To Catch A Siren

An orphaned refugee sets out in search of her mother. We see this from a child’s perspective as she imagines her mum to be a mermaid, lost at sea. A fairytale version of love, loss, and the devastating lives of refugees.

This short follows Roya (Layla Badat), a young refugee living in an orphanage. After the loss of her mother (Burcin B. Kilic), she can’t quite comprehend the realities of her situation and lets her imagination run wild. She tells the tale to her friends of the past, when she and her mother were together roaming the ocean as mermaids and how they will inevitably find their way back to each other. It’s this very idea that never dulls Roya’s spark.

It sets out to discuss a somber and very relevant topic that’s only progressively worsening. The star of the show is Roya; she portrays the innocence of a young mind trying to get a handle on real-world problems, that life is unjust and unfair. All of the young performers in this hold their own; from a variety of backgrounds, they come together and unite in their friendship. They build a boat in their childlike naivety to show their support of Roya, an act that feels touching and heartfelt in their attempt.

The visual storytelling throughout is stunning, most notably the underwater shots. We feel a sense of freedom as we see life in the ocean, one that Roya and her mother have never had the privilege of experiencing, only through imagination. This film does a great job of hitting home a tragedy in a more digestible format. A format that shows the vulnerabilities of a child losing her mother and the horrors of travelling overseas dangerously for a better life. Roya still holds hope in her heart, and so do we, even though we are aware of the inevitable disappointment. We want to believe there’s a happy ending, but their lives only add to the ever-growing statistics. As of 2026, there are more than 39,000 people missing or never made it to shore, many of whom are children.

Wherever you may be in the world watching this short, the compassion and awareness of this topic are so important. Raphaela Wagner, the director, compacts so much into a short runtime. From the artistic choices to the writing, we experience a film crafted from love and empathy. The cast takes a compelling story and transforms it into an unforgettable, emotional experience from start to finish.

Winner of Shore Scripts 2024 Spring Short Film Fund, recipient of Hessen Film & Medien Short Film Grant and Verein Südkultur Prize, supported by Emmy-winner Karina Michel and ARRI Rentals.