Philadelphia Asian American Film Fest

Award Nominated Shorts

Available in 05d 01h 56m 25s
Available November 7, 2025 12:00 AM UTC
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10 films in package
Paper Swords
On a classic summer afternoon, two sisters ponder life, death, and everything in between.
Wind Goes On
When her old estate is set to be demolished, Fung plans to leave with her neighbours and friends. Unable to let go of the feeling of parting, she makes a special friend.
Desync
A young Filipina filmmaker attempts to overwrite a painful memory of her mother with a perfect narrative.
The ʻĀina Within
A meditative piece of three kamaʻāina (locals) from Oʻahu gathering in Honolulu to reflect on what makes them proud of their home.
Beauty of Sorrow
A peasant woman, while caring for her ailing mother, recounts the harrowing tale of three men who played pivotal roles in Korea's national grief.
Collection Title: Turtle
A woman is determined to bring her beloved back to life, a man who vanished into the waters in search of a place to call his own. She feels compelled to recall things that have long been dead, hoping her loved one might revive.
Lola
As Flora nears the end of her life, her grandson Carlo investigates her untold stories about surviving WWII in the Philippines in an effort to reconstruct her memories. Through this exploration, Carlo learns more about his family's history but also discovers why these stories were kept hidden for so long.
OK/NOTOK
Loretta, a working-class British Asian woman, attempts to navigate a turbulent world, a new stranger in her life and unskippable advertisements.
Cherry-Colored Funk
A serial grifter faces the music when seemingly everyone he’s ever wronged shows up on the opening day of his dubious Italian ice business.
One Day This Kid
One day this kid will reach a point where he senses a division that isn’t mathematical.
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For those who are unable to attend the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival in person—some of our award-nominated shorts are available to watch online! Award categories include Best Narrative Short, Best Documentary Short, Best Experimental Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Student Short.


CONTENT WARNING: Some of the shorts in this program contain mature and/or disturbing themes, and are not appropriate for all ages.

Nominated for PAAFF's BEST STUDENT SHORT Jury Award


Ana, a young Filipina filmmaker, shoots a re-enactment of a fight she once had with her mother - a fight brought on by mutual refusals to communicate. Spurred on by the obsessive need for perfection, Ana “fixes” the fight by rewriting every veiled insult into a chance for forgiveness. As her perfect story diverges further from the reality of what happened, she begins to realize what her mom has been trying to say all along.


Director's Bio: Minerva Navasca is a Filipina-Canadian filmmaker exploring narratives of cultural dysphoria and girlhood with intimate specificity. Stating, “I want to make films about subjects that make me uncomfortable,” Minerva delves into perspectives steeped in anxiety and internalized shame, using the medium to interrogate the socio-political roots of these beliefs. She is a 2022 & 2024 TIFF Next Wave Alumni, and the winner of the 2024 BFI Future Film Festival Best Documentary Award. She collaborated with NBC Universal and Canada Walk of Fame as part of the Future Storytellers Program.

  • Year
    2023
  • Runtime
    12 minutes
  • Language
    English, Tagalog
  • Country
    United States
  • Premiere
    Philadelphia
  • Director
    Minerva Navasca
  • Screenwriter
    Chen Sing Yap, Minerva Navasca
  • Producer
    Asa Kazerani
  • Cast
    Jadyn Nasato, Jennifer Villaverde, Angelica Alejandro
  • Cinematographer
    Laura King
  • Editor
    Chen Sing Yap
  • Production Design
    Dee Talusan
  • Sound Design
    Sarah Saunders
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