BAD CHILD (2022), Short Documentary, 13m
Bad Child is a short documentary about childhood sexual abuse. The film focuses on the outcomes of one survivor while expert interviews place emphasis on the importance of parental support. Multiple layers of images, sounds, and animation overstimulate the viewer, effectively conveying the complexity of living with trauma.
Film Screening Inquiries
To schedule a film presentation and post-screening discussion, please reach out via my contact form.
Watch the trailer below.
Film Screening History
Bad Child had its world premiere at Drexel University (US) during a film series on mental health. Its international premier was at the Warsaw Film Festival in Poland, an Academy recognized and FIAPF accredited international competitive film festival. The film has screened at numerous festivals, art galleries, museums, and universities. It continues to be used as a tool to engage audiences in discussions about the impacts of sexual abuse/assault.
See a full list of screenings and presentations below.
Check out our IMDb page here:
Awards
2023 Best Student Film, Fine Arts Film Festival, California, US
2023 Best Student Film, McMinnville Short Film Festival, Oregon, US
2023 Best Editor, Roma Short Film Festival, Italy
2022 Best Editor, Filmshort Creative Award, Tennessee, US
2022 Best Documentary/Creative Non-Fiction, CSU Media Arts Festival, California, US
2022 Outstanding Achievement: Original Soundtrack, Global Music Awards, US
2022 Honorable Mention, Video Art and Experimental Film Festival, New York, US
Other Nominations
2023 Jury Nominee for Best Editing & Best Doc, Oceanside International Film Festival, California, US
2023 Jury Nominee for Best Experimental Short, Oregon Documentary Film Festival, Oregon, US
2022 Nominee for Best Student Film, Red Rock Film Festival, Utah, US
2022 Short Film Grand Prix nominee, Warsaw Film Festival, Poland
2022 Grand Jury Award nominee - Best Documentary Short, Key West Film Festival, Florida, US
Film Festival Screenings
2023 Crossing the Screen, England
2023 DocuWest at Denver Documentary Society, Colorado, US
2023 Fine Arts Film Festival, California, US
2023 Love & Hope International Film Festival, Spain
2023 McMinnville Film Festival, California, US
2023 North Dakota Human Rights Arts Festival, California, US
2023 Oceanside International Film Festival, California, US
2023 Oregon Documentary Film Festival, Oregon, US
2023 Roma Short Film Festival, Italy
2023 Stockholm City Film Festival, Sweden
2022 CSU Media Arts Film Festival, California, US
2022 Drexel University presents Tilt/Shift, Pennsylvania, US
2022 Eastern Oregon Film Festival, Oregon, US
2022 GRRL Haus Cinema, Massachusetts, US
2022 Key West Film Festival, Florida, US
2022 Monadnock International Film Festival, New Hampshire, US
2022 Red Rock Film Festival, Utah, US
2022 Warsaw International Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland
Museum/Gallery Screenings
2024 The Arts Center, North Dakota, US
2023 Bismarck Downtown Artist Cooperative, North Dakota, US
2023 James Memorial Preservation, North Dakota, US
2023 Taube Museum of Art, North Dakota, US
2023 The Plains Art Museum, North Dakota, US
2023 Venice Institute of Contemporary Art (VICA), California, US
Other Screenings
2025 California State University San Marcos, California, US
Film Presentations & Artist Talks
2025 Presenter & Panel Moderator Arts & Lectures, CSU San Marcos, California, US
Bad Child: Film Screening & Interdisciplinary Panel on Sexual Assault
2024 Guest Speaker FMST 300: Elements of Cinema, CSU San Marcos, California, US
2023 Guest Speaker TFM 540: Documentary Production, San Diego State University, California, US
2023 Panelist Oceanside International Film Festival, California, US
2022 Panelist Tilt/Shift at Drexel University, Pennsylvania, US
Discussion on filmic representations of mental health issues
2022 Panelist Warsaw International Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland
© 2025 Nicole Emilíana Marie Mendez