“Through the searing stories Chelo Alvarez-Stehle tells in her film, she demonstrates that sexual abuse and sexual trafficking are but points on a continuum. In so doing, she has made an important contribution to the national conversation about sexual assault and rape culture. This film is part of the new movement of independent documentary films that reveal important truths about the terrible secrets we keep as a society and the toll they take on all of us.” —Jack Lerner, UC Irvine law professor, Director of the UCI Intellectual Property, Arts, and Technology Clinic and member of the Board of Directors of the International Documentary Association.

“Thank you for screening The Sands of Silence for my class on psychological trauma. It was a powerful and impactful experience. As several of the students pointed out, it made the topic of psychological trauma, which we have spent the last 6 months studying from a theoretical and clinical viewpoint, come alive. The film portrayed a chilling picture of trafficking on women and child victims. But it also showed how common sexual abuse is, and how it can take a seemingly subtle form, yet still have long term effects on a person’s view towards relationships, themselves and their role in the world. This is a rampant problem internationally, and your film helps to bring awareness to this problem. I know that the experience of seeing the film will remain vivid for my students as they embark on their careers as trauma therapists.” —Ellyn Goldstein, MS, LMFT, Adjunct Faculty, California Lutheran University

“Sands of Silence is a deeply moving work that will leave no one untouched by its message to put an end to sexual violence. Its secret lies in the self-reflexivity that characterizes the approach of the filmmaker as well as the structure of the film. Chelo skilfully interweaves her own inner journey towards acknowledging the trauma that she herself endured as a result of sexual abuse with the stories of victimized women from around the world. She thereby draws us into the abysses of sexual violence and human trafficking as well as into complex and often painful processes of healing.       The diverse experiences documented by the film also bring home the truth that sexual violence occurs not only in milieus associated with deprivation and crime but right in our own seemingly protected homes and communities.Importantly, Chelo’s non-judgmental stance creates a space for daring questions and open conversations, in the film and beyond. Our discussion after the screening at Hiroshima City University encompassed the situations of victims as well as perpetrators; cycles of violence and abuse and how to stop them; silences in families and communities and how to break them; and, notably, the fact that wartime sexual violence committed in the past may continue to haunt the nation of the perpetrators in the present. I have seldom seen our students so attentive and wholeheartedly involved.” — Ulrike Woehr, Gender Studies Professor, Hiroshima City University, Japan

“Sands of Silence: Waves of courage takes us into an often invisible secret world where women are enslaved and sexually trafficked. A perilous world which can often seem far away and beyond relief. However, the director Chelo Alvarez-Stehle shows us that human sex trafficking is but one step away from sexual and domestic abuse that infiltrates all areas of society. This film compels us to confront the secrets, venues and patterns that make sexual violence possible. While this film is challenging, it is also filled with hope. That survivors of any level of sexual abuse deserve a voice and a chance to heal and no matter what part of society we inhabit we can be a part of the solution. And indeed the human spirit is triumphant.”
—Cynthia V. Duarte Ph.D., Director, Center for the Equality and Justice, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology, California Lutheran University

“SANDS of SILENCE offers a poignant look into the experiences of several women who survived acts of sexual violence. The film does an incredible job addressing the full spectrum of sexual violence, ranging from child sexual abuse to human trafficking. While many documentaries have illuminated this topic for audiences around the world, SANDS of SILENCE offers an extremely personal look into the myriad challenges and successes a victim experiences. Whether it’s the validation or invalidation that can come from comparing their stories to others, to facing pressures from family members and loved ones, to forgiving one’s perpetrator, this film captures the complexity of a survivor’s healing journey in a profound way. As an victim’s advocate and a trainer, I can see countless potential uses for this film with a variety of audiences as we work together to engage people around the world in a meaningful dialogue on how to end the massive public health crisis that is sexual violence.”
—Abbey Hanley, Training Manager, Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, Cleveland, OH

“Your documentary is very moving and deeply impactful. I am the Patron of a charity called Coram Children’s Legal Centre in London which works with trafficked children and similar stories unfortunately abound.”—Paul Bloomfield, The Rosetta Stone

“Emotional sexual abuse is sometimes more insidious because it is not as easily recognizable as rape, torture, and/or trafficking and the survivor often feels that she does not have the same “right” to feel sad, depressed or anxious and to grieve her loss and pain as do the survivors of rape, torture or trafficking.”  —Laure Weber, Psy., D.

“A powerful look into the difficult realities surrounding sexual abuse and trafficking, delivered through stories that are painful but oh so compelling. Well done, Chelo Alvarez-Stehle, for helping us dive deeper into a subject we must bring to light—the sexual exploitation of our most vulnerable members of society.”  —Susan Stiffelman, author of Parenting with Presence

“I join with your expanding audience in expressing deep appreciation for the way in which your film is generating a broader and deeper conversation about sexual assault, violence, sex trafficking, and the long arm of hurt caused by disrespecting sexual boundaries of our youth. Because of work like yours, Minnesota now has a sex trafficking law that criminalizes the manipulation of vulnerable people’s sexuality for profit. The whole of society needs to understand that tolerating more subtle sexual boundary violations is linked to the horrific violence perpetrated on Virginia and too many others.” —Jana Austad, Minnesota Ninth Judicial District Court Judge

«It was an honor to present your deeply moving film at the L.A. Press Club.» —Patt Morrison of the Los Angeles Times

“Sands of Silence: Waves of Courage is a sensitive and intimate denunciation of a problem that is endemic to most societies in today’s world.  Chelo Álvarez-Stehle patiently gives the protagonists of the documentary the time and space necessary to gather the courage to talk about their traumatic experiences, and so, begin to heal and overcome their stifling feelings of shame. Through this process, the women in the film, including Chelo, her sister Marián, and sex trafficking survivor Virginia Isaías, find their voice and dare to unearth painful unspoken memories with the goal of helping others while helping themselves.”
—Margherita Tortora, Director, Latino and Iberian Film Festival at Yale

“Violence and abuse have a best friend, a trusted accomplice: Silence. After watching Sands of Silence I can hear the waves of courage crashing loudly against the rocks of silence; a sad sound wrapped in sweet possibility of all that can be… thank you Ms. Alvarez-Stehle and fellow brave soldiers.”
— Yareli Arizmendi, actress, Like Water for Chocolate

“She-he-all who in spite of fear break the silence are heroes. Chelo Alvarez-Stehle director and subject of Sands of Silence, along with the brave protagonists of this documentary are nothing short of that: heroes.”
— Sergio Arau, filmmaker, A Day Without a Mexican

“It is a sincere, heart-felt film that touches you from the first second and holds your attention throughout the film. Seldom is this achieved by any documentary. You are shocked and stunned at the boldness of the attackers and suddenly you realize the depth of the problem that it is worldwide and ongoing. Bravo for bringing this issue out of the darkness and shining a light on it. This film has the power to educate women to realize their vulnerability and take steps to protect themselves and their children. This film will change lives, open conversations and raise the consciousness on many hidden issues.”
— Carole Dean, Founder, From The Heart Productions and Roy W. Dean Grants

“This successful and heart-rending film is an acknowledgement of the coming of age and impact of this director’s purposeful work spanning two decades and several countries in the world.”
— Fundación SGAE