Directed by Michael Del Monte, Fight Kid tells the story of a father (Eddie Triana) who is training his son (Isaiah Triana) in the science of youth boxing. With a high-stakes match on the horizon, the father pushes his son farther and faster than he’s ever been, putting dreams of glory in his mind. But this father’s motivations remain suspect and, with every training session, walks closer to the line of losing more than the match
In Fight Kid, Del Monte walks a fascinating line between reality and fiction. Though the story itself isn’t true, he still maintains a kernel of truth within his writing by using non-professional actors. Choosing a real ‘fighting family’ for his subject, he coaches the best (and worst) out of his performers through the furious nature of his script. By giving them the freedom to contribute to the dialogue, Del Monte taps into their natural impulses, creating a sense of free-flowing authenticity to his work. (In fact, he even allowed the climactic fight to unravel on its own, willing to pivot the story based on the eventual outcome.)
But Fight Kid isn’t just about the battle itself. Instead, it’s a story that exposes the worst parts of parenting. As the father pushes his son to lose weight and earn his spot, he also reveals his own self-interest. Every pound his son drops brings him closer to resurrecting his own dreams of failure, lived through his child’s experiences. For this father, his son’s victories aren’t merely about his growth or improvement in the standings.
It’s about achieving the thing that he never did as a child.
In that sense, there’s a certain purity in Fight Kid. Character arcs are simple but the performances are strong enough to elevate the film. There’s a quiet rage that bubbles underneath the surface of this short, making it a Fight well worth taking.
Fight Kid is playing at TIFF ’26. For more information, click here.
