Life & Death

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VAFF ON DEMAND WED NOV 4, 7PM FILMMAKERS TALK + Q&A

AVAILABLE BETWEEN NOV 1–NOV 8

IN LOVING MEMORY 15 min • 2019 • Canada • English • Drama Comedy Having been fatherless almost her entire life, Kaylie wouldn't have it any other way . But with the recent death of her biological dad she’s being forced by her mom to attend his wake, which carries with it the promise of an inheritance . At the wake, awkwardness is in full force when questions and expectations arise about the man she barely knew . Everyone seems to know him better than her, who is supposed to be of his own DNA . As Kaylie’s unresolved emotions creep further to the surface, so does her need to connect to her dad . Now she must navigate decades of grief and neglect as family secrets are revealed and discoveries are made . MAYUMI YOSHIDA is an award-winning actor/writer/director . Her directorial debut AKASHI won Outstanding Writer at NBCUniversal Short Film Festival and many more awards internationally . Her short TOKYO LOVERS won Best Short at Japan Film Festival LA . Her latest short IN LOVING MEMORY is a collaboration with Diana Bang and Andrea Bang .

DIANA BANG is a Korean-Canadian actor who got her start with the Asian-Canadian sketch comedy group, Assaulted Fish . Her film & TV acting credits include THE INTERVIEW, ENTANGLEMENT and THE BABY-SITTER'S CLUB . She also co-directed short films IN LOVING MEMORY with Mayumi Yoshida and KARAOKE MAMAS with Andrea Bang .

WRITER Andrea Bang PRODUCERS Nach Dudsdeemaytha, Phil Planta, Brittany Lum Cho, Theo Kim CINEMATOGRAPHER Kaayla Whachell CAST Andrea Bang, Susan Hanson

SERIOUS LEES 8 min • 2019 • Canada • English • Comedy

A Chinese-Canadian father and daughter grocery shopping in Chinatown teaches us what it means to be in touch with one's culture . Follow Jack Lee, a second generation, and his daughter Maddie, a third generation, as they bond over more than just a family recipe .

KRISTA JANG is an actor/filmmaker based in Toronto, and an alumna of Capilano University . Her short film, PROJECT: ICING, was highlighted as one of NSI Online Short Film Festival's 'comedy gems' of the year . She has appeared in numerous productions including STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS and MARY KILLS PEOPLE .

WRITER Krista Jang PRODUCER Rebeka Herron, Krista Jang CINEMATOGRAPHER Andrew C CAST Russell Yuen, Krista Jang

LAURA 15 min • 2019 • Canada • English • Drama

Laura, a young half-Indigenous woman, has a conversation with her lawyer Mr . Wilson about how to present her case before court . Mr . Wilson attempts to keep the process positive, but his ignorance begins to make Laura question her identity and her place in society .

KAAYLA WHACHELL is a Cinematographer and Director from Abbotsford, British Columbia . Her films have been shown in Vancouver and Los Angeles, and her cinematography has been featured in Rolling Stones and Paper Mag . Her work often reflects her diverse ethnicity (Japanese, Metis, Czech) and her passion for Canadian storytelling .

WRITER Kaayla Whachell PRODUCER Mike Johnston CINEMATOGRAPHER Diana Parry CAST Farrah Hart

AND NOW THIS? 24 min • 2019 • Canada • English • Drama

Faced with terminal cancer, a woman's choice to die with dignity causes friction between her daughters who have opposing views on their mother's heartbreaking decision .

THEO KIM is an award-winning, Vancouver-based writer, producer and director . He has produced and directed feature films, short films, music and corporate videos . His credits include BEYOND REDEMPTION (NETFLIX), WOODLAND, LETTERKENNY PROBLEMS (CRAVE TV), PAPER CHAMPIONS, and the controversial award-winning short dramas AND NOW THIS? and FALLING IN .

WRITER Brenda Whitehall PRODUCER Brenda Whitehall, Theo Kim, Phil Planta CINEMATOGRAPHER Angelica Perez Anzures CAST Margret Nyfors, Sarah Dawn Pledge, Kira Clavell

SONGBIRD 14 min • 2020 • Canada • English • Drama

Sarah and Ryan Chung finally conceive their first child, but shortly after sharing the news with their loved ones, they tragically and unexpectedly lose her to a miscarriage . What is even more unexpected, are the difficulties they have dealing with their loss and the challenges it presents to their marriage .

HEATHER HAWTHORN DOYLE has made a name for herself as being a strong story-based director, who has a great relationship with actors, crew, and a special knack with children, animals, and VFX .

WRITER Sarah Surh PRODUCERS Sarah Surh and Steve Chung CINEMATOGRAPHER Brandon Y Lee CAST Sarah Surh and Ryan Jinn