SHOWTIME: Sunday July 16th at 9:45 PM

SYNOPSIS: Miyabi, a woman grappling with the grief of losing her daughter, finds solace in working as a call girl following her divorce. Her life takes an unusual turn when she encounters an eccentric client interested in photographing her spine. In a subsequent appointment, he insists on photographing her feet.

As Miyabi continues to permit her body parts to be photographed, she makes a startling discovery: each photograph taken brings her deceased daughter's spirit nearer to her. As the series of photos near its culmination with only her eyes left to be captured, unforeseen consequences ensue. The entire society spirals into chaos in this audacious, imaginative, and unparalleled fantasy narrative.

DIRECTOR: Keishi Kondo | LANGUAGE: Japanese

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: Japan | GENRE: Drama / Horror

SHOWTIME: Sunday July 16th at 7:30 PM

SYNOPSIS: Renowned YouTube personality Yuna is notorious for belittling others. During a social gathering, she consumes a few alcoholic shots and falls asleep after calling a designated driver. To her horror, upon waking up, Yuna discovers that she is confined in the trunk of her own car.

The abductor demands a ransom that includes not just money but also insists that she live-stream the kidnapping and plead with her viewers for financial assistance. However, everyone believes this is just another one of her staged antics.

DIRECTOR: PARK Dong-hee | LANGUAGE: Korean

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 90 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Thriller

SHOWTIME: Sunday July 16th at 4:50 PM

SYNOPSIS: In the wilderness of the Kanto region, a striking beauty and Geisha named Gokuraku Tayu (played by Yuki Amami) emerges. She was once the most trusted and cherished sniper under the service of Nobunaga Oda.

Meanwhile, a group known as the Kanto Skulls, led by the enigmatic Tenmaoh (played by Arata Furuta), who conceals his face with a skull mask, constructs the impenetrable Skull Castle. The Kanto Skulls assert their dominance over the Kanto region to hinder Hideyoshi Toyotomi's unification efforts.

Tayu rescues Sagiri (played by Kurumi Shimizu), a young girl from the Kumaki clan who the Skulls are pursuing. With assistance from Hyogo (played by Seiji Fukushi), leader of the Kanto Daredavils clan, they make their way to Mukai village, a bustling hub frequented by travelers, commoners, and individuals from various walks of life. The village is overseen by the highly sought-after Geisha, Yumesaburo (played by Ryo Ryusei).

In the village, a wanderer named Jiroemon Mamiana (played by Akira Yamamoto) approaches Tayu with a mission to assassinate Tenmaoh. It is revealed that Jiroemon is actually Ieyasu Tokugawa, who had shared a close relationship with Tayu through Nobunaga. As Hideyoshi amasses an army to defeat Tenmaoh, Tayu plans to take him down before a large-scale conflict erupts in Kanto. As part of this plan, Tayu sends Sagiri to a gunsmith, Gantetsusai, and his apprentice Kantetsu (played by Hiroki Miyake), to collect a specially-crafted gun capable of penetrating impenetrable armor.

Upon learning of Tayu's assassination plot, Tenmaoh confronts her and reveals his true face by removing his mask – he is none other than Nobunaga Oda. As Tayu aims her gun at him, Tenmaoh divulges a startling revelation.

The narrative unfolds as a tale of a woman who walks a warrior's path and a man with ambitions of creating his own empire. Their intertwined past resurfaces, setting in motion a series of gripping and poignant events.

DIRECTOR: Hidenori Inoue | LANGUAGE: Japanese

YEAR: 2019 | RUNNING TIME: 127 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: Japan | GENRE: Inoue-Kabuki

SHOWTIME: Sunday July 16th at 2:30 PM

SYNOPSIS: Over the course of a week-long beach side getaway, Amy, having recently undergone dramatic weigh loss, finds herself wrestling between loyalty to her best friend Kim and her attraction to Kim's new boyfriend.

DIRECTOR: Linh Tran | LANGUAGE: English

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 89 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: USA | GENRE: Drama

SHOWTIME: Sunday July 16th at 12 PM

SYNOPSIS: Shin, (played by Hae-jun), is an exceptionally skilled dancer specializing in waacking – a dance style akin to voguing that emphasizes striking poses. She is gearing up for a dance battle final, which holds enormous significance for her. The prize money would be sufficient to fund her gender-affirming surgery if she was victorious.

However, Shin's life takes a turn when her estranged father passes away. Being the only child, she must perform a traditional dance ritual at his memorial service. This necessitates an uneasy return to the rural community she left behind.

Intriguingly, Shin is not alone on this journey; she is guided by a mystical peacock that serves as her spirit guide. With a mix of defiance, poise, and self-assuredness, she confronts the challenges ahead. Along the way, she remains true to her identity while softening some of her guarded exterior.

DIRECTOR: Sung Bin Byun | LANGUAGE: Korean

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 115 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Drama/LGBTQ+

SHOWTIME: Saturday July 15th at 10 PM

SYNOPSIS: Rookie police officer Will Yam is a recent graduate of the police academy. Due to a wave of serial killings, Will is partnered with veteran officer Cham Lau, who was recently reinstated on the force. However, the duo cannot solve the cases and instead causes a series of incidents. Later, Cham re-encounters a drug-addicted street urchin, Wong To (Cya Liu), who ran over his wife and daughter in the past, and his anger makes him spiral out of control and continuously abuse her. Will clumsily loses his pistol, which the serial killer finds. With the killer lurking in the city, a crisis grows closer.

DIRECTOR: Soi Cheang | LANGUAGE: Cantonese / Japanese / Chinese

YEAR: 2021 | RUNNING TIME: 118 minutes | BLACK AND WHITE

COUNTRY: Hong Kong | GENRE: Gritty Crime

SHOWTIME: Saturday July 15th at 7:15 PM

SYNOPSIS: Long, a Vietnamese driver in Southern California, answers a late-night call for a ride. Already in his pajamas, he reluctantly accepts, picking up a man, Tây, and his two companions. But the men, recently escaped convicts from an Orange County jail, take Long hostage at gunpoint, thrusting him into their getaway plan. When complications arise, the fugitives and their hostage hole up at a motel, and a tense waiting game unfolds.

DIRECTOR: Sing J. Lee | LANGUAGE: English/Vietnamese

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 109 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: USA | GENRE: Drama/Thriller

SHOWTIME: Saturday July 15th at 5 PM

SYNOPSIS: Alus, an electronic musician from Mongolia, is grappling with uncertainty regarding his life’s direction. He is deeply distressed by the sight of his mother, who is battling Alzheimer’s, living confined in his brother’s urban apartment.

Driven by her longing for the grasslands, he resolves to take her back in search of the home she so desperately misses. As her condition deteriorates, Alus takes the drastic measure of using a rope to tether himself to his mother in a bid to prevent her from wandering off. This rope symbolizes a reborn connection, akin to an umbilical cord, linking him not only to his mother’s fading memories but also to the land of his origins and the rich tapestry of his cultural heritage.

DIRECTOR: Sixue Qiao | LANGUAGE: Mongolian / Mandarin

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 96 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: China | GENRE: Family Drama

SHOWTIME: Saturday July 15th at 2:45 PM

SYNOPSIS: Akio Akabane, a middle-aged salesman at a prominent real estate firm, is melancholy. He nostalgically clings to his former triumphs as a star salesman, though his leadership approach is marred by intimidation, harassment, and sexism. Unexpectedly, he is reassigned to a matchmaking agency called "Toi et Moi," which Yui Tokita manages. Yui inherited the agency from her mother, who was a masterful matchmaker.

Initially, Akabane arrogantly believes that matchmaking is no different from selling properties. However, he quickly finds himself overwhelmed by the distinctive quirks and preferences of the clients, such as an individual who never makes it past a third date or another who is resolved to marry by a particular deadline regardless of the partner.

On the other hand, Yui is devoted to her work but struggles with self-doubt. Their contrasting values and approaches initially cause friction. Yet, as they complement and compensate for one another's weaknesses, they orchestrate a series of small wonders.

DIRECTOR: Naoki Maeda | LANGUAGE: Japanese

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 110 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: Japan | GENRE: Comedy

SHOWTIME: Saturday July 15th at 12PM

SYNOPSIS: Escaping the civil war in Syria, Harim finds refuge in a camp in Korea. There, he is devastated to learn of his son's death. In a desperate bid to secure refugee status in Korea and provide a safe haven for the rest of his family, Harim renounces his religious beliefs and endures humiliating circumstances. The question remains: will his sacrifices and struggles ultimately lead to a better life for him and his family?

DIRECTOR: Ju-hyoung Lee | LANGUAGE: Korean/Arabic

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 120 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Drama

SHOWTIME: Friday July 14th at 9:30 PM

SYNOPSIS: The Childe follows Marco, a boxer with a complicated past. He is of mixed descent, with a Korean father and a Filipino mother, and has been wandering around illegal stadiums in the Philippines. Marco lives with his sick mother in the Philippines. Marco then decides to travel to Korea in search of his estranged father to pay for his mother's surgery.

Upon his arrival in Korea, Marco quickly discovers that he is being relentlessly pursued by a dangerous group of individuals for reasons unknown. Among his pursuers is a mysterious and unidentified man known as the "nobleman," who creates chaos and severely restricts Marco's movements. In addition to the nobleman, Marco is also being pursued by Han Yi-sa, a wealthy heir seeking to claim his father's vast fortune, and Yoon-ju, a mysterious woman Marco unexpectedly reunites with in Korea. Marco finds himself caught up in a whirlwind of unpredictability and madness. Amid this chaos, Marco is forced to confront a shocking truth that will change everything he thought he knew about his past and present.

DIRECTOR: Park Hoon-jung | LANGUAGE: Korean

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 118 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Action

SHOWTIME: Friday July 14th at 6:45 PM

SYNOPSIS: Young Sohee, portrayed by Kim Si-eun, is a spirited and determined high school student residing in the Korean countryside. She is characterized by her lively nature and a fierce disposition. Eager to secure a future, she opts for an education geared toward the labor market and enrolls in a paid employment program with a sense of optimism.

Her school encourages her to enter into a contract with a call center that exploits its trainees by enticing them with the allure of bonuses that never materialize. The trainees are pressured into employing highly unethical tactics to achieve their goals. Throughout her time at the call center, Sohee faces a barrage of verbal abuse, including being shouted at, threatened, and subjected to profanities.

However, the turning point arrives when her supervisor, who is overwhelmed by the workload and stress, tragically takes his own life. This event triggers a downward spiral in Sohee's mental state, ultimately leading her to commit an act that cannot be undone.

DIRECTOR: July Jung | LANGUAGE: Korean

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 134 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Drama / Thriller

SHOWTIME: Friday July 14th at 4:30 PM

SYNOPSIS: Zahara, a stateless refugee, lives on a small remote island in Malaysia, where she makes a living selling turtle eggs. One day, Samad, claiming to be a university researcher, visits the island, wanting to employ Zahara to show him around. As the day goes on, Zahara and Samad become entangled in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception.

DIRECTOR: Ming Jin Woo | LANGUAGE: Malay

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 91 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: Malaysia | GENRE: Arthouse Sci-Fi/Thriller

SHOWTIME: Friday July 14th at 2PM

SYNOPSIS: Han Jiangyu, who has been away from his hometown for ten years, returns to his hometown, trying to regain his old love with his former lover Su Hong. Han's old friend Chen Kai participated in the house purchase plan, so Han Jiangyu and Su Hong had to face their own problems and face the difficulties of life together.

DIRECTOR: Lang Wu | LANGUAGE: Mandarin

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 100 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: China | GENRE: Drama

SHOWTIME: Friday July 14th at 12PM

SYNOPSIS: In a village hidden in the mist-shrouded Northwest Vietnamese mountains resides an indigenous Hmong community, home to 12-year-old Di, part of the first generation of her people with access to formal education. A free spirit, Di recounts her experiences to Vietnamese filmmaker Diễm Hà Lệ, who planted herself within Di's family over the course of three years to document this unique coming of age as she faces the local custom of "bride kidnapping."

DIRECTOR: Ha La Diem | LANGUAGE: Hmong / Vietnamese

YEAR: 2021 | RUNNING TIME: 92 minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: Vietnam | GENRE: Documentary

SHOWTIME: Thursday July 13th at 7:15 PM

SYNOPSIS: Kyung-soo, despite being blind, possesses remarkable acupuncture skills. His talents earn him recognition from Lee Hyung-ik, and he is subsequently admitted into the royal palace. During this period, Crown Prince Sohyeon, who had been held captive by the Qing Dynasty, returns to Korea after eight long years. King Injo, although elated by his son’s return, is also gripped by an inexplicable sense of unease.

One fateful night, Kyung-soo, whose vision is slightly enhanced in darkness, becomes an unwitting witness to the death of Crown Prince Sohyeon. As he endeavors to unveil the truth, he finds himself entangled in a web of even greater secrets and intrigues, endangering his own life. In the aftermath of his son’s demise, King Injo’s apprehensions morph into madness, and he becomes unhinged. Amidst this chaos, Kyung-soo bravely persists in his quest to expose the truth behind the tragic death of the crown prince.

DIRECTOR: Tae-Jin Ahn | LANGUAGE: Korean

YEAR: 2022 | RUNNING TIME: 118 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Thriller / Mystery

SHOWTIME: Thursday July 13th at 5:00 PM

SYNOPSIS: After a deadly, long-dormant health condition surfaces during a mission, Joseon’s most lethal assassin goes into hiding to seek a cure without revealing his identity. But upon witnessing a ruthless campaign of terror against local villagers, the region’s deadliest killer comes out of retirement in order to exact his own brutal brand of vigilante justice.

DIRECTOR: Kwak Jeong-deok | LANGUAGE: Korean

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 101 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: South Korea | GENRE: Action / Adventure

SHOWTIME: Thursday July 13th at 2:45 PM

SYNOPSIS: In 2007, a 19-year-old named Reyhaneh Jabbari is condemned to death in Iran for killing a man in self-defense during an attempted rape. The endeavors made by her family and advocates to save her not only shed light on Reyhaneh's case but also unveil the widespread subjugation and muzzling of women in Iran. Furthermore, the case highlights the perilous lengths to which individuals go in their pursuit to defend and stand in solidarity with these women.

DIRECTOR: Steffi Niederzoll | LANGUAGE: Persian

YEAR: 2023 | RUNNING TIME: 97 Minutes | COLOR

COUNTRY: France / Germany | GENRE: Documentary

WOMEN’S FILM SHOWCASE

Director: Christine W Chen | Country: United States | Running Time: 86 minutes 

Four women accidentally summon a water goddess while reconnecting at a camp in south Louisiana, and a local decides to capture the goddess for himself.

Our closing night celebration will begin following the screening of 7 Days.  The party will feature food, music and some other surprises! Our guest filmmakers will be in attendance.  Let’s celebrate the final moments of our 21st festival together!

The party is FREE to attend with an RSVP.

FREE parking is available at Mockingbird Station.

7 DAYS PLAYS DIRECTLY AFTER FALAFEL

CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION / WOMEN’S FILM SHOWCASE

7 Days

Director: Roshan Shethi | Country: United States | Running Time: 86 minutes 

As if their pre-arranged date, organized by their traditional Indian parents, wasn't uncomfortable enough, Ravi and Rita are forced to shelter in place together as COVID-19's reach intensifies.

Falafel

Director: Nikita Hattangady | Country: United States | Running Time: 19 min

Two young professionals having an awful morning suddenly meet at a cafe in London. A day that starts out terrible does not have to end that way. The Internationally award-winning film plays like a mini feature, with action, music, romance, moments of humor, and a touch of Bollywood. Falafel is a story about dreams coming true.

ASCENSION PLAYS DIRECTLY AFTER SECRET RECIPE

WOMEN’S FILM SHOWCASE

ASCENSION

Director: Jessica Kingdon  | Country: United States | Running Time: 97 minutes 

The absorbingly cinematic Ascension explores the pursuit of the "Chinese Dream." This observational documentary presents a contemporary vision of China that prioritizes productivity and innovation above all.

Secret Recipe

Director: Yuan Yang | Country: United States |Running Time: 6 min

A homesick international student learns to find her own sense of home after a last meeting with her grandmother in a dream.

CAT DADDIES PLAYS DIRECTLY AFTER FOSTER FAIL

WOMEN’S FILM SHOWCASE / FEATURES Q+A WITH CAT DADDIES DIRECTOR MYE HOANG

CAT DADDIES

Director: Mye Hoang  | Country: United States | Running Time: 90 minutes 

David Giovanni is living on the streets of New York, determined to stay together with his beloved cat Lucky. When he's finally granted a spot in a transitional housing facility that accepts cats, the COVID-19 pandemic and a devastating medical diagnosis puts his future together with Lucky in doubt. David's journey is interspersed with portraits of other "cat dads" from all over the country and some who struggle to navigate the unprecedented events of 2020 with their little furry friends.

FOSTER FAIL

Director: Kate Feldt | Country: United States | Running Time: 8 minutes

A fearful cat in need of a foster home is reluctantly taken in by a busy woman.

WOMEN’S FILM SHOWCASE

Director: Dongnan Chen  | Country: China | Running Time: 94 minutes 

After hiding in the mountains for a century, a Miao Christian choir is discovered by an official and becomes a national sensation. Two young Miaos must reconcile their faith, identity, and love with the real world of China.

Director: Sakamoto Yugo  | Country: Japan | Running Time: 66 minutes 

A group of eight college-age kids drives into the countryside for a day of fun and a night of what promises to be erotic frolics as their minivan drives deeper into the mountains. Two guys sitting in the back, Kento and Keisaku — are quieter, as are the weak-seeming Mutsuo and his sister Makoto. Their van gets a flat tire and, when they search online for help, they realize their phones can’t pick up a signal. Crossing a rickety bridge over a deep ravine they see a sign for the village of Tatsukiri — and a creepy scarecrow with a knife in its head. Soon after, they encounter a leathery old man on a horse, who introduces himself as Shinjiro and invites them to his house. There they find a lavish meal already prepared and futons laid out. When Shinjiro, who seems to be a local grandee, invites the group to stay the night, they accept, though something about the setup disturbs them, even the hard-partying quartet. What happened to the previous guests whose jackets are still hanging on the coat rack? Why did Shinjiro and his staff — three strangely robotic women — seem to have anticipated their arrival?

Director: Randolph Zaini  | Country: Indonesia | Running Time: 92 minutes

A deaf criminal with a traumatic past and his son must fight their way out of their small Indonesian village after witnessing a horrible murder, pitting the gangster against the mob outfit that employed him.

SATURDAY SPOTLIGHT SCREENING

Director: Shô Miyake  | Country: Japan/France | Running Time: 99 minutes 

A hearing-impaired woman with dreams of becoming a professional boxer due to the pandemic is threatened closure of her boxing club and the illness of its aging president, who has been her biggest supporter, pushing her to the limit.

Director: Tom Huang  | Country: United States | Running Time: 106 minutes 

Margaret Chang (Ally Maki) reluctantly returns to her hometown along with her hapless brothers (Hayden Szeto, Peter S. Kim) to deal with the sudden depression of their complete-jerk father (Dana Lee). It turns out Dad is nicer depressed than well, and the siblings wonder if they should even get him better as they struggle to find a solution in this comedic drama.

Director: Satyajit Ray  | Country: India | Running Time: 95 minutes 

Huzur Biswamghar Roy is a rich landowner who lives in a palace with his wife and son and his many servants. His passion - his wife would call it his addiction - is music and he spends a great deal of his fortune on concerts held for the locals in his magnificent music room. His wealth is in decline, however. His lands are being eroded by the local river and he pays for the concert he arranges for his son's coming of age party by selling some of the family jewels. When his neighbor Ganguli invites him to a party at his house, Roy decides to one up him and organizes a lavish party for the same day - costing him the last of the jewels. After his wife and son are killed in a storm, Roy becomes something of a recluse, closing the music room. Now, many years later he decides to have one final concert, spending the last of his money to again outdo - and spite - Ganguli.