Philadelphia Asian American Film Fest

Award Nominated Shorts

Available in 05d 01h 52m 21s
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


In a world that’s never made room, a young brown man contends with desire, shame, and the quiet weight of his father’s expectations – seeking a self he’s never been shown how to become. 


Director's Bio: Alexander Farah is an Afghan-Canadian filmmaker whose work has screened globally at Berlinale, Telluride, and Clermont-Ferrand. He directed the narrative music video for "Meet You At The Light" which won both the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Choice Awards at SXSW in 2022. His recent film One Day This Kid premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024, and won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short Film at SXSW 2025.

  • Year
    2024
  • Runtime
    18 minutes
  • Language
    English, Persian
  • Country
    Canada
  • Director
    Alexander Farah
  • Screenwriter
    Alexander Farah
  • Producer
    Joaquin Cardoner
  • Cast
    Massey Ahmar, Mahan Mohammadinasab, Elyas Rahimi
  • Cinematographer
    Farhad Ghaderi
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