Short Films – Pastor Fischer

Short films

Empowering Youth Through Storytelling and Film

This transformative project opened new doors of opportunity for teenagers living in Panama City's high-risk inner-city neighborhoods—areas the government often designates as "red zones" or gang territories due to elevated crime and violence. In these challenging communities, we encountered countless forgotten young people, each carrying hopes, dreams, and untapped potential for their futures.

Tragically, these teens often lacked a platform to share their struggles, aspirations, or visions for their lives and neighborhoods. Our church and foundation stepped in to give them a powerful voice—through creative expression and hands-on experiences that demonstrated: when you apply yourself with determination, no obstacle is too great to overcome.

Over just three intensive days of production—including an inspiring training session led by my wife, Kathy—each participant wrote a personal story reflecting their life in the community. These narratives could draw from real experiences or capture the realities they witness daily. Groups then selected one story to adapt into a short film. Kathy guided each group in transforming their idea into a compelling movie script.

On day two, participants rehearsed scenes, learned acting techniques, and received hands-on training in using recording equipment. Those not acting supported the production by handling lighting, sound, and other technical roles—fostering true teamwork. After rehearsal, the teens returned home to practice further and scout authentic filming locations: apartments, small stores, churches, streets, and more. They also recruited community members as extras to bring the scenes to life.

The third day was always filled with joy and excitement—filming right in the heart of their own communities! Kathy organized the shooting schedule, while I served as cameraman, and we both directed together.

Each year, we brought this life-changing experience to five different communities. These short films were made possible only through the incredible support of local residents and the National Police of Panama, who provided essential security and generously supplied officers to serve as extras and actors—bridging divides and building trust.

This initiative not only amplified the voices of young people in overlooked places but also showed them the power of creativity, perseverance, and community to spark real change.

The Grand Finale: Editing, Screening, and Sharing the Gospel

After the excitement of filming wrapped, my role shifted to post-production. I edited each short film with care, polishing them into high-definition pieces suitable not only for community screenings but also for broadcast on national television—ensuring the teens' stories reached a much wider audience.

The open-air screenings in each neighborhood were always unforgettable highlights! Crowds gathered eagerly to watch their own friends, family members, and neighbors appear on screen as actors for the very first time. The energy was electric—people cheered, laughed, and connected deeply with the stories that reflected their shared realities.

Our church's praise and worship team set a joyful, Spirit-filled atmosphere to begin the evening. This was followed by a powerful preaching of the Word of God: a clear message of salvation, hope, and transformation through Christ. We closed with heartfelt prayer over the community, asking the Lord to touch lives, heal wounds, and bring lasting change.

These events bridged divides, celebrated the talents of overlooked youth, and boldly proclaimed the Gospel in the heart of high-risk areas—proving once again that creativity, perseverance, and faith can open doors for God's Kingdom to shine brightly.

The National Spotlight: Awards and Broadcast

With the films edited and ready, the next exciting phase took the project to a national level. We gathered a distinguished panel of judges—including government officials, community leaders, the city mayor (or their representative), the U.S. Ambassador, representative from the National Police, and other influential voices in Panama—to view and evaluate the short films at the television station.

This prestigious group scored each entry across meaningful categories such as Best Actor/Actress, Best Script, and Best Short Film overall. To ensure fairness and integrity, all results were carefully

notarized and kept secret until the big reveal—building anticipation and adding a true sense of celebration to the occasion.

The films then aired in high definition on national television, giving these talented young people from high-risk communities a platform to share their stories with the entire country. What began as local empowerment blossomed into a powerful national testimony: that

hope, creativity, and perseverance can shine brightly even in the toughest places, inspiring viewers far beyond the neighborhoods where the stories were born.

TV Week: Amplifying Voices on a National Stage

During "TV Week," my wife Kathy and I joined several of the young actors for a series of live interviews on television and radio. We appeared on popular morning shows and, most memorably, on a full one-hour segment of the program Debate Abierto—a well-known roundtable show typically dedicated to political discussion and opinion.

For these teens from high-risk communities, stepping in front of cameras and microphones for live national broadcasts was a daunting yet exhilarating experience. Though many felt nervous at first, they shone brightly! With poise and authenticity, they clearly expressed what was in their hearts—the challenges they face, the dreams they carry for their futures, and the hope they hold for their neighborhoods. Their words touched viewers across Panama, demonstrating the incredible potential and resilience of young people often overlooked.

The TV station also produced engaging promotional commercials that aired throughout the week, building anticipation and drawing even larger audiences to watch the short films each day.

This powerful media exposure not only celebrated the creativity and talent of these youth but also opened doors for their stories—and the message of hope, transformation, and God’s redemptive love—to reach thousands who might never have heard them otherwise.

National Broadcast and Community Voting

The short films aired every evening at 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with one powerful story from a different high-risk community featured each night. This prime-time slot gave thousands of viewers across Panama the opportunity to witness the creativity, courage, and heart of these young people—stories that might otherwise have remained unheard.

Then, on Friday evening, immediately following the final screening, the TV station opened its website for online public voting. Viewers and entire communities were invited to cast their votes for their favorite short film, turning the project into a true celebration of collective support and pride. Families, neighbors, and friends rallied together online, cheering for the teens who had bravely shared their lives and dreams on a national stage.

This interactive finale not only honored the hard work and talent of the participants but also strengthened community bonds and amplified the message of hope, perseverance, and God’s transforming power—showing that when young voices are given a platform, entire neighborhoods can be inspired to dream bigger and live victoriously.

The Grand Awards Ceremony: A Night of Celebration and Recognition

After the national broadcast concluded, we partnered with the TV station to host our own special "Oscars"-style awards ceremony. We arranged buses to transport entire groups—actors, friends, family members, and supporters—from each participating community to a grand venue, such as a movie theater or convention hall.

The atmosphere was electric! As everyone settled in, the short films played on the big screen to thunderous applause, cheers, and waves of joy. For many, it was the first time seeing their loved ones celebrated as stars—capturing the pride, laughter, and tears of a community witnessing its own talent shine.

Then came the highlight: the announcement of the winners! Dignitaries—including ambassadors, TV personalities, politicians, and community leaders—took the stage to present trophies in each category, honoring the outstanding work of these young filmmakers.

This crowning event turned what began as a local outreach into a powerful testimony of hope, creativity, and God’s redemptive work—proving that when young lives are invested in, celebrated, and empowered, transformation ripples far beyond the screen.

Project Impact & Legacy

Each year, approximately 75 teenagers from Panama City's high-risk communities participated in this transformative filmmaking project. Over the course of eight remarkable seasons, we produced dozens of powerful short films that captured real stories of hope, struggle, and resilience.

Beyond the films themselves, our church and foundation provided support to around 350 at-risk young people annually. Through after-school programs—including academic tutoring, free computer access and homework printing, sports, drama, dance, and Bible classes—we created a safe, nurturing space for them to belong, grow, and stay connected to education. These initiatives helped keep teens in school, away from negative influences, and pointed toward a brighter, purpose-filled future in Christ.

All primary violence-prevention activities of the foundation were made possible through the generous support of private donations and local and federal government subsidies—testaments to the power of partnership in Kingdom work.

To experience the heart and creativity of these young people, we invite you to watch all of our short films on our youtube channel. Two of the films include English subtitles for broader accessibility; the rest are in Spanish (the original language of the participants' stories).