Location: Online
This program takes viewers through the complexities and uncomfortable moments that often arise from moments of self-discovery as well as our personal relationships. While we all hope to fit in in some way, actually doing so can be awkward and difficult and we may find ourselves reacting in different ways. These stories remind us that it’s okay to find our way through in new ways that center care and compassion for both ourselves and others.
Yuki is a young girl on the edge of puberty with an overactive imagination. She’s awkward, chubby, and tongue-tied — and now she’s been dragged on a family vacation with her aloof father and elegant grandmother. As her imagination takes control, tensions with her family finally boil over.
Maya Tanaka is a Japanese-Lebanese-American filmmaker based in Brooklyn, originally from The Bay.
América, a 10-year-old girl from a remote village in the Peruvian Andes, dreams of buying a bicycle so she’ll never be late to class again.
Javier Arias-Stella is a pathologist by training. Originally from Peru and based in Los Angeles, Javier is currently undertaking an exploratory journey to re-discover his creative potential after reaching burnout within the healthcare industry. He hopes to focus on developing character driven stories in order to both re-discover his identity and inspire others.
A bright future dims for young Kiaan when his college dreams are crushed by a rejection tied to his past: years of cruel bullying on social media. Haunted by the harm he caused and the digital footprint he can’t erase, he embarks on a heartfelt journey to seek forgiveness from those he humiliated online. As he confronts his victims, he discovers the lasting impact of his words and the resilience of those he once belittled.
Rukshana Tabassum is an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India and has trained under directors like Mani Kaul and Kumar Shahan, becoming a freelance writer-director in 2016. She won the President of India National Film Awards in 2018 and 2019 for her films, The Cake Story & Apples and Oranges.
Lyndzi uses her own experience of being treated unfairly as a plus-sized person to raise people’s attention toward body positivity and body respect. Directed and animated by 16 students in the Documentary Animation Production class at USC.
The directors, who worked collaboratively to produce So Much More To Offer, are a group of current and former USC students studying media studies, animation, and more.
In this original coming of age documentary, Leymo, an autistic Black teen from St. Jamestown, Toronto, shares his struggles, achievements, and dreams after losing his mother in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Randall Okita is an artist and filmmaker known for his use of rich visual language and innovative storytelling. His films have screened at Sundance, Venice, Tribeca and TIFF, while his art has appeared in galleries and museums worldwide. With over twenty international awards, including two Canadian Screen Awards, Okita continues to push boundaries internationally.
Something as simple as a haircut can mean so much to one person. This animated documentary tells the story of a child’s desire to control their own appearance.
The directors, who worked collaboratively to produce Boy Cut are a group of current and former USC students studying media studies, animation, and more.
