Portland-based director Santiago Tijerina, Salt '23 received the Emerging Maine Filmmaker Award for "Courts of Belonging," a documentary highlighting the futsal court in Kennedy Park. This compelling documentary explores how the South American-originated sport of futsal fosters community among immigrant and refugee residents in East Bayside, one of Maine's most diverse neighborhoods.
The film premiered at the Maine Outdoor Film Festival Selects Tour and has garnered awards and grants. Tijerina plans to expand "Courts of Belonging" into a full-length feature. For an in-depth look at Tijerina’s journey, read Sophie Burchell’s article in The Portland Forecaster.