Documentary

A short documentary about a 16-year-old air rifle shooter for the Singapore national team, aiming to make it to the 2028 LA Olympics

Director: Jai Vaswani, Jaiden Mehta
Producer: Jai Vaswani
Cast: Surya Jha, Dennis Tan
Cinematographer: Jaiden Mehta
Editor: jaiden Mehta, Scotty Mills

Awards: All American High School Film Festival 2025 Official Selection, NYU, NYFA, Syracuse accepted

Documentary
World Premiere

Set in Tijuana, Mexico, this documentary follows Chava, a Mexican deportee whose memories span from his childhood in the United States to his forced return after 9/11 and his current life and work in Mexico. Through intimate conversations with Chava and others, the film explores how an invisible line carves through daily life, turning movement, belonging, and family ties into questions of survival. Seen through the eyes of a high school filmmaker, the film combines personal voices and archival images to demonstrate the human cost of borders and the resilience of those who live in their shadow.

 Director: King Bo Wang
Producer: King Bo Wang
Writer:  King Bo Wang            
Cast: Chava, Nabor, Rosendo, King Bo Wang, Dr. Linford Fisher, Elios, Daniel
Cinematographer: King Bo Wang
Editor: King Bo Wang

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cutbytheborder?igsh=MTg3NXlpOWU1OXZtNw==

Documentary
West Coast Premiere

This documentary shares the stories of immigrants and their children living in the Hudson Valley. They speak about the journeys that brought them here and the struggles they face in starting over. From ESL classes to family life, each voice offers a glimpse into the everyday work of building a new home. Their hopes, fears, and dreams are told in their own words.

Director: Kiersten Buckley and Rose Mayer
Cinematographer: Rose Mayer
Editor: Kiersten Buckley 

Awards: Best Documentary and Best Documentary Editing at Marist University’s “Foxies" Awards

Sixteen-year-old Shun Kimura, suffocated by his violent father and fragile mother, struggles with peer pressure and his relationship with his girlfriend, Hana. As domestic abuse worsens, a tragic event underscores the profound impact on his identity and relationships, leaving his fragile adolescence in turmoil.

Director: Lisa Shiomi
Producers: Lisa Shiomi, Lidong Wang, Nana Okamoto, Izzy Silver
Writer: Lisa Shiomi             
Cast: Yuki Kedoin, Alyssa Ishibashi Fan, Shigeto Terasaka, Miri O Harms, Showta Ito, Taiga Masuya, Megumi Morino
Cinematographer: Tapio Tokunaga
Editor: Yizhou 'Allen' Xu

https://lisashiomi.squarespace.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heirsproduction/

Animation

As Mae and her mother prepare for dinner, she senses a mysterious presence lingering outside of her home. Tensions rise during dinner when Mae’s father lashes out, pushing her to do something she’s never done before: stand up to her father. With the unexpected help of a monster inspired by Filipino folklore, Mae and her mother confront their fears and begin a journey towards healing.

Director: Annika Magbanua
Producer: Joe Schwall
Production Coordinator: Allyson Hou
Composer: Gisula
Story Artists: Ashley Hua, Katie Wilson, Bianca Rader
Visual Development: Brandon Wang, Dany Alano
Animation: Hunter Josephson, Annika Magbanua, Archie Hilomen
Cast:  Paolo Asuncion, Maricar Bella, Annika Magbanua
Editor: Joe Schwall

Lukso ng Dugo was produced as a capstone project by a core team of graduating seniors at San Jose State University, supported by a team of volunteer students and professional artists. 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luksongdugofilm

The Journey Through Foster Care explores the reality of the Foster Care System that is hidden in plain sight. By going into the homes of foster parents, and asking social care workers for answers, this student documentary sheds light on the real voices and untold stories of the Foster System.

Director: Gregory R. Kennedy
Producers: Gregory R. Kennedy, Roland Flynn
Writers: Sophia DiCosola, Kristine Hillstrom, Joe Sullivan, Megan Sullivan, Jaqueline Sweet
Cast: Craig Anderson, Cheyanne Aslept, Staci Becker, Julia Eckrich, Monique Fullen, Fawn Gadel, Jena Gianangeli, Jaylin Hart, Aryunna Hill, Kyle Holden, Milee Lentz, Irvin McDonald, Jessica Michels, Patresa Parsons, Mickey Shuey, D. Shuey, Katie Vasil
Cinematographers: Sophia DiCosola, Ellis Dunn, Megan Sullivan, Claire Owsiany, Hayden Parsons, Meghan Ryan, Kristine Hillstrom
Editors: Kristianna Walters, Claire Owsainy, Meghan Ryan, Marissa Perkins, Hayden Parsons

Awards & Accolades: Ohio Valley Emmy Nomination for Non-Fiction (Long Form), Best Documentary from The Indie Gathering Film Festival, Accepted in the Chagrin Documentary Film Festival for Student Documentary

Website: https://udfostercaredoc.wixsite.com/placed

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/udfostercaredoc/

Documentary 
Los Angeles Premiere

Still She Rides reveals the untold stories of Nepali women who face daily harassment on public transportation, yet continue to move forward with courage and resilience. Through intimate testimonies, the film uncovers how fear and silence restrict women’s education, careers, and independence, while experts from academia, NGOs, and the transportation industry expose the cultural and structural causes behind these barriers. By linking gender-based harassment to Nepal’s climate goals, the documentary highlights how unsafe public transit undermines both women’s rights and sustainable development. At its heart, Still She Rides is a call to action—urging collective responsibility, cultural change, and innovative solutions so that every woman can travel safely, freely, and with dignity.

Director: Anya Kothari & Anya Ramani
Producer: Anya Kothari & Anya Ramani
Writer: Anya Kothari & Anya Ramani             
Cinematographer: Abhishekh Maharjan
Editor: Anya Kothari & Anya Ramani

Supported by a grant from the Embassy Foundation

Category: Short
West Coast Premiere

A deaf Chinese fan dancer seeks revenge against her mother’s killer: a man who controls people with the power of his voice.

Director: Daniel Simon Zhang
Producer: Amy Chen
Writer: Daniel Simon Zhang, David Joshua Sianghio
Cast: Samantha Sy, Michelle Zhang, Calvin Pham, Luke Embers, Jayden Shin, Andrew Nguyen, Matthew Im, Alex Delgado, David Shim, Andy Ryu, Brandon Huang, Michael Besler, Kiana Kong, Ye Qingping, Xiao Mimi, Jack Luo, Mao Yuqing
Cinematographer: Baiwen Xu
Editor: Daniel Simon Zhang

Awards: Wind Walker was featured by the Midwest Film Festival at its Global Kaleidoscope screening event, and is nominated for Best Original Score (Short) at the International Sound & Film Music Festival.

Website: https://www.youtube.com/@DanielZhangyeet

Instagram: wuxingwarriors

Twitter: Dazhangniel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.zhang.946179

Short - Animation

On his last delivery of the night, a lovestruck teenage pizza boy must defend himself with fireworks against a dark, mysterious figure that won’t stop following him.    

Director: Michael Banke, Maxon Horton 
Producer: Zane Kalani, Aaron Holmes
Writer: Zane Kalani
Cast: Ginger Anderson, JJ Carroll, Nate Hollingsworth, Jeslyn Rain
Editor: Maxon Horton, Zane Kalani

Awards: PBS Fine Cut Finalist

Instagram: @roman.candlefilm