RANDY XIONG

BIO: A Hmong filmmaker based in Saint Paul, Minnesota who loves nerd culture, is a hobbyist music producer, and a foodie. Films are life.

ABOUT THIS FILM: Randy’s project is a rap performance video ranting about how 2020 sucked as an Asian American shot in the style of a zoom therapy session because of having to quarantine. Warning: Contains strong language.

ETHAN OKAMOTO

BIO: I’m a mixed Japanese American filmmaker interested in telling stories unique to the Asian American experience. I’ve always loved telling stories. As soon as I got my hands on a camera, whether it be an iMac webcam or the family point and shoot, I loved to express myself through filmmaking.

ABOUT THIS FILM: A grandmother guides her grieving granddaughter through the day, step by step. My film is about the effects our elders have on us even after they’re gone. I like to think they look out for us from above. It’s about dealing with loss while also realizing the ephemerality of life. Mono No Aware is something not easily translated into English, so I hoped to convey it here.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.