Emerging Filipino filmmakers shine at New York Asian Film Festival

NEW YORK – The New York Asian Film Festival (NYAFF) is dedicated to celebrating Asian cinema in all its vibrant forms. It serves as a vital platform for filmmakers to gain international recognition, highlighting unique voices and creative storytelling.

Known for its impressive selection of films from across Asia, NYAFF recently showcased two standout short films by emerging Filipino filmmakers: “A Karaoke Space Odyssey” by Achim Mendoza and “Hot Seat” by Johmar Damiles.

Both films address serious themes such as immigration, the longing to belong, and trauma within family dynamics, all while incorporating the signature Filipino blend of humor and optimism, making their stories both impactful and entertaining.

“A Karaoke Space Odyssey” intertwines the light-heartedness of karaoke with the poignant themes of immigration and belonging, capturing a unique perspective on the immigrant experience.

Now Los Angeles-based Mendoza, inspired by his own experiences of feeling lost and finding solace in a community of friends who gathered to sing and vent their frustrations back in the Philippines, uses this setup to explore themes of belonging and identity.

Achim Mendoza / CONTRIBUTED

He imagined, “What if one of these people was actually an alien from outer space?” After moving to the United States as an international student, he rediscovered this idea and realized that he could create a spin on immigration after feeling its effects.

This experience led to the film’s exploration of finding connection and identity through karaoke. “I wanted to create a colorful and joyful story that addresses immigration’s realities while highlighting the joy and resilience in holding onto our identities.” Mendoza explained.

Meanwhile, “Hot Seat” brings a fresh take on the common experiences of growing up with busy parents, the impact of neglect and trauma especially due to the absence of caregivers working overseas, and dealing with it all. Damiles’ film uniquely uses an 8-bit video game format to depict household conflicts, offering a relatable perspective on how children perceive and cope with their environment.

The film emphasizes that neglect is a universal experience and highlights the need for creating loving spaces for healing from past traumas. “We often see stories about OFWs with big success stories, but nobody talks about the families left behind,” Damiles, who is based in the Philippines, shares.

Johmar Damiles / CONTRIBUTED

Its use of video games as a coping mechanism serves as a universal language, making its themes accessible to a broad audience. His team drew from their love for video games and personal childhood experiences to create a narrative that resonates deeply. “We asked ourselves how we cope with life’s challenges, and these elements became our narrative” Damiles explains.

The short film format allowed Mendoza to hone in on specific, exploratory moments that reveal profound character insights. “You can really expand on this moment. In ‘A Karaoke Space Odyssey,’ we zoomed in on the moment our character uses the power of karaoke to confront her fears as an undocumented immigrant.

This focus worked perfectly for our story” Mendoza notes. Damiles views short films as a powerful tool to break into filmmaking, a crucial entry point for emerging filmmakers to showcase their skills and styles.

“Short filmmaking allows us to explore what we want to do and get noticed by producers and studios,” Damiles adds.

“A Karaoke Space Odyssey” and “Hot Seat” are heart-warming reminders of the incredible talent and perseverance of Filipino filmmakers. As these young directors continue to make a splash on the global film scene, it’s clear that their work is not only entertaining, but also a vital part of our cultural landscape.