
2019 • 1h 14m • Documentary
Brought to you by
SANE Australia
Availability
Available until Dec 31, 2026
Available Worldwide
Brought to you by
SANE Australia
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About the film
Catherine’s Kindergarten is a visually stunning and deeply moving story about a mother climbing a mountain in Western Nepal to open a kindergarten in memory of her daughter. This award-winning documentary is not only about grief and loss, but about resilience, gratitude, and the fierce beauty of the human spirit. Universal in its reach, it speaks to anyone who has faced adversity and discovered that even in heartbreak, joy can still rise.
We have chosen to support the work of SANE Australia who support people with recurring, persistent or complex mental health issues and trauma, and will be paying all proceeds directly to SANE.
Director
Kaye Cleave, James Daggett
Producer
Kaye Cleave
Crew
Sara Bolder, James Daggett, Jade Robinson, James Daggett, Charlie Wang, André Barros, Rosemary Wanganeen, Carol Harada, Christopher Delorenzo, Anna Malapira
Awards & recognition
IndieFEST Film Awards
Award of Merit
LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival
Excellence
Seattle Film Festival
Official Selection
Melbourne Documentary Film Festival
Official Selection
New York International Film Festival
Finalist
Malta Film Festival
Best Drama Feature
Impact Doc Awards
Award of Merit
Sunscreen Film Festival
Official Selection
Lake Travis Film Festival
Semi-Finalist
Kansas City International Filmfest
Official Selection
Julien Dubuque International Film Festival
Official Selection
Women's Voices Now Film Festival
Official Selection
Golden State Film Festival
Official Selection
Hong Kong Indie Film Festival
Official Selection
Docs Without Borders Film Festival
Best of Show
Vancouver Film Festival
Finalist
Five Continents International Film Festival
Award Winner
San Francisco Documentary Film Festival
Official Selection
What people are saying
‘Catherine’s Kindergarten is a tender and beautiful film that moves beyond one mothers’s grief to another world entirely. The impact that Kaye’s decision to establish a kindergarten in Nepal as Catherine’s legacy provides inspiration to others who are confronted by the death of a loved one.‘
Roger S.
‘Catherine’s Kindergarten is a visually beautiful film and Kaye’s honesty is deeply moving. I can’t imagine anyone not being touched by her story. One of the many positives that come from watching the film, is having a better understanding of grief and loss. It also allows for conversations that are much needed around this topic. Grief is such a teacher, but there’s still so much silence around it.‘
Natalie P.
‘Catherine’s Kindergarten is one of the most heartwarming and powerful documentaries I’ve ever seen. I not only laughed and cried, I was motivated by Kaye’s resilience in the face of a momentous tragedy. Her honesty is refreshing and her courage up-lifting. She makes me want to be a better person.‘
Scott M.
‘One of the strengths of the documentary, Catherine’s Kindergarten, is that it’s a universal story about love, loss and resilience of the human spirit. Whatever age you are, I promise it will speak to you in some way. My friends and I are only in our twenties, yet seeing how Kaye coped with the loss of her daughter, makes us realize we can cope with future hardships in our lives.‘
Sarah B.
Gallery