‘We Became Fragments’ Nominated for Best Short at the IDA Documentary Awards

"We Became Fragments," a Pulitzer Center-supported film directed by grantees Luisa Conlon, Hanna Miller, and Lacy Jane Roberts, was one of 10 short films nominated for Best Short at the 34th International Documentary Association (IDA) Documentary Awards.

The film follows Ibraheem, a Syrian teenager and refugee, through his first week of high school in Winnipeg, Canada. After losing his mother and siblings in a bombing that left him injured and disabled, Ibraheem and his father make a new life despite the heartbreak of leaving their home behind.  It's a story about loss, resilience, and one young man's identity as he adapts to a new country while his home is at war.

The three co-directors of the film met while earning their masters at UC Berkeley's School of Journalism. Their work has been published in The Atlantic, PBS NewsHour, NPR and more. The co-directors also collaborated a short documentary "Leaving Iraq for a Life in America" which was featured in "The Atlantic Selects," a series of short films curated by The Atlantic magazine.

The IDA Documentary Awards is the world's most prestigious event dedicated to the documentary genre, celebrating the best nonfiction films and programs of the year. IDA supports nonfiction filmmaking and filmmakers by providing resources and programs.

The full list of nominees is available on the IDA website. IDA members will be voting for Best Short and Feature from November 4 to December 3. Winners of the 34th edition will be announced December 8 during a ceremony hosted by Ricki Lake at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.