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We sit down with filmmaker Kurt Hoffmann to unpack the Con Mis Manos film and the deaf ministry in Matamoros, Mexico, that helped shape MOVE and MIX programming this summer. We talk through calling, collaboration, and the creative choices behind telling a story where language becomes dignity, and the gospel becomes personal. 

We discuss:

• Kurt’s path from Hawaii to joining CIY in Missouri
• First impressions of Con Mis Manos and why Michelle’s story anchors the narrative
• Building mission partner content into the program rather than treating it like an add-on
• Shifting from a three-part plan to a four-part documentary series late in the process
• Directing choices that prioritize faces, hands, and a slower pace shaped by sign language
• Why aspect ratio, framing, lenses, and color help students feel the story
• What it’s like watching the films with students and letting go of outcomes
• Forming a prayer team around production and trusting God in the edit
• Stories that did not fit the runtime but reveal the deeper impact of language and identity

To watch the film: https://store.ciy.com/products/con-mis-manos

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