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Burnt Feathers, Broken Wings

An artful look at the trials and triumphs of four diverse girls in the foster system as they struggle with addiction and histories of abuse.

The body of the film was shot in one day.

The film was Executive Produced by the organization Kids in the Spotlight, which is recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press and was highlighted at the Golden Globes.

BFBW won BEST FILM, BEST ENSEMBLE, and BEST SCREENPLAY at the KITS Awards 2019 at Paramount Studios, hosted by Ty Burrell (of Modern Family, voted on by an independent group including members of the Black Employees of Warner Brothers).

WINNER BEST SOCIAL JUSTICE SHORT: Santa Fe Film Festival 2020

WINNER BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT: Mystic Film Festival 2020

Official Selection: NYC Independent Film Festival, Indie Short Fest, Micheaux Film Festival

  • Cady McClain
    Director
    Seeing is Believing: Women Direct, Butterflies, The World of Albert Fuh, Flip Fantasia
  • Katherine Belendez
    Writer
  • Madison Gates
    Writer
  • Aneles Maxwell-Carter
    Writer
  • Jacqueline Romero-Herrara
    Writer
  • Kids in the Spotlight (Executive Producer)
    Producer
    60 KITS short films, made by foster youth
  • Tige Charity (Executive Producer)
    Producer
    60 KITS short films, made by foster youth
  • Martin Johnson
    Producer
    KITS short films 2019
  • Cady McClain
    Producer
    Seeing is Believing: Women Direct, Butterflies, The World of Albert Fuh, Flip Fantasia
  • Amanda Quinn-Olivar
    Producer
    Seeing is Believing: Women Direct
  • Maryvale Group Home
    Producer
  • Katherine Belendez
    Key Cast
    "Katherine"
  • Madison Gates
    Key Cast
    "Madison"
  • Aneles Maxwell-Carter
    Key Cast
    "Aneles"
  • Jalynn Synder
    Key Cast
    "Jackie"
  • Reggie Gaskins
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Genaro Marzan
    Cinematographer
  • Cady McClain
    Editor
  • Prentice Spry
    Composer
  • Cady McClain
    Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 13, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    4,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Santa Fe Film Festival
    Santa Fe, New Mexico
    United States
    February 12, 2020
    North American Premiere
    BEST SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM
  • Mystic Film Festival
    Mystic
    United States
    October 22, 2020
    Connecticut Premiere
    BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
  • NYC Independent Film Festival
    NYC
    United States
    June 2, 2020
    East Coast Premiere
    Official Selection
  • See It End It Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    November 8, 2020
    West Coast
  • Micheaux Film Festival
    Los Angeles
Distribution Information
  • IndieFlix
    Distributor
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Cady McClain

Cady McClain is a three-time Emmy Award winning actress and multiple award winning filmmaker. Her documentary on female directors, Seeing is Believing: Women Direct won multiple "Best Of" festival awards including the Audience Award at the SOHO Film Festival, Best Documentary at the Artemis Film Festival, and a Jury Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Ms. McClain was honored to receive the International Matrix Award from the Association of Women in Communications for her work in support of female directors, and was a proud mentor at Women in Film. She is now an Ambassador for Kids in the Spotlight helping foster youth tell "their stories, their way."

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Director Statement

I am so proud to direct films for "Kids in the Spotlight." Working with these foster youth is one of the highlights of my year.

I have made three films for them so far. "Burnt Feathers, Broken Wings" is the the first documentary every made at Kids in the Spotlight. The courage of these young women to put their truth out there and share their hopes against such incredible odds has been truly inspiring.

I hope that as the film continues to get recognition from the festival circuit that the these girls, and others like them, will find the support and encouragement they need to continue to fight for their dreams and goals.