“Surprise Exam,” an initiative launched by students in the School of Communication, demonstrates how audiovisual production can serve as a tool for raising social awareness

Childhood grief and how to support children and adolescents in the face of death are particularly sensitive issues within family, educational, and social contexts. How to communicate a loss, what words to use, and how to provide emotional support to a child are matters that require judgment, sensitivity, and guidance.

In this context, students in the Audiovisual Communication program at Francisco de Vitoria University have addressed this reality through the short film “Surprise Exam,” an audiovisual piece that has already garnered more than 190,000 views and has helped spark a public conversation about childhood grief, the role of schools, and the importance of supporting children through experiences of loss.

The production, which features the actresses Sonia Valero, Susana Merino, and Luna Fulgencio, highlights the potential of audiovisual media to address particularly sensitive social issues from a human, rigorous, and responsible perspective.

IMG_4059 UFV students address childhood grief through a short film that has garnered over 190,000 views Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

An audiovisual project that began in the classroom and has a social impact

“Surprise Exam” began as a college project, but its reach has far exceeded initial expectations. The short film went viral on YouTube, racking up more than 60,000 views in just one week, and has now surpassed 190,000.

Nacho Ros, director of the short film and professor at Francisco de Vitoria University, explains that “‘Pop Quiz’ began as a project with very limited resources and a small budget, although its reception has exceeded all expectations: the short film has gone viral on YouTube, racking up more than 60,000 views in just one week and has now reached 190,000.”

The journey of this project reflects the ability of academic projects to extend beyond the classroom when they combine technical training with a social and human perspective. In this case, the students have applied skills specific to audiovisual production—scriptwriting, directing, production, acting, filmmaking, and distribution—to address an issue of particular educational and family relevance.

PHOTO-2026-04-30-20-47-04 UFV students address childhood grief through a short film that has garnered over 190,000 views Study at the Universidad Privada Madrid

Audiovisual Communication to broaden our horizons and spark social dialogue

The impact of the short film reinforces the educational mission of the UFV School of Communication, which promotes teaching grounded in professional reality, the social impact of communication, and the development of a critical, creative, and engaged perspective.

Through this initiative, the students have applied technical and narrative skills in a real-world production setting, but they have also tackled a particularly complex challenge: telling a story about death, childhood, and companionship without resorting to melodrama, oversimplification, or silence.

Projects like these help students understand that audiovisual communication does not merely inform or entertain, but can also help shed light on human realities, bring social needs to the forefront, and create opportunities for dialogue on issues that deeply affect people.

Childhood grief: a reality that calls for support

During the screening, Susana Martínez, an expert on grief, and Francisco Heredia, the head of studies at the school where the short film was shot, discussed how to support children when death is present in their lives. Both agreed on the importance of addressing this reality naturally, avoiding silence, concealment, or overprotection.

The session also highlighted the vital role of schools as a place for emotional guidance and support for families, especially when children and adolescents are coping with the loss of a loved one. In this regard, the need to help children find meaning, security, and hope even in the most painful experiences was emphasized.

Specialized organizations such as Child Bereavement UK recommend speaking with children in a clear, age-appropriate manner and avoiding euphemisms that might cause confusion. The organization emphasizes the importance of using simple, straightforward words to explain death, as well as providing a stable, supportive, and safe environment where the child can express their questions and emotions.

An expert perspective from UFV's support services

The impact of Surprise Exam has helped bring to the forefront the need for tools, guidelines, and professionals to facilitate conversations about childhood grief both within families and in educational settings.

In this context, the UFV Psychology and Personal Growth Clinic employs professionals in counseling and therapy who specialize in childhood and adolescence. They approach each situation with a human and holistic perspective, recognizing that a person is much more than the symptoms they may present.

The Community of Madrid, in its Protocol for Grief Support, notes that in children, concern for the deceased may be expressed through play and behavior, and may extend to fear of the possible death of other loved ones. This guidance highlights the importance of observing how children express their grief and of supporting their reactions through closeness, listening, and a sense of security.

To train communicators capable of bringing about change

Through this project, UFV’s Audiovisual Communication students demonstrate how the university can serve as a space where technical training, creativity, and social awareness come together to address real-world needs.

The initiative reflects an approach to communication centered on serving people and a commitment to a culture of support, hope, and care. It also embodies the value proposition of the School and UFV: to train professionals capable of creating content that combines technical quality, narrative skill, social responsibility, and a human touch.

In a landscape marked by content overload and the rapid evolution of new digital languages, projects like “Examen sorpresa” highlight the importance of training communicators who are equipped to tell stories that not only reach large audiences but also help people better understand reality and accompany them through their most profound experiences.

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UFV students address childhood grief through a short film that has garnered over 190,000 views

“Surprise Exam,” an initiative launched by students in the School of Communication, demonstrates how audiovisual production can serve as a tool for raising social awareness

An audiovisual project that began in the classroom and has a social impact

Audiovisual Communication to broaden our horizons and spark social dialogue

Childhood grief: a reality that calls for support

An expert perspective from UFV's support services

To train communicators capable of bringing about change

You may be interested

“Surprise Exam,” an initiative launched by students in the School of Communication, demonstrates how audiovisual production can serve as a tool for raising social awareness

An audiovisual project that began in the classroom and has a social impact

Audiovisual Communication to broaden our horizons and spark social dialogue

Childhood grief: a reality that calls for support

An expert perspective from UFV's support services

To train communicators capable of bringing about change

You may be interested