2026 Seattle Asian American Film Festival

The Road to Sydney w/ After What Happened at the Library

Available in 37d 15h 50m 54s
Available June 1, 2026 7:00 AM UTC
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Protected ContentThis content can only be viewed in authorized regions: Washington.
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What does it mean to be queer, trans, and Asian in America today? At a time when our identities are being aggressively erased and our voices are being silenced, this program features two stories of individual who chose to stand up and let their truth shine.


This program is only available to view in Washington state.

After neo-Nazis storm her Drag Story Hour, Akita, a drag queen suddenly thrust into the spotlight, struggles with the aftermath of viral notoriety. Confined to her apartment, she faces an onslaught of media requests and escalating threats that force her to relive the attack. As journalists and politicians reshape her into a cultural symbol, she feels her identity flatten into a headline. Through intimate interviews and flashbacks, the film explores the psychological toll of being made hyper-visible in a moment of national panic, and asks what survival looks like when trauma becomes public property.

  • Year
    2025
  • Runtime
    15 minutes
  • Language
    English
  • Country
    United States
  • Premiere
    Seattle
  • Subtitle Language
    English
  • Content Warning
    Discussion of violence, identity-based prejudice
  • Social Media
  • Director
    Syra McCarthy
  • Screenwriter
    Kyle Casey Chu, Roísín Isner
  • Producer
    Vee Godinez, Hillary Irene Pierce
  • Cinematographer
    Sarah Simka Jaffe
  • Editor
    Ashley Rodholm
  • Production Design
    Rachel Groat
  • Composer
    Katy Jarzebowski
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