The romantic reunion of Ben Santhanaraj and Suzanne Hopper is thwarted when Suzanne's boss asks her to work during their holiday road trip.
This movie takes place in Tokyo during the Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Tired of rushing through life, young people gather at a small guesthouse in Tokyo, where they explore their own paths and grow through new relationships and experiences. The youthful ensemble drama is centered around the theme of "break" and depicts the modest growth of young people.
Searching for identity beyond the boxes of immigrant stereotypes and generational divides that plague diasporic Asian communities is a constant thread of this film block.
Our selection of four films that are longer than your average short, but just as impactful and brilliantly crafted as our feature-length films.
Home Court is a feature documentary that traces the ascent of Ashley Chea, a basketball prodigy whose life intensifies amid recruitment, injury, and triumph throughout her high school years. Filmed over three years, this is a coming-of-age story that relays the highs and lows of Ashley's immigrant family and her own personal trials including a devastating knee injury.
After a stranger breaks in and sexually assaults her, Sumire suddenly overcomes her writer's block and starts writing again. The seemingly peaceful relationships around her begin to crumble—her boyfriend, vegetative father, step-mother… As she tries to cover the wound, everything slips toward uncertainty.
TEXAS PREMIERE followed by Q&A: Anh Duong's #InstaLife is lit, until a rogue follower starts dropping cryptic DMs darker than her eyeliner. As the truth threatens to explode, is this a toxic ex, a jealous celeb, or an obsessed superfan with their own twisted endgame? Buckle up, this ride ain't got a filter.
After his sister-in-law dies in a freak motorcycle accident in Saigon, Thien is bestowed the task of delivering her body back to their countryside hometown. It is a journey in which he also takes his nephew Dao (5), who miraculously survived the crash. Amidst the mystical landscapes of rural Vietnam, Thien begins a search for his older brother who vanished years ago to hand Dao over to him - a journey which deeply questions his faith.
ASHIMA is an intimate portrait of elite rock climber Ashima Shiraishi as she travels to South Africa to try to become the youngest person in the world to climb a V14 graded boulder problem. Emotional and rooted in character, ASHIMA is a love letter not only to climbing, but to immigrant parents and the realization of the American Dream.
From devastation to the joys of triumph, this shorts program takes you on an eclectic ride of emotions through captivating stories that invite the audience to have a visceral experience.
TEXAS PREMIERE followed by Q&A: Aravind, a high school teacher, wants to transition from male to female while working for a school in a small town in South India.
In Iran, a group of friends struggle with financial distress. They become obsessed with treasure hunting—which is strictly prohibited—and dream of finding a pot of gold. With the judge on their heels, will they succeed in accomplishing their dreams?
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.
The film tells the story of Wen Shan, who writes eulogy for a living, looking for answers in balancing his relationship with the world. In the encounter with ordinary people of all kinds, Wen Shan comforts others, gains warmth, and finally finds his own life direction.
TEXAS PREMIERE followed by Q&A: Mile-high hair. Synthesized music. Underground parties. Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks in the chaotic world of 80s Vietnamese new wave until she rediscovered a hidden past.
