In this collection of short documentaries and narratives a variety of films come together in their shared use of food to explore the nuances of Asian American experiences. Questions of identity, grief, and diaspora are brought to light through recipes and shared meals.This screening features 8 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.

Filmmaker Hieu Gray embarks on a personal culinary exploration of her childhood hometown of Waycross, Georgia, as she navigates the intersection of Vietnamese and Southern cuisine, while shedding light on an untold chapter of Vietnamese American history in the South. Director Biography -&nbsp;Hieu Gray<a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/781/141/original/bcbf2e7de3-headshot.jpg?1716230627" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/781/141/thumb/bcbf2e7de3-headshot.jpg?1716230627" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: left;" width="150"></a>Hieu Huynh-Gray is an award-winning filmmaker focused on Asian American narratives. Her latest documentary Rice &amp; Grits was commissioned by the Southern Foodways Alliance and explores the intersection between Southern and Vietnamese foldaways. Her debut documentary Quan 13 delves into the Vietnamese diaspora in Paris told through the lens of food. The film has screened both nationally and internationally including the Los Angeles Pacific Asian Film Festival and the DC Asian Film Festival. It was also nominated for Best Short Documentary at the Taste Awards with additional honors bestowed to Gray as the “Breakout Storyteller of the Year.” Previously, Gray was a Sr. Writer/Producer at CNN.Currently Gray is pursuing a Masters in Food Studies at NYU. She also holds an MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry from NYU’s inaugural low-residency program with workshops in Paris and a BA in Creative Writing and Journalism from Emory University.

Rice & Grits: A Vietnamese American Culinary Odyssey of the American South

A dinner date spirals into a deadly duel as a Korean and a Korean-American clash over who pays the bill—and who keeps their honor. Director Biography –&nbsp;Shane Chung <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/aea24c331dbf52b350b1a752356d2fec.jpg" width="103" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Shane Chung is a Chicago-based filmmaker obsessed with storytelling in all its forms. As a Korean-American working in film, he champions diversity, equity, and wackiness in the film industry and enjoys pushing the boundaries of what a genre film can be about. Director StatementCHECK PLEASE is heavily influenced by schlocky, zany, stunt-filled action comedy and martial arts films (Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow) because first and foremost I wanted to make a crowdpleaser. I think the best movies are like magic tricks in that you walk away after seeing them asking “how did they do that?!” And yet I also wanted to use the "fun" of the action genre to trick the audience into sitting with a movie that secretly talks about a deeper theme: multiculturality. I address a few questions about belonging and representation based on my own feelings of being a Korean-American: what is “Koreanness”? Is it innate? Can you gain or lose it? (For example, Jay attempts to reclaim his perceived “loss in Koreanness” by attaching himself to superficial cultural Korean rituals, like picking up the bill.) And is there such thing as a “bad Korean” on screen? I wanted to portray Asian Americans in film that go beyond a tired immigrant storyline or a discrimination storyline – that internal struggle being too Korean for America, but being too American for Korea. I feel this is a resonant theme for many, and that this film can help them feel that they aren't alone!

CHECK PLEASE

A documentary series that showcases talented women of color chefs who use food to bridge different cultures and keep their traditions alive. In this episode we meet Irene Yoo, a chef, recipe developer, writer, culinary historian, and founder of Yooeating. Irene's pop-up events in New York present a fresh and unique twist on Korean home cooking and street food, bringing new flavors and cultural awareness to her audience. Through her culinary creations, Irene celebrates her heritage and introduces others to the rich traditions of Korean cuisine. Director Biography -&nbsp;Lisa Yadao, Michelle Sampior, Irene Yadao <a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/593/791/original/70d9ff7091-headshot.jpg?1704425886" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/593/791/thumb/70d9ff7091-headshot.jpg?1704425886" width="193" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: left;"></a>Lisa Yadao is a Hawaiian-Filipina producer and screenwriter raised in SoCal and based in San Francisco. She earned a BA in English from San Diego State University, studied screenwriting at UC San Diego and video production at Bay Area Video Coalition. Her credits include short films, TV and web series, and videos for HBOMax, Bobbie Baby, FWD Stance, Square and Caviar.Michelle Sampior is a Bay Area native of Filipino and Basque heritage. After graduating from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Film &amp; Digital Media, she studied Film Production &amp; Editing in Spain and wrote her first short film. Michelle has credits in TV, film, and game cinematics. Irene Yadao is a writer and video production freelancer based in Maine. She studied journalism at San Diego State University and earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Naropa University. She has written and edited for The Village Voice, San Diego Union Tribune, Maine Magazine and DownEast Magazine, and she has worked behind the scenes on documentaries and indie films. Director StatementLisa, Michelle and Irene founded paper tongue, a collective of storytellers who seek to raise visibility for womxn, especially womxn of color, and champion underrepresented perspectives in film and media. Proudly, all of their films were 100% female made (from the shoot down to our post team) with a majority BIWOC crew.

Roots and Wings Ep 2: Irene Yoo

Clutching a heartrending secret, Maggie Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American screenwriter, makes an unannounced visit home to reconcile with her mom. A bowl of braised pork pushes their bond to a breaking point. Director Biography -&nbsp;Huong Vu<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/7c7f0ce1f2b532cfff010b6b6c8b9b7e.jpg" width="201" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Huong Vu is a Philadelphia-based Vietnamese writer, director and cinematographer. Born and raised in Vietnam, Huong moved to the United States to pursue her higher education in 2018; she studied Film Production and Critical Ethnic Studies at Drexel University. Huong’s works focus on familial conflicts, the diaspora, food, and memory. She has a particular affection for narratives involving imperfect Asian women who persistently grapple with their missteps. Huong is a 2023 Cinema &amp; Television BIPOC Filmmaker Grant awardee and a recipient of Scribe Video Center Student Filmmaker Fund. Director StatementAs I matured, I grappled with the complexities of my relationship with my mother. While my peers seemed to share unbreakable bonds of friendship with their mothers, ours was a connection punctuated by conflicts and discord. Yet, after our every heated argument, a constant prevailed: her endless and quite offering of Vietnamese dishes- bún chả, bún bò Huế, cháo gà, xôi xéo, cháo thịt băm, etc. Food had always been there, linking me to my mother. It is her love language and a connection my mom and I could always have together; when she cooks the food I eat, she feels like I am more hers, and when I eat the food she cooks, I feel accepted by her. I spent my childhood and adolescence in 4 different countries, and Vietnamese food is the vessel through which my family has expressed love, and it's also the lifeline of our culture in a new land. Through Braised (Thịt Kho), I want to explore this complexities of love, communication, and survival within a Vietnamese-American family, using food as the thread that weaves together our emotions, our struggles, and our connections. When I set out to make Braised (Thịt Kho), I wanted to write a Vietnamese story without it being centered around the war or with heavy trauma attached. I wanted to write about a Vietnamese family and a community that still carries the weight of that trauma but they also learn how to heal from it. I intended to capture these fragmented slices of the Nguyen's lives that make them human beings: how they speak in bursts, how they pick up conversations that occurred hours before, and how their most meaningful discourse happens in pieces, in broken ways. BRAISED, at its core is about the humanity of a father, a mother, and a daughter, and it’s about food and illness. We happen to be Vietnamese. I hope that it just brings some joy to the audience to see more stories coming out about very personal experiences and the very different experiences that we all have.

Braised (Thịt Kho)

32-year-old Vicky muses about her life direction while sharing scenes from her daily experience as a barista in Hong Kong. Director Biography - Mood Infinite, Kelsey Tang<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/8eacfc3740d0ed7f8db08ecea4318f18.jpg" width="186" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">In place of candlelit dinners and long walks on the beach, Asian-American co-directors and writers (and couple), Kelsey Tang (陳玉美) and Jeffrey Wu (吴家晖), have chosen a more daring romance – balancing professional collaboration and intimacy. Together, they form “Wú Táng (吴糖).”As the creative force behind POPEYE MEDIA, a Los Angeles-based production company, they have built a reputation by working with major record labels like Atlantic, Warner, and Columbia Records. Yet, their true passion lies in crafting sentimental stories through non-fiction documentaries. Director StatementAs a Chinese-American filmmaker raised in the San Gabriel Valley, one of my fondest memories is wrapping up a shoot and heading to JJ Cafe, a Hong Kong-style diner. Sharing a refreshing lemon iced tea and a saucy pork chop with friends at 2 AM is a core memory for me. So, when Kelsey and I arrived in Hong Kong, we knew we had to immerse ourselves in the source material. Dining at Tai On Coffee Shop, we met Vicky, our subject, and from there, everything fell into place. What started as a simple conversation extended into a two-day journey with Vicky. We shadowed her on her daily commute through the bustling MTR, wandered with her through city parks where uncles lounged in the shade, and observed her dedication as she drew intricate latte art. While Kelsey and I began our careers in the music video industry (Linkin Park, Columbia Records, Atlantic Records), our true passion lies in non-fiction storytelling—capturing real people, true stories, and their unique yet universal experiences.As documentarians with a background in music videos, we have a deep appreciation for the abstract and the art of montage. This blend of non-linear editing with slice-of-life observation has made this project a joy to create, and we're excited to share it with your audience!

another spring (新春再临)

32-year-old Vicky muses about her life direction while sharing scenes from her daily experience as a barista in Hong Kong.

Exploring her mother's cookbooks, Mi-Young, finds solace in her mother's Korean recipes. In this journey of self-discovery and cultural heritage, Jjigae celebrates the enduring bond between mothers and daughters and the importance of preserving cultural traditions. Director Biography -&nbsp;Savannah Reese Chun<a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/768/910/original/81af84eec4-headshot.jpg?1715554599" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/768/910/thumb/81af84eec4-headshot.jpg?1715554599" width="150" style="border: none; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; font-optical-sizing: inherit; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-kerning: inherit; font-feature-settings: inherit; font-variation-settings: inherit; font-size: 12.95px; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: inline; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative; float: left;"></a>Savannah Chun is a 17-year-old who lives in Dallas, TX, and attends her high school's, The Hockaday School, film program. She started filmmaking in 2022 and has goals to continue her film journey throughout high school.

Jjigae

Between The Two is an observational documentary exploring the working dynamics of restaurant employees. Following recognition by a Portland publication, Candy &amp; Akshay handle a surge in demand for their pizzas during lunch service. The film delves into the lives of restaurant workers, offering a behind-the-scenes perspective of the people who prepare our food. Director –&nbsp;Jonathon Lue <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/6ebf75e0259faeddf1d477308d5567c8.jpg" width="147" style="display: inline; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px; float: left;">

Between The Two

An Indonesian boy and his mother attend a church potluck and lie about their dish. An autobiographical, coming of age story. Director Biography -&nbsp;Nick Hartanto<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/1895ce87c6ed8b112885a9a0f86630e7.jpg" width="207" style="display: inline; float: left; margin: 0px 1em 1em 0px;">Nick Hartanto is an Indonesian-American filmmaker based in New York. His short film, “The Dishwasher,” which he co-directed, was awarded a Special Jury Mention at Tribeca 2019 and was then acquired by HBO Max. His next film, “Atrophy,” a genre bending story about his mother’s fight to recover from a stroke, premiered at Fantasia 2021 and toured the genre festival circuit, winning Best Performance at the Brooklyn Horror and North Bend Film Festival. Also a skilled Cinematographer, he shot the Adult Swim series “Hot Package.“ He was recently a guest speaker at the Asian American Arts Alliance Film &amp; Media Town Hall and is currently touring festivals with his new film, "Daly City,” which was nominated for the Oscar qualifying Best Short Narrative Award at the Hawai'i International and Woodstock Film Festival. Director StatementI have always been drawn to making films that tell deeply personal stories based on my own lived experience. These truths, I believe, are what connect audiences to my stories and characters. It's also what has led to the success of my films: "The Dishwasher," which premiered at Tribeca 2019, and was awarded a Special Jury Mention, then acquired by HBO Max, was inspired by my experience working as a line cook in the kitchen of a New York fine dining restaurant. My latest project, "Daly City," is an autobiographical story that draws from my experiences growing up as an Indonesian immigrant in the Bay Area. There is a sense of urgency for me to tell this story now. We are living in a moment of self-examination for the AANHPI community, and in recent years there has been much discourse about the idea of the "model minority myth,” a seemingly positive but damaging stereotype that exotifies Asian immigrants and attempts to define our sense of worth. While this issue has historically been addressed in documentaries, it's rarely explored in fiction. In telling this story as a narrative film, I want the viewer to draw their own conclusions about the cost of assimilation, as told through the perspective of a young Indonesian-American boy straddling both cultures. For me, this story is about inspiring a new generation of immigrants so that we can both understand our parents' sacrifices in becoming the model minority and also transcend them.

Daly City

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Shorts Program: Culinary Connections

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