Shorts Blocks

Late Night Shorts

SHOWTIME: Saturday 11 PM - 11:57 PM

SYNOPSIS: When the sun goes down, the rules go out the window. Our Late Night Shorts program is home to the bold, the bizarre, the thrilling, and the delightfully unexpected. From dark comedy and horror to surreal visions and genre-bending experiments, these films embrace the strange, the unsettling, and the wildly entertaining.

Whether they'll make you laugh, squirm, gasp, or all three at once, each short pushes storytelling in unexpected directions. If you're looking for the festival's most unpredictable ride, this is it.

RUNNING TIME: 57 minutes | COLOR TITLE: Red Pocket | DIRECTOR: Austin Chen A magical Red Pocket interrupts an anxiety ridden family dinner. TITLE: She Will Rock You | DIRECTOR: Yebin Hyeon Yongsik is abruptly and absurdly dumped by Deokja. But no matter how much he thinks it over, he doesn’t want to break up with her. He begins to chase after something—anything—that might bring her back. Though Deokja has, quite literally, turned into a stone by the time they meet again, Yongsik still decides to try. TITLE: Plaything | DIRECTOR: A.B. Allen An innocent 20-something Clem is courted by charming Kevin, but as Clem falls deeper, he begins to realize their relationship isn't just imperfect, but something far more sinister. TITLE: Looky-Loo | DIRECTOR: Jiwon Jung Seonjeong, a designer at a pet cam startup, discovers that her colleague, developer Myungseok, secretly recorded her and an intern using the pet cam. She confronts and exposes him. However, even after the incident, an unseen gaze still lingers—and Seonjeong soon realizes the real problem lies deeper.
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Narrative Shorts

SHOWTIME: Friday 12:30 PM - 1:32 PM

SYNOPSIS: Big ideas often come in small packages. This collection of narrative short films brings together emerging and established filmmakers from across Asia and the Asian diaspora, each offering a distinct perspective on identity, family, love, loss, ambition, and the unexpected moments that shape our lives.

Spanning a range of genres, styles, and cultures, these stories transport audiences across borders while revealing the emotions and experiences that connect us all. Whether intimate, humorous, suspenseful, or quietly profound, each film demonstrates the unique power of short-form storytelling: to surprise, challenge, and linger long after the credits roll.

RUNNING TIME: 62 minutes | COLOR TITLE: Zaban | DIRECTOR: Hashim Latif An immigrant mother struggles to reconnect with her son after many years estranged from each other – all while speaking different languages. TITLE: Blood and Water | DIRECTOR: Lingxi Li The story of Emma Smith, a 15-year-old Chinese adoptee raised by her White Christian American parents. Brought up in the suburbs from the South, she is far-detached from her Chinese roots and more comfortable with her adoptive family’s values and traditions. TITLE: Over the Threshold | DIRECTOR: Myeongjun Jo Noah and the Siblings live narrowly through errands in their local community. They come across strange 'Boy' hiding in a closet while on a cleaning errand. Eventually they decide to go over the threshold of the closet and join in their unusual daily life. TITLE: YOU COULD'VE BEEN A NURSE | DIRECTOR: Meg Mateo When a routine dialysis session fails, Gwen finds out her mother has only days to live—but it's their mismatched expectations that creates unforeseen heartbreak.
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Presented by Community Partner

Student Shorts

SHOWTIME: Thursday 12 PM - 1:30 PM

SYNOPSIS: Every great filmmaker starts somewhere. This collection showcases the creativity, curiosity, and bold storytelling of the next generation of Asian and Asian diasporic filmmakers, offering a glimpse into the voices that will shape the future of cinema.

From deeply personal reflections to imaginative works of fiction, these student-made films explore a wide range of themes with fresh perspectives and fearless ambition. While the filmmakers may still be honing their craft, their stories are already asking meaningful questions, taking creative risks, and reminding us that compelling cinema has no age requirement.

RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes | COLOR
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