TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD - Film Independent Spirit Awards | SHORTLIST - IDA Documentary Awards | OFFICIAL SELECTION - Hot Docs | GROUNDBREAKER AWARD - Cleveland International Film Festival | EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD, AUDIENCE AWARD - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival | DOCUMENTARY JURY AWARD - CAAMFest | SPECIAL JURY MENTION - New Orleans Film Festival | VIJAY MOHAN SOCIAL CHANGE AWARD - Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival | GRAND JURY DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD - Seattle Asian American Film Festival | LEON GAST AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY NOMINEE - Woodstock Film Festival
Immigration • Undocumented Immigrants • Mental Health • Social Work • Disability • Blindness • Vision Loss • Healing • VulnerabilityDate of Completion: 2023 | Run Time: 88 minutes | Language: English & Spanish with English subtitles (Audio Descriptions also available) | Captions: Yes | Includes: Transcript & Study Guide | Director: Set Hernandez | Producers: Set Hernandez, Day Al-Mohamed & Félix Endara | Executive Producer: Diane Quon | Co-Producer: Dorian Gomez Pestaña | Editor: Daniel Chávez-Ontiveros & Set Hernandez | Associate Editor: Claudia Ramires | Music: Deandre James Allen-Toole | Original Song: Julie Yeeun Kim & Brandon Jung
Most people dream of a better future. Pedro, an aspiring social worker, is no different. But as a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces political restrictions to obtain his college degree, secure a job in his field, and support his family. As he finally graduates, uncertainty looms over Pedro. What starts as a journey to provide mental health care for his community ultimately transforms into Pedro’s path towards his own healing. Through experimental cinematography and sound, UNSEEN reimagines the accessibility of cinema, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health.
AWARDS
Shortlist | IDA Documentary Awards
Special Jury Mention | New Orleans Film Festival
Emerging Filmmaker Award, Audience Award | Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Documentary Jury Award | CAAMFest
Vijay Mohan Social Change Award | Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Leon Gast Award for Best Documentary Nominee | Woodstock Film Festival
Truer than Fiction Award | Film Independent Spirit Awards
Groundbreaker Award | Cleveland International Film Festival
Grand Jury Documentary Feature Award | Seattle Asian American Film Festival
Official Selection | San Diego Latino Film Festival
FESTIVALS
Hot Docs
Active Vista Human Rights Festival
Blackstar Film Festival
Buffalo International Film Festival
CineFest Latino Boston
DOC NYC
Doctober
Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles
Queer Women of Color Film Festival
Society for Visual Anthropology
Windsor International Film Festival
Woods Hole Film Festival
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
DOCUTAH
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER OF UNSEEN
REQUEST A GOOD TALK WITH SET HERNANDEZ
Originally from the Philippines, Set Hernandez is a queer, undocumented immigrant, who dedicates their filmmaking to expand the portrayal of their community on screen. Their films primarily focus on the intersectionality of immigration with other experiences, be it abolition, labor, healthcare, or disability. Set's background in community organizing is rooted in collaborative practices that engage participants in a culturally relevant model. With a research background in film studies and linguistics, Set brings an analytical approach to cinema and social impact by celebrating narratives from perspectives that are often overlooked. Set is interested in complicating dominant narratives and pushing the aesthetics of film.