Documentary Short Films

Documentary Short by Lorenzo Benitez

Family Friendly Film

“Jaiveer writes code by day and produces electronic music by night. Confined to his room during the pandemic, he composes new material to make the most of his isolation while confronted by an uncertain future as a foreign worker in the USA. In this vérité profile, Jaiveer, who is one half of the producing duo Baalti, reconsiders reasons for staying in the first place as a member of the knowledge economy.”

From the festival director - 

Like Jaiveer, there are millions of immigrants who move to the United States because it offers them not only employment opportunities, but also broader creative outlets. Being a programmer by day and music producer by night involves a lot of hardship and a constant battle between one's intrinsic desire to “break free,” as opposed to staying documented through employment. If you intend to transition from your day job to a dream job, then read this book. If you aspire to be the next music producer, then you’ll need DAW, MIDI Controller, Headphones and patience. 

Documentary Short by Joella Cabalu

Family Friendly Film

“Ode to a Seafaring People, directed by Joella Cabalu and featuring spoken word artist Sol Diana poetically reveals the often hidden world of Filipino seafarers and in so doing, celebrates the resiliency of the Filipino community.”

Documentary Short by Kaia Rose

Family Friendly Film

“An intimate portrait of a sweet shop that has been an anchor for the Japanese-American community in Little Tokyo since 1903. The ingredients of the brightly-colored pieces of mochi-gashi that line Fugetsu-Do's wood-paneled cases include so much more than rice flour and sweet bean paste. Mixed inside are stories of joy and pain, tradition and racism, legacy and loss. Survival is never easy; it’s complicated and messy, full of contradictions and surprises. In the three generations that the Kito Family has been running Fugetsu-Do, the store has become a memory bank for the community and the stories that line its walls could not be more relevant in today's America.”

From the festival director - 

Mochi is a hallmark of Japanese confectionery. Japanese-American bakers and chefs have played a significant role in not only introducing this exciting delicacy, but also helping the United States grow its food economy. If you have never tried any mochi, you should strongly consider trying mochi ice-cream. If you feel adventurous, you can even try your hand at making some of your own using this mochi kit. 

Documentary Short by Zulfiya Hamzaki

Family Friendly Film

“Khansaa and her family fled the Syrian war in search of a better life in the United States. As refugees living in Oakland California, they adapt to an unfamiliar culture with the help of a young American mother. Crossing Borders looks at the migrant story through motherhood and friendship that cross language and cultural barriers.”

From the festival director - 

This film juxtaposes the lives of two mothers - one from Syria, and the other one from the United States. Moving to a new country and leaving behind family, friends and memories (and chai) can be a turning point in anyone's life, but the strength and courage demonstrated by the Syrian mother is worth watching. Lighter moments like sipping chai vs. boba and the smiles between the two mothers is a reminder of the privilege of living in a free country. Support organizations, such as World Relief Western NY and World Relief Quad cities, help with refugee settlement by donating items from Amazon. 

Documentary Short by Brenda Akele Jorde

Family Friendly Film

“Shiva's life as an Afghan woman living in Tehran is marked by exclusion. To cope with her situation and to feel relief she turns her recurring nightmares and feeling of isolation into art. In a letter to her friend she talks about her last days in Tehran before leaving to Europe with her family. The film gives an insight into the state of her inner mind and her art works that oscillate between reality and imagination.”

From the festival director -

This poetic film about an Afghani woman’s innermost feelings reminds us of the many thousands of refugees who were forced to flee their country. As they travel long distances to find a new home, there are several non-profit organizations who help them with resettlement. Your donations in the form of goods will go a long way. You can donate goods to refugees through these gift lists:  

Minnesota Afghan Refugees, AFGHAN Refugee Resettlement DMV, Sarasota's Afghan Refugees, PNW Starbucks Afghan Refugee Donation, Grace Covenant Church

Documentary Short by Jessica Lin

Family Friendly Film

“After the assaults and discrimination of Asians because of COVID-19, this film shines a light on what it is like be a “model minority” in an increasingly divided America.”

From the festival director - 

You may have seen several films on YouTube, but what if a film is made using YouTube clips? In this creative short film, the filmmaker emphasizes the impact of COVID on the Asian community and the pain they have endured due to multiple racial incidents during the pandemic. Consider spreading knowledge and raising awareness in the community by donating to this Asian-American organization or read a book The Art of Being an Asian American. 

Documentary Short by Set Hernandez Rongkilyo

Family Friendly Film

“For years, advocates have been organizing to make healthcare access a right for all in California, regardless of their immigration status. Set against the backdrop of California's Health4All campaign, COVER/AGE follows two leaders who have been championing the immigrant health justice movement in the Golden State. One is an elderly caregiver who has spent over a decade taking care of senior citizens, in spite of being ineligible for the same services she provides due to her immigration status. The other is a long-time community advocate who has been organizing directly-impacted people towards policy change at the intersection of immigrant, health, and gender justice. As the conversation around universal healthcare continues to gain momentum in the national level, this film highlights the urgency of expanding healthcare access to undocumented people by centering the unwavering voices of immigrant health justice leaders.”

From the festival director - 

Health inequality has been a long-standing debate in the United States. When you look through the lens of undocumented immigrants, the picture gets even darker. Set Hernandez Rongkilyo, a queer undocumented immigrant provides an intimate look at the challenges and frustration related to the lack of healthcare coverage. Tita Maddie and many others have lost their lives due to this lack of coverage. Read more about the lives of undocumented immigrants in The Undocumented Americans, or take a more scholarly approach by reading Pathogenic policing.

Documentary Short by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Maite Zubiaurre

“Along the scorching southern desert border in Arizona, it is estimated that only one out of every five missing migrants are ever found. This film is the story of one group of searchers, the Aguilas del Desierto, themselves largely immigrant Latinos. Once a month these volunteers—construction workers, gardeners, domestic laborers by trade—set out to recover missing loved ones referred to them by word of mouth, phone calls, or Facebook message. Amidst rising political repression and cartel violence, as well as the eternal difficulties of travel in the Sonoran Desert, the Aguilas carry out their solemn task.”

From the festival director -

A gut-wrenching film to say the least - the dedication of these volunteers to recover missing people is praiseworthy. Immigrants in the United States require assistance in the form of education, family engagement, and employment, which is offered by various non-profit organizations. You can help immigrants by donating items from these lists:

HIAS immigrant and refugee gift cards and this list, Refugee & Immigrant Transitions (RIT)

Documentary Short by Connor Price

“Prior to his migration to Australia, Congolese playwright Future D. Fidel witnessed the deaths of both his parents and narrowly avoided being massacred alongside other villagers by rebel soldiers. His debut play and novel, Prize Fighter, draws on several of his experiences while using a boxing ring as a metaphor for his character Isa’s struggles with violence. The play has become a hit around Australia and for the La Boite Theatre Company. By detailing his story, Future is able to provide an example of how works of art and entertainment can be powerful tools of self-expression.”

Documentary Short by Hieu Gray

Family Friendly

“Paris is home to one of the largest and oldest Vietnamese communities in the world; however, little has been documented about the Vietnamese diaspora in Paris. Filmmaker Hieu Gray aims to change that in her new food documentary “Quận 13” which refers to the Vietnamese name for Paris’ 13th arrondissment or district, home to the city’s Asian Quarter. The 13th may be the starting point, but Gray’s journey takes her all over Paris and into the kitchens of the Vietnamese keeping their cultural identity alive through food.”

Documentary Short by Carol Nguyen

“A collection of family secrets, confessions and confrontation.”

From the festival director - 

Information about immigrant and refugee mental health is often limited to scientific journals. According to the JAMA Psychiatry journal, it was found that ​​despite socioeconomic disadvantages, Mexican immigrants have a much better mental health profile than people of Mexican descent born in the United States. Watching the film with the outcome of that study in mind made me appreciate the openness of the parents to really share their emotional state and the pain and suffering they are going through. Films like these are deeply personal and extremely hard to make. A film that has a similar subject matter is Lulu Wang’s The Farewell or Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari. If you are interested in reading a memoir or two, we would recommend House of Sticks or The Body papers.

Documentary Short by Andrea Yu-Chieh Chung

Family Friendly Film

“A community is united by their love for freshly-baked Afghan bread.”

From the festival director - 

Black and white films have a special place in our heart. They create nostalgia that reminds us of a neighborhood bakery, or our grandmother’s home cooked bread. The filmmaker takes a disciplined approach covering the entire cycle of how bread is made to its consumption by hungry customers. If this documentary leaves you hungry and longing for some Afghan bread, don’t forget to explore other Afghan recipes. The recipes from Parwana cookbook or Heirloom Kitchen will complement the Afghan bread perfectly.

Documentary Short by Matthew Hashiguchi

For undocumented immigrants, attending college is not a right, but a privilege that very few receive. In the state of Georgia, undocumented immigrants are barred from attending the top most selected public colleges and universities, and to Raymond Partolan, a 23-year-old undocumented immigrant, this is a modern-day form of segregation that he hopes to overcome.

Born in the Philippines, Raymond and his family legally immigrated to the United States when he was one-year old. At the age of 10 he became undocumented, which crushed his dreams of attending college and nearly derailed his life when it had just begun. But rather than give up, Raymond emerged as an outspoken activist in support of immigrant rights. And, even though there are no guarantees of employment or future opportunity for undocumented immigrants, Raymond and many others like him continue to lobby congress, speak publicly and protest for the right to attend college and pursue the American dream.

From the festival director -

The phrase ‘Ambition knows no obstacles’ is almost true, except for the thousands of undocumented immigrants whom are discouraged from realizing their American dream due to the denial of higher education. If you feel passionate about this topic, then you might want to consider reading books, such as Shadowed Life and What Educators Need to Know about Immigrant Law.

Documentary Short by Bing Liu

The story of a daughter of a former South Vietnamese army captain and a Vietnamese orphan taken in by an American family. Nước presents fluid memories of Vietnamese immigrants growing up American and the continuing waves of those experiences into the present.

From the festival director -

Bing Liu, an academy nominated filmmaker, introduces us to two Vietnamese transplants who went through a harsh childhood in Vietnam, in some of his early works. Their memories of the old country, their definition of what American means, the trauma they experienced, and their view on math makes it a must-watch film. Books that draw similar parallels are The Last Airlift and Sky of Bombs, Sky of Stars. Don’t miss an opportunity to watch another Bing Liu classic in the form of a contemporary and personal film - Minding the gap. The film depicts the relationship of three friends over skateboarding.