The film premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival on September 18, 2020, and was screened in October at the St. John's International Women's Film Festival.Wendy Rose, "Digital but delightful: annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival returns". The Telegram, October 12, 2020. In December it was screened at the Whistler Film Festival,Craig Takeuchi, "From B.C. to Newfoundland: The 2020 Whistler Film Festival offers a cinematic cross-Canada trek". The Georgia Straight, December 6, 2020. where it won the Borsos Competition award for Best Canadian Film."Newfoundland and Labrador film ‘Little Orphans’ wins top prize in Whistler". Global News, December 21, 2020. The film was also nominated for the Directors Guild of Canada's DGC Discovery Award.Connie Thiessen, "Tracy Deer, Loretta Todd, among DGC Discovery Award finalists". Broadcast Dialogue, September 11, 2020.
