In January 2025, devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles. Through firsthand interviews, children reflect on what they experienced, what they lost, what they carried with them, and how their lives have been forever changed; while simultaneously holding onto hope for what comes next.
Co-directed by Nat Wolff and Austin Cauldwell, the film was produced by Mina Sundwall and her company Zenosyne Media, along with Eliza Paprin and Julia Pitch, who also served as Cinematographer. The film was edited by Ben Schwaeber.
According to Wolff and Cauldwell: “In the wake of the fires, much of the conversation focused on what had been lost: homes, schools, and a sense of stability. What felt missing were the voices of the children living through it. Rather than speaking about them, we wanted to listen to them. So we set out to create a space where kids and families could share their experiences in their own words.
What we found was not only grief, but resilience, optimism, and humor. Even in the aftermath of tragedy, these children continue to imagine, adapt, and grow. Their stories reminded us that they are not just witnesses to disaster, but rather, they are participants in the future being shaped around them.
Our hope is that this film encourages audiences to think about the world we are leaving for our children. It will be their world. They deserve to have a voice in it.”
Austin Cauldwell is a Los Angeles based writer, director, actor, and acting teacher. His short film Idyll, which he wrote and directed, premiered at Florida International Film Festival earlier this year and was an official selection at Fantasia Film Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival. As an actor, he has worked on stage, most notably opposite Edie Falco in the Off Broadway production of The True. His TV credits include Switched at Birth (ABC Family), NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, and Monster.
