We take a look at the Asian documentaries that will be screened during the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival which will take place from October 6 – 14, 2023 in Hot Springs, USA.

Note: The list may include movies made by filmmakers with Asian ancestry or movies about the Asian diaspora.

– Feature Films –

All of Our Heartbeats Are Connected Through Exploding Stars by Jennifer Rainsford – Japan, USA | 2022 – 77 minutes | Documentary
In the wake of the 2011 tsunami, lost memories and photographic evidence serve to uncover the depths of grief. A Japanese diver searches unceasingly for his missing loved one while Hawaiian volunteers attempt to rid their beaches of wreckage. In between, ocean life finds a way to adapt to the tumultuous change of habitat. Weaving together ruminative natural history vignettes with striking scenes of recovery, All of Our Heartbeats Are Connected Through Exploding Stars is a meditation on humanity’s connection to loss told through mesmerizing visuals. (HotSprings 2023)

Trailer:

A Song Film by Kishi Bashi: Omoiyari by Justin Taylor Smith, Kaoru Ishibashi – Japan, USA | 2023 – 74 minutes | Documentary
Guided by the Japanese concept of omoiyari — compassion for others — acclaimed multi-talented musician Kishi Bashi travels throughout America visiting sites of World War II internment camps. While exploring his own identity and the shared experiences of Japanese American immigrants, Kishi Bashi composes the album “Omoiyari” as a moving tribute to the interned. Illustrating the power of song to both heal and unite, the musician offers a poignant perspective on the American landscape and the stories of its people. (HotSprings 2023)

– Short Films –

Grandma & Grandma by Sean Wang – USA | 2022 – 17 minutes | Documentary
In this hilariously charming tale of friendship, the filmmaker’s two grandmothers live together, read together, and dance together. (HotSprings 2023)

Will You Look at Me by Shuli Huang – China | 2022 – 21 minutes | Documentary
A young gay filmmaker in search of himself returns to his Chinese hometown to reflect on the aching, fractured relationship he has with his mother in this shimmering, heartbreaking self-portrait. (HotSprings 2023)

Trailer:

More information: https://www.hsdfi.org