In southern Arizona, twenty miles from the Mexico border, a young Indigenous girl discovers a Latina migrant her age who has been separated from her father while traveling through the Tohono O’odham Nation into the United States.

“A hard-hitting… emotional and very well made short that should be experienced. ★★★★”

Jason Knight, UK Film Review

“Seldom do I see a film that reverberates with me, down to the core. Burros, a breathtaking short piece of cinematic art written and directed by Jefferson Stein, is one such title.”

Michael Talbot-Haynes, Film Threat

“Overwhelming power in its simplicity… Burros exquisitely conveys a wrenching reality faced by those living on the border every day who can only help those who attempt to cross over so much.”

Stephen Saito, The Moveable Fest

“These young actresses were superb in bringing this story to life. This was the first time anyone in the film was acting and they were all community members. They sold the parts so well.”

Jahaira Arthur, HoneySuckle Magazine

“It’s amazing in a film that’s less than fifteen minutes long the director, Jefferson Stein, can put so much depth into this story. Burros displays a lot in a short amount of time but it is extremely insightful and an eye-opening look into a difficult situation.”

Jake Peffer, BRWC

“Knowing the world well, I sometimes felt torn between the reality and fiction of the movie. At times, it felt like a documentary in its portrayal of the harsh truths about some of the tragic situations that happen in and around the community, especially to migrants and their families. You will walk away knowing a lot of what really goes on here.”

Larry ‘Bear’ Wilson
Chairman, Sells Community, Tohono O’odham Nation
Executive Producer, Burros

“This fictional short film will reawaken O'odham living close to the border of personal encounters of border-crossers and illegal smuggling of substance and humans. It will rekindle issues of our aboriginal homeland being divided by the international border and our struggles to assist O'odham living on our aboriginal land.”

Camillus Lopez
Adjunct Professor, Tohono O’odham Community College
Executive Producer, Burros

"Burros is a glimpse into the lives of Tohono O'odham whose daily lives and centuries-old traditions have been disrupted by the presence of outside forces within their communities. This is an emotional story, set in a complicated place in the world, but at its core, it is a story of finding connection. It is told with an objective lens for the viewer to reach their own conclusions. It doesn’t promise to provide answers, it only seeks to pull the curtain back, shed a light on a corner of the world, and ask questions."

Jefferson Stein
Writer/Director, Burros

BURROS was shot on location at the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona on 16mm film and Hawk anamorphic. This film is supported by Kodak Film, Vantage Film, Fotokem LA and a fiscal sponsorship from Film Independent.