Synopsis

The Hong Kong Asian Film Festival collaborates with Eye Catcher Short Awards to present 8 award-winning films. Highlights include a long take of a "birthday party," the senior Singaporean same-sex couple embracing van life, local band KOWLOON.K challenging people’s seriousness, a soldier burying his stone-faced father and Iranian traditions, a dance revealing colonial-era rubber plantation secrets, a Sci-Fi take on corporate life through AI technology, reflections on interpersonal and social boundaries from a bus conflict, and the co-dependency of a mute wanderer and a blind cat lover. These films explore cultural, temporal, technological, and emotional dimensions of storytelling.

1) The Steak
2023 | 8’12” | No Dialogue, No Subtitles
Dir.: Kiarash Dadgar

The steak, the balloon, the birthday cake... Will a mother’s well-prepared birthday party for her daughter go as planned?

2) Two Travelling Aunties
2025 | 21’48” | In English with English Subtitles
Dir.: Christine Seow

Over 50 and stuck in a dull auntie (C9) routine? Norah and Susie choose to embark on a journey of freedom and courage, breaking your imagination about same-sex couples in Singapore!

3) Do We Live Too Seriously
2023 | 4’47” | In Cantonese with English Subtitles
Dir.: Ven Yang

Local band KOWLOON.K delivers their serious performance, transforming into an inspection and reform squad, catching everyone who lives too seriously one by one!

4) The Tortoise
2025 | 13’28” | In Persian with English Subtitles
Dir. : Amirreza Jalalian

A young soldier with a stone face is forced to return home to bury his committed suicide father. Must the burdens of an ancient civilization continue to pass from father to son?

5) Latex Labyrinth
2025 | 12’38” | In Hakka Chinese with Chinese & English Subtitles
Dir.: Wey Yinn Teo

An old man awakens in a deforested rubber estate and finds himself in the colonial past. A distant old folk song ripples as he falls into the eternal loop of rubber tapping.

6) Nine Awaken
2025 | 16’33” | In Cantonese with Chinese & English subtitles
Dir.: Kwai Bun, WHY Amos

Fully AI-generated drama sci-fi short film. Until a mysterious woman barged in, Kong was comfortable with his repetitive daily routine on the space station, with his only wish being to see his brother two days later!

7) Boundaries
2025 | 11’33” | No Dialogue & No Subtitles
Dir.: Seun Yee

How serious can the consequences be if you can’t set boundaries for yourself? Starting with tolerating the auntie who overly reclined her bus seat, the passenger behind takes an unexpected path, eventually exploring the interpersonal and societal space.

8) Save my soul
2023 | 14’17” | In Cantonese with Chinese & English Subtitles
Dir.: Leung Kam Fai

A mute wanderer, homeless and alone, meets a blind man smitten with cats. The man feeds every stray in the valley, offering the mute a chance for home.