Watch the award-winning documentary shorts, Still Waters Short Film (2022) by Aurora Brachman. A hauntingly beautiful & suspenseful story. Stream now.
ππ΅ Still Waters Short Film (2022) by Aurora Brachman πΊπΈβ¨
Watch Still Waters Short Film (2022) by Aurora Brachman β a hauntingly beautiful documentary shorts that unfolds silence, emotion, and hidden depths. Stream now.
πΒ Quick Facts
- Year: 2022 ποΈ
- Runtime: 12 minutes β±οΈ
- Country: United States πΊπΈ
- Language: English
- Genre: Documentary Short, Personal Essay, Social Justice π¬
- Director/Writer: Aurora Brachman π₯βοΈ
- Status: Oscar-shortlisted, SXSW Grand Jury Prize winner π
Watch the Shorts:
π Synopsis
Still Waters Short Film (2022); Aurora Brachman turns the camera on her own family to explore intergenerational abuse and the legacy of trauma π. The film traces the cycles of violence and resilience through her family history, examining how patterns repeat across generations while also highlighting strength and survival π±.
Through intimate interviews and personal archive footage, Brachman creates a brave, vulnerable portrait of a family grappling with its past while seeking healing π€π
π Creative Team
- Director/Writer: Aurora Brachman (Stanford MFA, Sundance Ignite Fellow, Firelight Media Doc Lab Fellow) π
- Production: Personal documentary, independent production π¬
- Cinematography: Intimate, observational style capturing family dynamics π·
- Approach: First-person essay filmβdirector as subject π
π Major Awards & Recognition
- SXSW Film Festival 2022: Grand Jury Prize β Documentary Short π₯πΈ
- 95th Academy Awards (2023): Shortlisted for Best Documentary Short Film π¬
- BlackStar Film Festival 2022: Best Documentary Short β
- Sundance Film Festival 2022: Nonfiction Short Film selection (World Premiere) πΏ
- Full Frame Documentary Film Festival 2022: Official Selection πͺ
- Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival 2022: Official Selection π¨π¦
- AFI Docs 2022: Official Selection π¬
- Palm Springs International ShortFest 2022: Official Selection π΄
π Key Themes
- Intergenerational trauma ππ
- Family abuse cycles π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦β οΈ
- Resilience & survival πͺπ±
- Healing & reconciliation π€π
- Personal storytelling as activism βπ¬
- Black family experiences β
π‘ Director’s Vision
Still Waters Short Film (2022); Aurora Brachman is a Stanford MFA graduate and Sundance Ignite Fellow whose work focuses on intimate, personal stories with social impact. As a Firelight Media Documentary Lab Fellow and 2021-22 NeXt Doc Fellow, she brings rigorous craft to deeply personal material. Still Waters represents her commitment to telling complex family stories with nuance and care πβ¨. Discover the true define Diligent definition & meaning β thorough, hardworking & persistent.
π₯ Critical Reception
- “A brave and vulnerable exploration of family trauma” β Festival programmers πͺ
- “Shows the power of personal documentary to illuminate universal experiences” β SXSW jury β
- “Intimate and affecting” β Hot Docs π¨π¦
- “Grand Jury Prize winner at SXSW” β recognition of exceptional quality π
πΊ Where to Watch
- The New Yorker (potential streaming partner) π°
- PBS (possible broadcast via POV or Independent Lens) πΊ
- Festival circuit: Completed major 2022-2023 run πͺ
- Educational distribution: Available for classroom and community screenings π
π¬ Director’s Background
Aurora Brachman’s previous work includes “Joychild” (2021), a New York Times Op-Doc about a young child coming out as transgender, which won Best Documentary Short at SXSW 2021 and was shortlisted for the 94th Academy Awards! Her focus on intimate, boundary-pushing personal stories has made her one of the most exciting voices in documentary short filmmaking π
Bottom Line: Still Waters Short Film (2022); This 12-minute Oscar-shortlisted documentary is a courageous, intimate exploration of how trauma travels through familiesβand how resilience does too. With its SXSW Grand Jury Prize and personal essay approach, it’s essential viewing for anyone interested in healing, family dynamics, and the power of telling your own story! πΊπΈππβ¨