LOGLINE

After Title 42 expires, a desperate landowner clashes with Turkish and Kurdish refugees, including a pregnant woman, as survival and fear ignite an irreversible tragedy.

SYNOPSIS

After Title 42 ends, a conservative landowner’s desperate defense of his border property escalates into a deadly confrontation with Turkish and Kurdish refugees, including a pregnant woman, forcing both sides to confront fear, survival, and the irreversible consequences of a broken system.

ARTISTIC STATEMENT

I have always believed that landscapes carry memory. In The Burden of Shadows, the desert is more than a setting. It is a character in its own right, shaped by invisible histories and charged with quiet violence. The vast openness of Jacumba Hot Springs, with its endless horizon and unforgiving elements, mirrors the emotional isolation of the characters. My aim is to transform this environment into a living, breathing canvas of tension, where every shadow hides both danger and humanity. Visually, I am drawn to stark naturalism with the heightened tension of a survival thriller. I am inspired by the way films like Sicario and The Rover use landscape to amplify suspense. In our film, the wide desert frames will contrast sharply with tight, handheld close-ups that bring us into the intimate terror of our characters. I want the audience to feel the suffocating cold of the desert night, the coarse sand against skin, the rasp of breath as fear tightens its grip. Light and shadow will play an essential role. Flashlights will cut through darkness like weapons, casting fragmented beams that mirror the fractured psyches of both the landowner and the refugees. Sound design is another crucial layer. Silence in the desert is never truly silent. I want to capture the low hum of wind against brittle branches, the distant barking of dogs, the crunch of footsteps over dry earth. These details will heighten the suspense without relying on over-scored tension. Music will be used sparingly, allowing natural sounds to drive the atmosphere and emotional weight. Pacing will follow the escalating urgency of the story. Early scenes will unfold with a deliberate stillness, giving space for the dread to simmer. As the night deepens and choices narrow, the rhythm will quicken, pushing both characters and audience toward inevitable collision. I want the experience to feel like tightening a rope, every moment drawing us closer to a breaking point. What excites me most about The Burden of Shadows is the opportunity to explore moral ambiguity through cinematic language. The characters are trapped, physically and psychologically, not just by the border but by fear and survival instinct. My intention is not to pass judgment but to invite the audience into this space of uncertainty. Through camera movement, sound, and performance, I want viewers to inhabit these uncomfortable moments, to feel the weight of impossible decisions. As a filmmaker, my personal connection to this story is deeply felt. Having navigated the immigrant experience myself, I understand the silent fears and quiet resilience that migration demands. This perspective informs not just the narrative but the way I want to tell it. My goal is to craft a film that feels urgent and immersive, one that lingers in the mind long after the final frame. With The Burden of Shadows, I hope to create a visceral, intimate thriller that resonates as both a cinematic experience and a reflection of our fractured world.

KEY CREW

Mehmet Gungoren - Producer

Mehmet Gungoren is a Los Angeles-based producer and co-founder of ZeroPoint mk, a production company focused on bold, socially impactful cinema. His producing work spans independent films, documentaries, and short form narratives that center underrepresented voices and globally resonant themes. His credits include The Ball Method (Pan African Film Festival) and Black Night, supported by the Berlinale World Cinema Fund. Mehmet has a deep commitment to projects that spark meaningful dialogue and engage audiences beyond the screen. He specializes in shepherding films from early development through distribution, building creative teams, securing financing, and crafting thoughtful festival and release strategies. Mehmet believes in the power of intimate, character-driven storytelling to illuminate urgent social issues, and seeks to create films that live on as part of larger cultural conversations. For The Burden of Shadows, Mehmet is guiding the project from pre-production through completion, focusing on assembling a strong international team, implementing a sustainable fundraising model, and ensuring the film’s vision is realized at every stage. His goal is to position the film for a vibrant life on the festival circuit and beyond, bringing its urgent themes of migration, survival, and moral complexity to audiences worldwide.

Tanju Ozdemir - Writer & Director

Tanju Ozdemir is a Turkish filmmaker and writer-director whose work explores themes of migration, identity, and the personal impact of political conflict. His films center on characters navigating borders both literal and emotional, shaped by his own experiences as an immigrant and citizen of a politically polarized country. His recent short film, Woodpecker, follows a Kurdish asylum seeker in the United States confronting memory, trauma, and belonging within the Turkish diaspora. His previous work, Intentions, examines hospitality, racism, and social dynamics during the Syrian refugee crisis in Turkey, offering a portrait of everyday tensions and quiet resilience. Both films have been recognized at national and international film festivals, reflecting his ongoing commitment to stories that illuminate underrepresented perspectives. Tanju earned his M.F.A. in Film and Media Art from Emerson College and currently teaches film and video production at Emory University. He is passionate about fostering inclusive narratives and mentoring the next generation of filmmakers. With The Burden of Shadows, Tanju continues to deepen his exploration of migration and displacement. Set against the harsh landscape of the US-Mexico border, the film confronts themes of survival, fear, and moral complexity, inviting audiences to engage with urgent questions of belonging and shared humanity.