Official Selections: 2nd-8th LA Asian Film Festivals
Congratulations to our accepted filmmakers!
Films are listed in alphabetical order, index to the left.
Scroll Down to learn more about each film
The Everyday Show
Los Angeles Premiere
Diya is an acclaimed film director who appears on Sam’s talk show to promote her latest film. But Sam insists on unearthing a decision from Diya’s past that she would rather not discuss on live television.
Director: Viren Shinde
Producer: Viren Shinde
Writer: Viren Shinde
Cast: Zeby Khan, Michelle Siddiqui
Cinematographer: Stephen Schaffer
Editor: Viren Shinde
Website: nullpointerfilms.com/the-everyday-show
Instagram: @nullpointerfilms
Twitter:@nullptrfilms
The Race Epidemic
Los Angeles Premiere
The Race Epidemic is about another outbreak caused by COVID-19. An epidemic of hate based on race against Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). With a politicized pandemic sweeping through the country and a former President calling it the Chinese Virus, the rise of attacks and hate against AAPIs is not surprising. Can naming a virus after an innocent ethnic group cause the outbreak of an epidemic of hate? Or is it something hidden deeper within American society? The film takes a close examination of xenophobia and racism against AAPIs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Director: Tony Shyu
Producer: Ronald W. Wong, Tony Shyu
Writer: Ronald W. Wong, Tony Shyu
Cast: Judy Chu, Michael Woo, Thom A. Saenz, Raphael J. Sonenshein, Erika Lee, David Chiu, John Chiang, David Ryu, Garry South, Rob Bonta, Evan Low, Noam Chomsky, Dave Jones, Fernando Guerra, Bill Wong, Anthony Rendon
Cinematographer: Kau Shyu
Editor: Ryan Alexander Huang, Kau Shyu
Official selection of CAAM film festival, Columbia Film Festival, LA Asian Film Festival.
Website: theracedocumentary.org
Instagram: @theraceepidemic
Twitter: @TheRaceEpidemic
Facebook: fb.com/TheRaceEpidemic
To Add Oil
West Coast Premiere
An ex-conscript of the Taiwanese military hides from his family's duties by prolonging a celebratory night out with his best friend. Can he run from his fate forever?
Director: Oliver Lin
Producer: Laticia Fan, Henry Lin
Writer: Oliver Lin
Cast: Will Ni, Jay Lee
Cinematographer: Laticia Fan
Editor: Oliver Lin
Houston Asian American & Pacific Islander Film Festival, Independent Shorts Awards, Indie Short Fest, IndieX Film Fest, Student World Awards
Student & Young Artists FEEDBACK Festival, YoungFilmmakers
Website: taiwaneseamerican.org/2022/05/oliver-lin-to-add-oil/
Instagram: @toaddoilfilm
The Onederful Nation
We are a group of 3D artists, who love animation. We always wanted to make a film telling the world about Malaysia. What is so special about Malaysia?
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multiracial and multilingual country. Her ethnic group ranges from Malays, Chinese, Indians to Sabah’s and Sarawak’s indigenous tribe. In this short film, we would like to portray the cultural uniqueness among the multi-races in Malaysia.
This story is about an adventurous discovery of a magical wooden box from the point of view of an unfinished wooden doll, No Name.
No Name, accidentally falls into a magic music box when a woodpecker tries to peck at him in the carpenter's workshop. Inside the music box, No Name sees dolls which have been finished and realises that he must return to the workshop in order to be completed.
No Name goes through all three villages in his quest to return to the workshop and at the same time discovers the different cultures from each village. He also learns that each village is completely separate from one another. When the woodpecker flies into the music box and dismantles the central core, No Name and three children named Eswari, Lee, and Amir, work together to save and unite their world, inside the music box.
This is our very first short animation. Although the process of developing this short animation was painful as we are excellent in story-telling , however, we are pleased that it is recognised world wide. Hope you like this short animation!
Director : Chong Yoon Pang & Lynette Kong
Producer: Lynette Kong
Writer : Heidi Shamsuddin
Music Compositer : Teoh Eng Hooi
Sound Designer : Anthony Lee
3D Artists : Chong Yoon Pang, Lynette Kong, Jenny Chai, Wendy Tang, Tze Huan, Chris Ho, Wong Han Zerd, Chris Lee, Siho, Jin Fen.
SEA Kre8tif Awards 2019 (South East Asia) : Silver Winner
Lahore International Children's Film Festival 2019 : Official Selection
Asia South East-Short Film Festival Spring 2020 : Gold Medal for Animation Short, Best Film Direction
Experimental Forum 2020 : Official Selection
Short Stop International Film Festival : Finalist
2nd LA Asian Film Festival 2020 : Official Selection
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2020 : Official Selection (result not announced yet)
The Weather Inside
The Weather Inside is a 5-part original music video series; a deep dive into the depths of jonnychang's mind, told through stunning imagery and poetic lyricism. Each episode builds upon the next to create a fully-realized narrative, exploring themes of identity, mental health, and growing pains through an Asian American lens.
Directors: Solomon Chang, jonnychang, and Tiffany Ike
Producers: 2Chang and Kimmie Kim
Writer: Solomon Chang, jonnychang, and Tiffany Ike
Cast: jonnychang, Nouthak Saopeng, Grace Schafer-Perry, Phoebe Brady, Ikaika Gunderson, Brandon Santiago, Jonny Williams, Davina Isa San Angel, Tobden Toll, William Leach, Ryan Chan
Cinematographers: Solomon Chang, Sela Pierce
Editor: 2Chang
The Weather Inside has been featured in such publications as: KQED Arts & Culture; KPFA's Hard Knock Radio; and ACMA's Asian Voices Radio Show. For more press on The Weather Inside, please visit theweatherinside.org/press
Instagram: @jonnychang.music @theweather.inside
Twitter: @jxnnychang
Facebook: jonnychangmusik
Two Worlds
Los Angeles Premiere
Short
A young graduate, deep in debt, receives a call on a sunny and busy morning in Chennai. Assuring that he'd reach within 15 mins, he begins racing in his motorbike through the traffic, risking his life even! The following sequence of events in the film unfolds the sad reality of today's world.
Director: Nithya Gopalakrishnan
Producer: Laksh Productions (Gopalakrishnan R, Nitya, Lakshana G, Kalavathi S)
Writer: Nithya Gopalakrishnan Cast: - Dinesh Rajendran, Aravind Murali, Deepthi R, Mithul M
Cinematographer (if applicable): Vignesh Raj
Editor: Iniyavan Pandiyan
1. BISFF-23 (Oscar Qualifying Festival) Official Selection
2. International Film Festival Of Shimla- 2023 (Official Selection)
3. Best Female Director - OOTY short film festival 2023
4. Best Screenplay - Atlanta Indian Film Festival 2023
5. Indian Film Festival Of Cincinnati - 2023 (Official Selection)
6. Audience Award - Toronto Tamil Film Festival 2023
7. Best Female Director - Ayodhya Film Festival 2023
8. Best Editing - Tokyo Shorts Film Festival 2023
9. Best Debut Director - Indian Film Festival of Australia 2023
10. Best Director-Brazil New Visions International Film Festival 2023
11. Best Screenplay - Brazil New Visions International Film Festival 2023
Instagram: @keepitreal_2769
The Pencil
Short
Sara, a struggling artist who discovers a unique pencil that can solve all her problems. But her dreams turn into a nightmare when a malevolent demonic creature from Kazakh legends gets unleashed.
Director: Thomas Schultz
Producer: Madina Baimakhanova & Thomas Schultz
Writer: Madina Baimakhanova & Thomas Schultz
Cast: Mika Saruar, Erasyl Abdrazakov, Asya Baimakhanova, Madina Baimakhanova, Amina Baimakhanova
Cinematographer: Sain Samaldykov
Editor: Katian Kerr
Filmed all on location in Kazakhstan with an 80% asian crew.
- Los Angeles Movie Awards – Award Winner (Best International Film)
- Los Angeles Feedback Film & Screenplay Festival – Award Winner (Best Story)
- Austin After Dark - Award Winner (Best Dark Fantasy)
- Days of the Dead International Film Festival – Nominee (Best International Film)
Website: thepencilshortfilm.com
Instagram: @thepencilshortfilm
Facebook: fb.com/thepencilshortfilm
the tides
USA Premiere
"the tides" centers around a young woman's identity and her personal sense of belonging. Cutting a piece of thread that's been a part of her inner fabric for so long and the fears of letting go. Parting ways with her hijab was never meant to be easy.
Director: Maryam Cne
Producer: Maryam Cne, Shayan Ebrahim, Christopher Sheffield
Writer: Maryam Cne
Cast: Maryam Cne, Ismail Bashey
Cinematographer: Christopher Sheffield
Editor: Shayan Ebrahim and Stephanie Sheffield
Debut for director Maryam Cne
Tehura
Tehura aims to explore the vastly different meanings our bodies can hold for ourselves as well as for others. For a tourist, the body of an exotic dancer lifts him into the fantasies of love. For Tehura, her body is a battlefield where she struggles to find herself.
Director: Wei Li
Producers: Wei Li & Mei-ing Nieuwland
Writer: Wei Li
Cast: Tainatea Voirin, Ben Luckhart, Vaehakaiki "Moon" Urima
CinematographerL Wei Li
Website: tehurafilm.com
Instagram: weiofli