The Birthday Gift tells the story of how one family’s lives change dramatically over the course of a dinner party. A complete and satisfying story in just 15 minutes, this film also serves as a proof of concept for a full feature adaptation of Stephanie Alison Walker’s original stage play, The Abuelas (world premiered as a Teatro Vista production in 2019). Your donations will support the making of the film, as well as bringing it to audiences through festivals and community screenings.

"By grounding the script in real-life events and facts, Walker and co-writer Paula Pizzi have created a multi-layered narrative that is both intense and accessible to a broad audience—even those unfamiliar with Argentina’s history. The story skillfully weaves essential context into its fabric, making it universally compelling. The exceptional track records of director Arianna Ortiz and lead actress Cruz Gonzalez Cadel—who delivered an outstanding performance as the main character in the Chicago stage production— strongly suggest that the film will achieve similar success. As someone personally involved in investigating cases of individuals questioning their identities, I can attest to the authenticity and emotional depth of the scenarios depicted in the script. The drama experienced by the characters resonates deeply with the real-life stories we encounter."

-Hector Edy Rombola, Managing Director, Argentinean Network for the Right to Identity - Canada/USA

The Birthday Gift, a short film