Rediscovered Home Videos Earn Filmmaker Major Documentary Award

FRANKLIN, Ohio — Geovana Pimentel, a filmmaker and photographer from Recife, Brazil, has been named Best Short Documentary winner at the 2025 Midwest Slam Fest for her autobiographical short film My Mother Bought a Camera. The festival, based in Franklin, Ohio, highlights short independent films with a focus on bold, socially resonant topics. Pimentel relocated to Los Angeles in 2023 to expand her career in visual storytelling, bringing with her a background in film studies from the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco.

“My visual work often merges personal narrative and documentary style,” Pimentel states on her official bio page, reflecting her continued interest in introspective and memory-driven projects. Her award-winning film exemplifies that approach. My Mother Bought a Camera is a video essay and short documentary that revolves around home video tapes recorded in the early 2000s by her mother. The camera, purchased in 2002 despite financial constraints, was used to capture everyday moments of family life; school performances, casual interactions, and early childhood glimpses.

In 2022, Pimentel rediscovered the tapes and began examining them not just as nostalgic relics but as a personal archive. The film grapples with the emotional dissonance between her adult self and the child portrayed in the footage, which she described as “like encountering a tiny stranger.” The piece has drawn attention for its exploration of memory, identity, and the disconnect between past and present selves.

Midwest Slam Fest, now in its second year, is hosted at The Screening Room in Franklin and accepts films under 40 minutes made after 2020. Winning entries receive promotional support, festival laurels, and in some cases, further screening opportunities across Ohio. The festival emphasizes unique and personal storytelling, offering additional awards such as the “On the Edge” category for works that defy genre or push conventional boundaries.

Pimentel’s film was praised by critics for its emotional clarity and thematic depth, with reviewers noting its resonance among audiences navigating their own personal histories. The film was also made temporarily available for public viewing through a curated online platform until October 20 as part of a limited promotion.

The exact runtime of My Mother Bought a Camera has not been publicly disclosed, nor have full production credits or budget details. There is no current confirmation of a distribution deal or streaming release, and it is unclear whether the Midwest Slam Fest award includes a monetary prize.

Pimentel’s broader filmography and potential festival circuit plans have yet to be detailed. However, her recognition at Midwest Slam Fest marks a significant milestone in her transition from Brazil to the U.S. film scene, showcasing her ability to weave deeply personal experiences into universal narratives.

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