"Skating Towards Hope"

Skating Towards Hope: Cuba’s Nueva Vida Story is a film project slated to be a feature-length documentary that captures a transformative mission bringing hope and vitality to forgotten Cuban communities. Nueva Vida Skate is introducing skateboarding as a catalyst for Christ, drawing kids and their families into church communities all across Cuba.

This documentary's purpose is 1) to inspire, 2) grow Nueva Vida Skate's mission, and 3) show the world what Christ is doing in Cuba.

Press: Steamboat Pilot&Today Article (Oct. 2025)

We've already started rolling! We've gone down to Cuba twice with Superdust Films to capture some initial footage: skating, interviews, and events. But there's a whole lot we need to get done to fully capture this story and make it into a full length film we can share with the world. We need your help so we can:

• Plan and coordinate 2-3 more trips to Cuba with SDF film crew
• Capture: life changing stories from the Cubans, youth gatherings, what is happening at the various skate chapters, and more.
• Organize and archive 20+ hours of footage (soon to be much more)
• Edit into full length documentary film (60 to 80 minutes)
• Complete sound design & color grade

We've got unique rewards for every funding tier. 

• Give $20: Get a Nueva Vida Skate Ministries sticker pack
• Give $100: Get an Autographed limited-edition movie poster 
• Give $500 : Get a "Skating Towards Hope" branded t-shirt and hat 
• Give $1,000: Get an invite to premier screening (w/ preferred seating and a plus-one)
• Give $5,000: Get an Executive Producer credit (on web & in film)
• Give $10,000: Get an Original Cuban skate inspired art sculpture

*Rewards are cumulative

We're already a few months into this! We're shooting to release the film before Q3 of 2026–but we need your help!

• Month 1–2: Pre-production (planning and coordinating).
• Month 3–12: Filming in Cuba (interviews, skate footage, events).
• Month 4–14: Post-production (editing, sound, and color).
• Month 15–17: Distribution (premier screening and digital release).

NVS Ministries is joining forces with Superdust Films and YOU to create this heart-felt Christ-centered documentary.

Directed by Austin Lee Hilde:

• 18+ years experience in the Advertising/Film industry creating ad campaigns + TV spots for brands like Nike, Microsoft, and Amazon
• Lead dozens of film productions locally and globally recieving top industry awards for his work

Produced by Marco Cuevas:

• Built NVS Ministries over the past 8 years–bringing hundreds of skateboards to Cuba and igniting a Christ-centered culture
• Lead the creation of Cuba's first actual skate park along with opening 8 addition Skate Chapters across Cuba

Funding Goal: $103,800
Filming in a foreign country like Cuba involves immense logistical hurdles: from navigating government constraints and language barriers to tackling travel logistics, lodging, and beyond.

• 40%: Filming (equipment rentals, travel, lodging, food, & crew fees).
• 30%: Post-production (editing, sound design, color grading).
• 15%: Community engagement (marketing & screenings).
• 10%: Rewards fulfillment and shipping.
• 5%: Platform fees.
• Stretch goals: Additional funds for festival submissions, film tour, extended shoots/extended content, or a Spanish-language version.