A widow and child enter a negotiation over euphoria, anger, and forgiveness by the ocean.
Bio: Tiara is a Bengali writer who loves the deep sea, magical realism, and cooking with loved ones.
Instagram: @tomatoluvr3
Mirror Image
Tara Liu
A nonbinary Chinese American person expresses different branches of their identity.
Bio: Tara Liu loves cats, mushrooms, and the intersection between art and technology.
Website: taraliu.com
hey there
Kitty Hu
A conversation about our inner children that generates softer narratives about ourselves.
Content Warning: Grief, inner child work
Bio: Kitty Hu is a Chinese American filmmaker with roots in the Bay Area, California. She recently graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in film/television and international development studies. Currently, she works in documentary film and visual journalism. She is passionate about amplifying stories at the intersection of justice and human relationships, looking at topics like labor, housing, migration, and sustainability.
Website: kittyxhu.com
Ginger & Honey Milk
Mika Imai
Amid the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan, this human drama traces the lives of four university students, both Deaf and hearing. Their joys and sorrows intersect in a complex four-way relationship.
Content Warning: Emotional Pain
Bio: Mika Imai is a Deaf and Non-binary filmmaker from Gunma, Japan. Imai has been filmmaking since the sixth grade and by sophomore year in high school was recognized with a best film award at the Yokohama Deaf Art Festival. In 2014 Imai received a best film award at the 2nd annual Irish Deaf Film Festival for the short film Sign Name Game. Imai’s earliest work relies upon visual action and Japanese Sign Language (JSL) as the vessels for expression. Imai’s first film to incorporate a soundtrack, Until Rainbow Dawn, debuted in 2019 at the 27th Rainbow Reel Tokyo International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and featured at the 29th Hong Kong Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Imai’s latest feature Ginger and Honey Milk premiered to a sold out audience at the 3rd Tokyo Deaf International Film Festival in 2021.
Website: mika-imai.com
Puke
Luna Bautista
Dormant habits resurface for an overwhelmed Indigenous Chicana.
Content Warning: Emotional pain, depression, eating disorders, body dysmorphia
Bio: Luna Bautista is a Mexican American filmmaker born in northern California. They are passionate about stories centered on queer female protagonists and relationships with an emphasis on drama and horror-thriller elements.
Instagram: @Sw4mpthin9
Good Listener
Judy Tsegaye
A young Black person uproots one-sided conversations that leech energy.
Content Warning: Emotional labor
Bio: Judy is a young creative finding a place for her anger and her love.
Instagram: @judy466
Can I Tell You Something?
Nathalie Pajarillo
For a closeted Filipina, a difficult conversation with a familiar face sprouts into self-acceptance
Content Warning: Homophobia, Emotional Pain, Flashing images
Bio: Nathalie Pajarillo is a queer filmmaker dedicated to creating new kick-ass narratives for today's generation.
Twitter: @nalliepajarillo
The Perfect Paper Crane
Eli Sueyoshi
A young Asian person unearths meaning in the pursuit of perfection and its aftermath.
Bio: Eli Sueyoshi is one of the many human beings excited to enjoy life through art.