Burros

Burros is a 2021 American short drama film written and directed by Jefferson Stein and starring a cast of first-time actors from the Tohono O'odham Nation where it is set.[1] Eva Longoria serves as an executive producer.[2]

Burros
Official film poster
Directed byJefferson Stein
Written byJefferson Stein
Produced by
  • Liz Cardenas
  • Russell Sheaffer
  • Jefferson Stein
  • Douglas Riggs
Starring
  • Amaya Juan
  • Zuemmy Carrillo
  • Virginia Patricio
CinematographyCole Graham
Edited byR. Brett Thomas
Music byAmanda Jones
Production
companies
Release date
  • June 18, 2021 (2021-06-18) (Tribeca)
Running time
15 mins.
CountryUnited States
LanguagesEnglish
Spanish
O'odham

The film held its world premiere at the 20th Annual Tribeca Film Festival on June 18, 2021, and won the Jury Award in the Live Action Short category at the 25th Annual New York International Children's Film Festival qualifying it for the 95th Annual Academy Awards.[3][4][5]

Plot

After her father, a Tohono O'odham tracker, leaves for work assisting the United States Border Patrol on the Mexico–U.S. border, Elsa, a six-year-old Tohono O'odham girl, finds a Hispanic migrant her age, separated from her father as she crossed the border into the United States. Unable to communicate, Elsa takes her through her community in Sells, Arizona and ultimately to her grandmother, Gagi, who speaks Spanish, English, and O'odham and bridges the language barrier.[6]

Cast
  • Amaya Juan as Elsa
  • Zuemmy Carrillo as Ena
  • Virginia Patricio as Gagi
  • Rupert Lopez as Joe
  • Armondo 'Mondo' Gonzales as Mondo
  • Michael Geronimo as Beatboxer
  • Carlos Chico as Beatboxer

Production

Development and pre-production

Jefferson Stein researched the Tohono O’odham Nation for two years and worked with the community on the subject matter of the film. He and the producers lived by the reservation during pre-production. Stein further explained this, by saying: "Awareness is the first thing. There were hundreds of stories that I heard while I was there that inspired moments of this project."[7] The film is told over a 24-hour period, ending where it starts, done to highlight the cyclical nature of the separation of families at the border.[1]

The film was developed through fiscal sponsorship by Film Independent.[8]

Casting

The actors in the film had not acted before.[9] Amaya Juan was discovered through the local Toka team, the women-only sport she plays in the film. Zuemmy Carrillo was cast during lunch at a Bilingual elementary school in nearby Tucson.[1]

Filming

Principal photography took place over four days on the Tohono O'odham Nation Reservation.[1]

Release

The film had its World Premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 18, 2021.[7]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Film Festival Recipients Result
2021 Best Short Film Rhode Island International Film Festival Burros Nominated
Best Narrative Short - Jury Award Sidewalk Film Festival Won[10]
Best Short Film HollyShorts Film Festival Nominated
Best Short Film - Panorama Tirana International Film Festival Nominated
Best Narrative Short - Grand Jury Prize Nashville Film Festival Nominated
NAHCC's Best Hispanic Film at Nashville Film Festival Award Won[11]
Best Short Film - Live Action Edmonton International Film Festival Nominated
Best Narrative Short - Jury Award Portland Film Festival Nominated
Best Narrative Short Film BendFilm Festival Nominated
Best Narrative Short - Audience Choice Santa Fe Independent Film Festival Won[12]
International Competition - Best Short Film Kerry Film Festival Nominated
Jury Prize for Outstanding Ensemble Cast Tallgrass Film Festival Cast of Burros Won[13]
Best International Short Film Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival Burros Nominated
Pronck Shorts Competition Award Leiden International Film Festival Nominated
Best Short Fiction Film Leeds International Film Festival Nominated
Best Live Action Short Film Chicago International Children's Film Festival Nominated
2022 Best International Film Minimalen Short Film Festival Nominated
Jury Favorite Nitehawk Shorts Festival Won[14]
Audience Award (ages 10+) New York International Children's Film Festival Nominated
Jury Award Live Action Short Film Won[15]
Best Short Film Award Miami International Film Festival Nominated[16]
Best Dramatic Short Arizona International Film Festival Won[17]
Official Competition supported by Sony - Best Short Award Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia Nominated[18]
Maremetraggio Competition - Best Short Film ShorTS International Film Festival Nominated[19]
Best Indigenous Film Cordillera International Film Festival Nominated[20]
Best Dramatic Short - 2nd Runner Up Woods Hole Film Festival Won[21]
Moonwalker Short Award - Best Short Film Nòt Film Fest Won[22]
Best Narrative Short - Jury Award Albuquerque Film & Music Experience Won[23]
Best Short Film - Audience Award Indie Street Film Festival Won[24]
Shorts Spotlight: Best of Show SCAD Savannah Film Festival Won[25]
New Wave Jury: Runner Up Cornwall Film Festival Won
Best Live Action Short Film RNCI Red Nation Awards Won[26]
Red Nation Honors: Film Consultant Award - Larry ‘Bear’ Wilson for Burros Larry 'Bear' Wilson Won[27]
Best Short Film - Teenage Jury Cinemagic Film Festival - Belfast Burros Won

References
  1. "Tribeca 2021 Interview: Jefferson Stein on Looking for the Silver Linings in "Burros"". The Moveable Fest. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  2. Yossman, K. J. (2022-12-06). "Eva Longoria, UnbeliEVAble Entertainment to Executive Produce Jefferson Stein's Short Film 'Burros'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-12-09.
  3. Milligan, Mercedes (2022-04-08). "NYICFF: 'The Ocean Duck,' 'She Dreams at Sunrise, 'To the Bright Side' Win Top Prizes". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  4. "2021 Tribeca Film Festival Interview: Jefferson Stein Talks Burros (Exclusive)". Shockya.com. 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. Graeber, Laurel (2022-03-03). "'We Are a Film Festival First.' A Focus on Children Comes Second". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  6. "Burros | Film Threat". 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. Dominguez, Meghan Sullivan and Carina (27 June 2021). "'This is our time. This is our show.'". Indian Country Today. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. "Fiscal Spotlight: Displacement, Migration and Multi-Media". Film Independent. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  9. Stein, Jefferson (2021-06-18), Burros (Short, Drama), Ten to the Six Pictures, Artless Media, retrieved 2022-04-09
  10. "Sidewalk Film Festival 2021 Award Winners".
  11. "Nashville Hispanic Chamber celebrates 11 honorees in annual awards". The Tennessean.
  12. "Santa Fe Independent Film Festival Awards 2021".
  13. "The 19th Annual Tallgrass Film Festival Award Winners". 23 October 2021.
  14. "Best of Nitehawk Shorts Festival "Jury Favorites"". Nitehawk Cinema.
  15. "NYICFF: 'The Ocean Duck,' 'She Dreams at Sunrise, 'To the Bright Side' Win Top Prizes". Animation Magazine.
  16. "Miami Film Festival Opens, Closes With Oscar Short-Listed Films". MiamiArtZine.
  17. "2022 Arizona International Film Festival Awards". Arizona International Film Festival.
  18. "Academy Awards® Qualifying Short Shorts Film Festival & ASIA Has Announced the 2022 Nominees". Yahoo!.
  19. "ShorTS IFF announces the Maremetraggio Section 2022". ShorTS International Film Festival. 10 May 2022.
  20. "2022 CIFF Nominees". Cordillera International Film Festival.
  21. "2022 Festival Jury, Sound Design and Screenwriting Awards". Woods Hole Film Festival.
  22. ""Nòt film fest", here are the award-winning films in Santarcangelo". Corriere Romagna.
  23. "2022 Award Recipients". Albuquerque Film & Music Experience.
  24. "2022 Indie Street Film Festival Award Winners". New Jersey Stage. 14 September 2022.
  25. "SCAD Savannah Film Festival Announces 2022 Award Winners". Variety. 27 October 2022.
  26. "2022 Nominees - Red Nation Film Festival". Red Nation Film Festival.
  27. "2022 Nominees - Red Nation Film Festival". Red Nation Film Festival.
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