For my birthday on July 5, 2025, I asked for one thing: instead of gifts, help Ineffable Films put down roots. We called the campaign Root Us Here, launched it on Givebutter on July 2, and set a goal of $3,530.

You blew past it. More than 50 supporters raised $3,639, just over 103% of our goal.

The idea wasn’t even mine. Sylvia Guan planted the seed, helped me plan it, and caught a mistake on the website before anyone else saw it. From there, it spread through family, old friends, mentors, teachers, and people who had only just heard of us.

Some of the messages stuck with me. Mark Jacobson, who supported me when I was a teen myself, wrote that backing teens in any way goes right to his heart. Arthur Groys, now one of our mentors, gave the price of a movie ticket for our students’ big screen premiere. Lia wrote, “Hope the roots grow strong!” Swami Indirananda sent blessings. And one anonymous donor wrote that they didn’t have much but wanted to show support. Every one of those gifts counted.

That summer, those roots became real: our first summer internship, the partnerships that led to our Mass Cultural Council grant, and the foundation for everything that came after.

Thank you to Melody and family, Azuree, Claudia, Derek Biggs, Albert, Nir Tahan, Kevin, La Raza Webb, the Amezcuas, Liza, Kait D’Souza, Melina O’Grady, Dej Collins, Weiwei, Will Matovu, Dom, Alisha, Andrey and Julia, Uncle Vincent, Alison Harik, Sylvia Guan, Angela Chen, Christopher Gilbourne, Arielle Wisbaum, Swami Indirananda, Aaron, Nikhilesh, Mark Jacobson, Olivia, Grace, Shiree Dyson, Lia, Jay and Hema, Ron T, Pranit, Cousin Tia, Auntie AJ, Aria, Arthur Groys, Yogi, Herb H, Perla Myers, Joanne H, Monique Ellison, and every anonymous donor. You rooted us here.

The campaign page is still open as Stories That Travel if you’d like to add your name.

Want to be part of what’s next? Volunteer or partner with us, explore our programs, or support young filmmakers.