2020 Edition

Film Program

Shorts Program I (Satires)
Thursday, January 9, 2020, 5:00 pm


Mohingar Tapwe!! (A Bowl of Mohingar) by Aung Thu Rein and Yuki Kitazumi (Myanmar, Japan), 28 min, Burmese w/ English Subs. A young, orphaned chef strives to carry on his father’s legacy of making Myanmar’s best “mohingar,” traditional catfish noodle soup. But just when he thought he was making it, he is challenged by the owner of a big mohingar-manufacturing company. Which cooking master will win in this epic food war?

Rawuh (A Swollen Head) by Agung Kurniawan (Indonesia), 34 min, Javanese w/ English Subs. Jumarno and his wife are experiencing financial difficulties, making them even more dependent on their eldest son, Zainu, who works as an illegal laborer in Malaysia. When he is slated to return home for Eid Raya, they decide to flaunt their non-existent money to their fellow villagers by throwing a lavish celebration.

 

Shorts Program II (Gender Issues)
Thursday, January 9, 2020, 6:20 pm
This program contains mature themes that may not be suitable for young audiences


Abid (Devout) by Fachri Al Jupri (Indonesia), 20 min, Indonesian w/ English Subs. A young and successful man seems to have it all. And yet, deep inside, he is struggling with his sexuality and spirituality.

A Simple Love Story by Hnin Papa Soe (Myanmar), 21 min, Burmese w/ English Subs. This insightful documentary follows a simple yet not-so-simple love story between a transman and a transwoman in Myanmar.

Lakon Piwulanging Jagad (Drama that Teaches the World) by Fakhrizal Gani (Indonesia), 9 min, Indonesian w/ English Subs. This short video portrait features Dwi Puspita Ningrum, a female dalang (puppeteer) who struggles to balance her role as a mother and her dream of being accepted in the world of wayang kulit that traditionally only has male dalang.

Si Astri maka si Tambulah (Astri & Tambullah) by Xeph Suarez (Philippines), 19 min, Sinama w/ English Subs. Astri is a 16-year old transwoman in a relationship with 17-year old Tambulah. Although it’s an unusual sight at the community where they live, nobody bothers them. Everything seems perfect… except that Sama Badjao traditions and a pact made long ago require Astri to marry a woman she hardly knows.

 

Shorts Program III (Modernity & Development)
Friday, January 10, 2020, 5:00 pm


The Playground by Purnawan (Indonesia), 6 min. Two boys play kite on an empty yard in the middle of the rice fields near their villages, when the string breaks. They chase after where it lands.

Viral Kids by Arjanmar Rebeta (Philippines), 18 min, Tagalog w/ English Subs. Five different street children have their own past and dreams but are being hindered and utilized, challenging us to look beyond what’s trending.

Layang-Layang (Adrift) by Ryo Maestro (Indonesia), 17 min, Javanese w/ English Subs. A mother decides whether or not to leave their home even as her neighbors are being evicted to make way for a new development. Pretty soon, Prapti and all of her sons have to face the consequences of a decision that
actually they don’t want to choose.

Timang by Nady Afiqah (Indonesia), 10 min, Indonesian w/ English Subs. This short documentary
follows the people of the small fishing village of Pantai Timang, who have to negotiate their traditional fishing ways with the increasing influx of visitors and a growing cottage tourist industry. Is sustainable, ethical tourism truly possible?

 

Shorts Program IV (Migration & Diaspora)
Friday, January 10, 2020, 6:10 pm


Saturated by Carina Sadeli (USA), 3 min, English & Indonesian w/ English Subs. An immigrant single mother struggles to fit in just to support her and her young daughter in this new country. What lengths will she go to in order to upkeep this new image?

Of the Sea by Jordyn Romero (USA), 12 min, English. From being a refugee crossing the Pacific Ocean by boat, to being an environmental activist and sustainable swimwear entrepreneur, Katherine Terrell
reflects on her intimate connection with the sea in this inspiring video portrait.

Big Durian, Big Apple by Azalia Muchransyah (USA), 5 min, Indonesian w/ English Subs. By juxtaposing footage from “the Big Apple” and poetic narration, Big Durian Big Apple is a visual love letter to the filmmaker’s hometown of Jakarta, Indonesia (fondly called “the Big Durian” by its denizens).

To a Map of Manila by Adrian Alarilla (USA, Philippines), 3 min, English. A short video poem on loving and leaving Manila.

Chúng Tôi Nhẩy Đầm ở Nhà (We Dance At Home) by Julia Huynh (Canada), 7 min, Vietnamese w/ English Subs. Through interviews and archival footage, the filmmaker explores her parent’s experience of being Vietnamese in Canada. How are their ideas of “home” changing? What role did the “home” play in building a community and a sense of belonging?

Meh’s Tammakhoung by Tiphasan Toeung and Joseph Mills (USA), 11 min, English and Lao w/ English Subs. A young man grows closer to his grandma and learns more about her life through her papaya salad recipe.

Mixed by Khymaree Hughes-Ponelateat, Romeo Hernandez, Donavan Thach, Jelani Tolbert, Tommy
Vong, and Joseph Mills (USA), 24 min, English. Five friends in Seattle share their stories and perspectives of growing up multi-racial.

 

Coming Soon

The Mortician of Manila by Leah Borromeo (Philippines), 26 min, Tagalog w/ English Subs. Orly manages and lives at Eusebio 24hr Funeral Services in Manila, Philippines. His relationships with clients and journalists alike colour the empathy and contempt he holds for the country’s ‘drug war’ victims who, like him, are struggling to survive. A compelling ‘slice of life’ narrative and intimate access lends this film a sobering perspective on the lives behind the headlines surrounding Philippines President Duterte’s so-called ‘war on drugs’.