Music Night Out Music Video Showcase *Main show 8-10pm 1:45pm 1:45pm 10pm 7pm The Queen of My Dreams
Closing 97 mins + red carpet
@6:15pm + reception @9pm 9pm
Tickets & Venues
There are no refunds or exchanges. If you have made a significant purchase in error, please email boxoffice@asiancinevision.org with the subject heading “REFUND REQUEST” and we will review your email.
The above events are pay-what-you-can. Suggested amount is $15.
Asia Society & Museum
725 Park Ave
New York, NY 10021
Regal Union Square
850 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
Sugar Mouse
47 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10003
Linen Hall
101 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10003
Penny Farthing
103 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10003
DROM
85 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
Snafu Bar
127 E 47th St
New York, NY 10017
CUNY
School of Labor & Urban Studies
25 W 43rd St, 19th Floor, Rm 1425 / 1426
New York, NY 10036
Staff Notes
John Woo Executive Director
How you doing, New York?
On behalf of the Asian CineVision Board of Directors, we welcome you to this 47th edition of the Asian American International Film Festival. We are excited to be back live with you here with our presentation partners at Asia Society. Thank you and your amazing staff for having us.
We are genuinely honored to welcome back to the City, Japanese American author, songwriter, dancer and theater artist, activist, and OG of the Asian American movement, Nobuko Miyamoto, with the East Coast premiere of Tadashi Nakamura and Quyen Nguyen-Le’s documentary, NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT.
With a program of over 100 films from over 25 countries in 21 languages that reach back into ACV’s rich exhibition history, we fast forward to today’s new generation of activists that have risen up to address the critical issues that confront our communities with new tools and strategies. We celebrate the remarkable cinematic achievements by our Asian Pacific Islander American storytellers, many who had their careers nurtured on this stage. We do this for you. This is your Festival.
We are grateful to all of our new and returning supporters: the Mary Li Hsu Charitable Trust, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, the Library
of Congress, SAG-AFTRA, all of our Community Partners, and the Many Friends of ACV.
Most of all I need to thank this year’s remarkable team: Co-Festival Directors Kayla Wong and David Rances, Kris Montello and the Programming team, Development team Young Chen and Eunice Chen, Operations Manager Tiffany Bai, Creative Manager Murielle Hsieh, Asia Society’s Rachel Cooper and Diya Radhakrishna, and to ALL the managers, interns, and volunteers that make these 11 days happen. Thank you!
Finally, last year as summer slipped in fall, our dear friend, sister, gifted, award winning filmmaker Sikay Tang lost her battle with cancer. Asian CineVision was a familiar home for Sikay. As a filmmaker, editor, juror, Sikay was a influential member of the New York Asian Pacific American storytelling community. The 47th Asian American International Film Festival is announcing the Sikay Tang Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Documentary Filmmaking. We miss you every day.
So. Remain vigilant, watch out for each other, keep it safe and stay angry.
Cheers,
John Woo
David Rances & Kayla Wong Festival Co-Directors
Dear Reader,
Perhaps you’re reading this during the Festival, or maybe a couple of months after to remind yourself of that cool film you saw, or in a few decades while researching the evolution of Asian diasporic cinema. If the latter, you may have noticed that there hasn’t been an AAIFF program book for the past few years. Rest assured that the show indeed went on— amidst the effects of ongoing global crises, our festival persevered, but we really had to think about what we needed to prioritize. We had to shift the way we operated, but maybe that had been the case for a while.
The two of us have been a part of AAIFF for 12 years. During this time, we’ve had the honor of meeting arts programmers and organizers from all across the world. Though we all love what we do, it’s become apparent that film festivals as currently structured are not sustainable. So many of us are thrown into the deep end without institutional knowledge, adequate support systems, or consistent workflows. A niche festival like AAIFF, centered around community-building and with limited resources, ends up being fueled solely by the passion of its staff. This drive to contribute to something more than ourselves is what makes the whole experience exciting, but it can very easily turn into overextension. It’s all-consuming, and we’ve seen so many fellow organizers burn out.
To avoid this, and to protect our passion for AAIFF, we are going to take a step back into a supporting role. This would also enable the next generation of organizers to step forward, make the space their own, and hold each other accountable. When our leadership grows, so does our network of support and sense of organizational stability, allowing us to redirect that energy towards a more complex and diverse media ecosystem.
As you read this in whatever ~unprecedented~ future you may be in, we hope that our work has contributed to a stronger and more resilient Asian American filmmaking community. And we hope you know you played a part in this, too. Thank you for engaging with our programs, encouraging creativity, demanding change, and sharing your stories.
Thank you, John, for holding the ship together for so long, and the comprehensive history lessons. Thank you to the hundreds of staff members and volunteers who we’ve had the privilege to work with. Our compensation is more than anything physical; it’s the connections, growth, and memories we made together.
Cheers, David & Kayla
Kris Montello Programming Manager
Dear Friends,
I’m so happy to be at the movies with you this summer for AAIFF47!
I can recall just four years ago sitting alone at my parents’ house, sifting through AAIFF film submissions for our 2020 festival and longing to dive back into the vibrant, colorful world inside my laptop.
What a film festival was—maybe what a film was—changed that year. We were huddled around computer screens or TVs watching the world we longed to return to.
Indeed: it’s been a long few years as we’ve gradually increased our in-person presence following the pandemic, and this year I’m proud to say we’ve selected films from 30 countries, such as Kazhakstan, Pakistan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Australia: all on the big screen.
I also want to take the time to highlight especially the local NYC filmmakers, communities, and individuals that make the festival possible by volunteering, organizing, attending, and of course making many of the films included in this program.
But, when we could, we have made these films available to you online to share with farflung friends and family across the country.
So no matter where you are, we hope that the laughs, tears, music and good food on display here touch your heart like a dispatch from an old friend. Let’s get together again soon.
Sincerely yours,
Kris Montello
Demi Y. Guo CineVue Editor-in-Chief
We are in the golden age of Asian American media, and yet it barely scratches the surface of who we are and what we are capable of. Our roots in this land run deep, with countless stories overlooked throughout history. And although we are labeled “Asian American Pacific Islander” for May, our Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander family doesn’t share anywhere near the amount of our on-screen attention.
Those developments are not far behind, and nowhere is it more visible at the 47th Asian American International Film Festival. We will be showing ASHIMA and HOME COURT, where Asian Americans excel in sports beyond Jeremy Lin.
Stories of reconnection and growth lead us off the beaten paths–off the tourist traps of Hawai’i in CHAPERONE and alongside the Mexican descendants of Japanese immigrants in YŪREI.
And we explore the rest of the world through the eyes of a teenager lost in his ancestral home in TAYAL FOREST CLUB by Taiwan’s first Indigenous film director, and Kevin Woo’s life as a K-pop star in SEOUL SWITCH
Our stories are defined by diaspora, and often the burden of intergenerational trauma in a world that moves faster tahan that of our ancestors. This is why we come together. We may be uncertain where we are going, but we’ll have fun along the way.
To come to AAIFF is to come to the gateway of Asian American Pacific Islander creativity on the East Coast.
Tschüss,
Demi Y. Guo
Jurors & Award Nominees
Asian American International Screenplay Competition
ALEX LIN
Alex Lin is just a girl from Jersey. Her plays have been developed at Roundabout, Second Stage, NYTW, MTC, the O’Neill, Ojai, and more. As an actor, Lin has appeared at Actors Theatre of Louisville ( THE WOLVES), New Victory (IN THE LAND OF MAUVE & GOLD), HVSF (JULIUS CAESAR), Ma-Yi ( THE HOUSE OF BILLY PAUL), and more. She is a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist and a Weissberger Award nominee.
HELEN SHANG
Helen Shang is a writer who was most recently a supervising producer on Max’s upcoming IT prequel, WELCOME TO DERRY, and a co-executive producer on season 2 of Netflix’s AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER. Helen was born in Beijing, China, and grew up in Silicon Valley. She graduated from Princeton with a BA in English and a minor in creative writing.
MOHAMAD SALEH
Mohamad Saleh is a Palestinian writer and film director from Amman and Brooklyn. He is a 2024 Tin House Summer Workshop participant and was a 2019 Open City Fellow at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, where he currently serves as the Programs Manager. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Animated Film Festival, the Big Apple Film Festival, and The Margins. He is currently working on his first short story collection.
AWARD NOMINEES
JOINTLY JUVENILE
Written by Brian Du & Anne Mirrop Boyd
MISSUS
Written by Marissa Carpio
RAISED ON HOOPS
Written by Noah Kim
Emerging Director
In Narrative Feature
FARIDAH GBADAMOSI
Faridah Gbadamosi is a pop culture enthusiast aiming to make film more inclusive. She seeks to change the space of tastemakers, rethinking the models for curation and exhibition. She has worked for numerous film festivals and other film organizations, including the California Film Institute, Athena Film Festival, Outfest, and many more. She is also Director of Distribution at Open Your Eyes and Think MF, the distribution wing of David Magdael & Associates, a consultant on different film projects and a freelance culture critic.
AWARD NOMINEES
FANTI
Directed by Andy Nguyễn
LINDSAY WATSON
Iman Zawahry is one of the first hijabi American-Muslim filmmakers in the nation, collaborating with the non-profit Islamic Scholarship Fund to create the first-ever American Muslim film grant, where she currently serves as Director of Film Programs. She works to amplify the underrepresented female voice and speaks across the nation on Muslims in Film. Her debut film, AMERICANISH, is currently touring the festival circuit and has won numerous awards. She is also a professor of film at the University of Florida.
Lindsay Watson, a Hawaiian actress born and raised on Maui, was immersed in theater and sports before moving to Los Angeles. Lindsay stars as Hana Okumura in Netflix’s family-adventure film FINDING ‘OHANA and portrays the historical role of Pi’ilani in THE WIND AND THE RECKONING, where she speaks ‘Olelo Hawai’i (Hawaiian language). Besides acting, Lindsay is passionate about writing scripts, singing, and sharing and preserving Hawaiian culture through film for future generations.
PAPER MARRIAGE
Directed by Jeff Man
WAKHRI
Directed by Iram Parveen Bilal
IMAN ZAWAHRY
Emerging Director In Documentary Feature
FÉLIX ENDARA
Félix Endara, an Ecuadorian-born trans immigrant and independent documentary filmmaker, is dedicated to authentic storytelling. His short films have graced prestigious festivals, including Berlinale, DOC NYC, NewFest, and Mill Valley. Félix advocates for trans filmmakers, advising the 2023 Sundance Institute’s Trans Possibilities Intensive, founding the Trans Affinity Group within the Documentary Producers Alliance, and promoting authentic queer and trans storytelling in outlets like the Hollywood Reporter.
AWARD NOMINEES
DECOUPLING 脱钩
Directed by Yinan Wang
GEETA GHANDBIR
Geeta Gandbhir transitioned from narrative to documentary film after an eleven-year career under the guidance of Spike Lee and Sam Pollard. Her work includes the Oscar-shortlisted HOW WE GET FREE, the Academy Awards-shortlisted CALL CENTER BLUES, the series BLACK AND MISSING, and many others. Directing credits include an episode of THE ASIAN AMERICANS (PBS) and A CONVERSATION ON RACE with The New York Times Op-Docs, which she also co-produced.
TIFFANY HSIUNG
Tiffany Hsiung is a multi-Peabody and twotime Canadian Screen Award-winning filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada. She is listed as one of DOC NYC’s 40 Under 40. Hsiung’s work was recognized with two Emmy® nominations for the Apple TV series, JANE. Harnessing her passion for storytelling and innovation, Hsiung co-created the Peabody Futures of Media Award-winning documentary THE SPACE WE HOLD, and THE BASSINET, a documentary marking the 50th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Canada.
EAT BITTER
Directed by Pascale Appora-Gnekindy & Ningyi Sun
GUIÁN
Directed by Nicole Chi Amén
Excellence In Narrative Short Filmmaking
IRENE SORIANO
Irene Soriano is an independent film curator and producer. She programs short films for the Sundance Film Festival and serves as the Lead Curator for the I SEE YOU Independent Queer Filipinx Short Film Microcinema. Irene is also the founding producer of KITA Initiatives, an artistic collaborative that supports the creation, distribution, and exhibition of work by new voices emerging within the Filipino diaspora. Central to Irene’s mission in the film space are the principles of building community, fostering collaboration, and providing sustainable support for the various projects she champions.
AWARD NOMINEES
AMERICAN OXYGEN
JINGYI SHAO
Jingyi Shao is a writer and director with experience in commercials, TV, and film. He began his career directing international ads for brands like Honda, Levi’s, and more. Transitioning to narrative projects, Shao has developed TV and film content for HBO, Amazon, and Netflix. He worked with Emmy-winning creator Lena Waithe on BOOMERANG and TWENTIES, and they collaborated again on Shao’s feature debut, CHANG CAN DUNK
The script placed 2nd on the 2020 Black List, and Variety named Shao to its 2023 Directors to Watch List for his work on the project.
Directed by Adam Hazelton & Emily Hazelton
CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Directed by Minkyu Kang
SHE AND HER GOOD VIBRATIONS
Directed by Olivia Griselda & Sarah Cheok
TAYLOR SHUNG
Taylor Shung is a producer born and raised in New York City. She began her career in production, working with filmmakers and artists such as Kogonada, Kahlil Joseph, and The Daniels. Her most recent film credits include Celine Song’s PAST LIVES and Chloe Zhao’s NOMADLAND
As a producer, Shung has helped bring to the screen films by emerging filmmakers such as Zia Anger (MY FIRST FILM), Hannah Peterson ( THE GRADUATES), and Olivia West Lloyd (SOMEWHERE QUIET ). Shung is a 2019 Sundance Creative Producing Fellow.
THE STEAK
Directed by Kiarash Dadgar
29 HOUR FAMINE
Directed by Vivienne Shaw
Excellence In Documentary Short Filmmaking
CHITHRA JEYARAM
Chithra Jeyaram is a physical-therapist-turned-filmmaker with an MFA in Film from the University of Texas at Austin. Her work dismantles stereotypes by centering narratives that illuminate the perspectives, struggles, and complexities of the most fundamental social unit: the family. Her upcoming film, OUR DAUGHTERS, examines open adoption through immigrant eyes. Jeyaram is an alumna of Visions du Réel Rough Cut Lab, Chicken & Egg (egg)celerator Lab, BGDM Artist Fellowship, Gotham Documentary Fellowship, and Jerome Foundation.
AWARD NOMINEES
KITTY HU
Kitty Hu is a queer, Chinese documentary filmmaker. As the daughter of immigrants, Hu’s work amplifies character-driven stories that reflect the work of our social movements, exploring topics such as labor, housing, culture, migration, and climate. She recently directed the Emmy-nominated L.A. REBELLION: A CINEMATIC MOVEMENT (PBS Artbound) and produced TASTE THE NATION (Hulu), WILD HOPE (PBS), TAKE OUT (HBO Max), and AMERICA OUTDOORS (PBS). She is also a proud member of BGDM and A-Doc.
BENKYODO: THE LAST MANJU SHOP IN J-TOWN
Directed by Tadashi Nakamura & Akira Boch
KOWLOON!
Directed by Mona Xia & Erin Ramirez
LOVE LETTER TO ASIAN WOMEN
Directed by Min Soo Park
PULKIT DATTA
Pulkit Datta is a producer, director, and film programmer based in New York. His films have screened at festivals such as Toronto, Tribeca, Atlanta, and more. Datta’s key credits include ISRAELISM, INVISIBLE, DO WE BELONG?, and the upcoming climate activism doc series VS. GOLIATH and fiction feature JERSEY BOY. Datta has been a Producing Fellow at the Center for Asian American Media as well as Impact Partners. He is active in the filmmaking community, establishing initiatives to nurture underrepresented talent, build alternative distribution strategies, and curate for film festivals.
DEAR DAD
Directed by Noah Kim
MINSEO
Directed by Emily May Jampel
Excellence In Music Video
ALEX PORAT
Alex Porat is a magnetic force. She delivers lighthearted pop with serious skill, effortlessly combining memorable melodies with fresh electronic production and crystalline vocal delivery. She first gained a strong following by posting covers on YouTube. Now, with only a few years of solo releases under her belt, she has amassed over 120 million streams on DSPs, 1.1 million YouTube subscribers, and more than 200 million total YouTube views.
JAMES MAO
James Mao, also known as Mamesjao, is a multifaceted artist, director, and creative director renowned for his work in music videos, multimedia campaigns, and visual art. Born in Shenzhen and raised between China, Canada, and the US, Mao’s bicultural background informs his unique aesthetic. He gained fame with innovative animated sequences for Western artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Kehlani, leading to collaborations with 88rising directing top Asian artists including Jackson Wang and (G)I-dle. Known for his edgy and experimental style, Mao continues to challenge traditional visual norms in the music video industry.
AWARD NOMINEES
ADAM ACOSTA - FIREWORK FAM
Directed by Alexander Nguyen
ALMOST HOME
Directed by Jen Kim
FROGS
Directed by Maya Marzuki Peters
KENZO LE
Kenzo Le is an LA-based cinematographer and producer committed to creating intentional, meaningful work. As a first-generation Vietnamese-American, Le seeks to grow his community and foster the next generation. His visual style is sensory-driven, imaginative, and impressionistic. He is the founder and creative director of Crimson Edge, a film production company dedicated to uplifting underrepresented directors and communities through their distinct visual work. He has cultivated a love for narrative shorts and features, resulting in several distributions and features with CryptTV, LALIFF, and Outfest.
JANUARY 28TH, 2020
Directed by Kimberly Te
RINE - I WISH U COULD LOVE ME TOO
Directed by Alex Chen
STOP ASIAN HATE LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Directed by Perry Yung
One to Watch Youth Filmmaker
DAVID TANH
David Tanh serves as the Partnerships Director at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. A Teochew Chinese American and child of Cambodian refugees, he has a deep passion for storytelling. He has contributed to the Harvey Award-nominated ONCE UPON A TIME MACHINE and the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning LITTLE NEMO: DREAM ANOTHER DREAM. Tanh is dedicated to promoting and preserving the visions and voices of AANHPI storytellers.
AWARD NOMINEES
SEN-I YU
Sen-I Yu is an award-winning filmmaker based in New York, originally from Taiwan. Her feature directorial debut, My Heavenly City, was selected for the 43rd Hawaii International Film Festival and was nominated for the NETPAC Award. The film had theatrical releases in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and limited releases in the United States, UK, and Canada, achieving $1.2 million at the box office. She serves as an assistant professor in Cinema Production at Ithaca College.
BUTTERFLY: THE KING OF YUE
Directed by Jingxuan Qi
CLASS CRUSH
Directed by Katherine Lynn-Rose
MUTED
Directed by Chris Zou
‘NORMAL GIRL’
Directed by Kimmy Nguyen-Thoi
WU-CHING CHANG
Wu-Ching Chang, a worldclass animation director with an MA from the Royal College of Art, serves as an adjunct assistant professor specializing in Communication Design at Shih Chien University, Taiwan. She also works as a judge at the FFTG Awards, and her globally screened films address women’s issues, modernity, and humanistic views through interviews and artistic practice. Her animated film, My Grandmother Is an Egg, won a Jury Special Mention at the Atlanta Film Festival and was selected for Animafest Zagreb and Flickerfest.
RED GUARD
Directed by L-J ShenFilerman
THE STORY OF A STRANDED FROG
Directed by Steven Yao
WAIPO’S COMING OVER!
Directed by Shin Mun Yee & Glenda Quek
Sikay Tang Critical Lens Award
This year, we have created a special award, the Sikay Tang Critical Lens Award, to go to a filmmaker whose documentary explores complex issues with an innovative perspective.
This Award is in honor of longtime ACV friend, filmmaker, and teacher, Sikay Tang, who passed away last year from cancer.
For more than 20 years, Sikay was a photographer and filmmaker, who also served as editor for numerous critically acclaimed features, short films, and television series. However, to us here in NYC, she was first and foremost a pillar of our Asian American creative community.
Born in Hong Kong and growing up in New York, themes of her work include belonging, acceptance, cultural identity, and the loving communities we create for ourselves.
Sikay was one of ACV’s greatest friends and supporters, and we are so honored to share her with you at this year’s Festival.
Sikay Tang & John Woo
Photo by Jennifer Fong
JEAN TSIEN
Jean Tsien has worked in documentaries for 40 years as an editor, producer, and consultant. She was executive producer for PLASTIC CHINA (Golden Horse Award for Best Editing) and PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE (SXSW Grand Jury Award).
She has received Peabody Awards for her work on the PBS series ASIAN AMERICANS and the Emmy Award-winning 76 DAYS. Recent projects include FREE CHOL SOO LEE and HBO’s aka Mr. Chow.
Jean is a recipient of numerous awards, including: the Art of Editing Mentorship Award (Sundance Institute); the Lifetime Achievement Award (DOC NYC); and the Luminary Award (Doc10).
JUDY DOCTOROFF
Judy Doctoroff was privileged to work with Sikay Tang on multiple occasions. An award-winning executive producer with more than 30 years of experience, Judy most recently served as Managing Director of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism initiative committed to improved climate coverage. Doctoroff also worked with Bill Moyers as President and Chief Operating Officer of Public Affairs Television, and played a critical role in the production of innovative and courageous works on subjects ranging from the politics and the environment to the role of the media in democracy to the world of ideas.
SAM POLLARD
Sam Pollard is an accomplished feature film and television video editor, and documentary producer/director. He has collaborated with Spike Lee on a number of films, including Four Little Girls and When The Levees Broke.
Since 2012, Mr. Pollard has completed a number of projects, including Slavery By Another Name (PBS), August Wilson: The Ground On Which I Stand (American Masters), and Sammy Davis, Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me (American Masters). In recent years, his work includes the series, Why We Hate (Discovery Channel) and Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (HBO), and the film MLK/FBI.
Spotlights
Opening: Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement
Directed by
Tadashi Nakamura & Quyên Nguyen-Le
60 Minutes | USA
English East Coast Premiere
August 1 | 7-8PM
Asia Society Auditorium
In-person only
This screening is followed by a performance by Nobuko Miyamoto and Derek Nakamoto.
After decades of groundbreaking cultural work that unites communities and sets the bar for Asian American storytelling, Miyamoto reflects on a life that has bridged coasts, industries, families, and history.
Featuring rare archival footage, NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT is a story of a changing community told through the singular life of one of its most beloved storytellers.
Tadashi Nakamura is an Emmy-award-winning filmmaker and the Director of the Watase Media Arts Center, a production company of the Japanese American National Museum. Tadashi was named CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” for being the youngest filmmaker at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Now with over 20 years of filmmaking experience, his films include MELE MURALS (2016), JAKE SHIMABUKURO: LIFE ON FOUR STRINGS (2013), A SONG FOR OURSELVES (2009), and PILGRIMAGE (2006). He is currently working on THIRD ACT, about his pioneering filmmaker father, Robert A. Nakamura.
Quyên Nguyen-Le (they/them) is a daytime emmy nominated queer vietnamese filmmaker born to refugee parents where Chumash and Tongva lands meet (San Fernando Valley, Los Ángeles). Quyên’s work focuses on the ways histories are deeply felt in the quotidian everyday. Their short documentary, THE MORNING PASSING ON EL CAJÓN BOULEVARD (2019) opened the 20th San Diego Asian Film Festival. Quyên was Associate Producer for Sundance award winning films FREE CHOL SOO LEE and THE ACCIDENTAL GETAWAY DRIVER. They hold B.A. degrees from USC in Santiago and a M.A. in Visual Studies from UC Irvine.
Centerpiece: Smoking Tigers
Directed by
So Young Shelly Yo
91 Minutes | USA
English & Korean
CW: Nudity
August 4 | 7-8:45PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
Available online Aug 5-11
Set in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, SMOKING TIGERS is a portrait of a lonely Korean American teen named Hayoung who is taken under the wings of three wealthy students she meets at an elite academic boot camp. As she falls deeper into their world, Hayoung works harder to hide her insecurities about her problematic family and lower-income background, only to discover the bittersweet pains of adulthood that will forever shape her life.
So Young Shelly Yo is an award-winning Korean American filmmaker. Her feature film, SMOKING TIGERS, was the winner of Tribeca & AT&T’s Untold Stories and was awarded Best Screenplay, Best Performance, and a special jury mention for the Nora Ephron Prize at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival.
Prior to SMOKING TIGERS, Shelly created many award-winning short films. She also worked in TV and commercials and directed/edited works for SNL, Levi’s, and Allbirds. Recently, Shelly was awarded the New Voice Award at the 2023 Austin Film Festival and was chosen for the 2023 BAFTA Breakthrough Program.
Closing: The Queen of My Dreams
Directed by Fawzia Mirza
97 Minutes | Canada & Pakistan
English & Urdu
August 11 | 7-9PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person only
Queer Pakistani grad student Azra is worlds apart from her conservative Muslim mother. When her father suddenly dies on a trip home to Pakistan, Azra finds herself on a Bollywood-inspired journey through memories, both real and imagined—from her mother’s youth in Karachi to her own coming-of-age in rural Canada.
Fawzia Mirza (she/they) is a White House Champion of Change in Asian storytelling and an alum of the Tribeca Film Institute. Her new feature script, HEIRLOOM, was named to the 2022 Muslim List—The Black List’s curation of the best-unproduced scripts by Muslim writers.
Her feature directorial debut, THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS, world premiered at TIFF 2023, had its international premiere at the BFI London Film Festival, and was nominated for the Director’s Guild of Canada’s Jean-Marc Vallée Discovery Award. She co-founded BABY DAAL PRODUCTIONS with her wife, producer Andria Wilson Mirza.
Special Presentations
Celluloid Synergy Experimental Films from 1960s-Now
Celluloid Synergy features experimental short films, some previously screened at AAIFF in the 1970-80s and some other contemporary experimental shorts. These experimental films play with the physicality of film itself and use film as a medium for conceptual art, with the goal of bringing back the underground, experimental spirit of AAIFF in its early days.
Saturday August 3
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
12-1PM | 42 minutes
In-person & online
WHITE CALLIGRAPHY RE-READ
Directed by Takahiko Iimura
12 Minutes | 2010 | Japan
Japanese & English
CW: Photosensitivity
In WHITE CALLIGRAPHY RE-READ, Takahiko Iimura returns to his early work. White Calligraphy was originally made in 1967 by scratching characters from ‘Kojiki’, an early Japanese text, into the frames of 16mm black leader.
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE
Directed by Danny Yung
5 Minutes | 1979 | USA & Hong Kong
No dialogue
CW: Photosensitivity
Separate Chinese characters for the words “to serve the people” are flashed rapidly on the screen and superimposed in various combinations.
NATURAL DISASTERS
Directed by Tiffany Jiang
4 Minutes | 2023 | USA & China
English
CW: Mature themes
This found footage film is an exploration into “natural disasters” within the home or family structure.
IT FOLLOWS IT PASSES ON
Directed by Erica Sheu
5 Minutes | 2023 | Taiwan
Mandarin & Japanese
Incense yields a little light and leads the way for the islanders to hide from the bomb. Broken dishes time travel. Imaginations of a post-war island, Kinmen. Lights reveal and conceal the stories.
EIGA-ZUKE (PICKLED FILM)
Directed by Sean Morijiro Sunada O’Gara
2 Minutes | 1994 | USA
No dialogue
CW: Photosensitivity
EIGA-ZUKE is a pickled, experimental photochemical film made for 35mm visual consumption.
24 FRAMES PER SECOND
Directed by Al Wong
15 Minutes | 1978 | USA
No dialogue
CW: Noise sensitivity
The image of film burning is followed by closeups of body parts pressed against the camera lens to create a conceptual and sensual-exotic texture.
CUNY Shorts Showcase
Since 2004, the CUNY Asian American Film Festival (AAFF) has recognized and awarded over $14,900 in cash prizes to student filmmakers enrolled at the City University of New York, including City College, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, Lehman College, College of Staten Island, and Queens College. The CUNY AAFF helps to promote the artistic visual talents and stimulate communication among CUNY students who are separated by the different campuses, and serve as a central location to display their creative works. Past participants have also had their films screened at the Asian American International Film Festival.
A young woman seeks solace in the woods of Pennsylvania amidst the Covid pandemic. Surrounded only by trees, her thoughts become increasingly fraught with desperation and danger.
SCREENED OFF
Directed by Nicholas Bueta 2024 | USA English
The exploration of Dr. Nazanin Hedayat Munroe’s thoughts as she completes a unifying piece of textile art.
BENGAL MEMORY
Directed by Fahim Hamid 2024 | USA
English & Bengali
A Bangladeshi American explores his father’s memories of the liberation war in their native country and the cognitive dissonance in learning of the U.S. government’s controversial role in a forgotten genocide that occurred there in 1971.
A CIRCLE OF REPENTANCE
Directed by Hanjoo Kim 1979 | USA English
A nameless screenwriter named Seol loses his wife, Kelly Pontbriand, due to his selfishness. At this very moment, a mysterious girl in a white dress approaches Seol and shows him a door that is standing alone in the middle of the forest.
CHOMCHOM
Directed by Sanjona Arzan 2024 | USA Bengali
A short documentary about a delicious dessert that originated in Tangail, a small town in Bangladesh.
72-Hour Shootout
Practical Dreamer
The 72-Hour Shootout filmmaking competition (the “Shootout”), run by the Film Lab, is an annual, global filmmaking competition celebrating diversity in front of and behind the camera. The films celebrate the power and creativity of Asian American voices and stories. All films are based on the common theme of PRACTICAL DREAMER, inviting filmmakers to marry practicality and their dreams in the world in which we all must live.
Asian American Film Lab
August 3-11
Available Online
North America Only 50 minutes
TOP TEN PREMIERE
Program directed by Asian American Film Lab
2024 | USA
English
CW: Strong language
The Shootout is run by the Asian American Film Lab, a nonprofit organization devoted to the promotion and support of gender and racial parity in film and television programming with a particular focus on Asian Americans. Through the Film Lab’s 72-Hour Shootout filmmaking competition and in-house entertainment production arm, AAFL-TV, we ensure that stories too often silenced in mainstream media are heard, not just as whispers, but as shouts to the world. The leadership team includes actor Jennifer Betit Yen, actor Tyler Ham Pong, audio engineer Ray Lanuza, and writer Cheryl Davis.
Narrative Features
A Great Divide
Directed by Jean
Shim
100 Minutes | USA
English & Korean
August 10 | 4:45-6:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person & online
Seen through the eyes of a Korean American family that leaves the Bay Area for small-town Wyoming after experiencing devastating loss, A GREAT DIVIDE addresses the emotional and psychological impact of racism and xenophobia on Asian Americans, the loneliness and sacrifice of immigrant sojourners, and the generational burden of expectations that weigh on their children. But it’s also a story about a family repairing itself after tragedy, about a young man breaking out of his shell and finding love, about reconciliation and redemption.
Jean Shim
Emmy Award-winning director Jean Shim started her career directing television promos, feature trailers, and commercials. Shim’s credits include directing image campaigns for the Sci-Fi Channel and launching a network for Samsung Korea. In 2005, Jean transitioned to independent filmmaking and was accepted to the Tribeca Film Festival All Access as a new director. She directed STARLIGHT INN, was notable for featuring a woman director, producer, director of photography, editor, costume designer, and assistant director. In 2021, she produced the feature narrative, SHAKY SHIVERS.
Chaperone
Directed by Zoë Eisenberg
100 Minutes | Hawai’i
English CW: Sexual content, strong language
August 11 | 2:30-4:15PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person & online
Misha Miyamoto, 29, lives alone in the house her grandmother left her, has held the same job since high school, and likes her life as is: simple. Unfortunately, her satisfaction disappoints everyone around her. Her boss can’t fathom why she won’t take a promotion, her lack of ambition dissuades potential love interests, and her parents push her to sell her estate since she has no interest in starting a family. These pressures leave Misha isolated and sick of justifying her choices. When an earnest 18-year-old mistakes Misha for a fellow student, she finds solace in his lack of expectation and begins a relationship with him. But as their relationship grows, so does Misha’s reckless behavior.
Zoë Eisenberg
A community-focused writer, director, and producer, Zoë Eisenberg creates stories and spaces in and about her home on the big island of Hawai’i. She is the co-founder of the Made in Hawaii Film Festival. Zoë produced the 2022 Tribeca Studios short film INHERITANCE in partnership with Netflix and Gold House. Her 2019 debut feature STOKE was shown theatrically across the state of Hawai’i. As a screenwriter, Zoë has placed in the Page Awards and the Austin Film Festival Script Competition. Her feature film CHAPERONE was the Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Breakout Feature at Slamdance ‘24.
Daughters of Monster Magnet
Directed by
Kosaku Horiwaki
46 Minutes | USA
English East Coast Premiere
CW: Nudity, photosensitivity, self-harm, suicide
August 8 | 6-7:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
*Short film preceding DAUGHTERS OF MONSTER MAGNET
Keep Your Left Hand Down
Directed by Nami Iguchi
39 Minutes | Japan | Japanese North American Premiere
In the year 202X, an unknown virus is being spread by left-handed people, and the Children’s Police Force is out to round them up. The protagonist Rin, who is searching for her missing sister, thinks she can change the world with a “man of her destiny” she met by chance. Through various coincidental encounters, Rin is led into another world....
Lili is a psychonaut, a traveler who traverses alternate dimensions, changing her consciousness. At 13, Lili Mukaijima lives in solitude, crafting a dollhouse and daydreaming about alien abductions. A year ago, she lost her mother to self-immolation, and her dog ran away shortly after. Burning dolls’ clothing becomes a ritual for Lili to confront her trauma, while a dog-like monster in her daydreams frightens and comforts her.
On her 14th birthday, consumed by despair, Lili considers self-immolation. Instead, her imagination soars to new heights. She encounters “Teacher” in a UFO, gains an understanding of her mother’s death, and transforms her trauma into a new beginning.
Kosaku Horiwaki
From Japan and now based in the US, Kosaku Horiwaki is a multifaceted filmmaker dedicated to promoting cultural diversity within the industry. He holds a BFA in Film and Television from NYU. He worked as a Unit Production Manager for Japanese television and as an editor for Blu-ray bonus featurettes of Yakuza films.
Recently, he earned a Film Directing MFA from Brooklyn College’s Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema. His thesis film, DAUGHTERS OF MONSTER MAGNET, showcases his distinctive visual storytelling, influenced by the vast array of world cinema he has cherished over the years.
Fanti
Directed
by
Andy Nguyễn
109 Minutes | Vietnam
Vietnamese East Coast Premiere
CW: Violence
August 2 | 8:30-10:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
Step into the haunting world of FANTI, where an aspiring actress’s online allure becomes a playground for a mysterious tormentor. As her virtual facade unravels, she confronts the chilling reality of a stalker’s obsession. This thriller delves deep into the treacherous realms of social media, exposing the vulnerabilities of a generation fixated on curated personas and societal validation.
Andy Nguyễn, a Vietnamese-American filmmaker based in Sarasota, FL and Saigon, Vietnam, grew up in Tampa, FL. He earned his MFA in Film from Columbia University before diving into Vietnam’s burgeoning film scene. Andy gained recognition as an editor for hits like MISS GRANNY (2015) and THE IMMORTAL (2018). In 2023, his debut feature FANTI (2023), distributed by Lotte Entertainment, earned him the “Best Directorial Debut” award at the XXIII Liên hoan phim Việt Nam.
Future Date
Directed by Stanley Wong
82 Minutes | USA
English East Coast Premiere
CW: Nudity
August 4 | 2-3:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person & online
In the distant future where the outside climate is unlivable and everyone is forced to spend their lives alone in tiny rooms, two people win the rare opportunity to go on a very unusual date—in person.
Starring Stanley Wong ( THE BIG SHORT ), Shuang Hu (star/producer/co-writer of the Amazon original, FIVE BLIND DATES), and Johnny Pemberton (Amazon’s hit series, FALLOUT ), FUTURE DATE is an offbeat sci-fi rom-com about the importance of human connection even when the world outside is less than ideal.
Stanley Wong is a Chinese American writer, director, and actor from New Orleans. His short film, DELIMERENCE, was featured at the 2021 Asian American International Film Festival. The short, HAND FART, won the Audience Award at the Nashville Film Festival and earned the coveted honor of being a Vimeo Staff Pick. He produced and co-wrote the feature film, STEVE CHONG FINDS OUT THAT SUICIDE IS A BAD IDEA, which won the AAIFF Audience Award. He was selected for the Armed with a Camera Fellowship. He is also an actor best known for his memorable turn as “The Quant” in the Oscar-winning film, THE BIG SHORT.
Madina
Directed by Aizhan Kassymbek
73 Minutes | Kazakhstan, Pakistan, USA
Kazakh New York City Premiere
CW: Violence, sexual content, nudity
August 9 | 6-7:15PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
The film tells the story of a single mother, Madina, who struggles through her life with a lack of confidence in the present and a lack of hope in the future. Her day-to-day routine is a battle for survival.
In trying to earn a living for her small family—an old grandmother, a withdrawn little brother, and a two-year-old daughter—Madina is ready to go against her moral principles. Her feelings are frozen by a cold winter inside her that seems to never end, until one day her brother makes a shocking revelation. The knowledge of the abuse to which he was subjected as a child changes everything for Madina and breaks the ice that covers her soul.
Aizhan Kassymbek graduated from the Asian Film Academy program in 2019. Her debut short film, SU, won the Grand Prix at Hanoi’s Festival. AUA, another notable work, screened at global festivals. Her debut feature, FIRE, premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2021, gained recognition at 30+ festivals, and earned 16 awards.
Aizhan empowers women in film, as evident in her all-woman crew debut. She aims to bolster Kazakhstani female filmmakers. Her second film, Madina, is a co-production with Pakistan and USA, and had its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2023.
Meeting You, Meeting Me
Directed by Lina Suh
85 Minutes | USA & South Korea
English & Korean East Coast Premiere
August 4 | 4:15-5:45PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
When unexpected, much-needed friendship arrives at your doorstep.... Two women from very different walks of life—a Korean American divorce attorney who is very rooted in her immigrant family’s upbringing, and a Californian college dropout searching for herself after being canceled online—both desperately need a friend in this moment, when they cross paths by chance and form an unlikely friendship.
Lina Suh grew up in Seoul, Korea, the American Midwest, and New York. Lina produced several fiction shorts in NY and LA and directed a short humanitarian documentary, FLOW ON THROUGH, in Cambodia. She directed the short films SO F*CKING HAPPY FOR YOU and GOOD FACE, which was later developed as a TV series with Sony Pictures TV and HBO Max. She was the story editor on DR. BRAIN, Apple TV+’s first Korean language series.
MEETING YOU, MEETING ME is Lina’s first feature film as a writer and director. She received a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Dramatic Writing and an MFA from USC in film production.
Paper Marriage
Directed by Jeff Man
91 Minutes | USA
English, Mandarin, Cantonese
East Coast Premiere
CW: Strong language
August 3 | 1:45-3:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
Fanny (Effy Han), a Chinese immigrant facing deportation, pins her last hopes on staying in the U.S. by paying Jeff (Jeff Man), an unemployed lost soul, to marry her. During this year-long charade, they tiptoe around each other’s differences. As quiet moments turn into clashes, they are forced to navigate through their awkwardness and learn to work together.
Jeff Man grew up in an immigrant family that bonded by watching movies together. He majored in journalism in college but fell in love with filmmaking. In 2010, he moved to LA, began to work for writer-director Jay Duplass and make low-budget shorts. In 2012, he was accepted into the Armed with a Camera Fellowship for emerging artists by Visual Communications. His narrative and documentary shorts have screened at festivals across the country. His film SANTA CLAUS premiered at the LA Film Festival and won the Jury Prize from the San Diego Asian Film Festival. PAPER MARRIAGE is his debut feature.
Wakhri
Directed by Iram Parveen Bilal
99 Minutes | Pakistan & USA
Urdu
New York City Premiere
CW: Nudity & violence
August 8 | 8:15-9:45PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person & online
WAKHRI is about a widowed school teacher in Pakistan who becomes a viral sensation overnight when she accidentally unleashes her unabashed opinions on social media. This newfound fame as an unlikely influencer comes with its own challenges as she has to navigate archaic mindsets and secret identities while raising her ten-year-old son in a world where a woman’s right to have a voice and own their own space, physical or online, is a constant challenge. The film draws inspiration from the bravery of individuals like Qandeel Baloch, Pakistan’s first social media celebrity who was strangled to death by her brother for bringing disrepute to the family’s honor.
Iram Parveen Bilal is an award-winning empathic creator excited to tell thought-provoking socially impactful stories. She is a voice to reckon with in the Muslim community and on the World Cinema stage. Her past films have led to measurable shifts in the causes they championed. Iram has been spotlighted as 1 of 8 directors to watch by the Alliance of Women Directors, a board member of the Film Fatales. She is also a Film Independent, Watson fellow, and multiple-time Women in Film awardee. She has been profiled by The New York Times and featured on NPR, BBC, Bloomberg, and Filmmaker Magazine, among others.
We’re All Gonna Die
Directed
by
Freddie Wong & Matthew Arnold
110 Minutes | USA
English CW: Suicide
August 9 | 8-10PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person only
In the near future, a towering alien “spike” materializes in Earth’s atmosphere, wreaking havoc. Years later, it’s still around. A struggling beekeeper (Ashly Burch, MYTHIC QUEST ) is forced to team up with an emotionally raw EMT (Jordan Rodrigues, NATIONAL TREASURE: EDGE OF HISTORY ) on a roadtrip to retrieve her bees (and his car) after their stuff is suddenly teleported across the country by the alien spike.
Freddie Wong & Matthew Arnold are an award-winning film and television directing duo with over a decade of experience behind the camera directing action, comedy, explosions, and the occasional horse. They are known for their high-octane action comedy YouTube shorts, the cult-classic web series VIDEO GAME HIGH SCHOOL, and ROCKETJUMP: THE SHOW and DIMENSION 404 on Hulu. They also can be heard on the hit Dungeons and Dragons podcast, “Dungeons and Daddies: Not a BDSM Podcast.”
Documentary Features
Ashima
Directed by Kenji Tsukamoto
86 Minutes | USA
Japanese & English
August 2 | 6:15-7:45PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person only
ASHIMA follows elite rock climber Ashima Shiraishi as she travels to South Africa, attempting to be the youngest climber to master one of the world’s most challenging climbs. Accompanying Ashima is her father and coach Poppo, a former avante-garde dancer who brings an eccentric, tough-love approach to Ashima’s training. The story examines the sacrifices required to achieve at the highest level and the complex relationship between immigrant parents and their children. ASHIMA is an intimate coming-ofage story about climbing, family, and the pursuit of the American Dream.
Kenji Tsukamoto
Born in Fukushima, Japan, Kenji Tsukamoto moved to America as a child where his family relocated frequently across the country. Having been immersed in various cultures both in the United States and Japan during his formative years, Kenji offers a distinct point of view in his storytelling. As a third culture kid, Kenji found a kindred spirit in the world-renowned climber Ashima Shiraishi, who became the subject of his first feature film.
Dear Mother
Directed by Jon
Glassberg
40 Minutes | USA & South Korea
English & Korean
East Coast Premiere
CW: Strong language, self-harm, suicide
August 11 | 12:30-1:45PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
*Short films preceding DEAR MOTHER
My 4,500 Hexagons
Directed by Joe Soonthornsawad & Nityasya Belapurkar
10 Minutes | USA | English
World Premiere
My 4,500 Hexagons is a multimedia installation consisting of a 73” x 109” quilt and a documentary short. Together, the pieces celebrate experiences of transracial adoption, Asian American immigration, family, and healing through artistic practice.
Dear Dad
Directed by Noah Kim
13 Minutes | South Korea
English
East Coast Premiere
A self-portrait documentary film about writer/director Noah Kim’s first time visiting Seoul, South Korea, his late father’s homeland.
Climber and transracial Asian-American, Cody Kaemmerlen, searches for connection with his birth parents after a near-death fall that leaves him shaken and grasping for answers.
Jon Glassberg is a film director and climber based in Boulder, Colorado. His award-winning documentary, commercial, and brand narrative works focus on people in the outdoor industry, specifically climbing, adventure, and expeditions around the world.
Decoupling 脱钩
Directed by Yinan Wang
63 Minutes | USA & China
English & Mandarin
East Coast Premiere
August 3 | 6:45-8PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
Decoupling was once a term primarily used in cosmology, but it has now taken on a geopolitical significance, referring to the deteriorating relationship between China and the U.S. Born in China and living in the American Midwest, filmmaker Yinan Wang attempts to unpack his own experience of how a transnational immigrant family deals with the distress caused by identity, nationalism, and geopolitics.
Yinan Wang was born and raised in Beijing. After working on several ethnographic works in China, he moved to the States and lived in the Midwest for years. He’s an independent filmmaker working at the intersection of Chinese and American cultures. Due to his identity, his works always deal with uncertainty and fluidity.
His work has aired on PBS and played at various venues in the US, Austria, Slovenia, Spain, and China. He won the Cream City Cinema Emerging Voices Award from HBO in 2018 and was a fellow at the 74th University Film and Video Association and the 67th Flaherty Film Seminar.
Dissidents
Directed by Yi Chen
76 Minutes | USA
English & Mandarin
New York City Premiere
August 10 | 2:45-4PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
In-person only
In the United States, three Chinese dissidents (sculptor Weiing Chen, asylum seeker Chunyan Wang, and Juntao Wang, a primary organizer of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and one of the world’s most renowned Chinese dissidents) fight for democracy against a superpower through art, petition, and grassroots organizing.
Combining intimate observational footage, rich archival materials, and an investigative approach, DISSIDENTS uncovers transnational repression by an authoritarian state targeting dissidents who keep the democratic flame alive during the darkest hours.
Yi Chen
Director/Producer Yi Chen is a documentary filmmaker based in Washington, D.C. Her work has screened at AFI DOCS, IDFA Docs for Sale, and Berlinale European Film Market. Her feature debut FIRST VOTE (2020, PBS Distribution) qualified for the 93rd Academy Awards (Best Picture and Documentary Feature). Her short doc CHINATOWN (2013, WHUT) won the IndieCapitol Awards for Best Documentary Short. Yi has been awarded grants from the Ford Foundation JustFilms, Open Society Foundations, and ITVS. She was a 2019 Soros Equality Fellow with an MFA in Film and Media Arts from American University.
Eat Bitter
Directed by Ningyi Sun & Pascale Appora-Gnekindy
95 Minutes | Central African Republic, China, USA, Canada, Kenya, The Netherlands Sango, Mandarin, French
August 10 | 12:30-2:15PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
In one of the poorest nations on earth, the Central African Republic, native sand diver Thomas Boa and construction manager Jianmin Luan, a Chinese national, accept that struggle and risk are the price of tomorrow’s rest and reward: both are prepared to “Eat Bitter.” The eye-opening documentary raises the age-old question of what we are prepared to sacrifice for a better tomorrow, without a promise that it will ever arrive.
Ningyi Sun
Ningyi Sun, a filmmaker, writer, and actor, has received grants from Sundance, Hot Docs Blue Ice, Ford Foundation, IDFA Bertha Fund, and Chicken & Egg Pictures. Fluent in four languages and having lived on three continents, Ningyi’s work explores displacement, mobility, and feminism. Her debut documentary feature, EAT BITTER, which she co-directed, premiered at CPH: DOX in 2023, featured in 50+ film festivals worldwide, and has been aired by BBC. Currently, Ningyi is working on her first fiction film based on a true story about a Chinese immigrant massage worker in Flushing, Queens.
Pascale Appora-Gnekindy
Born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pascale Appora-Gnekindy is a citizen of the Central African Republic (CAR). She owns Kea-Kwis Production, a video production company in Bangui, CAR. From 2017 to 2019, Pascale directed two short films MY EYES TO HEAR and TWO SISTERS, which were screened internationally. Pascale came to film production from the IT world, where she studied computer science and worked for seven years. Her break came when she was selected to participate in 2016 in documentary filmmaking workshops organized by the French Alliance of Bangui and the Ateliers Varan.
Guián
Directed by Nicole Chi Amén
76 Minutes | Costa Rica & China
Spanish, Mandarin, Engping, Cantonese East Coast Premiere
August 9 | 8-9:15PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
As a consequence of Guián passing away, Nicole starts meeting with people who have known her grandma. Traveling to different parts of Costa Rica provides a glimpse of the Chinese-Costa Rican community, and she finds a poetic resemblance between these characters and her deceased grandma.
Nicole finds the need to go to Southern China to find the house Guián abandoned when she emigrated to Costa Rica. Having never learned Chinese, she confronts the reality of a country and culture she thought she knew.
This film is the first and last imagined conversation between a granddaughter and a grandmother who never shared a common language.
Nicole Chi Amén is a Costa Rican-born Chinese director, currently based in Austin, Texas. She’s been recognized with awards like the Directors Guild of America’s Student Film Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement and AFS’s Texas New Voices. She was part of Talents Guadalajara and is a Fulbright Fellow. Her work has been selected for festivals like Telluride, SXSW, Visions du Réel, New Orleans FF, and SSFF & ASIA.
Heaven Rain Flows Sweetly
Directed by Shasha Li
68 Minutes | USA & China
English, Mandarin, Nakhi, Yunnanese
August 8 | 8:15-9:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online (US only)
Shasha, a nomad who has moved frequently, arrives in Cascadian, Oregon. Somehow, the smell of rain here reminds her of the Himalayan foothills she originally comes from. She grows an abundant garden, yet the sky suddenly rains ashes in autumn. Wildfires have erupted all around the state, and the smog keeps seeping into her house, forcing her to evacuate. Driving through the Mad Max-esque haze, her thoughts drift back to Lijiang, her ancestral hometown in China, where her maternal Nakhi tribe celebrates Fire as a divine natural force every summer. A journey of tracing dream-like currents of memories unfolds.
Shasha Li didn’t grow up with cinema, but she wouldn’t trade anything for her childhood days spent in the mountains of her hometown of Yunnan, China. While in college in New York City, spotting young filmmakers around Washington Square Park piqued Shasha’s interest in filmmaking. Her first documentary feature, HEAVEN RAIN FLOWS SWEETLY, blends personal narrative, multi-cultural commentary, and meditative aesthetic in an ode to nature and home. It premiered at DOC NYC in 2023. Shasha studied film at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Home Court
Directed by Erica Tanamachi
95 Minutes | USA & Cambodia
English & Khmer
East Coast Premiere
CW: Strong language, violence
August 3 | 4:15-6PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
Ashley Chea is a Cambodian American basketball phenom. HOME COURT, filmed over three years, is a coming-of-age story that relays the highs and lows of her immigrant family, surmounting racial and class differences, as well as personal trials that include a devastating knee injury. Despite the intensity of basketball recruiting, Ashley’s humor shines through and her natural talent inspires the support of those around her.
Erica Tanamachi’s most recent film, WINN, premiered at the 2022 Atlanta Film Festival and attained a distribution deal with PBS. Erica was the creative producer for the feature documentary MOTHERLOAD (2019) which garnered the “Best International Documentary ‘’ from the Hollywood North Film Awards. She also won “Best Documentary” from The Sonoma Film Festival, Silverlake Film Festival, and The Documentary Foundation for her short documentary, LIVING POETS. Erica is an MFA Cinema graduate of SFSU (2007) and has been producing and directing independent documentaries for over 18 years.
Inay (Mama)
Directed by Thea
Loo
56 Minutes | Canada & Philippines
English & Kapampangan
World Premiere
CW: Self-harm, suicide
August 4 | 2:15-3:30PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
*Short film preceding INAY (MAMA)
Dear Watsonville
Directed by Sandra Lucille
17 Minutes | USA & Philippines
English
DEAR WATSONVILLE is a mixed-media documentary offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of the manong generation, the 1st generation of Filipino migrants to arrive en masse in the U.S., as seen through the eyes of their children.
With the desire to help answer unresolved questions and heal lingering wounds, INAY investigates flawed immigration pathways between the Philippines and Canada that kept so many Filipino children from their mothers.
INAY, which means “mama” in Tagalog, is an intimate and personal look at the experiences and trauma endured by many Filipino Canadians. Filmmaker Thea Loo and her husband Jeremiah Reyes, who is also the film’s cinematographer, explore the intersections of mental health and migrant labor and the effects that continue to be felt years later. Through intimate conversations, INAY aims to bridge the silences and disconnect between the first and second generations of the Filipino community.
Thea Loo is a producer and director from Vancouver, BC. Her work has played at Sundance, Palm Springs ShortFest, and CAAMFest, and has been distributed on the digital TIFF Bell Lightbox. She is an alum of the Reelworld Producers Program and TIFF Series Accelerator. Her debut 1-hour TV documentary, INAY (MAMA), will premiere in 2024.
Yūrei (Ghosts)
Directed by Sumie García Hirata
83 Minutes | Mexico
Spanish & Japanese
US Premiere
CW: Photosensitivity
August 11 | 2:30-4PM
Regal Union Square, Aud 15
In-person & online
The veiled history of Japanese Mexicans and the enduring impact of historical silence on their descendants is portrayed through landscape and choreographic exploration, questioning the formation and theatricality of individual and collective identity. When all that is left of history are vague memories, how do invisible wounds heal?
Through a five-chapter structure, the documentary transits different areas of Mexico, a progression of dance, and the documentary format itself. The chapters progress through the rigidity of Japanese Noh theater, Butoh, and personal dance—as well as moving from the traditional documentary form to an intimate and sensory exploration of memory.
Sumie García Hirata is a visual artist and filmmaker, whose work has been exhibited in 15 countries. She’s a member of the prestigious Mexican National System of Art Creators (SNCA) and the director of FAMILIAR TALE, which premiered at the international competition, Visions du Réel 2017. Her short film RELATO FAMILIAR was awarded “Best Documentary Short Film” at the Morelia International Film Festival, among others, as well as nominated for a Mexican Academy Award, and was part of Tribeca Film Institute’s IF/THEN Shorts program. Her feature, YŪREI (GHOSTS), premiered in 2023.
Shorts Blocks
Coloring Out of the Lines
When we’re young, we may see our parents as strong protectors—immovable objects. There are also those haunting memories of vulnerability, when we realize they are human like us. These shorts offer coming-of-age stories centered on children as they perceive parents and the adults around them, and reckon with their placement in adult society.
Friday August 2
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
6-7:45PM | 94 minutes
DALY CITY
Directed by Nick Hartanto 16 Minutes | USA | English & Indonesian World Premiere
An Indonesian boy and his mother attend a church potluck and lie about their dish.
VS
Directed by Jole Sanchez
12 Minutes | USA & Philippines
English & Tagalog
East Coast Premiere
CW: Racism, strong language
Set in 1992, a Filipino kid working at his father’s liquor store seeks community through the arcade game “Street Fighter II,” but finds himself clashing with a local bully.
VIDEO FUNERAL
Directed by Linh Tran 21 Minutes | USA, Canada, Vietnam Vietnamese & English
Lam, a Vietnamese international student, welcomes her younger sister, Phuong, to her Chicago apartment. Phuong brings a DVD of their father’s funeral, which Lam could not attend.
THE LITTLE SHOPPING TROLLEY
Directed by Laurence Ly 18 Minutes | Canada
French & Vietnamese U.S. Premiere
CW: Strong language
Living on a shoestring in Montreal, a Vietnamese mother must act in bad faith to assert her right to buy 12 discount laundry detergents that she’s been refused at a grocery store.
SQUEEGEE BOY
Directed by Chung-Wei Huang 15 Minutes | USA | English & Mandarin
CW: Strong language
On a quest for belonging and acceptance, a trans teenager yearns to become part of a tight-knit group of squeegee boys in Baltimore City.
JESA
Directed by Jee Hoon Seo 13 Minutes | USA & South Korea
Korean & English World Premiere
A young boy takes part in a traditional ancestral rite and discovers the sacrifices his mother has made to protect his sense of innocence.
Our Favorite Recipes
Add two avocados. A helping of mochi. The best Chinese food in the city. Whisk in family, add wit and heart to taste. That’s how you make our eclectic mix of documentaries and narratives about food and the people we share it with.
Friday August 2
Regal Union Square, Aud 14 8:30-10:15PM | 96 minutes
BENKYODO: THE LAST MANJU SHOP IN J-TOWN
Directed by Akira Boch & Tadashi Nakamura
16 Minutes | USA | English New York City Premiere
Ricky and Bobby Okamura wrestle with closing their beloved family-owned manju shop after serving the San Francisco Japantown community for 115 years.
YUJIN’S COOKBOOK
Directed by Minju Hong 19 Minutes | South Korea | Korean International Premiere
A South Korean immigrant reconnects with her cultural heritage, as she cooks for a friend’s terminally ill grandmother.
GUACAMANIA!
Directed by Andrew J. Lee 11 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
At a meet-the-parents-dinner, a man goes to outrageous lengths to save his prized guacamole from browning while his girlfriend processes the shocking revelation that her “dead” family dog is still alive.
AVOCADO ON PANCAKES
Directed by Chinanang Tamrongtanakijakarn 11 Minutes | Thailand | Thai International Premiere CW: Strong language
Jack and Rose secretly have an affair at their workplace. One day, the two go on a date at an izakaya restaurant and start an argument about the world.
KOWLOON!
Directed by Mona Xia & Erin Ramirez 16 Minutes | USA | Cantonese & English New York City Premiere
Bobby Wong and his family reflect on the generational legacy of running the largest Chinese American restaurant in the United States.
ROOTS + WINGS EP 3: PARISA PARNIAN
Directed by Lisa Yadao, Michelle Sampior, Irene Yadao 8 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
Iranian-American multi-disciplinary visual artist and culinary creative behind Savage Taste, Parisa Parnian hosted pop-up dinners in Los Angeles that not only illuminated Persian cuisine but also brought together the LGBTQ community.
29 HOUR FAMINE
Directed by Etzu Shaw 16 Minutes | USA | English & Mandarin World Premiere
When a devout teenager discovers evidence of someone eating at her church youth group’s annual fasting event, she goes to absurd lengths to catch the culprit.
Tales That Go Bump In The Night
Step right up to our horror carnival, featuring a thrilling block of the most spine-chilling adventures imaginable! From demonic confrontations to freakish flesh swaps, this collection will leave you far beyond the edge of your seat.
Sunday August 4
Regal Union Square, Aud 14 4:15-6PM | 98 minutes
LULLABY
Directed by Chi Thai 14 Minutes | UK | Vietnamese East Coast Premiere
A refugee is haunted by a devastating incident from her past.
THE STEAK
Directed by Kiarash Dadgar 8 Minutes | Iran & Canada | No dialogue New York City Premiere
CW: Violence
A birthday ceremony preparation goes upside down as something horrible takes place.
SPOOR
Directed by Statten Roeg & Sunita Soliar 15 Minutes | UK | English New York City Premiere
CW: Violence
A freakish, throbbing growth torments Ash. She is stuck caring for her vitriolic, dementia-ridden mother. With every indignity, Ash’s lump grows until it erupts, spewing a mysterious substance. Will Ash figure out what it is and how to stop it?
PRONE
Directed by Andrea Lee Christensen 16 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
CW: Sexual content, strong language
An actress makes a desperate bargain that turns her Tinsel Town dreams into a Faustian nightmare.
TOTEM NIGHT
Directed by Negin Kamran & Hana Azimi nia 19 Minutes | Iran | Farsi International Premiere
CW: Violence
When a young maid is employed at an old lady’s house, she goes through a mysterious experience, transforming into a captivated animal.
PLAN B
Directed by Nima Rahimpour 24 Minutes | Iran | Persian U.S. Premiere
CW: Sexual content
After the father discovers his daughter’s secret affair with a man, he decides to kill them both with the help of his young son and defend the family’s reputation. But at the last moment, his plan falls apart.
Ones To Watch Filmmakers Under 21
Celebrate our future filmmakers as they explore identity and community through diverse forms such as horror, fantasy, documentary, and drama.
Saturday August 3
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
12-1PM | 51 minutes
Pay-What-You-Can
‘NORMAL GIRL’
Directed by Kimmy Nguyen-Thoi
9 Minutes | Vietnam & Australia
Vietnamese
U.S. Premiere
CW: Mature themes
When Vietnamese-born Khanh Nguyen begins her new life in Australia, she faces challenging tribulations derived from her attempt to become the ‘perfect, Normal Girl’.
WAIPO’S COMING OVER!
Directed by Yee Shin Mun
13 Minutes | Singapore & Malaysia
Cantonese, Mandarin, English International Premiere
A granddaughter seeks a deeper connection with her visiting Grandma from Ipoh.
CLASS CRUSH
Directed by Katherine Lynn-Rose
8 Minutes | USA | English New York City Premiere
CW: Violence
An introverted high school student forms a connection with her class crush, but their romantic homecoming dance takes a chilling turn when her actions are revealed.
BUTTERFLY: THE KING OF YUE
Directed by Jingxuan Qi
6 Minutes | USA | Mandarin, Wu, English World Premiere
CW: Self-harm, suicide
Noisy crowd, uncomfortable environment. A girl trying to escape.
RED GUARD
Directed by L-J ShenFilerman
3 Minutes | China | No dialogue
Amidst the Chinese Cultural Revolution, a young man’s participation in a Red Guard march is interrupted when he unexpectedly finds an object from his past.
MUTED
Directed by Chris Zou
6 Minutes | USA | Mandarin & English
World Premiere
CW: Substance abuse
A high school girl decides to take a pill in order to stay awake, studying late at night for a chemistry exam.
THE STORY OF A STRANDED FROG
Directed by Steven Yao
6 Minutes | Czech Republic
English & Korean East Coast Premiere
Michelle, a 20-year-old lonely Korean student spends her last day in a distant city taking care of her only true friend: a pet frog.
Roadmap To The Soul
On a desolate highway, you finally see a signpost up ahead:
“Next rest stop: serving up duplicity, deceit, and dopplegängers. You might just discover your true self. Or that there is no true self at all.”
Saturday August 3
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
1:45-3:30PM | 93 minutes
LAYOVER
Directed by Taylor Sanghyun Lee
12 Minutes | USA & South Korea
English & Korean
CW: Photosensitivity
Long estranged from the religious community his mother embraces, Solomon must wear a lie one last time on the day of his brief return.
CONFUSED BLOOD
Directed by James Cutler
17 Minutes | USA & South Korea
English & Korean
East Coast Premiere
CW: Photosensitivity
A mixed-race Korean man wanders Seoul trying to make sense of his place in the world in this film that considers cultural identities and navigates an in-between space of documentary and narrative.
SEOUL SWITCH
Directed by Liann Kaye
13 Minutes | USA & South Korea
English & Korean
When an insecure Korean American boy meets an international K-pop star who looks just like him, they decide to switch identities.
JUST KIDS
Directed by Jackie Bao
6 Minutes | USA | English
East Coast Premiere
CW: Photosensitivity
Ben, an ambitious Asian-American man shaped by his father’s immigrant experience, is visited by a familiar face on his way to the top.
THREE
Directed by Amie Song
15 Minutes | USA | Mandarin & English
East Coast Premiere
At a home gathering, a Chinese woman who has recently moved to the United States to live with her daughter tries to keep her daughter’s secrets from her new friends.
A SUMMER’S END POEM
Directed by Lam Can-zhao
15 Minutes | China, Switzerland, Malaysia
Min Nan
Shortly before the end of summer break, a country boy spends his savings on his dream of a city hairstyle–with surprising results. A story about bidding farewell to childhood and the poetic end of a summer.
THE MAN AND THE MONKEY
Directed by Korok Murmu
18 Minutes | India & USA
English & Bengali World Premiere
Caught between capturing India’s authenticity and commercial demands, a Bengali-American photographer from NYC embarks on an assignment in Kolkata that ignites a battle for artistic integrity.
Joke Book
An animated ode to vibrators, two goth girls resurrecting Edgar Allan Poe, and an ambitious violin prodigy walk into a bar. The bartender asks, “What are ya, a bunch of shorts?”
Saturday August 3
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
4:15-6PM | 95 minutes
SHE AND HER GOOD VIBRATIONS
Directed by Olivia Griselda & Sarah Cheok
11 Minutes | Singapore | No dialogue
North American Premiere
CW: Sexual content
A stressed-out, middle-aged woman discovers the wonders of a vibrator, but she soon becomes addicted to solo pleasure sessions and loses touch with reality.
ONE NOTE
Directed by Jamie Ting
13 Minutes | USA | English & Mandarin
A dark comedy about a neurotic but driven 17-year-old Chinese-American violinist on a mission to get admitted to Harvard at any cost.
THE VARIABLE
Directed by Ezra Li
9 Minutes | USA | English & Spanish
World Premiere
CW: Violence, sexual content
An “ethnically ambiguous” actor struggles to adjust to stereotypes projected onto him during the audition process.
IM IN LOVE WITH EDGAR ALLAN POE
Directed by Andrea A. Walter 13 Minutes | South Korea, USA, UK, China, Taiwan, Philippines
English & Tagalog
New York City Premiere
CW: Strong language
Two goth besties search for chicken innards for a ritual to resurrect Edgar Allan Poe.
PROBLEMATIC
Directed by Sushma Khadepaun
16 Minutes | USA | English
New York City Premiere
CW: Sexual content, strong language
An unknown writer becomes an overnight media sensation when her public tirade against a finance douche goes viral.
AH BOY YAH!!!
Directed by Gerald Ng Shibang
2 Minutes | Canada & Malaysia
English, Cantonese, Mandarin
New York City Premiere
Ah Boy returns home to a tsunami of questions from relatives, wondering if he’ll be the man they want him to be.
I, CHINESE
Directed by Keith Leung
14 Minutes | USA & Hong Kong
English & Cantonese
East Coast Premiere
CW: Strong language, racism
REALLY GOOD DRIVER
Directed by Alex Song-Xia
8 Minutes | USA & Canada | English
U.S. Premiere
An influencer famous for his racist Chinese impressions faces consequences when his family gets involved.
STITCHED
Directed by Lorena Lourenco
15 Minutes | USA & India | English
CW: Blood, gore
A South Asian woman living in the diaspora, tired of dating people who can’t keep up with her mutable cultural identity, decides to “frankenstein” an ideal partner.
An Asian American mom teaches her grown-up child how to drive, forcing both of them to confront parts of the car and themselves they never have before.
How to Live as an Asian Woman in NYC
Let our local filmmakers serve as your guide to the dizzying and difficult ways of living and thriving as an Asian woman in New York City.
Thursday August 8 Regal Union Square, Aud 14 6-7:45PM | 89 minutes
YESTERDAY, I DREAMT ABOUT...
Directed by Chyan Lo 17 Minutes | Taiwan & USA English & Mandarin World Premiere
Yang is leaving New York, she must say goodbye to the people she loves and the future she once dreamt of.
MINSEO
Directed by Emily May Jampel 7 Minutes | USA | English & Hindi World Premiere
A young Korean-American model juggles working in a restrictive fashion industry and hoping to be acknowledged for who they truly are.
LOVE LETTER TO ASIAN WOMEN
Directed by Min Soo Park 9 Minutes | USA | English World Premiere
Felicia Oh, a Taiwanese drag queen, challenges stereotypes and reshapes perceptions of Asian femininity.
PUSHER
Directed by John Kim 12 Minutes | USA | Korean & English World Premiere
An unemployed college grad living in New York City witnesses her step-sister get pushed onto the subway tracks during the height of COVID-19.
SUNFLOWER GIRL
Directed by Holly M. Kaplan 13 Minutes | USA | English & Cantonese
New York City Premiere
When a 13-year-old Chinese-American girl has the opportunity to go skateboarding with her crush, it comes at the cost of abandoning her little sister.
UME OR (THE WILL TO FLY BLIND)
Directed by Sam Kumiko Sheridan 15 Minutes | USA & Japan English & Japanese World Premiere CW: Abortion
UME [産め] or ( THE WILL TO FLY BLIND) follows Ume, a 17-year-old Japanese American girl growing up in New York City. In the midst of an unexpected pregnancy, the story follows Ume in the days leading up to her abortion.
SOMETHING LIKE HAPPINESS
Directed by Apar Pokharel 13 Minutes | USA | English & Hindi North American Premiere
When two friends reunite in New York City after more than a decade, suppressed memories and desires resurface, forcing them to confront the bittersweet question of what could have been.
HOW TO LIVE AS AN ASIAN WOMAN IN NYC
Directed by Jacqueline Jaemin Yeon 3 Minutes | USA | Korean & English
Filmmaker Jacqueline Jaemin Yeon shares her tips on how to live as an Asian woman in New York City in light of the pandemic. The film takes an unexpected approach to highlight hate crimes against Asian women.
Choose Your Fighter
Press START to go on an epic quest filled with high-stakes action, inter-dimensional travel, and wonders (and dangers) of the very mind itself.
Friday August 9
Regal Union Square, Aud 14
6-7:30PM | 78 minutes
AMERICAN DREAM
Directed by Gorby Mufan Shih
13 Minutes | USA
English, Mandarin, Cantonese
World Premiere
CW: Violence
When Kevin, a coder on a work visa, is replaced by the younger intern he trained, Kevin joins his boss’s underground fight club to win a green card and keep his family in the USA.
THE ROOMS
Directed by Heeryun You
24 Minutes | South Korea | Korean New York City Premiere
Cast in a green light, a long corridor seems never-ending in sight. Jun-sang faces multiple rooms in this long corridor, meeting various and bizarre people from door to door.
SUBURBAN STORY
Directed by Chris Yen
30 Minutes | USA | English & Vietnamese East Coast Premiere
CW: Violence, strong language
Two star-crossed lovers caught in the chaos of crime, violence, and toxic relationships in their suburban neighborhood.
LOLA
Directed by Grace Hanna 11 Minutes | USA & Philippines | English East Coast Premiere
A thirteen-year-old science prodigy journeys into her grandma’s deteriorating mind to save one precious memory they have together.
Rise Up!
Intense struggles in the face of adversity, oppression, and death itself. These shorts get knocked down, but then get up again.
Saturday August 10
Regal Union Square, Aud 14 12:30-2PM | 82 minutes
AMERICAN OXYGEN
Directed by Adam Hazelton & Emily Hazelton
20 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
CW: Strong language
A young woman living on permanent supplemental oxygen rushes to catch the last bus to L.A. and be healed by a miracle-working televangelist.
SHEEP
Directed by Mehrdad Kabiri
15 Minutes | Iran | Farsi
CW: Violence
Amir is a student who is humiliated by the school administrator because of the situation he is in. This incident leads to his transformation.
CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Directed by Minkyu Kang
21 Minutes | South Korea & USA | Korean CW: Violence
In the 1960s, a Korean boy (16), kidnapped and assaulted at a juvenile center on a remote island, must escape with his rival to survive.
SPLIT ENDS
Directed by Alireza Kazemipour
14 Minutes | Iran | Farsi
A bald woman and a man with long hair try to get out of paying fines when traffic cameras catch them for not wearing a hijab.
A Field Guide to the Natural World
Gather mushrooms. Arrange flowers. Explore mountains. Paint trees. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature with this illuminating series of documentary and narrative.
Sunday August 11
Regal Union Square, Aud 14 12:15-1:45PM | 86 minutes
BUNNY TO THE MOON
Directed by Akira Maynard & Sammy Liu 8 Minutes | Japan | Japanese New York City Premiere
When an extraterrestrial bunny falls from the sky, Aurora, a lonely gardener, is quick to befriend him. Upon realizing the bunny is from the moon, she decides to help him get back home.
OBATA’S YOSEMITE
Directed by Adam Prieto 15 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
Exploring the profound journey of Japanese-American painter Chiura Obata, this documentary delves into his artistic legacy as a painter and the poignant experiences of his unjust incarceration during the Second World War.
THE SUN
Directed by Angie Su 4 Minutes | China, Japan, USA | Japanese World Premiere
This is a poignant journey of an African American woman who discovers herself and finds solace in the traditional Japanese art of Ikebana.
Is getting lost the best way to find yourself? In this coming-of-age tale from Taiwan’s first Indigenous female director, two Tayal youths learn to navigate life’s challenges by paying close attention to lessons that only the land can offer.
RECYCLOS
Directed by Jordan Gros
18 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
In a post-apocalyptic world, Poppy (the last human on earth) transforms discarded robots into humans at “Recyclos.” She forges an unexpected friendship with a revived robot named Banjo and together they explore the meaning of life.
MATSUTAKE
Directed by Theodore Caleb Haas 10 Minutes | USA | English New York City Premiere
98-year-old Homer Yasui takes four generations of his family to his secret mushroom-hunting grounds in Oregon in search of the prized and delicious matsutake mushroom, passing on a longtime Japanese American tradition.
SINK
Directed by Raina Yang 12 Minutes | USA & China English & Mandarin World Premiere
On a college backpacking trip, a Chinese girl grapples with questions of identity after she finds herself at a crossroads between her Chinese classmate and her fear of being perceived as an outsider.
Live Events
AAISC
Screenplay Reading
AAIFF47 is pleased to present the annual live reading of the winning script of the Asian American International Screenplay Competition. This year’s winner is MISSUS, written by Marissa Carpio and produced by Angelo Santos.
Please join us for the World Premiere of this screenplay reading. Afterwards, enjoy a casual happy hour at Snafu Bar.
Wednesday August 7
CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies
Rooms 1425 / 1426
6:30-8:30PM
Pay-What-You-Can
MISSUS
Written by Marissa Carpio
Produced by Angelo Santos
92 Minutes | USA
English & Tagalog
CW: Sexual content, strong language
40-year-old Mallie Davies is the perfect housewife–attractive, loyal to her husband, votes Republican. When she discovers what her Filipino nemesis is up to, Mallie takes on a new life mission: to become Indiana’s first Filipino-American All-American Missus, the premier beauty pageant for married women ages 35 to 45. In the lead-up to the big day, however, Mallie comes face to face with more than she bargained for….
Race, relationships, and representation politics come into play in the vast flatness of the American Midwest, where everything is seen clearly at a distance.
Marissa Carpio is an actor, writer, and filmmaker from outside of Chicago, currently based in NYC.
Catch her onscreen in HOCUS POCUS 2, THE SLEEPOVER, and KRAFTY KID. Producing credits include the English-language World Premiere of Yukio Mishima’s play, THE LIGHTHOUSE, named as part of ‘The Best Stage Productions of 2019’ by ArtsFuse Magazine. Marissa has also written, produced, and acted in several short film projects that have screened at festivals nationwide.
Marissa also enjoys volunteering with Apex, an organization that empowers Asian American youth through storytelling and the arts.
Reel Laughs A Film Improv Game Show
Come one, come all for a hilarious night of AAPI-star-studded game show comedy. Watch seasoned improv comedians from ASIAN AF duel against each other in a Game-Changer-esque battle of quick quips all about film history, daring to go where every pretentious film buff has gone before.
Saturday August 3
Sugar Mouse
Doors Open @8:30PM Show Begins @9PM
FEATURING
Donald Chang is a New Yorker who spent time in the South before returning to New York. He has appeared in For Life (ABC), High Maintenance (HBO), Younger (TV Land), and the feature film HAPPY CLEANERS. His stage credits include Doctor Chang in John Pollono’s Rules of Seconds at Barebones Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA, the lead in Hudson Guild Theater’s The Pearl Diver, a supporting role in Walk Up Arts’ A Play About Drew Carey, and Young Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Chang hosts the monthly variety show Asian AF NY, performs characters on Characters Welcome, and improvises with his all-Asian team, Joy F*ck Club.
Kurt Cruz is a musician, comedian, and technical director. He is the Technical Director at Second City NYC. When he’s not behind the tech booth, you can find him performing improv and music at various venues throughout NYC. Check out his solo indie music project, Kuko, on all streaming platforms.
Risa Sang-urai Harms is a comedian based in NYC. She can currently be seen on UCB’s Harold Night with The Prophecy and also performs with Asian AF and Old Yorkers.
HOSTED BY
Ed Pokropski is a two-time Emmy-nominated Senior Writer/Producer for Cable Entertainment Brand Creative at NBCUniversal. He has been touring his critically acclaimed one-man show, Case 84: Adopted in the U.S.A., across the country. Originally from Philly, Ed is proud to be a Korean American adoptee.
Music Night Out Music Video Showcase
Join us on August 10 for AAIFF47’s Music Night Out—an opportunity to highlight the amazing collaboration of AAPI musicians and filmmakers. It’ll be a night to celebrate this year’s music videos and listen to the musical artists as they perform their songs live!
Saturday August 10 DROM
Doors Open @7PM Show Begins @8PM
FIREWORK FAM
Directed by Alexander Nguyen
3 Minutes | USA | English East Coast Premiere
“Firework Fam” follows Adam Acosta on a seemingly perfect day with the perfect date. However, nothing could have prepared Adam for what life had in store for him.
FROGS
Directed by Maya Marzuki Peters
3 Minutes | USA | English
RAEGAN is reimagined as a fairytale character trapped inside of a swamp cottage. She must find a way to reckon with the barrage of frogs trying to break down her door.
STOP ASIAN HATE LOVE ONE ANOTHER
Directed by Perry Yung
8 Minutes | USA | English New York City Premiere
A musical journey into a remedy for hate.
JANUARY 28TH, 2020
Directed by Kimberly Te 3 Minutes | USA | English New York City Premiere
A reflection on a past relationship while evoking ancient East Asian traditions of publicly embodying and depicting the demon inside, in order to exorcise and dispel fears regarding queer identity.
ALMOST HOME
Directed by Jen Kim 6 Minutes | USA | English
A chance encounter in the night changes a young man’s life forever.
I WISH U COULD LOVE ME TOO
Directed by Alexander Chen
5 Minutes | USA | English U.S. Premiere
A teen’s journey through the highs and heartaches of a situationship takes a tumultuous turn when her crush’s attention shifts, leaving her to navigate the bittersweet realities of unrequited love in the complex world of adolescence.
Print Sources
A Circle of Repentance
Hanjoo Kim hanjookim95@gmail.com
A Summer’s End Poem (夏日句点) Shanxian Media lamcanzhao@gmail.com
BUTTERFLY: The King of Yue (邑戉王) Jingxuan Qi qijingxuan2023@163.com
