Can’t Hold Me Back

Can’t Hold Me Back follows Fernando Parraz Jr. as he becomes the first in his family to earn a high school diploma—his ticket out of the struggles of growing up poor in the inner city of Southwest Detroit. The 16-minute documentary is part of American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen, a public media initiative supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to help local communities across America address the dropout crisis. It was co-directed and produced by Betty Bastidas and Madeleine Bair, and was among 25 films selected to be part of the 2013 PBS Online Film Festival.

DreamTown

DreamTown is the inspiring story of three young soccer players chasing success in the face of extraordinary challenges. Entwined with their athletic dreams are the hopes of all Afro-Ecuadorians, for whom soccer is more than a sport but the means to recognition and respect they have long been denied.

DreamTown: Trailer

Anibal: Tragedy and Triumph

First reactions from youth after screening DreamTown work-in progress at the First International Futsal Tournament in NJ.