The Asia South East – Short Film Festival is a seasonal film festival that gives international audiences from Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere who are living or travelling in the south east of Asia, a chance to see a wide variety of the great short films that are being produced from around the world. It is curated by the same team that produces eight other film festivals held around the world.
Short synopses of the fantastic films we’ll be showcasing…..
In Cambodia, under the Khmer Rouge regime (1075-1979), love was forbidden—labeled counter-revolutionary. To repopulate the country and tighten its control, the regime imposed forced marriages between deliberately mismatched singles. Each couple had three nights, under surveillance, to consummate their union. Refusal meant betrayal of the Organization—and risked execution.
Mei-jin, an ethnic Korean girl from China, escapes domestic violence and works illegally in South Korea. When her abusive husband tracks her down, she receives unexpected help from Jae-beom, a Korean ex-convict struggling to find his place after prison. As they flee together, they taste a moment of freedom.
Peace Lim, the protagonist, inherited his quirky and difficult temperament from his grandfather. This made his career and romantic life far from smooth. He always blamed his grandfather for his downhill life and resented him throughout his life.
A man moves to Thailand with hope and optimism, before quickly decaying into a horrible example of the worst kind of foreigner.
A fully AI-generated (SORA) music video, projected onto the tangible substance of a body and filmed in a single take. In this case, that body belongs to musician Masha Qrella: a candy-colored world made of inflated
balloons inside a hall of mirrors.
Fed by the Mekong River, Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia is not only home to hundreds of thousands of people living in the floating villages, it is also the source of 75% of Cambodia’s fish (equal to 60% of the country’s protein intake). Because of a combination of threats, from pollution to climate change, the densely populated area’s fish populations are dwindling – but locals are educating themselves on ways to make change.
The film focuses on traditional Chinese opera, Tai Chi, calligraphy, embroidery and other intangible cultural heritage, explores the inheritance dilemma in modern society, and thinks about how to balance the development of traditional culture and future technology.
Meet ICan`t, the most useless vacuum cleaner ever invented.
The festival organisers are very proud to be able to showcase the best work of both established and upcoming filmmakers. Our mission is to give recognition and plaudits to the creative talents we feel deserve it and to screen their work to our appreciative, cinema loving audience.
