5th edition · Children Rights

Ten Little Candles

Director: Eduardo Canto · Country: Mexico · Year: 2026 · Runtime: 13 min · Language: Spanish

Renata is a young girl getting ready for her birthday party at home, surrounded by balloons, colorful decorations, and, of course, a cake. However, beneath the festive atmosphere lies a fractured family dynamic. Her parents, worn down by exhaustion, unspoken resentment, and poor communication, turn even the smallest details into sources of tension. Renata watches and listens in silence, learning to navigate a world where affection and conflict coexist. Throughout the day, she moves between her parents, seeking attention, complicity, and moments of calm as her parents battle their frustrations. Everyday actions—a trip to the store, an innocent question, a forgotten game—take on a deeper emotional meaning for Renata. Ten Little Candles offers an intimate portrait of a family bound by love yet unable to stop hurting one another, revealing how childhood absorbs, reshapes, and makes sense of the conflicts of the adult world.

Public record generated only from an approved festival publication projection.