(Los Angeles, CA; July 11, 2022) Chilly & Milly, the powerful and gripping 3D animated short film by William D. Caballero about love and loss has premiered today on the PBS Short Film Festival running from July 11-22, presented by Latino Public Broadcasting. PRESS HERE to watch. Chilly & Milly, which made its world premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, has already qualified for an Academy Award in 2023, and takes place 11 years after Caballero filmed the documentary American Dreams Deferred. This feature length documentary, shot during his last year of graduate school at NYU in 2007-2008, explores the life of various members of his Puerto Rican-American family during his visits home during his last year of grad school. One prominent storyline includes his father Chilly‘s search for a kidney transplant. Chilly, William’s father, is a diabetic with kidney failure, whose illness detrimentally affects his and his family’s lives. Milly sees her sole purpose in life as a selfless caretaker to her loved ones. While watching the documentary, Chilly and Milly discuss their life together, their successes, and setbacks. When Chilly passes away during the pandemic, Milly comes to terms with her loss. With Chilly’s passing, Milly is tasked with finding a new purpose in life. PRESS HERE for more information on Chilly & Milly. The film is available to stream on YouTube, Facebook and all PBS and station-branded digital platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS Video app, and is a co-production of Colibri Creative Media and Latino Public Broadcasting with major funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Starting at midnight on Monday, July 11, audiences can watch and share all 25 films. In addition, a panel of nine jury members will select their favorite film of the festival for the Juried Prize.
“I consider this poignant film to be my most powerful short film yet. It honors my father and celebrates my mother, while also being a testament to every selfless mother/caretaker out there who have devoted their lives to taking care of others. Chilly & Milly follows the slow decline of my father’s health, and my mother’s role as his primary caretaker,” shares Caballero. “For my father, the last ten years of his life were mired by both declining health and complications getting adequate support from government-run healthcare. As his chronic pain became too excruciating to bear, he made a decision to stop going to dialysis treatment. He would pass away in my old bedroom during the pandemic lockdown in May 2020 with my mother/Milly and I by his side. The short film features many scenes where 3D modeled avatars of myself and my parents, inserted into a miniature hand-built replica of their trailer, sit on the couch ‘watching’ scenes directly from the documentary. This unique usage of B-roll is quite meta, exploring and expanding what a documentary can be when it is presented both honestly and artistically.”
“Chilly & Milly is an incredibly moving film that shines a light on the harsh reality for many Latinos seeking government aid and support amidst a health crisis,” shares Sandie Viquez Pedlow, Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting. “Latino Public Broadcasting is proud to support the work of William D. Caballero and bring this film to the public, honoring the sacrifices and dedication many make each and every day to help the ones we love.”
The PBS Short Film Festival elevates the reach and visibility of independent filmmakers from across the country. Since its inception in 2012, hundreds of films celebrating love, acceptance, family, strength, equality, friendship, loyalty and more have been presented under the festival’s banner. The 2022 festival features “Stories that Stick” to highlight the impact of powerful storytelling.
About Latino Public Broadcasting:
Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) is the leader in the development, production, acquisition and distribution of film and digital cultural media that is representative of Latino people or addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans. These programs are produced for dissemination to public broadcasting stations and other public media entities. Providing a voice for the diverse Latino community throughout the United States, Latino Public Broadcasting is funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. LPB also produces the acclaimed PBS documentary series VOCES, featuring the best of Latino arts, culture and history. Devoted to exploring the rich diversity of the Latino experience, VOCES presents new and established filmmakers and brings their powerful and illuminating stories to a national audience — on TV, online and on the PBS app.
Between 2009 and 2020, LPB programs won over 125 awards, including three prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards as well as Emmys, Imagen Awards and the Sundance Film Festival Award for Best Director, Documentary. LPB has been the recipient of the Norman Lear Legacy Award and the NCLR Alma Award for Special Achievement – Year in Documentaries. Sandie Viquez Pedlow is executive director of LPB; Edward James Olmos is co-founder and chairman.
About PBS Short Film Festival:
Since its inception in 2012, the PBS Short Film Festival, formerly called the PBS Online Film Festival, has showcased independent films of all genres. The festival, now in its ninth year, features short films created by PBS member stations, ITVS, POV and a wide variety of public television producers. Each year the films highlight topics like social injustice, religion, addiction, public policy, love and other subjects inspiring to the filmmakers. Throughout the festival, viewers can watch, love and share their favorite films on a variety of platforms. At the close of the festival, a prize is awarded to the film chosen by the hand-picked jury. The 2021 PBSShort Film Festival represents a celebration of independent films and filmmaking, and a love for the craft. For more information, visit www.pbs.org/filmfestival.
About PBS:
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBSCommunications on Twitter.