2026 Emerging Artists Showcase
Sunday, March 22nd, 2026
10:00 AM | 120 minutes
SPONSPORED BY:
Join us in celebrating the Short Films made by local Asian & Asian American filmmakers! This showcase features films and filmmakers you won't want to miss!
There will be Q&As after the showcase so you can get to know our local talent!
Q&A Following the Showcase with Moderator Roma Sur!
Roma Sur
Roma Sur is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and an educator at the University of Denver, where she teaches Scriptwriting and Film Production. She writes young adult and female driven dramas with levity. Sur was recently featured in Marquis Who's Who of America 125th edition, for excellence in arts and entertainment. She is currently on the Executive committee of @Womanhood_theseries Season 2. She loves her role on the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival programming committee, as it is a wonderful way of giving back to the Colorado community through cinema that celebrates her AANHPI roots.
Woven
directed by: Lava G. Khonsuwon
*SHOWN BEFORE OPENING & CLOSING NIGHT FILMS
“Woven”, a documentary with a vibrant tapestry that unravels tradition and modern clothes. From the stunning landscapes of England to the rural Isaan region in Thailand, we'll uncover the stories behind traditional clothing. We'll delve into the environmental impact of fast fashion and celebrate the sustainability of traditional textiles, from the intricate embroidery of China Polano to the bold tartans of Scottish kilts. We'll explore the power of clothing to shape identity and challenge societal norms.
Film Type: Short - Documentary
Country/Counties of Origin: USA, Thailand, England
Language: English
Director: Lava G. Khonsuwon
Screenwriter: Lava G. Khonsuwon
Producer: Lava G. Khonsuwon, John K.D. Graham
Editor: John K.D. Graham
Cinematographer: John K.D. Graham, Morgan, Estill, Lava G. Khonsuwon
Principal Cast: John K.D. Graham, Lava G. Khonsuwon, Kai Uwe Faust, Jennifer Hunter, Andy Wear, Dr. Anucha Thirakanont, Nora Chavez
Social Media Handles: https://www.beinglava.com/
Bummer Ending
directed by: Gabbie Marinace-Lee
All Good Things Must Come to an End...
When Julia Park and Henry Anderson's marriage falls apart and crash-lands into a messy divorce, Julia is left to pick up the pieces. She must reconcile with what the relationship meant to her and learn to move forward, despite her fears of letting go.
Film Type: Short - Narrative
Country/Countries of Origin: American (But I am Korean)
Language: English
Director: Gabriella Marinace-Lee
Screenwriter: Gabriella Marinace-Lee
Producer: Xana Sterling, Torrance Maurer, Amy McGrath.
Editor: Gabriella Marinace-Lee
Cinematrographer: Gauri Bullington
Principal Cast: Angela Chung, Tyler Cox
INSTAGRAM: gabbiemarinace.films
Dragon Year Spring Festival
directed by: Bown Tan
A traveler accidentally gets into a city of Spring Festival
Film Type: Short- Animation
Country/Countries of Origin: United Kingdom
Languages: Chinese, English
Director: Bowen Tan
Screenwriter: Bowen Tan
Producers: Hi Ching
Editor: Bowen Tan
Cinematographer: Bowen Tan
Principal Cast: Hi Ching
Social Media Tag: @bowentancreative
Website: https://www.bowentan.com/
Sonata
directed by: Eljin Yoo
Korean-American sisters and classical musicians, Viv and Gia, struggle to practice a piano and violin duet, as their mother May, reminds them about the importance of harmony. Their bond is tested as adulthood brings conflicting priorities-Gia pursues her musical dreams while Viv chooses to care for their ailing mother. As their mother's condition suddenly deteriorates, they must overcome their growing resentment in order to find reconciliation through music.
Film Type: Short - Narrative
Country/ Countries of Origin: USA
Languages: English, Korean
Director: Eljin Yoo
Screenwriter: Joshua Oh
Producers: Rebekah Chun, Matt Oflas, Melanie An
Editors: Eljin Yoo
Cinematographers: Daeil Kim
Principal Cast: Joy Hana Park, Claire Bae, Sook Hyung Yang, Erin Choi, Chloe Jung
Social Media Handles: @j.e.yoo, @sonatatheshortfilm
One Fighting Irishman
directed by: Sharon Yamoto
ONE FIGHTING IRISHMAN is a 30-minute documentary narrated by actor George Takei focusing on the little-known story of civil rights attorney Wayne M. Collins who filed lawsuits on behalf of more than 5,500 detainees who renounced their U.S. citizenship while incarcerated at the embattled Tule Lake Segregation Center, considered the worst of the ten WWII detention centers. It will explore the issues that led to segregation and the unprecedented mass renunciations, and why it took more than 23 years to retrieve citizenship for nearly all of them, including George Takei’s mother
Film Type: Short - Documentary
Country/Countries of Origin: USA
Language: English
Director: Sharon Yamato
Screenwriter: Sharon Yamato
Producers: Sharon Yamato
Editors: Evan Kodani
Cinematographers: Evan Kodani
Principal Cast: Narrator George Takei
Social Media Handles: @onefightingirishmanfilm
WHAT THE HEAVEN! 搞什么鬼！
directed by: Richard Yan
When a Chinese American film student is visited by the ghost of his recently deceased father, he's forced to confront more than just the supernatural. As the two navigate everyday life—awkward coffee dates, therapy sessions, and long-silenced conversations—they confront the unfinished business that binds them together.
Film Type: Short - Narrative
Country/Countries of Origin: USA
Languages: English, Mandarin
Director: Richard Yan
Screenwriter: Richard Yan
Producer: Lily Kim, Mahan Malhotra
Editors: Ashley Qiu, Richard Yan
Cinematographer: Steven Yao
Principal Cast: Richard Yan, Shine, Price Collier, Alice Irvin, Eliza Bent, Alex Arinkin, Casper Wong, Diego Goldfrank
Social Media Handles: @wthshortfilm
Is that you, Charlie?
directed by: Johan Barry
Charlie, an exhausted woman in her late twenties, spends her one day off going through the motions. As a way to break out of her mundane existence, she purchases an airplane ticket.
Film Type: Short - Narrative
Country/Countries of Origin: USA
Local Colorado Production: Yes
Language: English
Director: Johan Barry
Screenwriter: Johan Barry
Producer: n/a
Editor: n/a
Cinematographer: Jamie Chihuan & Diego Estrada Bernuy
Principal Cast: Hanah Chang, Rachel Carothers
Social Media Hande: @johanbarry_:
https://www.instagram.com/johanbarry_/
A Legacy of Chinese Medicine
directed by: Katelin Godfrey
TrueMind Center has serviced the community with Traditional and Classical Chinese Medicine for over 21 years. This film honors the history of this art and those who continue its legacy. Learn more about the fundamentals of Chinese Medicine including acupuncture, pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, cupping, herbal medicine, and moxibustion.
Film Type: Short - Documentary
Country/Countries of Origin: USA
Local Colorado Production: YES
Language: English
Director: Katelin Godfrey
Screenwriter: Katelin Godfrey
Producer: Katelin Godfrey, Dr. Valerie Lam
Editor: Katelin Godfrey
Cinematographer: Katelin Godfrey
Principal Cast: Dr. Valerie Lam, Dr. Don Walker
A Thin Veil
directed by: Meta Sarmiento
Ken is filming a documentary about upcoming Filipina artist Kristine. She's a mixed-media artist who focuses on culture and identity. She's excited to be meeting with a gallery representative for an upcoming show. After things don't go as planned, Kristine is visited by an ancestor in her apartment and is left with a powerful message about lineage
Film Type: Short - Narrative
Country/Countries of Origin: USA
Local Colorado Production: Yes
Languages: English, Tagalog
Director: Meta Sarmiento
Screenwriter: Meta Sarmiento, Joie Ha
Producer: Meta Sarmiento
Editor: Meta Sarmiento
Cinematographer :Meta Sarmiento
Principal Cast: Christina Ifurung, Kaela Malaki, Dylan Aguilar, Sarah Garcia, Emmanuelle, Dominique M Gatmaitan
Social Media Handles: @metasarmiento
A Very Normal Seeing Man
directed by: Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty
A man pitches movie ideas to his filmmaker son… all starring himself.
Film Type: Short- Narrative
Country/ Countries of Origin: USA
Languages: English, Kannada
Director: Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty
Screenwriters:Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty, Vishwanand Pattanashetty
Producers: Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty, J Wang, Robert Dibrell
Editors:Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty
Cinematographers: Max Guillen
Principal Cast: Vishwanand Pattanashetty, Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty
Social Media Handles: https://www.instagram.com/avnsmfilm/?hl=en
@avnsmfilm
