Leaving behind all their possessions and fleeing the violence and poverty that grip much of Central America, Joanna follows the same path her estranged mother traveled years before. Like drops of water in a river, the family moves through Mexico with the caravan—an immense group of up to 7,000 migrants that has further polarized political debate in the U.S.
Los ríos invites us to reflect on modern migration, human rights, and our own role as consumers of media.
At the core, we witness firsthand that there is no limit to what a mother will do for the safety and future of her children.
A determined Honduran mother and her three daughters are swept into the currents of the contentious migrant caravan as it pushes relentlessly toward safety, opportunity, and the United States.
Los ríos (2025) - 75 min
Directed by: Dale Bailey & Ryan Fyfe-Brown
Meet the Directors
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Dale Bailey
Dale Bailey has worked professionally as a filmmaker for over 15 years covering action sports, travel, and music. As a cinematographer, his patience and ability to remain calm in high-risk film situations has positioned him at the heart of many intimate stories. His fluid editing style and ability to tell a story while excelling in frame composition, professional camera movement, practical effects, and picture editing continue to carry a visceral and genuine experience to the audiences of all his projects.
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Ryan Fyfe-Brown
Ryan Fyfe Brown is a documentary writer, producer, and director. Prior to medical training as a Doctor, his adventurous nature led him to create his first feature “All Aboard” which focuses on travel on freight trains, homelessness, and skateboarding. Ryan’s immersion and commitment to the world of his subjects mark all his projects with their affecting and genuine nature. In hopes of a project with larger implications and reach, inspired by the current global socio-political environment and how it affects his medical patients, He decided to pursue the creation of Los ríos with Dale Bailey.
Directors Statement
In 2012, my best friend Martin invited me on a soul-searching motorcycle trip across Latin America after his parents died. When his bike was stolen early on in Chile, I continued alone, spending each night reflecting on the social crises, unliveable conditions, and migration I witnessed.
As a physician, I wanted to understand the refugee experience beyond the hospital. I spent six months researching migration, learning Spanish, scouting locations on my motorcycle, and building a network of shelters, activists, and NGOs. When the first migrants left San Pedro Sula—before major media noticed—Dale flew to meet the caravan. Knowing many would drop out along the way, we interviewed five families and gave them phones to stay connected amid the chaos. Johana and her children ultimately formed the emotional core of the story as Dale and I stayed by their side for six weeks, filming their rare patience and courage.
As Canadians, we have often felt removed from the many issues constantly unfolding around the world. Physically distant from major events—such as the migrant caravan of October 2018—we rely heavily on the news to explain what is happening and why. Yet this situation, like so many global issues, has shown how media coverage, its sources, and even our own biases can distort our understanding. The creative team felt that the only way to truly grasp the scope of this particular issue was to witness it firsthand and meet the people directly affected.
While traveling with the migrant caravan, we found that media rhetoric—across the political spectrum and across countries—was constant, but rarely captured the full picture. Los ríos is our attempt to return the narrative to the migrants themselves and let their voices rise above the distant commentary.
