Archive · 12 Jan 2026
Ado Short Film Highlights School Shootings
Sam Henderson made a short film called 'Ado' about school shootings.
It shows what happens when a teacher and her students are in a rehearsal, and a former student comes in with a gun.
The film is based on real experiences, like the Uvalde shooting, and shows how scary and common school shootings have become.
The teacher in the film is played by Jenifer Lewis, who is also an advocate for gun safety.
The film has won awards at several film festivals and is now on the shortlist for the 2026 Oscars.
Sam Henderson wanted to tell this story because teachers don't often get to share their experiences during these tragic events.
He hopes the film will make people think about how gun violence affects everyone in schools, including teachers.
Sam Henderson's short film 'Ado' focuses on gun violence in schools from a teacher's perspective, inspired by his mother's experiences and the Uvalde shooting.
The film stars Jenifer Lewis as an overworked and underpaid teacher who faces a former disgruntled student with a gun during a classroom rehearsal.
'Ado' has won awards at multiple film festivals, including the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival, and Cleveland International Film Festival, and is on the 2026 Oscars shortlist.
Henderson chose the teacher's perspective to highlight the often-overlooked impact of school shootings on educators and to avoid political messaging.
The film has resonated strongly with audiences at Black film festivals, where it has received enthusiastic responses and recognition.
- Who
- Sam Henderson (director), Jenifer Lewis (actor), and various teachers and students affected by school shootings
- What
- A short film titled 'Ado' that addresses gun violence and school safety from a teacher's perspective
- When
- The film is set in the context of recent school shootings, with a focus on the Uvalde shooting and the current era of school shooting drills
- Where
- The film is set in a school in Texas, and it has been shown at various film festivals, including those focused on Black cinema
- Why
- To highlight the often-overlooked perspective of teachers in school shooting situations and to raise awareness about the prevalence and impact of gun violence in schools
- Director
- Sam Henderson
- Main Actor
- Jenifer Lewis
- Film Length
- 15 minutes
- Oscar Shortlist
- 2026 Oscars shortlist
- Festivals Won
- Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival
- Inspiration
- Uvalde shooting and Henderson's mother's experience as a teacher
- School Shootings in 2025
- 75 (43 on college campuses, 32 on K-12 grounds)