A MOTHER'S LOVE. Miguel Barrios won first place for his short documentary, My Mother, My Hero at the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Kaleidoscope Short Film Contest. (Photos via UWEC)

A soon-to-be graduate of UW-Eau Claire found a way to highlight his mother in a class project-turned-national award-winning short film. Graphic Design major Miguel Barrios filmed, directed, and edited My Mother, My Hero as a final class project for Art 383.

“It’s telling my mom’s journey,” Barrios said. “What she’s been through to make sure I have everything I need to graduate. (It’s) a way to tell her thank you.”

The goal was to create something based on a topic Barrios was passionate about using the skills and lessons from class.

“My mom’s a topic I’m pretty passionate and proud to tell people about,” Barrios explained. “I like to say our story together is pretty entertaining. Most people wouldn’t expect what we’ve been through.”

Encouraged by his professor, Jyl Kelley, to submit the short documentary to several contests, Barrios entered the film to the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Kaleidoscope Short Film Contest and came out on top among 850 entries. Barrios and his mother attended the screening of My Mother, My Hero at the Motion Picture Association in Washington, D.C. Included in the award was a cash prize, which Barrios intends to use toward funding his mother’s housing needs after her house caught fire in September.

Barrios with his mother, Angelica Garcia.

“After they announced me as the winner and we were invited to Washington and then her house burnt down, the film has been a big uplift, getting positive energy and news to overshadow the bad things,” Barrios said.

My Mother, My Hero and its subsequent award will hopefully provide some luck when Barrios eventually goes searching for prospective careers in the graphic design world after he graduates in December. Barrios said he hopes his film work can inspire others to tell their own story.

“There are probably millions of stories like this, but people are embarrassed or skeptical to tell anyone because they don’t want to seem weak, that was definitely me at one point,” he explained. “But now, the more people know stuff like this happens, they might empathize a bit more or show a little more respect.”

View My Mother, My Hero at filmfreeway.com/MyHeroMyMother.