SHORT WAVES: STORIES SHAPING OUR COMMUNITY
ABOUT SHORT WAVESShort Waves: Stories Shaping Our Community is BAAFF's screening of short videos in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May. The screening featured shorts collected from the Open Call. The top four submissions were selected by a panel of distinguished judges at the event. The winner was determined by public vote of the four finalists. The winner of the Short Waves Competition received automatic acceptance into the upcoming Boston Asian American Film Festival.
Asian Pacific Americans have long been making waves in all aspects of American life, but their stories have often been lost in general U.S. discourse. “Short Waves: Stories Shaping Our Community,” hopes to bring light to these stories through locally made, community driven short films about the Asian American experience and community. SUBMISSION GUIDELINESSubmission must be:
Up to 5-minute video to share your story about your Asian American life or community based on a personal experience.* Deadline: Sunday, May 5th, 11:59pm Short Waves winner benefits include: - Sharing your story with the community - Automatic acceptance into the upcoming BAAFF - Network with other featured filmmakers & participate in Q&As - 2019 VIP Festival Pass Some sample topics may include: - What Asian American issue are you most passionate about? - Tell us about someone who has helped shaped your identity as an Asian American. (role model) - What is a pressing issue that affects your Asian American community and how that affects you? - How do you personally define your Asian American identity? - How do you celebrate your Asian American identity? (family gatherings and rituals, etc.) Questions? Please email baaff@aarw.org *We reserve the right to refuse any submissions that we believe may be prohibited or inappropriate. |
2018 short waves winner
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The 8th Annual BAAFF Short Waves: Short Film Competition hopes to bring light to stories about the Asian American experience through locally made, community-driven short films.
Congratulations to Channeit Som, whose film, “Coming Out Wasn't Funny" won the 2018 Short Waves Film Competition. As the winner of Short Waves, Director Channeit Som will receive an all access festival pass and showcase her film at the 2018 Boston Asian American Film Festival this fall. It was a full house tonight at the screening. Thank you all for coming out to celebrate the last day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. |
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Coming Out Wasn't Funny
Directed by Channeit Som This film focuses on the relationship with director Channeit Som's dad that she never really spoke in-depth about, only joked around about. In this story, she hopes to highlight that this narrative is still continuing even after this video is shown. In hopes, she want to show the dynamic of being from a bicultural generation and having intergenerational differences that many of you might be able to relate to. |
2018 FINALISTS
Growing Up Alone
Directed by Minh Phan This film is about the director Minh Phan dealing with being lonely throughout his life and the ways that he failed and succeeded in growing to be less lonely and grow into my own skin. It follows the emotional journey he went through since he was 12 to current day. |
Portraits of Chinatown: Resilience and Jia
Directed by Wendy Z. & Jason L. This film explore gentrification and issues affecting Boston's Chinatown while also exploring the work of installation artist, Risa Puno. |
Not Another Immigrant Story
Directed by Yanyin Alexandra Cheung He This film is a time travel experience about director Yanyin Alexandra Cheung He's, appreciation for what her family went through for her to be where she is today, for their hardships, and for giving me a taste of three different countries. She want people to be encouraged to find out about their family history. History cannot be known if it is not discovered and documented. |
participants
Conversation with My Grandmother » Tara O'Malley
I made this film to explore my grandmother's story of her life in China and in America, and my experience working on this film led me to reflect on my own life as an Asian-American. Miradors » John Vo My digital story centers around my person experiences at the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. A specific moment I shared with my mother that day has provoked a deep search into my past to find other moments when she was unable to be there for me. It's about me coming to terms with the realities of life and slowly accepting the new responsibilities I've been given, despite not being ready to do it. |
Portraits of Chinatown: History of Public Art » Bryanna B. & Jonathan L.
This film celebrates the work of Wen Ti Tsen, A-VOYCE's Tied Together with a Thousand Threads, and Risa Puno's recent installation at the Chinatown Park. Portraits of Chinatown: The Work of Risa Puno » Stephen L & Yassir M. This film explores the work of Risa Puno. Portraits of Chinatown: Celebrating Year of the Dog » Jailene G. & Kevin L.This film explores the Lunar New Year celebrations of the Year of the Dog The Spotlight » Sam Fadrigalan I started to develop anxiety through Filipinx cultural performances as a child. My performance anxiety transfered onto my educational performance later on in life. With the help of community and therapy, I was able to rediscover myself and realize the importance and power of my own voice. |
JUDGES
![]() Tak Toyoshima is the creator/illustrator of Secret Asian Man, a comic strip that highlights the nuanced, hilarious, and often tragic dynamics of race relations in America. He is also the creative director of Rustic Marlin, a home decor manufacturer specialized in handcrafted signs and furniture.
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![]() Ngoc-Tran Vu is a 1.5-generation Vietnamese American multimedia artist and organizer. Born in in Vietnam, she grew up in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood where she's currently based. Tran is the Program Director at AIR (Association of Independents in Radio) and also a board member of AARW.
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![]() Teja Arboleda is the president of Entertaining Diversity, Inc. which focuses on diversity and inclusion programming through entertainment. He has produced and edited documentaries for PBS and Discovery, and won an EMMY award in 1993 and five Telly Awards (2009, 2013, 2017 and 2018). He is adjunct professor of communication at Clark University and has presented in over 1,300 cities and towns in America.
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PAST WINNERS
2017 Short Waves Winner:
Law and Order: White Fragility Unit » Directed by Nicole Tay With racism at an all time high in the US, members of an elite squad known as the White Fragility Special Victims Unit set out to help people of color in the fight against social injustice. 2016 Short Waves Winner: "Unspoken" Directed by Amanda Huang » 2015 Short Waves Winner: "Closeness" Directed by Thuan Hien » 2014 Short Waves Winner: "Who I really am..." Directed by Jose Soto » 2013 Short Waves Winner: "Color Theory" Directed by Minhae Shim » 2012 Short Waves Winner: "My 2009 Experience" Directed by Henry Ho » 2011 Short Waves Winner: "Wear I Fit" Directed by Pratna Kem » |