Trina, a stubborn and rebellious 20-something, has gone to the motherland as an aid-worker during the war. Once there, she finds herself overwhelmed by the traumas she witnesses and turns to partying hard with her fellow volunteers as a way to cope. One night during a drunken foray, she encounters another version of herself as a paramilitary fighter for the notorious Tamil Tigers -- and her sense of western privilege collides with the reality of her ancestors.
TIGRESS is a short, dramatic film that explores the phenomena of militant rebellions. It addresses the disparity between diaspora youth who rebel with drugs and partying, and the youth who rebel by arming themselves and going to war.
- Year2020
- Runtime13 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Tamil
- CountryCanada, India
- Awards2023 HBO Best Short Film, South Asian International Film Festival 2022 London Indian Film Festival Satyajit Ray Competition 2022 Reykjavik International Film Festival Golden Egg Competition 2021 Telefilm Canada Not Short on Talent at Cannes Court Metrage 2020 Canadian Cinema Editor Award nominee 2020 Netflix/CFC Calling Card Accelerator 2019 Northeast Filmmaker’s Lab Press: Not just more of the same, South Asian filmmakers break out of the mold KUOW Public Radio/ NPR, Nov 2, 2022 Reel Asian film Tigress depicts a personal conflict within the Tamil conflict NOW Magazine, Nov 12, 2021 Maya Bastian talks Tigress, the importance of Tamil stories and more Geek Girl Authority, Oct 27, 2021 Tamil Canadian filmmaker Maya Bastian explores privilege and rebellion in stunning short ‘Tigress’, She Does the City, Oct 25, 2021
- DirectorMaya Bastian
- ScreenwriterMaya Bastian
- ProducerMaya Bastian, Karl Janisse, Alan McAlex
- CastAnne Kasthury Saverimuthu
Trina, a stubborn and rebellious 20-something, has gone to the motherland as an aid-worker during the war. Once there, she finds herself overwhelmed by the traumas she witnesses and turns to partying hard with her fellow volunteers as a way to cope. One night during a drunken foray, she encounters another version of herself as a paramilitary fighter for the notorious Tamil Tigers -- and her sense of western privilege collides with the reality of her ancestors.
TIGRESS is a short, dramatic film that explores the phenomena of militant rebellions. It addresses the disparity between diaspora youth who rebel with drugs and partying, and the youth who rebel by arming themselves and going to war.
- Year2020
- Runtime13 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Tamil
- CountryCanada, India
- Awards2023 HBO Best Short Film, South Asian International Film Festival 2022 London Indian Film Festival Satyajit Ray Competition 2022 Reykjavik International Film Festival Golden Egg Competition 2021 Telefilm Canada Not Short on Talent at Cannes Court Metrage 2020 Canadian Cinema Editor Award nominee 2020 Netflix/CFC Calling Card Accelerator 2019 Northeast Filmmaker’s Lab Press: Not just more of the same, South Asian filmmakers break out of the mold KUOW Public Radio/ NPR, Nov 2, 2022 Reel Asian film Tigress depicts a personal conflict within the Tamil conflict NOW Magazine, Nov 12, 2021 Maya Bastian talks Tigress, the importance of Tamil stories and more Geek Girl Authority, Oct 27, 2021 Tamil Canadian filmmaker Maya Bastian explores privilege and rebellion in stunning short ‘Tigress’, She Does the City, Oct 25, 2021
- DirectorMaya Bastian
- ScreenwriterMaya Bastian
- ProducerMaya Bastian, Karl Janisse, Alan McAlex
- CastAnne Kasthury Saverimuthu