What do we mean to each other in any given moment? What matters most is what we take away, and what we leave behind. In these films, strangers, friends and loved ones have close encounters; some end well, others not so much.

BENCHMARK

USA | 2012 | 11mins

DIRECTOR: vincent Lin

Donny and T have been best friends for years. When graduation approaches, will the future break them apart?

BROKEN MAIDEN

Singapore 2012 | 9mins

DIRECTOR: Maxim Dashkin

Felix Chong spends his days at the racetrack, winning some and losing more. When he visits his son Michael, has he finally hit rock bottom?

BUBBLE

South Korea 2012 | 10mins | Korean w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Robert Joe

Dreams come to life in this South Korean short.

DISTANCE

USA 2012 | 4mins | Mandarin w/E.S. DIRECTORS: James Shih, James Feng, Nick Louie When her boyfriend is called away to Hong Kong, a young woman asks herself about love.

FOR HIRE

India 2012 | 23mins | Hindi w/E.S. DIRECTOR: varun Chawla

In Mumbai, a taxi driver ferries around a sex worker for extra cash. One night changes them both.

GOT A JOB!

USA | 2012 | 2mins

DIRECTOR: Chickie Otani

Chickie Otani returns with a hilarious short about two elderly friends who work at a fortune cookie factory.

?94mins

Food—whether as a symbol that passes through generations, or a visual accent at

a particular moment—takes on almost an- thropomorphic qualities in these humorous family tales and realistic dramas.

CRAFTSMAN

USA 2012 | 2mins | Japanese w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Jesse Flower-Ambroch

In this precise piece, Craftsman captures the waning days of Japanese knife sharpening,

as seen through the work of Master Chiharu Sugai.

KAE

USA 2012 | 10mins

DIRECTOR: Lana Dang

Joe takes his children, Lia and Kanoa, fishing on the Hawaiian docks. In this comical short for the family, Kae is about how the unexpected waits in sometimes-overbearing efforts, and the quiet redemptive quality in being present.

KIMCHI FRIED DUMPLINGS

Canada 2012 | 14mins

DIRECTOR: Jason Karman

An Asian Canadian man comes home with a new boyfriend for Christmas to find his younger brother, who is also gay, resentful for being left to care for their aging parents. With a lovable and quirky cast, Kimchi Fried Dumplings will make you feel at home, dysfunction and all.

MAMORI

USA 2012 | 10mins

DIRECTOR: Ben Wang

Every summer, director Ben Wang’s grand- mother picks, stews and cans tomatoes at Matsumura Farms in Esparto, CA. This short documentary uncovers a family tale of commit- ment and earnest life lessons passed from one generation to the next.

MOTHER’S MILK

USA/vietnam 2012 | 18mins | vietnamese w/E.S.

DIRECTOR: Andy DeJohn

In this lushly shot period piece set in the viet- namese countryside, two daughters live simply under the care of their mother. The cornfields are where this trio finds their sustenance, but when unexpected changes occur, roles shift, and bonds become strained.

PERSIMMON

Japan 2012 | 20mins | Japanese w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Dean Yamada

In this meditative and poetic short, Tamotsu is faced with two unexpectedly difficult problems: an elderly man who won’t eat, and a persimmon that won’t dry. Through his interactions with

a tableau of seemingly disparate characters, Tamotsu is faced with the meaning of death and life, and the process of letting go.

THE SUGAR BOWL

Philippines 2012 | 20mins | Tagalog w/E.S. DIRECTORS: Shasha Nakhai, Rich Williamson The Sugar Bowl documents an island in the Philippines and the rise and fall of its sugar cane industry. A chorus of three characters from varying backgrounds collectively tells the story of the industry’s demise.

—Curated by Mark V. Reyes, R.J. Lozada

91mins

We live through our bodies every day. Follow these shorts as they explore how flesh and bone can work as the instruments for justice, survival, memory, isolation, personal triumph, commu- nity and self-knowledge.

BIGGER THEY COME

USA 2012 | 8mins

DIRECTOR: Patricio Ginelsa

Female fighter Jynx must avenge her grandfa- ther’s death by defeating an array of opponents, yo-yo in hand. Native Elements sets the beat.

BOLLYWOOD INvASION

USA 2012 | 19mins

DIRECTOR: Shaan Dasani

In this fun and colorful short, an awkward college student must learn how to dance to overcome self-doubt and win the affection of another.

DILLI DREAMS

India/Germany 2012 | 9mins | Hindi w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Etienne Sievers

In this visually poetic piece, an older city dweller reflects on his youth in the country.

INSIDE OUR HEARTS

USA 2012 | 3mins

DIRECTOR: John Liau

The Carters share their inspirational story of overcoming discrimination and disability in order to create a better future for their child.

JUDY

USA 2012 | 4mins | Mandarin w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Timothy Gee

Having left her home and moved to San Fran- cisco, an elderly woman finds community and fulfillment in synchronized line dancing.

NO LONGER THERE

JAPAN 2012 | 23mins | Japanese w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Nobuyuki Miyake

visible both when our bodies are alive and dead, teeth transcend the show-and-tell of time. Here, a young man experiences emotion- al connection in his fantasy life as he is tasked with creating dentures for a young woman.

SECRETS OF A MONGOLIAN ARCHER USA/Mongolia 2012 | 14mins | Mongolian w/E.S.

DIRECTOR: Lucy Walker

With the Olympics approaching quickly, Mon- golia's arching team prepares for battle in Lucy Walker's (SFIAAFF '12, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom) newest documentary.

TULE LAKE

USA 2012 | 7mins

DIRECTOR: Michelle Ikemoto

A mother's unyielding love is tested during the cold of night in this stunning animation about perseverance.

— Curated by Geraldine Ah-Sue

GREAT BIG LIGHTS OUT

South Korea 2012 | 10mins | Korean w/E.S. DIRECTOR: Robert Joe

"If everyone you knew just died in his or her sleep," a young woman asks her friend. "What do you think would happen?"

SIX FROM CERTAIN

USA 2012 | 5mins

DIRECTORS: Lawrence Gan, Jonathan Moy Sean’s friends are shocked when he breaks it off with a perfect girl. What, they wonder, is keep- ing him from happiness?

TWO FOR DEPARTURE

South Korea/Thailand 2012 | 11mins DIRECTOR: Hyun-Jae Lee

A tourist and a young Thai man meet up in increasingly absurd circumstances. Throw- ing yourself from the Death Bridge can be so complicated.

UNMENTIONABLES

USA 2012 | 5mins

DIRECTOR: Michael Shu

A young man with asthma confronts the near past in this story of time travel.

— Curated by Natalie Tsui, Shwetika Baijal, Mordecai Stayton