been ‘disappeared’ and those grim statistics seem to underestimate the crisis in ongoing violence against women. Against this backdrop and during many long research trips to Mexico, the filmmakers met some of these women and became inspired to create a film about one of them.

Category: Drama, Award Winner.
Themes: Border, Gangs, World Cinema.

More in Drama

  • Starting Line

    Starting Line

    Brenton Bender
    United States, 2024, 15 min.

    When a cross country coach pits two siblings against each other, Brody pushes himself to outpace his younger brother, Archie. But restless nights and a botched... more ›

  • All That's Carried

    All That's Carried

    Rosie Barrett
    Ireland, 2024, 13 min.

    Anna wakes before her alarm and milks the cows. As they graze, her phone rings - her daughters are late for school again. In the kitchen, a voice note from her... more ›

  • Pierre West

    Pierre West

    Henrik Larsson
    Sweden, 2024, 29 min.

    Hope, Longing & Darkness, spanning 17 years. Through Pierre’s isolated life and his unjust struggle with trauma, the film explores the emotions that... more ›