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Asian Focus

A cinematic exploration of Asian cultures and stories, this spotlight presents films like The Song of Flying Leaves, an introspective narrative blending culture and tradition, and Poyyamozhi, which delves into the mystery of a runaway’s journey through the woods. These films showcase the rich diversity of Asia, tackling both contemporary and historical issues with grace and depth.

Asian Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

A Move

Film A Move Directed by Elahe Esmaili Elahe returns to her hometown in Mashhad, Iran, to help her parents move to a new place after...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

A Summer’s End Poem

Film A Summer’s End Poem Directed by Lam Can-zhao Shortly before the end of the summer holidays, a country boy spends his savings on his dream of...
Asian Focus, Human Rights Spotlight, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, QFest LGBTQ Spotlight

Amma’s Pride

Film Amma’s Pride Directed by Shiva Krish “Amma’s Pride” chronicles Valli’s trials and tribulations as she watches her trans daughter Srija, fall in love, marry,...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Aquatic

Film Aquatic Directed by Shiva Sadegh Asadi A woman’s ability to give birth to marine creatures is exploited for commercial purposes.
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Center of Life

Film Center of Life Directed by Jacob Arenber The Israeli authorities question the authenticity of Wissam’s real life on his citizenship application leading to rejection. How...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Headphone

Film Headphone Directed by Ilia Azizifard A man awakens in a medieval prison, where music is played through headphones to calm him as he...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Hi Mom, It’s Me, Lou Lou

Film Hi Mom, It’s Me, Lou Lou Directed by Atakan YILMAZ Hakkı, a university student working his way through college as a drag performer in Istanbul, is stunned by...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

In the Shadow of the Cypress

Film In the Shadow of the Cypress Directed by Hossein Molayemi, Shirin Sohani Struggling to connect with his daughter, a former captain suffering from PTSD, experiences an unforeseen event that could...
Asian Focus, Cinema for Students Programs, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Instruments of a Beating Heart

Film Instruments of a Beating Heart Directed by Ema Ryan Yamazaki Ayame is determined to play a major part, the big drum, in herToyko public elementary’s first grade performance...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

It’s Not About Ketchup

Film It’s Not About Ketchup Directed by Nasser Saeed It’s Not About Ketchup is a Documentary about a couple facing a challenge in their relationship through the...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Manting

Film Manting Directed by Shuyao Chen Manting, a Chinese woman in her early 60s, rekindles a connection with her teenage love after the passing...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Monsoon Blue

Film Monsoon Blue Directed by Ellis Kayin CHAN, Jay Hiukit WONG The dream of a goldfish to return to its wild form unearths her long-forgotten memories.
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Places I’ve called my own

Film Places I’ve called my own Directed by Sushma Khadepaun After several years in the US, Tara returns to India for her father’s funeral amid her IVF process,...
American Indie Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight

Poyyamozhi

Film Poyyamozhi Directed by Sudhi Anna Poyyamozi follows Jayson, a runaway guided by Chachan through a mysterious forest. As Chachan’s vengeful intentions surface, Jayson...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Leon & Mary Strauss Documentary Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Reviving Eman

Film Reviving Eman Directed by Feras Awad Inspiring story of an Emirati paramedic whose career was unexpectedly terminated by a debilitating injury.
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Satomi

Film Satomi Directed by Rayner Wang A inadvertent encounter with her favorite star, a living anime, may be the key to helping a passionate...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Son

Film Son Directed by Saman Hosseinpuor In a village in Kurdistan, an old mother waits for her son to return from military service. After...
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Stills Moving

Film Stills Moving Directed by Kevin Tsung Hsuan Yeh After learning of her ALS diagnosis, a sculptor puts her heart and soul into her next work, a...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Fall

Film The Fall Directed by Ghasem Shishegari Does what happen in the forest, stay in the forest?
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Shortest Relationship in the World

Film The Shortest Relationship in the World Directed by Xiaoxuan Han This may be the Shortest relationship in the world.
Animation Spotlight, Asian Focus, Cinema for Students Programs, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Song of Flying Leaves

Film The Song of Flying Leaves Directed by Armine Anda A magical journey unfolds as twelve-year-old Suna, who uses leaves as a blanket, meets an old man with...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

The Source Of All Beauty

Film The Source Of All Beauty Directed by Rachel Lévy Yaeli, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish young woman, carries a terrible secret that may destroy all her chances of future...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

The Steak

Film The Steak Directed by Kiarash Dadgar A birthday party preparation is thrown into chaos by an awful event.
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, New Filmmakers Forum

The Strangers’ Case

Film The Strangers’ Case Directed by Brandt Andersen In “Sir Thomas More,” Shakespeare wrote a speech in which More makes a passionate defense for refugees, pleading...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, New Filmmakers Forum, Women in Film Spotlight

The Umesh Chronicles

Film The Umesh Chronicles Directed by Pooja Kaul A woman questions the nature of freedom as she contrasts her privileged life with that of those who...
American Indie Spotlight, Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Women in Film Spotlight

Those Were the Good Days

Film Those Were the Good Days Directed by Hong-rae Lee This is the story of intersections between past and present, memory and forgetting, inner peace and healing. We...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Umm Salama The Matchmaker

Film Umm Salama The Matchmaker Directed by Mariam Alawadhi As Umm Salama finally persuades her stubborn daughter Salama to consider marriage, she embarks on a journey to...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition

Wings

Film Wings Directed by Jonghee Kim Soo-jin, an elementary school homeroom teacher, visits her student Han-wool’s home where she faces the true nature of...
Asian Focus, International Spotlight, Oscar® Qualifying Shorts Competition, Women in Film Spotlight

Zebras That Don’t Exist

Film Zebras That Don’t Exist Directed by Qiuchi Wu An asthmatic girl’s energy grows as her love for the athletic boy who runs past her house each...