May 22, 2025 | 12 PM EST

In this extraordinary case study, Anayansi Prado takes us behind the scenes of UVALDE MOM – from gaining access to Angeli Rose Gomez’ story, to navigating the ethical and practical challenges of telling such an urgent and sensitive narrative with care.  

Prado will also examine the mounting obstacles facing social-issue filmmakers today, from funding to distribution, and offers insights into how we can ensure these vital stories are seen—and their impact felt—across the nation and the world. 

UVALDE MOM, made with the support of the Production Assistance Program, is a feature-length documentary that tells the harrowing story of Angeli Rose Gomez, a farm worker and single mother who ran into Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, to rescue her two sons during a mass shooting—while nearly 400 armed officers waited 77 minutes to intervene. When a video of Angeli carrying her children to safety goes viral, she becomes a symbol of courage—and a target. Facing harassment from authorities and vulnerability due to her turbulent past, Angeli’s struggle for justice becomes intertwined with the broader demands for accountability within the grieving Uvalde community.