“They’re Here”, interview with directors and producers Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller

Laura Poitras and Rachel Lauren Mueller are the filmmakers behind the powerful short film They’re Here. This film, screening at Venice Film Festival 2026, tackles urgent issues surrounding immigration, resistance, and state violence in the United States. The interview explores their creative process, motivations, and the message they aim to convey.

Inspired by a Short Online Video

Poitras recalls how inspiration came from a short online video showing snowy landscapes and an urgent warning to stay inside because “THEY’RE HERE.” This unsettling clip inspired the film’s cinematic language, blending horror and dystopia to depict the nightmare-like reality faced in the US. Poitras and Mueller emphasize that their film reflects the stark truth of ongoing violence and systemic repression, challenging viewers to confront a disturbingly normalized situation. By adopting a genre approach, they aim to immerse the audience and evoke an emotional response that traditional news reportage cannot achieve.

The Web of Resistance

Mueller explains their deliberate choice of perspective, pointing out that the film draws viewers into a web of resistance rather than following a central protagonist. They focus on the collective effort of Minneapolis residents who actively oppose ICE operations through various forms of community action. Mueller illustrates how this resistance is both grassroots and highly organized, with volunteer networks using surveillance tools creatively to protect neighbours and monitor authorities. She highlights the sense of hope and cohesion amid the chaos, contrasting the horror unfolding on the streets with the community’s resilience.

A Fast Production Process

Filming took place between January and March, with some footage from December sourced from the community. Mueller recounts how the organic, non-hierarchical nature of their gathering mirrored the movement’s spontaneous and volunteer-driven dynamics. They discuss the complexity of portraying the story of a key character who had to hide in a car trunk during extreme cold to avoid detention, emphasizing the film’s role in exposing the nightmarish reality of immigration enforcement in the US. Their intent was to shield sources while conveying the urgency and severity of the situation.

Plot