Almost American has just been selected for a major international film festival. We can’t share the festival name quite yet, but we can share this: it will be the film’s world premiere — a moment years in the making.

For Sam Soliman, the subject and co-director of the film, this milestone holds deep personal weight. Sam is a DACA recipient who has lived most of his life in the United States yet remains denied stability, belonging, and a pathway to citizenship. He was separated from his mother by deportation, and he continues to navigate the day to day uncertainty of a system that keeps families in limbo.

Being present at this world premiere isn’t simply about watching a film. It’s about showing up in a national conversation that has too often excluded the very people it impacts most.

Almost American was made to give Sam the space to speak freely about his experience — family separation, legal limbo, resilience, and the ongoing fight to imagine a future in a country he calls home. His story reflects that of hundreds of thousands of others. This film is part of a broader movement demanding dignity, humanity, and protection for all Dreamers.

Now we need your help to bring Sam and the team to the festival so his voice can be heard on the world stage.

Why We’re Fundraising

Attending a premiere is expensive. Flights, lodging, transportation, and festival participation quickly exceed what our small team can cover on our own. With your support, we can ensure that Sam is in the room, not just the film.

Your contribution will help:

Send Sam Soliman and the filmmaking team to the festival

Ensure Sam can attend his world premiere, speak at screenings, and engage in conversations that matter

Fuel the film’s next chapter, expanding its reach and strengthening the national dialogue around DACA, belonging, and the future of Dreamers in America

This is more than a film premiere, it's the start of a movement. Immigration is the most important policy issue of our time and amplifying stories like Sam’s is how change begins.

Join Us

If this story resonates with you, we invite you to stand with Sam and be part of this movement. Your support, in any amount, helps bring Sam to his world premiere and ensures that the lived experiences of DACA recipients are not sidelined, but centered. Thank you for believing in this film, in Sam, and in the power of stories to move hearts, shift perspectives, and spark change.