Words I Can't Forget

Hurtful words have a way of staying with people long after they are said. This short documentary follows several women as they talk about facing criticism — on social media and within their own communities — and how those comments have affected their confidence, their personal lives and their professional dreams. By sharing their own experiences and listening to the stories of others, the women find reassurance and strength in knowing they are not alone. Directed by Anabella Trujillo, Yaretzi Pineda, Catalina Kennedy and Isabel Medina, high school students from the Los Angeles area, the nine-minute film was made through the Girls' Voices Now program. It looks honestly at the emotional toll of negative feedback and at the power of shared experience to help people move past self-doubt. A thoughtful, youth-made film about resilience, self-worth and the courage to keep pursuing what matters.