Identities: Asian-American
Sunday, May 3 – 12:30pm

Identities is a collection of short film programs exploring the quiet push and pull between heritage and everyday American life, revealing the contradictions and intimacy of ordinary moments through personal, character-driven stories that feel human rather than political. Later in May we will have similar programs for Jewish-Americans and African-Americans.
Places We Knew

Places We Knew

Narrative • Drama • Japan • 2025
20 Minutes

A young Japanese American returns to his childhood home in Japan where he reunites with his estranged family. When unexpected complications arise, he faces a difficult decision: cling to cherished memories or confront the painful reality.

Director: Oliver William Staton
Writer: Oliver William Staton
Cast: Rick Kumazawa, Michiko Ishihara, Tsuyoshi Kondo, Eric Presnall
Producers: Nathan M Legger, Yukari Tsukahara, Oliver William Staton
Executive Producers: Dale Annin, Ashwin Kumar, Jay Dorsch, Jongmok Hong
Cinematographer: Hans Bobànovits
Editor: Milène Ortenberg
Composer: Cédric Amalaman

Festivals & Awards: LA Asian Film Festival – Best Director & Best Ensemble Cast
Indy Shorts
Flickers’ Rhode Island

Public Contact: Oliver William Staton
Email Address: oliver.william.staton@gmail.com

Flavor Of The Month

Flavor Of The Month

Narrative • Comedy/Drama • USA • 2025
13 Minutes

A B-list Chinese actor fears being replaced as “Hollywood’s Asian” while screen testing for a life-changing role.

Director: Nathan Xia
Writer: Nathan Xia
Cast: Nathan Xia, Kevin Changaris, Jack Wang, Jade Kaiser, Dustin Hahn, Jim Cummings
Producers: Po Wei Su, Nathan Xia, Benny Luo, Yao King, Benjamin Wiessner
Cinematographer: Ayinde Anderson
Editor: Tiffany Lin

Hāfu

Hāfu

Narrative • Drama • USA • 2025
16 Minutes

When an American bride-to-be spends the day reuniting with her Japanese grandmother, she discovers through the dance of communication that she is more connected to her heritage than she realized.

Director: Josh Wolff
Writer: Josh Wolff, Luka Oida
Cast: Luka Oida, Mariko Takai, Miyuki Matsunaga, Keizo Kaji
Producers: Josh Wolff, Luka Oida, Lauren Sowa, Yuki Sakamoto Solomon

Festivals: El Paso
Charlotte
Montclair
Naples
Coronado
Lake County

Bible Camp

Bible Camp

Narrative • Comedy/Drama • USA • 2025
13 Minutes

Based on a true immigrant story, young Koreans assimilate to baseball, burnt hot dogs and hostility at a discount daycare.

Director: Philip DeRise
Writer: Hyon Jung Lee
Cast: Amy Eunhae Lee, Conor M. Hamill, Aria David
Producers: Sybil Reymundo-Santiago & Taja Perkins
Executive Producers: Hyon Jung Lee
Cinematographer: Eun-ah Lee
Editor: Misha Scott
Composer: Tempest Original Music & Sound

Public Contact: Hyon Jung Lee
Email Address: biblecampfilm@gmail.com

A Mary Can Dream

A Mary Can Dream

Narrative • Drama • USA • 2025
21 Minutes

A Taiwanese mother and her Americanized daughter collide with their conflicting dreams.


Director: Shin-Fei Chen
Writer: Shin-Fei Chen
Cast: Shin-Fei Chen, Jung-Ting Queenie Chou, Anya Prinz, Amelia Addington
Producers: Shin-Fei Chen, John M Nguyen, Mo Ying Jing, Wayne Sobon, Ernie McNabb, John Norris Ray
Executive Producers: Judy Jang Jan
Cinematographer: Aquavis Warfield
Editor: Ziwei Ling
Composer: Tom Shaw

Festivals: Poppy Jasper International Film Festival

Public Contact: Shin-Fei Chen
Email Address: amarycandream.film@gmail.com

Check Please

Check Please

Narrative • Action/Comedy • USA • 2025
10 Minutes

Two headstrong Koreans can’t agree on who’s treating who to dinner, causing their casual restaurant outing to spiral into a martial arts deathmatch.

Director: Shane Chung
Writer: Shane Chung
Cast: Richard Yan, Sukwon Jeong
Producers: Anna Castagnaro, Nick Leahy
Cinematographer: Tristan Baumeister
Editor: Madie Giaconia
Composer: Nathan Pruyne/de Wolfe Music USA

Festivals: SXSW