shorts: it's complicated
Sunday, October 23, 2016, 1:00 PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center
559 Washington Street, Boston MA
(T: Park Street, Downtown Crossing, or Boylston)
Struggles and triumphs. Challenges and victory. These shorts remind us that everyday we are faced with decisions on how to overcome obstacles. Whether it is the push and pull of protecting a child from an adult world, following one’s dream against all odds or finding hope in life when love has been lost, IT’S COMPLICATED tells the stories of facing invisible challenges with faith and determination.
Empty Spaces | Boxer | Song on Canvas | Unspoken | Pata | Harry on the Clouds | The Waltz | Halmoni
Followed by Q&A with
Halmoni
Anna Oh
Got it Maid
Shawn-Noel Leonen Semana, Director
Boxer
Toy Lei, Director
Pata
Kathryn Klingle, Director
Pata Suyemoto, subject
Unspoken
Amanda Huang, Director
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center
559 Washington Street, Boston MA
(T: Park Street, Downtown Crossing, or Boylston)
Struggles and triumphs. Challenges and victory. These shorts remind us that everyday we are faced with decisions on how to overcome obstacles. Whether it is the push and pull of protecting a child from an adult world, following one’s dream against all odds or finding hope in life when love has been lost, IT’S COMPLICATED tells the stories of facing invisible challenges with faith and determination.
Empty Spaces | Boxer | Song on Canvas | Unspoken | Pata | Harry on the Clouds | The Waltz | Halmoni
Followed by Q&A with
Halmoni
Anna Oh
Got it Maid
Shawn-Noel Leonen Semana, Director
Boxer
Toy Lei, Director
Pata
Kathryn Klingle, Director
Pata Suyemoto, subject
Unspoken
Amanda Huang, Director
Co-presented by:
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empty spaces2016 | HAWAII | 14 mins | Drama
Directed by Erin Lau Empty Spaces focuses on introverted widow, Mayumi, who continues to carry out her daily tasks as a wife in order to cope with her loss, but once her constructed world starts to crumble is she finally forced to confront the truth of her husband’s death. Director's Bio: Native Hawaiian Filmmaker, ERIN LAU, received her bachelor’s degree in film production from the Academy for Creative Media at the University of Hawaii (UH). During her time there, she had the opportunity to be exposed to multiple different facets of filmmaking that helped give a well-rounded knowledge in the industry. The work she produced at UH has been recognized in film festivals across the globe, including Guam, France, Rarotonga, Shanghai and Hawaii. Until recently, she worked as a videographer and editor for Oiwi TV, a Hawaiian-community focused production company. Currently, she is pursuing her MFA in film directing at Chapman University. |
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BOXER2016 | USA | 5 mins | Drama
Directed by Toy Lei A middle-aged contract killer must reconcile her life between her ruthless clients and her young, unquestioning son who wants to be just like her. Director's Bio: TOY LEI has had a fascination with action films ever since her parents took her to Chinatown as a kid to watch kung-fu movies every Saturday afternoon. After lamenting the lack of roles for Asian females over 30, she began writing, directing, and producing her own projects. Her directorial debut, The Wedding, won her the Top 5 Women Filmmakers award from the Asian-American Film Lab and New York Women in Film and Television. Her latest, Boxer, won not only Best Actress, Best Action and the Grand Prize at the 2015 Asian-American Film Lab 72-hr Shootout, but also won Awards of Merit from the highly competitive Accolade Competition for Short Film, Women Filmmakers and Leading Actress. The film opened its fest run at the coveted Etheria Film Night and winning Best Action. It continued strong into the 2016 San Diego Comic-con. Toy, one of the handful of female fight choreographers out there, is currently under a directing mentorship with Grace Moss at NBC/Universal and a stunt/action filmmaking mentorship with Lane Leavitt. |
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song on canvas2016 | USA | 15 mins | Drama
Directed by Keo Woolford An emotionally lost artist, trapped in the corporate world, receives encouragement to pick up his brush again from all people - his deceased mother. Director's Bio: KEO WOOLFORD recently made his feature film directorial debut with The Haumana which screened theatrically to sold out audiences around the world and won several film festival awards including the Audience Award and Best First Feature at the 2013 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. His short film LUNCHTIME also had a successful film festival run around the globe, garnering several awards including the Phred Love Hawaii Filmmakers Award from HRFF and Special Jury Prize from SQFF. Keo also directed the critically acclaimed hit stage play Three Year Swim Club at The East-West Players theatre in Los Angeles. |
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unspoken2016 | USA | 5 mins | Documentary
Directed by Amanda Huang Mental health in the AAPI community is often overlooked because of ideas like the Model Minority Myth that our society disseminates. This short film is a personal narrative that emphasizes the importance of utilizing your voice especially in these circumstances. Director's Bio: AMANDA HUANG is a student at Brandeis University. From high school to the present, she has been involved with non-profit organizations such as Quincy Asian Resources, Inc. and Asian Community Development Corporation as a youth leader and media intern respectively. After learning about the mental health stigma in the AAPI community from her mentors, she has become motivated to be an active member in the community. She hopes to continue to use film and photography as mediums to share meaningful stories that will influence others in a positive manner. |
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pata2016 | USA | 9 mins | Documentary
Directed by Kathryn Klingle "Pata" explores what role chronic depression has played in the life of Pata Suyemoto--teacher, artist, mental health activist. Director's Bio: KATHRYN KLINGLE is currently a senior at Harvard University studying gender studies and video production. She intends to pursue filmmaking after graduation. |
HArry on the clouds
2016 | Japan | 4 mins | Drama (Animated)
Directed by Aya Shiroi
Mother sheep can't wake up because her son Harry is gone.....while Harry is looking for his mother from the clouds.
Directed by Aya Shiroi
Mother sheep can't wake up because her son Harry is gone.....while Harry is looking for his mother from the clouds.
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the waltz2016 | USA | 11 mins | Drama
Directed by Trevor Zhou An immigrant mother faces an out of control hoarding compulsion and a crumbling marriage. She stumbles upon waltz lessons and tries to reclaim her life through dance. Director's Bio: TREVOR ZHOU is a filmmaker, writer, actor and artist living in New York City. Trevor’s first short ‘The Problem of Gravity’ played on PBS and numerous film festivals. 'The Waltz' is a proof of concept to attempt to secure funding for 'Yu and Mi,' his first feature film. He’s currently in post-production with his first short documentary. |
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halmoni2016 | USA | 21 mins | Documentary
Directed by Anna Oh Representing just one of the millions of undocumented immigrants in America, 24-year old immigrant activist Ju Hong travels back to South Korea to reunite with his ailing grandmother diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Halmoni shares an intimate glimpse into the young activist’s past and his struggles of being separated from family. Director's Bio: ANNA OH is a documentary filmmaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a Korean immigrant herself, she felt compelled to share Ju’s story with others after reading an article online. A few months later, she found herself on a plane heading to South Korea alongside Ju with camera and notebook in hand. Her personal short documentary, Am I American (Official Selection CAAMFest 2016), explores the various definitions of the word “American” through the perspectives of undocumented immigrants and recently-naturalized citizens. She will be voting for the first time as a U.S. citizen in the 2016 presidential election. |
