New immigrants and refugees face steep challenges coming to the U.S. Rarely, though, do we hear candid conversations between immigrant kids and their families. In Las Hijas, filmmaker A. Pena de Niz crafts a deeply intimate portrait of first-generation daughters from Mexico while Rose Nseya (Leaving Africa) recounts the harrowing odyssey of fleeing one's homeland in search of safer lives.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. While leaders acknowledge a teen mental health crisis, much discourse focuses on suicide as a white issue. The disposability of black lives, coupled with taboos associated with depression and self-harm, prevent many from breaking the silence. Filmmakers Kalia Hunter (Dom) and Kallista Palapas (I'll Be There) recount two young black lives cut short by suicide, and in doing so, compel communities to act.

Representations of Americans with disabilities are in desperate need of a refresh. Even as assistive technologies help people adapt, the stigma associated with blindness and autism, in particular, continue to sting. Filmmakers Mitch Davila-Armendano (Blind Sighted) and Andy Kwiatkowski (Lonely Highway), overcome numerous obstacles with humor and humanity as they seek a deeper sense of belonging.

Representations of Americans with disabilities are in desperate need of a refresh. Even as assistive technologies help people adapt, the stigma associated with blindness and autism, in particular, continue to sting. Filmmakers Mitch Davila-Armendano (Blind Sighted) and Andy Kwiatkowski (Lonely Highway), overcome numerous obstacles with humor and humanity as they seek a deeper sense of belonging.

At least 1 in 7 kids have experienced child abuse in the past year. Especially when perpetrated by a parent, abuse is often difficult to report. Equally frightening is the ease with which online predators lure teens into abusive relationships. Filmmakers Olive Van Eimeren (Skinned Knees) and Karizma Rivera (Kik-Me!) tackle child abuse head on, looking for reconciliation within their families while healing themselves.

At least 1 in 7 kids have experienced child abuse in the past year. Especially when perpetrated by a parent, abuse is often difficult to report. Equally frightening is the ease with which online predators lure teens into abusive relationships. Filmmakers Olive Van Eimeren (Skinned Knees) and Karizma Rivera (Kik-Me!) tackle child abuse head on, looking for reconciliation within their families while healing themselves.

At least 1 in 7 kids have experienced child abuse in the past year. Especially when perpetrated by a parent, abuse is often difficult to report. Equally frightening is the ease with which online predators lure teens into abusive relationships. Filmmakers Olive Van Eimeren (Skinned Knees) and Karizma Rivera (Kik-Me!) tackle child abuse head on, looking for reconciliation within their families while healing themselves.