Living While Black in Japan
Directed by Shiho Fukada and Keith Bedford
15 minutes • Japan
Documentary, Black Lens
Despite being in a smaller minority in Japan than in their home country, African-Americans still express feelings of safety and freedom. Yet, racism in the U.S. still plays a role in their lives. In this short film, several African-Americans living in Japan discuss how their encounters with police and racism in the U.S. played into their decision to live abroad and how leaving the U.S. changed their perceptions of who they are and their connection to the country of their birth.
Ashima
Directed by Dillon M. Banda
7 minutes • Hong Kong
Documentary, Black Lens
Filmed across the Hong Kong islands, 'Ashima' follows Natacha Maboma, a young Cameroonian-American woman who, at the time of making the film, had been living and travelling abroad in Asia for 3 years.
My Duduś
Directed by Tom Krawczyk
8 minutes • USA
Documentary, Family Film
A Polish mother grieves when her only child leaves their home in the suburbs of Chicago to study in Poland. While her son is away, she finds a baby squirrel in her backyard and forges a unique and powerful bond with the animal, raising him as if he were her own child.
Soldier
Directed by Justin Zimmerman
22 minutes • USA
Documentary, Alabama Film
SOLDIER focuses on Daniel Krug: a heroic firefighter, father of five, SWAT trainer and armored combat enthusiast. Daniel is also a former sniper, with ten years of combat, security, rescue and recovery experience in Iraq. And over the past decade, he's lost 11 of his close military friends - and almost lost himself - to PTSD.
The American Frontier
Directed by Edward Frumkin
16 minutes • USA
Documentary, Life & Liberty
The American Frontier looks at Hollywood’s depiction of the Old West. With archival footage and scholarly interviews, the film examines the influence of Westerns and how it impacts society through its portrayals of Indigenous people, gun culture, and the idolization of cowboys.
Lalito 10
Directed by Jordan Matthew Horowitz
17 minutes • USA
Documentary, Family Film
When COVID-19 forced his school to close and remote learning proved impossible, a teacher in Guatemala built a classroom on wheels to bring education directly to his students.
The Meaning of Movement
Directed by Antonio R. Garcia
4 minutes • USA
Documentary, Black Lens, Family Film
A short, experiential look into what movement, music, art and Hip Hop means to Xavier Lewis, a professional choreographer and artist.
Elvis of Laos
Directed by Van Ditthavong
12 minutes • USA
Documentary, Family Film
Through dance and conversations - a famous Lao singer, his son, and his granddaughter examine the artist's life, inspirations, and legacy after leaving the war torn country in late 1974.
VISIONS
Directed by Karina Lomelin Ripper
10 minutes • USA
Documentary, Life & Liberty
Composed of intimate interviews, VISIONS is kaleidoscope portrait of three First-Generation Americans. A hypnotic short documentary, that explores their journeys and focuses on the elation of these creatives making their art.
The Originals
Directed by Cristina Maria Costantini, Alfie Kim Koetter
10 minutes • USA
Documentary, Family Film
Matty "Square" Ruggiero and his childhood friends tell their story of what it was like to grow up in South Brooklyn, where money was tight but friendships were tighter.
