A selection of short films from Europe, Asia, and the United States screened at embassies and cultural centers throughout Washington, D.C.
Using the theme “Travel/Journeys”, the 9th annual EuroAsia Shorts will feature pairings of short films from Asian and European countries as well as the United States, comparing differences and similarities between the cultures. Each evening's screenings will be followed by discussion of the films and the topics with several panelists. The festival will begin on June 2nd and finish on June 6th.
Japan & Italy
Wednesday, June 3rd - 6:30pm
JICC
- Shabu Shabu Spirit (しゃぶしゃぶスピリット)
Japan | 2015 | 10min | Directed by Yuki Saito
A fiancé, Keita, goes to meet the family, the father, Shozo, begins his secret appraisal – a test to see whether this fiancé is worthy or not of marrying his daughter. Trying to reduce the distance between them, the mother prepares a single nabe (cooking pot) for the shabu-shabu meal. As Shozo’s eyes glint brightly, Keita reaches towards the shabu-shabu.
- My Life in the Lunchbox (愛妻弁当家)
Japan | 2014 | 12 min | Directed by Masaya Matsui
Bento is Japanese style lunchbox. The man loves the bentos which made by a wife. He thinks that the bento made by a wife is the only genuine bento. He goes out for a 'job' with those lunchboxes. The story is based on a true story.
- Year-End Buri (鰤の大晦日)
Japan | 2014 | 11 min | Directed by Takeshi Nishiyasu
On New Year's Eve, Shiho and her husband, Junpei, receive a whole Buri (yellowtail fish) as a year-end gift but they don't know how to fillet it. They call around people to find someone who can take it. But nobody wants it. After all, they decide to bring it to her uncle (once a cook) she hasn't seen for so long and is living alone.
- Babylon Fast Food
Italy | 2011 | 13 min | Directed by Alessandro Valori
Mamadu, a boy born in Italy by Senagalese parents, fights daily with his own personal battle to be recognized as an Italian citizien. Yet neither first generation immigrants or his old landlady want to help him.
- Soul Food (L’Altro Cibo)
Italy | 2012 | 21 min | Directed by Federico Rodelli
Said (Amine Slimane) is a 17 years old irregular immigrant from Morocco. Arrived in Italy a short time ago, Said has an arduous life, obliged by his brother Hassan (Aymen Mabrouk) to beg to make some money. The young boy quickly knows the hardness of life also with Assim (Mohamad Mamod) who urges Said to rob, demonstrating his courage. During a clunky robbery in a restaurant, Said knows Carmen, the chef (Liliana Marchesi). After the starting caution, a strange complicity arises between Carmen and Said, thanks to the food. It will play an important role, connecting two lives scarred by loneliness.
Please note that all films are unrated.
Panel participants for the Wednesday, June 3 screenings at the JICC:
- Prof. Ichiro Hanami, Assistant Professor of Japanese Language & Literature, George Washington University
- Michele Giacalone, Public Relations Officer, Italian Cultural Institute, Embassy of Italy
Closing Night - All Countries + U.S.A.
Friday, June 4th - 6:30pm
Embassy of Italy
- Mile High Pie
USA | 2013 | 4 min | Directed by Melanie Lynn Addington and Daniel Lee Perea
A short documentary film on the mile-high pies at Ed & Kay's Restaurant in Benton, Arkansas.
- Dragon Yinglong (应龙)
China | 8 min | Directed by Fan Yahui
Dragon Yinglong stays in the Antarctic, hence the long prevalent drought. The chief priest erects the statue of the Dragon, binds people to it and offer human blood as sacrifices, and prays to Dragon Yinglong for rain. The severe drought, however, continues, and the blood sacrifice gets more and more tense…
- Emil
Germany | 2014 | 4 min | Directed by Martin Schmidt
As a spotted egg is being x-rayed, a dark spot gradually emerges and starts moving and shaking the egg. The spots on the egg’s exterior reform into a mouth and eyes that observe the growing spot inside. A fight for life and death breaks out between the shell and its interior.
- The Lunch Date (그녀의 냉면계산법)
Korea | 2014 | 8 min | Directed by Lee Dae-young
Seoyeon goes to a restaurant alone during her lunch break for cold naengmyeon noodles, but ends up $1 short. Her options are running out...
- Fine Dining
Philippines | 5 min | Directed by Lance Katigbak
Fine Dining is a short film about poverty, dignity, and the unconquerable nature of the human soul.
- Another Planet (L’Altro Pianeta))
Italy | 2013 | 10 min | Directed by Sandro Vanzan
A day will come when irresponsible exploitation of resources will make Earth unproductive, and people will need to ask for help. Maybe they’ll ask people of a faraway galaxy who, unlike Terrestrians, have never disrespected the ground on which they walk.
- Rhapsodie pour un pot-au-feu
France | 3 min | Directed by Charlotte Cambon de la Valette, Stéphanie Mercier, Soizic Mouton, Marion Roussel
All members of three generations of a single family live together under one roof in an uncoordinated choreography. The mother, acting as orchestra conductor, tries without success, to gather all of them around the same table for dinner.
- Fully Cooked For You (おにしめおたべ)
Japan | 2011 | 4 min | Directed by Yuka Imabayashi
A mother is making a traditional New Year’s vegetable dish for the family, and her child is watching. The ingredients are animals of peas, carrots, burdock root and konjak. Enjoy the dish!
- Taba, the Game on the Table (TABA, juegoen la mesa)
Spain | 2013 | 9 min | Directed by Pep Gatell and Eloi Colom
Four centuries ago, Yi Sam Pyeong discovered the kaolin deposits (china clay) that lead to the first artisan workshops in the Japanese town of Arita. 350 years later, the real-life restaurant Mugaritz in Spain develops a culinary performance where the game of the table is one of its main creations. Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, characterized by his sense culinary evolution and interdisciplinary approach, finds something special in this handmade tradition, while the La Fura dels Baus theater group explores in visual language an eternal debate: "Do not play with/without your food."
Please note that all films are unrated. The finale screenings will be followed by a reception.
Panel participants for the Friday, June 5 screenings at the Embassy of Italy: