Philadelphia Asian American Film Fest

Award Nominated Shorts

Available in 05d 01h 56m 24s
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 NARRATIVE SHORT Jury Award


Serial grifter Winston Lee has just changed his name to Roberto Ferrari and opened Roberto’s Italian Ice and Gelati - his ticket to wealth and respect. Unfortunately for Ferrari, instead of customers, everyone he’s ever wronged walks through the front door, each on a mission to settle their grievances. With an enigmatic DJ set blaring over the store speakers, Ferrari is forced to navigate the onslaught while desperately trying to cling to his dream.


Director's Bio: Chelsie Pennello is a Chinese American filmmaker based in Washington, DC. She enjoys telling stories about offbeat characters and moments of unexpected grace. Her debut narrative short, Mandarins, world premiered at Cinequest and was accepted into over 17 festivals in 2023 including Cucalorus, Oak Cliff, New/Next, and New Hampshire where it won "Best Short Drama". Her second short film, Cherry-Colored Funk, is currently on the 2025 festival circuit and had its New York Premiere at Tribeca.

  • Year
    2025
  • Runtime
    16 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Premiere
    Philadephia
  • Director
    Chelsie Pennello
  • Screenwriter
    Chelsie Pennello, Corbett Blair
  • Producer
    Melissa LaMartina
  • Executive Producer
    Chelsie Pennello, Corbett Blair, Rob Groulx, An-Phuong Ly
  • Cast
    Michael Tow, Laura Hetherington, Melissa LaMartina
  • Cinematographer
    Rob Groulx
  • Editor
    Chelsie Pennello, Corbett Blair
  • Animator
    Alex Oshiro
  • Sound Design
    Alex Kane
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