A showcase of ASIAN filmmakers and screenplays from around the world.
Shako Liu is a filmmaker and video journalist based in New York City. Her work has appeared on NBC News, MSNBC, NowThis, OWN, the Atlantic, POV, Ford Motor Company and on a skyscraper once.
Spurred by a rise in anti-Asian violence, ‘Asians with Attitudes,’ a volunteer-based evening patrol group in Oakland’s Chinatown, has galvanized the Asian American community to become one of the loudest voices in the fight to stop Asian hate.
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Left Behind explores the refugee crisis through the eyes of those documenting the decade-long catastrophe which has displaced millions and become the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II.
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A second generation Taiwanese-Canadian born in Edmonton, Alberta, Calvin, started young as a player with the acclaimed St Albert Children’s Theatre, and moving on to appearances in television and commercials. Somewhat discouraged by the lack of roles, he pursued a career in advertising, landing him in London UK, Toronto and Montreal before returning to entertainment as a film director intent on capturing the voice to the underrepresented and beauty to the misunderstood.
Hwang’s award winning films have screened internationally, with his recent documentary films Exiting Hell Bar winning best documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Director Statement
This film is both a confrontation and a diplomacy on the myriad of emotions I have felt over the surge of anti-Asian attacks during the pandemic. From one perspective it is a breach of the collectivist silence originating from a culture of saving face. The conversation about racism must be normalized in order for these injustices to be broken. On the other, it is a careful translation of anger and frustration into something positive, heart opening and inspirational of change. This film is my expression and collaboration to translate anger into unity.
An intimate look at Asian Canadian small business owner Andy Sue as he explores the psychological trauma of a first-hand encounter with racism during the pandemic. The film examines the social implications of our digital media reality, where algorithms detect bias and translate fear, blame and outrage into profit.
The experience of racism has become a central focus of the COVID-19 global pandemic. From Black Lives Matter to Stop Asian Hate, citizens across the world are mobilizing to condemn active and institutionalized injustices that continue to perpetuate discrimination, blame and violence against people of colour. But while communities raise their voices to dismantle these biased structures, portrayals and policies, there remain systems that continue to benefit if not outright profit from these inequities.
While Canada has an often-untold history of anti-Asian racism, and COVID-19 is marked by familiar patterns of blaming marginalized communities, the film reveals that when our common shared humanity is translated in simple acts of kindness, a movement against discrimination will bloom.
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News & Reviews
B>Showcase of the best ASIAN SHORT FILMS in the world today.
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS:
Best Film: PRESSURE BABY
Best Cinematography: SEEPED
Best Sound & Music: DUCKMAN
Theme of night: Life
NOTE: Festival took place during the COVID-19 virus lockdown so all screenings were held in private.
Watch the Audience FEEDBACK Videos:
 DUCKMAN, 10min., Canada, Documentary
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 PRESSURE BABY, 34min., Canada, Documentary
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 SEEPED, 15min., India, Drama
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The beginning of a (temporary) new era.
See you at the festivals. Whenever that happens!
– Matthew Toffolo
PRESSURE BABY documents the emotional journey of Zin, a young woman living in one of the most remote communities in Myanmar. This intimate film grants a glimpse into the life of a mother, wife and daughter whose story seems so unique, but is sadly an all-too-common reality for millions of women. It’s a story of the realities of development and evolving family dynamics, which can make a life or death difference in the health and futures of communities everywhere.
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Happiness doesn’t come bundled with a new car, or a big house. It comes with finding your purpose in life and surrounding yourself with smiling friendly faces. Duckman is a Japanese busker who travels around the world to bring happiness to people. This movie explores the difficulties of living as a busker and how he balances his passions vs career as we know that living off as a busker deals with various dangers/problems whilst having the passion—busking—is treasurable just like all the others who have passions in life.
An Ardent individual learning and expressing his voice comes naturally to Mauraya, a 17-year-old student, through art genres like film-making, theatre, designing, and painting. Often he describes the medium of films as an act of resistance; reshaping and molding our society. He Co-wrote and Directed the ‘Unbinding’ Short Film about a gender-sensitive outlook on desire that won him 7 Awards and 20 nominations, nationally and internationally (including Oscar-qualifying festivals). A year before that. He started a campaign titled ‘Project Bansuli’ which upcycled and revived the lost culture of bamboo jewelry in the Dangs tribe, integrating them into the urban market. The culmination of this project was with a documentary titled ‘Looking Through the Bamboos’ that lend him 10 awards internationally. In continuation of this project.
Director Statement
Quote “more than anything, Seeped is not about what moments of contemplation can do to us, rather what merely causes it; the uncanny correlations. It entrenches you into your past, trickling down into stories of your life with no judgment.”
Entangled in the walks of life, paper-making artist, Kaivalya tussles with her past & is reinvigorated by the exploration of sexuality, pain, filtration & unplanned co-relations. Kaivalya is entrenched within a pulp-like substance that eventually dries up and peels into textured and nuanced paper.
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Asian Feedback Film Festival 