After her father is wrongfully detained by ICE during a routine morning, a determined Latina teenager risks everything to expose the private prison scheme behind his arrest—forcing a divided nation to reckon with the cost of silence.

SYNOPSIS:

Sofia Morales, 16, is a straight-A student and first-generation Mexican-American living in East Los Angeles. Her father, Miguel, is a beloved mechanic with no criminal record—until the day ICE raids their home, dragging him away in front of her. With no explanation, no charges, and no access to legal aid, he vanishes into a labyrinthine private detention system.

Sofia is shattered, but not broken. With help from a burned-out local journalist and a civil rights lawyer, she begins to investigate her father’s case—uncovering a corrupt web of ICE officials, local law enforcement, and private prison contractors profiting from wrongful detentions. What starts as a desperate search becomes a national outcry as Sofia hacks media attention with a viral campaign demanding justice.

As protests erupt and politicians scramble for cover, Sofia is thrust into the spotlight—balancing school, grief, and the terrifying realization that her every move is being watched. Meanwhile, inside the detention center, Miguel fights for survival amid abuse, isolation, and growing despair.

Sofia must make an impossible choice: stay quiet to keep her family safe—or speak the truth and risk losing everything.

Dramatic Hooks & Themes:

• A Young Heroine in Over Her Head: Sofia is smart but inexperienced. Her fire to fight injustice grows as the system fights back.

• Flawed Allies: The journalist helping her has his own demons—he once ignored a similar story. The lawyer is overwhelmed. Nobody is perfect, but that makes their struggle more real.

• Real-World Relevance: Based on the rise of ICE contracts with for-profit prisons, the film echoes headlines while remaining emotionally grounded.

• Father-Daughter Love: The beating heart of the film is the bond between Sofia and Miguel, told through flashbacks, phone calls, and dreams.

• Threat of Retaliation: ICE begins targeting other families who speak up. Sofia receives anonymous warnings. But silence is no longer an option.

Why It Works: Left Behind is a timely and deeply human story that exposes the underside of modern American immigration policy. It offers the emotional intensity of a father-daughter drama with the investigative momentum of a political thriller. Shot in a vérité style with minimal locations, it's a powerful low-budget feature that punches well above its weight—designed for awards attention, streaming appeal, and urgent cultural relevance.

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