The Not-So-Short Shorts block returns, this time with fantastic documentary films that celebrate our human connections in the face of arduous challenges. MĀHŪ whisks and twirls us away to Hawaii for a study of the cultural history of māhū (transgender) people who have long existed in traditional Hawaiian culture though a modern multi-media performance. Filmmaker Jay Ngo captures the intimate moments of his elderly Vietnamese grandmother as the family deals with the death of her husband and debate the future of her care in his directing debut and thesis film THIS HOUSE OF OURS. In the aftermath of the Eaton Fire that destroyed much of Altadena, LIGHT ON A HILL shows how the community rallied around a miraculous survival of a Korean immigrant burger restaurant that becomes so much more.
Languages: English, Vietnamese, Hawaiian, Korean, Spanish; with English subtitles.
Q&A to follow screening.
The mission of the Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) is to tell Asian and Asian American stories via media arts and help Asian Americans explore opportunities in cinema. We do this by showcasing the best in new Asian and Asian American cinema at our annual film festival, and through year-round screenings and special events. AAAFF is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.