Through our fiscal sponsorship with the Southern Arizona Film Society, all donations are tax-deductible and directly support both the film and our community. This production doubles as a hands-on training ground for student and emerging filmmakers from underrepresented communities, offering real experience in:

pre-production (development, writing for screen, contracts, locations, and more)
production (on-set experience)
post-production (editing, color, sound editing & design)
distribution (choosing festivals wisely, pitching platforms, licensing for streamers)
marketing (making assets for social media, ads, and streaming platforms)

Your support doesn’t just help make a film. It helps build a more inclusive film culture in Southern Arizona, lifting up new voices, creating opportunity, and telling stories that matter.
We’re not just telling this story. We’re building it together.

The Film:

"El Respiro" is a powerful film set inside a family-run restaurant moments before an ICE raid changes everything. When two Homeland Security agents, polar opposites with conflicting motives, arrive under new government orders, the family recognizes one of them as their own cousin. What follows is a tense, human story about loyalty, identity, and the split-second choices that can define a life.

This story couldn’t be more urgent. Across Tucson and beyond, families are being detained at work, at home, and in public spaces. Racial discrimination is surging, and entire communities are once again being labeled as the other. "El Respiro" pushes back by centering humanity, asking viewers to pause, reflect, and reconsider the history and ideals of this country through empathy, not fear.

MORE INFO

EDUCATION

As an on-going effort to educate current and future filmmakers, Ty has created a free Documentary masterclass that sheds light on what he has learned producing his own stories and also his experiences working with Directors such as Leslie Chilcott, Erik Gandini, and Tim Sutton. A total of 12 episodes, these complimentary videos are just the beginning for educational materials attached to "El Respiro!"

BUILDING AN AUDIENCE FROM DAY 0

Ty firmly believes that the success of a Film relies heavily on making it and the team known before the cameras even roll. This is why he has been creating content for Instagram, informing local and international audiences of news surrounding ICE. Within the first month, he gained over 1 MILLION views, with over 1,500 ORGANIC followers & counting. Not only is this work important to the community, but it also actively engages viewers in the "El Respiro" project. This will directly translate into fans and supporters of the film when it is released.

TY'S SOCIAL AWARENESS PROJECTS

THANK YOU

FOR YOUR SUPPORT

"El Respiro" Film & Educational Program

By Southern Arizona Film Society

"El Respiro" Film & Educational Program

Support Ty Atiyeh's poignant short film which will serve as vocational training for emerging & underrepresented filmmakers.