In an interview with the Haus des Dokumentarfilms, director Franz Böhm explains that the idea for the film came about in early 2019, during research work on the topic resulting from his own interest.
He describes the year as a peak of young political activism,[4] in which, looking back, he expresses an interest that was already high at the time:[5] »Die jungen Menschen arbeiten gegen deutlich mächtigere Kontrahenten und haben weniger Ressourcen zur Verfügung.
Darüber wollte ich unbedingt mehr lernen und erfahren [...]«[6] (English: „Young people are working against much more powerful opponents and have fewer resources at their disposal.
[11][12][13] Extensive measures were taken to prepare for the shooting, including safety briefings, special training sessions and consultations with filmmakers at the respective destinations.
On 30 January 2020, while filming in Chile, a policeman shot director Franz Böhm at close range, hitting him in the back of the head with a rubber bullet.
[5][9] At the end of June 2020, Franz Böhm travelled to Hong Kong a second time to talk to Pepper about new developments and the situation during the National Security Law.
[23] By working together with students from the Universities of Harvard and Stanford, the team was able to successfully contain these dangers, track attacks, counter them legally and secure data and communication channels.
This cooperation and newly developed technologies were also used to securely export the film footage from Hong Kong in order to protect the identities of all recognisable participants.
[22] At a film discussion at the Frontline Club in London on 1 December 2021, director Böhm announced that this approach will be further expanded to create an infrastructure that will also be available to support other projects.
[24] Dear Future Children highlights the motivations of young people who face exceptional challenges and sometimes life-threatening risks by participating in movements and demonstrations.
[40] The Encyclopaedia of International Film judged: »Jenseits von Sensationshascherei und Agitation finden die aufwühlenden Porträts eine authentische Ebene, die das Engagement der drei Frauen begreiflich macht, ohne sie zu heroisieren« (English: „Beyond sensationalism and agitation, the stirring portraits find an authentic level that makes the commitment of the three women comprehensible without heroising them.“).
[41] Phuong Le (The Guardian) reviews Dear Future Children as »[...] an impressive debut from such a young director, who is clearly marching in step with his progressive peers.«[42] Katja Sebald (Süddeutsche Zeitung) adds that one can only agree with Böhm's effort to show Dear Future Children to the largest possible audience: »Politiker und Wähler, Lehrer und Schüler, Eltern und Kinder, überhaupt jeder sollte diese aufrüttelnde Dokumentation sehen« (English: „Politicians and voters, teachers and students, parents and children, in fact everyone should see this stirring documentary“).
[30] As part of the Hot Docs Film Festival, Angie Driscoll describes Dear Future Children as a »[...] refreshing film focused on female activists that removes the machismo and grandstanding standard for protest documentaries.«[43] Pat Mullen (POV Magazine) adds: »Dear Future Children challenges audiences to remain hopeful for their sake.