Goodbye Julia

Mohamed Kordofani
Sudan, Sweden, Germany, Saudi Arabia, France, Egypt
2023｜120’｜Col｜DCP
In Arabic with Chinese and English subtitles

Amid social upheaval, two women’s disparate lives become unexpectedly entangled in tragedy, friendship and lies in this moving tale.

In the time before South Sudan's independence. Mona, a retired singer living in the North with an unequal marriage. As a mysterious murder case unfolds, Julia's husband goes missing and Mona, consumed by guilt, hires Julia as a maid and take care of her son, Daniel. However, despite her efforts to start anew, Mona struggles to confess her past misdeeds to Julia. Against the status of a tumultuous Sudanese society, a storm of human nature is brewing, and Julia may soon uncover the truth.

A debut feature film Goodbye Julia directed by emerging Sudanese director, Mohamed Kordofani. It depicts the story of two women from different backgrounds and the conflicts that arise during their time together, reflecting a raw portrayal of humanity in society. This is also the first film from Sudan presented at Cannes, where it screened in Un Certain Regard and won the Freedom Award.

Screened with: ALL ABOUT Us Young Filmmaker Mentoring Programme Video

The Buraq that can’t fly
Zeed
Mentor: Eric Tsang
Hong Kong
2024｜24’｜Col | DCP
In Urdu and English with Chinese and English Subtitles

A young Muslim mother, in a delicate dance of dreams and duty, inspired by cinema, defies societal norms. She crafts a short film at home, starring her baby and neighborhood children, weaving her story of faith, motherhood, and passion.

Choice
Kameishia Wooten
U.S.
2023｜13’｜Col｜DCP
In English with English Subtitles

 

One of the selected shorts from the season one of the Make News, Make Noise, in collaboration with Minorities in Film.

Hidden away under the bleachers at school, free-spirited Aisha gives a pregnancy test to Jessica, a cheerleader and prom queen contender, who’s terrified of what the results might mean. They are joined by their childhood friend Portia, who has made her own decisions about motherhood. The three reconnect over their circumstances, and celebrate all of life’s choices.

Jerome
Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz
U.S.
2023｜15’｜Col｜DCP
In English with English Subtitles

 

One of the selected shorts from the season one of the Make News, Make Noise, in collaboration with Minorities in Film.

Basketball connects Jerome to his long-absent father, though not in the ways he wishes. As he struggles to accept his shortcomings, Jerome questions what family is and who he'll become.

Shoebox
D'Lo Louis
U.S.
2023｜13’｜Col｜DCP
In English with English Subtitles

 

One of the selected shorts from the season one of the Make News, Make Noise, in collaboration with Minorities in Film.

Overcome by abuse, a teenage black boy is forced to choose between pulling the trigger or not in an effort to protect himself. In turn, we are split between two realities of fate - the dream or a dream deferred.

Let's Eat
Dixon Wong
U.S.
2020｜9’ | Col｜DCP
In English and Mandarin with English subtitles

 

Let’s Eat follows the story of an immigrant mother and her daughter as they navigate through the beauty and challenges of life. Despite the difficulties they face, the warmth and love of family provides comfort and closeness, and cooking becomes a symbol of their unconditional love for one another.

 

Special Thanks to Anamon Studios

We are the Immigrants
Catalina Matamoros
U.S., Colombia
2016｜6’ | B&W | DCP
No Dialogue and Subtitles

 

We Are Immigrants is an intimate portrait of an arduous journey across hostile borders, presented in a fluid, hand-drawn animation.

 

Speical Thanks to University of Southern California

Home of My Memories
Javier Méndez Lafón
Mexico
2020｜7’ | Col | DCP
No Dialogue and Subtitles

 

Directed by Javier Méndez Lafón, 《Home of My Memories》tells a story based on a memory of his childhood, dedicating this short film to all those people who have left us an invaluable legacy and teachings.

 

Special Thanks to Kukari Animation Studio

Our Uniform
Yegane Moghaddam
Iran
2023｜7’｜Col｜DCP
In Persian with English subtitles

 

An Iranian girl unfolds her school memories through the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform. She admits that she's nothing but a "female" and explores the roots of this idea in her school years.

Screened with: ALL ABOUT US Creative Camp Video 

Group 1
Teaching Artist: Kitty Yeung
Student Mentors: Jana Fareeha Begum, Gurung Dreisty

Mentees: Muhammad Aisha Parveen (Pakistani), Bibi Sawaira (Pakistani), Yuna (Nepali), Ayman (Pakistani)

 

Behind the Curtains
Hong Kong
2024 | 5’ | Col | DCP
In English with English Subtitles

 

A girl who meets her missing friend in the school’s detention room. Unbeknownst, she is there to take her with her…behind the curtains.

Screened with: ALL ABOUT US Creative Camp Video

Group 2
Teaching Artist: Yeemei Wong
Student Mentors: Muhammed Adnan
Mentees: Khan Muhmmed Saim (Pakistani), Subba Tumyang Hang(Nepali), Shan Talha (Pakistani), Khan Mohammad Yusuf (Pakistani)

Cultural Mosaic: Echoes of Tomorrow
Hong Kong
2024 | 9' | Col | DCP
In Cantonese and English with English Subtitles

 

Delving into the lives of three extraordinary youths of Pakistani and Nepali descent. Through candid conversations and introspective moments, the film unravels their identities, passions, quirks, and aspirations. As they share their stories, a rich tapestry of cultural diversity and shared dreams emerges, painting a vivid picture of resilience, hope, and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead.

Fallen Leaves, Broken Lighters
Brock R. Brahmes、Nasrul Ekram、Alex Lopez、Eric Low、Maggie Tan、Roy Tan、Zeed
Hong Kong
2024｜96’ | Col｜DCP
In English, Cantonese and Tamil with English Subtitles

Within Hong Kong's bustling cityscape, vignettes intertwine the lives of its inhabitants, bound by tea, cigarettes, and broken lighters, as they grapple with life's myriad facets, and themselves. This film not only pays homage to the movie Coffee and Cigarettes (2003) but also manifests the sensibilities and collective experiences of the different directors, underlining the uniqueness of Hong Kong by the multicultural voices. 

 

"Fallen Leaves, Broken Lighters" is a distinctive anthology feature film created by seven independent filmmakers from Hong Kong, each contributing their own unique vision. The film consists of seven segments, each highlighting the personal style and creativity of its respective writer and director, weaving together a rich and varied narrative experience.

seven segments, including:
Analog
Maggie Tan
Hong Kong ｜2024｜13’

Men. Tea
Roy Tan
Hong Kong ｜2024｜13’

Deadalus
Alex Lopez
Hong Kong ｜2024｜10’

Dead with a Side of Saudade
Zeed
Hong Kong ｜2024｜17’

Fleeting Impermanence
Nasrul Ekram
Hong Kong ｜2024｜13’

Anniversary Tea
Eric Low
Hong Kong ｜2024｜12’

On the Edge of Finality
Brock R. Brahmes
Hong Kong ｜2024｜14’

Screened with: ALL ABOUT Us Young Filmmaker Mentoring Programme Video 

Interview With A Creep
Rizwan Rahman
Mentor: Ray Lau
Hong Kong
2024｜11’ | Col｜DCP
In English with Chinese and English Subtitles

A struggling documentary filmmaker must interview an awkward ex-classmate of hers who isn’t doing very well. But right before the interview starts, the classmate reveals an old secret between them which makes her question the consequences of her actions over the years.

The Swallows of Kabul
Zabou Breitman, Eléa Gobé Mévellec
France
2019｜81’｜Col｜DCP
In French with English subtitles

In the summer of 1998, Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, was still under the oppressive rule of the Taliban. In this society filled with discrimination against women, a female artist dreams of breathing the air of freedom and possessing a wonderful future with her husband. Unfortunately, this couple of intellectuals was forced to separate by accident, the husband dies and the wife being imprisoned and about to be executed. At the moment, she meets the male warden of the Taliban women's prison, whose duty is to send female prisoners to the execution ground. He has always been rigid and obedient, but one day, he stumbles upon the artist's liberating and enthusiastic paintings in the prison. He ultimately takes a leap and fights for freedom.

Screened with: ALL ABOUT US Creative Camp Video

Group 3
Teaching Artist: Charlie Fung
Student Mentors: Rizwan Rahman
Members: Ali Farwa (Pakistani), Jeison Samsohang (Nepali), Jerwin Ace Abila Esteban (Filipino), Muhammad Awais Akhtar (Pakistani), Taiyab Anns Mahmood Zaeem Bin Arshid (Pakistani), Vasudev Rashmi (Indian)

Two Agents, One Masterpiece
Hong Kong
2024 | 9’ | Col | DCP
In English with English Subtitles

 

Two agents are assigned for a mission. After many twists and turns during the mission, they discovered the secrets of each other. Can the mission be completed successfully?

Screened with: ALL ABOUT US Creative Camp Video

Group 4
Teaching Artist: Nicole Chu
Student Mentors: Ali Shamaz
Members: Muhammad Bilal (Pakistani), Habib Rehman (Pakistani), Liaqat Zaman Khan (Pakistani), Nihal Ahmed (Pakistani), Imran Yashaa (Pakistani)

Boundary
Hong Kong
2024 | 14’ | Col | DCP
In Urdu and English with English Subtitles

Hussain, captivated by the glamorous digital portrayal of Ali Bhai's lifestyle, uproots his life in Pakistan to chase a dream in Hong Kong, only to discover that the reality of his new world is far more complex and challenging than it appeared.

Children of the Mist
Diem Ha Le
Vietnam
2021｜93’｜Col｜DCP
In Vietnamese and Hmong with Chinese and English subtitles

At the age of 13, a Hmong girl from Northern Vietnam whose name called Di, is about to embark on the journey of adolescence and facing challenges from family, education, and the traditional “bride-napping” custom in her village. While she dreams of breaking away from her village’s tradition and pursuing education to change her own fate, she also yearns for love but is determined not to follow in her sister's footsteps of marrying underage. However, on the night of New Year's Eve, she suddenly disappears, leaving her family and village in shock……

Screened with: ALL ABOUT Us Young Filmmaker Mentoring Programme Video 

Dirt
Ahmina Santiago Zaheer
Mentor: Chan Siu Kuen
Hong Kong
2024｜24’ | Col｜DCP
In Cantonese with Chinese and English subtitles

A former child rapist trying to redeem himself by finding forgiveness within himself. He grew up to be a loving father and a church member, helping others to overcome their past and pain. But his past caught up with him when a girl whom was his victim came forward and confronted him. Making him reconsider his action and questioning whether he is capable to forgive himself.