My name is Lachin Kerbabaeva. I'm a writer, director, and editor of the short film Motherhood. This project is my senior film, which I created with my classmates as part of my thesis at Ringling College of Art and Design in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Filmmaking.

Motherhood is an introspective drama about a mother, Alex, whose 4-year-old child, Tommy, tragically passes away. Haunted by the endless guilt of not being around him when it happened, she tries to join Tommy in the afterlife by attempting to commit suicide. The story is told through a life-review experience, non-linearly, where Alex, submerged underwater, recalls every part of her motherhood, from the happy expectation of a baby to the unbearable reliving of the day when she lost Tommy, followed by haunting guilt for not saving his life.

After 23 days of post-production, the finished film was screened at the Manatee Performing Arts Center as part of the Class of 2026 Thesis Films Screening in May 2026. Motherhood won three awards at the Ringling Film Awards 2026: Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.

I'm endlessly grateful for everyone's contribution to the project: my Ringling professors, who spent extra time helping me restructure my narration during a short post-production period, my crew, who worked hard from pre-production to on-set execution, and my talented actors, who dedicated themselves to bringing this emotionally heavy story to life.

I'm sure that all this work should not go unnoticed, so I hope you can help me fund Motherhood to be sent to film festivals around the world so more people can experience this emotional journey. Your contribution will not only help me share Alex's story with a wider audience but also support the work of a young filmmaker who is just starting her career.