With “Beautiful Something Left Behind,” director Katrine Philp wanted to explore grief from children’s perspective. “But it is not only a film about grief — it is a film about life and existence, and a film where we celebrate childhood,” she told us.

The SXSW-winning documentary introduces audiences to Good Grief, a New Jersey-based community with a holistic approach to mourning. Children who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling are encouraged to “process their loss and express their emotions,” Philp explained.

A new trailer for “Beautiful Something Left Behind” sees kids remembering loved ones they’ve lost and navigating the world in their absence. Asked what the word “grief” means, one child responds, “remembering that person, [and] longing to be with them again.”

“I hope that the audience will have a personal experience and they will reflect on the big questions in life,” Philp told us. “Some will hopefully go back in their memory of their own childhood, some may think of someone they have lost, and maybe some will even reflect on how they talk about our feelings in general.” She added, “One of the worst things after my dad died was the silence of people not knowing what to say — avoiding me, maybe struck with fear of how to talk about death and grief. I hope this film will make us all braver when we encounter people who have experienced loss, and I think the children in the film can help us with that. They are so amazing, brave, and sincere, and I think we, as adults, can learn a lot from them.”

“Dance For Me,” “Home Sweet Home,” and “False Confessions” are among Philp’s other credits.

“Beautiful Something Left Behind” arrives in virtual cinemas January 8.