Storytelling for Civic Learning
Stories that inspire critical thinking, deepen empathy, & strengthen civic engagement.
Bring award-winning documentary films into your classroom, library, or community.
At Sotomayor Productions, we believe storytelling can deepen civic learning, foster empathy, and inspire meaningful dialogue. Our award-winning films invite students and community audiences to explore immigration, identity, belonging, and social change through deeply personal stories rooted in lived experience.
We partners with educators, librarians, and community organizations to spark meaningful conversations through film. We provide educational screenings, discussion guides, filmmaker Q&As, and curriculum resources designed to foster civic learning and critical thinking.
Our Flagship Educational Film
Expanding Sanctuary
21 minutes | Documentary
Expanding Sanctuary is Sotomayor Productions' flagship educational film and has been used by educators, community organizations, and advocacy groups to facilitate conversations about immigration, civic engagement, and community organizing.
When immigrant mother Linda Hernández discovers that Philadelphia police are sharing information with ICE, she joins a grassroots movement fighting to end the city's cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Through intimate storytelling and community action, the film asks what sanctuary truly means—and how everyday people can create meaningful change.
Ideal For Courses In
Immigration & Migration Studies
Political Science
Sociology
Latinx Studies
Public Policy
Social Work
Criminal Justice
Education
Journalism
Community Organizing
Educational Opportunities
We work with educators, libraries, universities, and community organizations to make Expanding Sanctuary accessible in educational settings.
Available opportunities include:
Educational screenings
Classroom and library access
Community screenings
Discussion guides
Virtual and in-person filmmaker Q&As
Guest lectures
Facilitated discussions
If you're interested in bringing Expanding Sanctuary to your classroom, library, or institution, we'd love to hear from you.
“[The film screening] led to an insightful and timely talkback that deeply impacted an audience of students, staff, organizers, and community members.”
- Professor at Lafayette College
“While immigrants and other communities are under attack, films like Expanding Sanctuary are vital to re-energize the people on the frontlines fighting for our rights.
- Latin American Law Student Association
Available To Watch On
Additional Educational Films
To My Motherland
5 minutes | Essay Film
To My Motherland is a lyrical essay film exploring the complexities of immigration, language, nationality, and belonging through a deeply personal lens. Blending memoir with poetic reflection, the film examines what it means to navigate multiple cultures, inherit family histories, and search for home across borders.
Ideal for classroom discussions on identity and migration, the film invites audiences to consider how language, memory, and place shape our understanding of ourselves and one another.
Learning Themes
Immigration and diaspora
Identity and belonging
Language and bilingualism
Family history and memory
Nationality and citizenship
Latinx and Peruvian identity
Personal essay and autobiographical filmmaking
Decolonial perspectives
Recommended For Courses In
Latinx Studies
Immigration & Migration Studies
Comparative Literature
Ethnic & Cultural Studies
Spanish & Heritage Language Programs
Gender & Sexuality Studies
Documentary & Film Studies
Creative Writing
First-Year Seminars
Educational Opportunities
To My Motherland is available for educational screenings, classroom discussions, libraries, and campus programming.
Educators and community organizations are encouraged to contact us to discuss educational access, discussion materials, and filmmaker engagement opportunities.
Las Cosas Que Brillan
11 minutes | Narrative Short
A young trans Latina embarks on a magical journey of self-discovery inspired by mythology, imagination, and queer possibility.
Blending handcrafted visual effects with magical realism, Las Cosas Que Brillan celebrates identity, transformation, and the power of creating the world we wish to inhabit.
The film is available for educational screenings, library collections, classroom discussions, and filmmaker engagement opportunities.
Recommended For
Gender & Sexuality Studie
Film Studies
Latinx Studies
Queer Studie
Media Studies
Art Education
If you're interested in adding Las Cosas Que Brillan to your classroom, library, or educational programming, please contact us to discuss available options.
Why Educators Choose Sotomayor Productions
Award-Winning Films
Professionally produced documentary and narrative films rooted in community storytelling.
Ready-to-Use Educational Resources
Discussion guides, classroom materials, and facilitation support.
Meaningful Engagement
Virtual and in-person filmmaker Q&As, guest lectures, and workshops.
Beyond the Screening
Every classroom is different. We're happy to work with educators to create an experience that best serves your students.
Programming may include:
Live filmmaker Q&As
Guest lectures
Documentary filmmaking workshops
Community storytelling workshops
Career conversations with emerging filmmakers
Panel discussions
Available virtually and in person.
Let's Start a Conversation
Interested in bringing one of our films to your classroom, campus, library, or community?
We'd love to collaborate.
Contact Sotomayor Productions to discuss educational access, screenings, and programming.