Short Documentary 'Dragon Mom' Wins Top Prize at Vero Beach Film Festival

The film has also been selected for the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:15pm

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An abstract close-up photograph of a soft, textured fabric in muted earth tones, conveying the fragility and resilience of the human experience depicted in the documentary Dragon Mom.The documentary Dragon Mom explores the complexities of motherhood and the healing power of nature through an intimate portrait of a family's journey.Vero Beach Today

Dragon Mom, a short documentary directed by Harrison Buck, won the Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at the Vero Beach Film Festival. The film follows Laura Will and her son Alden as they navigate the realities of raising a child with complex medical needs, capturing how access to the outdoors shapes their daily lives.

Why it matters

The film explores themes of motherhood, access, and the healing power of nature through the story of a family facing complex medical challenges, providing a unique perspective on caregiving and the importance of connecting with the natural world.

The details

Produced by Alex Delano and James Hamilton with Pandion Creative and oakpool, the film features cinematography by Matteo Moretti and an original score by Chris Pandolfi. Dragon Mom will continue its festival run, with additional screenings to be announced.

  • Dragon Mom premiered at the Vero Beach Film Festival on April 16, 2026, where it won the Jury Award for Best Short Documentary.
  • The film has also been selected for the Wasatch Mountain Film Festival.

The players

Harrison Buck

The director of the short documentary Dragon Mom.

Laura Will

The mother featured in the film Dragon Mom, who navigates the realities of raising a child with complex medical needs.

Alden Nicholson

The son of Laura Will, who is featured in the documentary Dragon Mom.

Pandion Creative

A purpose-driven film and content studio based in New Hampshire, focused on human stories shaped by landscape, culture, and experience.

oakpool

A production company that collaborated with Pandion Creative on the documentary Dragon Mom.

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What they’re saying

“We set out to follow Laura and Alden honestly, without imposing a narrative. It became a film about presence, and about what it means to move through the world differently.”

— Harrison Buck, Director of Dragon Mom

What’s next

Dragon Mom will continue its festival run, with additional screenings to be announced.

The takeaway

Dragon Mom provides a powerful and intimate look at the experiences of a family navigating complex medical challenges, highlighting the importance of access to the natural world and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.