Experiencing Interruptions?

Another Child

From the time she was 3, Leanna knew what her cousin did to her body behind closed doors was wrong. Still, shame kept her from telling anyone for many years. When she finally found the courage to tell her mother, the startling response caused Leanna to choose silent torment for several more years to come.

Why did Leanna’s mother repress her cry for help? ANOTHER CHILD is director Leanna Borsellino’s attempt to unravel the confusing maze of emotion, religion, sexuality and family history to grasp her mother’s triggers, and why she failed to protect her daughter. Finally reunited, Leanna and her mother Cyndi set out on a cross-country journey to rediscover their true selves, and to attempt to right some wrongs.

  • Leanna Borsellino
    Director
    A Familiar Stranger
  • James Headrick
    Director
    Rising from the Ashes, Hourly America, Hotel Rendezvous
  • Bob Niemack
    Writer
    Scared Straight!, Naked Science
  • Leanna Borsellino
    Producer
    Trade In Hope
  • Lyndsey Rae
    Producer
    SuperKid Academy: The Mission, Happily Ever After
  • Bob Niemack
    Producer
    Untold Stories of the ER
  • Lauren Ranzino
    Producer
    The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Say Yes to the Dress
  • Dave Matyis
    Producer
    Majesty Outdoors, ESPN
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 1 minute 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 23, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    120,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital, RED, and VHS Tape
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Florence Film Awards
    Florence
    Italy
    April 18, 2020
    Best Feature Documentary - Annual Winner
  • Florence Film Awards
    Florence
    Italy
    Best Original Story - February Monthly Winner
  • Florence Film Awards
    Florence
    Italy
    Best Original Score - February Honorable Mention
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    Best Social Justice Film - February Monthly Winner
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    Best 1st Time Director - February Monthly Winner
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    Best 1st Time Producer - February Honorable Mention
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    Best Biographical Film - February Grand Jury Prize
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    Best Song - February Monthly Winner
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    Best Trailer - February Monthly Winner
  • Venice Film Awards
    Venice
    Italy
    Best Feature Documentary
  • Queen Palm International Film Fest
    Palm Springs, CA
    United States
    Silver Winner
  • Prague International Monthly Film Festival
    Prague
    Czech Republic
    Best 1st Time Director
  • Reel Recovery Film Festival
    Studio City
    United States
    November 5, 2020
    California Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Hitchcock Film Awards
    New York City
    United States
    Best Documentary Feature
  • Topaz Film Festival
    Dallas
    United States
    September 12, 2020
    World Premiere
    Festivals Premiere Feature Film
  • Oniros Film Awards
    Saint Vincent
    Italy
    August 22, 2020
    Finalist - Annual Award Ceremony
  • Vesuvius International Film Festival
    Campania
    Italy
    Finalist
  • Kalakari Film Festival
    Dewas
    India
    August 25, 2020
    Best of the Fest
  • New York International Film Awards
    New York City
    August 7, 2020
    Best Biographical Film
  • New York International Film Awards
    New York City
    United States
    August 7, 2020
    Best 1st Time Director - Grand Jury Award
  • New York International Film Awards
    New York City
    United States
    August 7, 2020
    Best Social Justice Film - Honorable Mention
  • Sicily Independent Film Awards
    Sicily
    Italy
    August 13, 2020
    Best Feature Documentary
  • Cyrus International Festival of Toronto
    Toronto
    Canada
    September 9, 2020
    Best Social Justice Film
  • Montreal Independent Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    September 4, 2020
    Finalist
  • Brazil International Independent Film Festival
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    Best Documentary
  • Artbox International Film Festival
    Dewas
    India
    November 21, 2020
    Best Documentary
  • Gold Movie Awards
    London
    United Kingdom
    January 14, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Lonely Wolf London International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Best Performative Documentary
  • Lonely Wolf London International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    Nominee
    Best Original Score
  • Brazil International Independent Film Festival
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    Best Director of Documentary
  • Vegas Movie Awards
    Las Vegas
    United States
    Best Inspirational Film
  • Vegas Movie Awards
    Las Vegas
    United States
    Best Editing
  • Sherman Oaks Film Festival
    Sherman Oaks
    United States
    November 16, 2020
    Best Documentary Feature
  • Spotlight Documentary Film Awards
    Atlanta
    United States
    Silver Award Winner
  • American Documentary & Animation Film Festival
    Palm Springs
    United States
    March 26, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival
    Athens
    Greece
    Best Edit
  • Milan Gold Awards
    Milan
    Italy
    Best Feature Documentary
  • Milan Gold Awards
    Milan
    Italy
    Silver Award - Best Original Score
  • Austin International Art Festival
    Austin, TX
    United States
    Best Editing
  • Red Movie Awards
    Reims
    France
    Best Original Score
  • Film Invasion Los Angeles
    Los Angeles
    United States
    June 13, 2021
    Best Feature Documentary
  • Brazil International Monthly Film Festival

    Brazil
    July 23, 2021
    Best Director of Documentary (annual prize)
Director Biography - Leanna Borsellino, James Headrick

Leanna's love of film led her to attend Oral Roberts University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Drama/Television/Film. She was honored with the award for Most Outstanding Senior in the Communication Arts Department in 2007. Leanna was also accepted into the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, a capstone program dedicated to immersing its students in real world application. She began interning at The Robert Evans Company (known for The Godfather I & II, Chinatown, Rosemary's Baby), which led to a job as the assistant of the company’s two top producers. Leanna then worked in production at Digital Domain (Titanic, Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Tron), an Academy Award-winning digital effects company. After two years in the commercials division, the death of her grandmother prompted her to move home to Austin, TX to be near family. Leanna now works as the Creative Services Manager for Hope Rising, a non-profit which specializes in the rescue, recovery, and rehabilitation of minors who are survivors of sexual abuse and sex trafficking. It is here that she is able to merge her passion for filmmaking with issues close to her heart.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"The process of creating a film about your own personal story of chronic childhood sexual abuse is a very painful process to charter through. This journey took me 7 years, as initially my desire was to tell this story vicariously through my mother. Yet as the story developed and unfolded, it became clear that I couldn't honestly tell the story of my mother's childhood abuse, without also sharing my own trauma. If you have ever heard of stories of children who have suffered from years of sexual abuse, and wondered as they grew older what they would say if they were able to find their voice - I ask that you graciously recognize my film comes from the voice of such a child. I was that child. And this is my attempt to right some wrongs." - Leanna Borsellino