White cursive text on black background that reads 'Sin Voz'.

A short documentary about deaf children in Guatemala discovering their first language—and finding their voice.

COMING SOON

giving them the tools to express themselves

In rural Guatemala, many deaf children grow up without access to language—unable to communicate, connect, or be educated.

This short documentary follows a school that introduces them to Guatemalan Sign Language, giving them the tools to express themselves, build relationships, and pursue an education.

It’s a glimpse into the human right to language—and the life-changing impact of being understood.

A man stands outdoors in front of vegetation with utility poles and power lines in the background, smiling and holding a camera.

Directors statement

When I first saw a phone video of Melkin sharing his story in sign language, I was completely moved. I learned about the school through my father-in-law’s Deaf church, and I knew immediately that this story needed to be told with more care and depth.

What began as a short piece about language turned into something far deeper: a story about identity, belonging, and breaking generational poverty. Filming in Guatemalan Sign Language—through Spanish translation and back into English—was slow and complex, but the heart it brought to the process was worth every challenge.

Sin Voz is about more than deafness. It’s about what happens when people are truly seen.

Behind the scenes

Group of deaf people engaged in a serious discussion around a table in a living room.

A young man is being interviewed outdoors on a dirt road in guatemala, with a camera operator filming him. The background shows a dry landscape with a tree, some rolling hills, and power lines under a clear blue sky.

A woman being interviewed by a camera crew in a rural, semi-outdoor space with corrugated metal wall, wooden ceiling, and stacked wood in the background in Guatemala.

Four young girls seated at a table engaged in arts and crafts activities, with craft supplies like scissors, glue, and paper in front of them, in a dimly lit room.

Two young men having a conversation in sign language indoors near a yellow plastic curtain, with a woman in white in the background, a table, chairs, and a bulletin board on the wall.

Aerial view of Jutiapa, a densely populated town with colorful buildings, trees, and hills in the background.

Four women are standing and talking inside a rustic, open-sided structure with a dirt floor. One woman is sitting on a red couch, and soft sunlight is coming in from outside.

Group of people working together to build an outdoor driveway for the school with interlocking pavers, some kneeling and some standing, with construction tools and buckets around.

Shadow of two people on a wall, signing to each other and having a sign language conversation next to a potted cactus plant with a shadow cast on the wall.

Interviews were conducted in Guatemalan Sign Language and translated live into English through a multi-step process. It took hours for each conversation—but preserving their own language brought depth and honesty to every moment.

A young girl sitting at a table outdoors, drawing in a notebook with a pen under a shaded area with plants and wooden structures.

production status

Sin Voz is currently on its film festival run and has been submitted to several film festivals.

We plan to release the full documentary after the festival circuit concludes. If you’d like to be among the first to see it when it’s available, please join our mailing list below.

Black award ribbon with the text "Winner of the 2023 Best Product Award" in the center, surrounded by two laurel branches.