A surfer, a police officer, God, and Buddha are included in NFMLA's InFocus: Asian Cinema initiative.
At the NewFilmmakers Los Angeles’ InFocus: Asian Cinema and InFocus: Immigration programs, various stories were showcased, including a surfer reuniting with her mother, a dialogue on God and Buddha, and a police officer grappling with his cultural identity.
The event featured the Los Angeles premiere of Laramie Dennis’s debut narrative film, *Where In the Hell*, and kicked off with a series of films addressing themes of immigration, emigration, activism, and the complexities of navigating dual cultures alongside reflections on cherished and forsaken places.
The program proceeded to highlight Asian-American storytelling and talent both in front of and behind the camera, delving into topics such as family relationships, dating challenges, the quest for belonging, vulnerability, resilience, and the pursuit of a better future.
The evening wrapped up with the Los Angeles premiere of *Where In the Hell*, a road trip "traumedy" about a prop master whose getaway with her girlfriend is disrupted, intersecting with a struggling actor heading to an audition. The film offers a heartfelt and realistic portrayal of existential dilemmas.
NFMLA regularly features films by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds throughout the year in both general and InFocus programs. All filmmakers are encouraged to submit their works for consideration for future NFMLA Festivals, independent of the specific schedule of InFocus programming, which aims to enhance representation by showcasing various filmmaker communities as part of the NFMLA Monthly Film Festival. This initiative is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Here are additional details about the filmmakers and their films.
“DelMar” directed by Lucy Morales Carlisle
About Lucy: An Emmy-nominated and two-time Webby award-winning multidisciplinary filmmaker, Lucy Morales Carlisle has over a decade of experience in digital media and post-production. She holds a BFA from the School of Visual Arts and an MFA in Media Arts from The City College of New York. An immigrant displaced by the Salvadoran Civil War, her work focuses on themes of identity and isolation, particularly resonating with the Latine community, emphasizing stories about women and culture.
About “DelMar”: The film follows a female surfer as she navigates life between a rural beach town in El Salvador and Maryland, where she goes to live with a mother she has never met.
Watch the NFMLA interview with Lucy Morales Carlisle, director of “DelMar”:
“Wabi-Sabi” directed by Josephine Green Zhang
About Josephine: Josephine is dedicated to telling stories of duality that provide hope to underdogs, outsiders, and misfits while humorously critiquing them. She skillfully navigates different genres to craft contemporary love stories exploring themes of friendship, community, romance, justice, and self-acceptance. A graduate of UCLA’s Film Program, she has participated in various prestigious programs and has written for several shows, including *First Wives Club* on BET+ and *Dollface* on Hulu.
About “Wabi-Sabi”: An insecure woman on a date at a traditional Japanese tea house finds her best friend's caution about white men with Asian fetishes jeopardizing her romantic prospects and sanity.
Watch the NFMLA interview with Josephine Green Zhang, director of “Wabi-Sabi”:
“God & Buddha Are Friends” directed by Anthony Ma
About Anthony: Anthony Ma is an award-winning Taiwanese American actor, writer, director, and voiceover artist, raised in Arcadia, California. His short film “Chinese Antique” was featured in film festivals nationwide, winning audience choice awards, while his feature *Elevator* was recognized for its screenplay at DisOrient Asian Film Festival. Ma's acting credits include guest roles in *Scandal*, *S.W.A.T.*, and *This Is Us*, and he is a recipient of the Best New Actor award from the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival.
About “God & Buddha Are Friends”: The film follows a young Taiwanese American boy who faces an existential crisis when a charismatic Christian pastor emerges as a challenge to his overprotective Buddhist mother.
Watch the NFMLA interview with Anthony Ma, director of “God & Buddha Are Friends”:
“Three Women Named Svetlana” directed by Natalia Boorsma
About Natalia: Based in Amsterdam, Natalia Boorsma is a Dutch/Serbian writer and director. Her graduation film “Three Women Named Svetlana” (2024) has been featured in numerous film festivals, including Cannes Indie Shorts Awards. She aims to experiment with a blend of documentary and fiction in her future projects.
About “Three Women Named Svetlana”: On a sunny spring day, three women named Svetlana wait at a small train station in southern Serbia.
Watch the NFMLA interview with Natalia Boorsma, director of “Three Women Named Svetlana”:
“Where in the Hell” directed by Laramie Dennis
About Laramie: Laramie Dennis began her career directing Off-Off-Broadway plays in New York and has
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A surfer, a police officer, God, and Buddha are included in NFMLA's InFocus: Asian Cinema initiative.
NFMLA exhibits films from filmmakers of diverse backgrounds year-round, featuring both our general and InFocus programming. We welcome all filmmakers to participate.