Hi, my name is Natalia , I’m 24 years old, and currently a film student at the Vancouver Film School. I’m raising funds to produce my short film Wonderful ., a story about recovery, resilience, and the invisible burdens we carry with us every day.

This film is more than a school project — it’s deeply personal.

I grew up surrounded by the realities of mental illness and alcoholism within my family and friends. I learned early on how silence can feel heavier than words, how shame can isolate people who desperately need connection, and how the smallest moment of courage can change a life. For years, I tried to make sense of the people I loved, their struggles, and my own place in all of it.

Wonderful is my way of turning those confusing, painful pieces into something meaningful — something that can speak to people who know what it’s like to watch someone you love drift away, or to feel like you’re drowning quietly in your own life.

The story follows Jay, a woman who loses her job, falls deeper into drinking, and meets George, an older man who hides under a black umbrella even on sunny days. Their unlikely friendship slowly uncovers what they’re both running from, and what it takes to face the truth. It’s a story about empathy, intergenerational trauma, and the possibility of choosing healing — even when it feels impossible.

To create the emotional world this story deserves, I need to cover essential production costs:

Location rentals (the recovery center, park space, and interior home scenes)

Production design (props, costumes, the symbolic umbrella, the children’s book, set dressing)

We are requesting $2000 CAD — a modest amount, but enough to ensure the film looks professional, maintains continuity, and visually expresses the emotion at its core.

As a student filmmaker, I don’t have the financial resources to fully fund this myself. Every dollar will go directly into making the film possible. Even small contributions genuinely help.

Why This Film Matters?

People often think stories about addiction or mental health need to be dark to be true. But the truth is: hope is real. Change is possible. And sometimes healing begins with a conversation we were afraid to have.

I want to create a film that shows how the smallest kindness — a question, a moment of honesty, a person who sits with you on a bench — can open the door to recovery.

If you’ve ever struggled, or loved someone who has… this story is for you.

Thank you for taking the time to read, share, or contribute. Your support means more than you know — not just for the film, but for the message behind it.

Natalia

Producer.