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2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

Shorts Competition

We are proud to present all of our Documentary, Live Action and Animated shorts nominees. Recipient(s) of the Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative Short Film will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®, subject to compliance with Academy® guidelines.


  1. THE TRAVELER TAKAMURE

    Jing Niu / Shorts Competition / USA / 2018 / Action, Adventure, Animation, Coming of Age, Documentary, Environmental, Experimental, History, Spiritual, Women / 16 mins
    A 54-day long adventure to retrace the wandering footsteps of a Japanese poetess leads filmmaker Jing Niu down a winding road of accidental self-discovery.
    Plays In:
    Dislocated Self And Beyond

    Downtown Independent
    Saturday | May 5, 2018 1:15 pm

    Plays In:
    Dislocated Self And Beyond (Rescheduled)

    Regal L.A. LIVE - Theatre 12
    Wednesday | May 9, 2018 9:30 pm


  2. VISAGE

    Blake Hodges, Jackson Tobiska / Shorts Competition / USA / 2017 / Drama, Sci-Fi / 10 mins
    The most important reason Edward is perfect for a leading role, is also the only reason he may not get it.
    Plays In:
    Dislocated Self And Beyond

    Downtown Independent
    Saturday | May 5, 2018 1:15 pm

    Plays In:
    Dislocated Self And Beyond (Rescheduled)

    Regal L.A. LIVE - Theatre 12
    Wednesday | May 9, 2018 9:30 pm


  3. WHY THE FOOLS DANCE

    Benjamin Michel / Shorts Competition / Japan, USA / 2017 / Documentary, History, International, Music / 18 mins
    A group of performers use a 17th century Japanese dance to express themselves and invoke their culture.
    Plays In:
    Beyond Our Memories

    CGV Cinemas - Theatre 3
    Thursday | May 10, 2018 3:45 pm


  4. WILDER PALMS

    Bradley Tangonan / Shorts Competition / USA / 2017 / Drama, Pacific Islander, Social Issues, Women / 12 mins
    On the verge of being separated from her mother, seven-year-old Rin retreats to the world of her imagination.
    Plays In:
    Pasifikas

    Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ JANM
    Saturday | May 5, 2018 4:00 pm


  5. WONDER BUFFALO

    Christine T. Berg / Shorts Competition / USA / 2017 / Coming of Age, Drama, Family, LGBTQIA+, Women / 19 mins
    A coming of age story of a Thai American teen who finds acceptance and empowerment cosplaying as her favorite superhero.
    Plays In:
    My So-Called Adolescence

    Regal L.A. LIVE - Theatre 14
    Monday | May 7, 2018 6:30 pm Rush Only


  6. THE WORLD IN YOUR WINDOW

    Zoe McIntosh / Shorts Competition / New Zealand / 2016 / Drama / 15 mins
    One boy struggles to free his dad from grief in a caravan park, until an accidental friendship with a transsexual.
    Plays In:
    Pasifikas

    Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ JANM
    Saturday | May 5, 2018 4:00 pm


  7. WRECK IT RAJ

    Varun Chopra / Shorts Competition / USA / 2018 / Comedy, Coming of Age, Satire / 5 mins
    Kids are kids. Adults just make things weird!
    Plays In:
    Armed With A Camera vol. 2018

    Regal L.A. LIVE - Theatre 11
    Wednesday | May 9, 2018 9:00 pm


  8. XIN

    Desha Dauchan / Shorts Competition / USA / 2017 / Drama, Horror, Spiritual, Thriller, Women / 12 mins
    Grappling with grief, Elaine is haunted by the ghost of her mother. In therapy, she tries to gain clarity on the nature of the hauntings.
    Plays In:
    The No Spin Zone

    Downtown Independent
    Saturday | May 5, 2018 9:00 pm


  9. YASAMIN

    Julia Elihu / Shorts Competition / USA / 2017 / Arthouse, Coming of Age, Cultural, Drama, Family, History, Social Issues, Student, Women / 14 mins
    Yasamin has just moved from Iran to LA amidst the Iranian hostage crisis. She learns an important lesson when she waxes her unibrow.
    Plays In:
    My So-Called Adolescence

    Regal L.A. LIVE - Theatre 14
    Monday | May 7, 2018 6:30 pm Rush Only


  10. YOUR HAND IN MINE

    Alice Park / Shorts Competition / USA / 2017 / Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller, Women / 9 mins
    Love can save you or drain you.
    Plays In:
    Forever Alone (Or Not)

    David Henry Hwang Theater @ East West Players
    Sunday | May 6, 2018 4:30 pm Rush Only


  11. YOUR MOTHER

    Mary Evangelista / Shorts Competition / Philippines, USA / 2017 / Drama, Family, Human Rights, International, LGBTQIA+, Pacific Islander, Social Issues, Women / 12 mins
    Ana, a young housemaid in Manila, finds herself caught between young siblings whose lust for her jeopardizes her position in their household.
    Plays In:
    The No Spin Zone

    Downtown Independent
    Saturday | May 5, 2018 9:00 pm