Worldwide Docs – Six Stories, One Global Journey
Explore the world through six powerful documentary shorts that span continents, cultures, and identities in Worldwide Docs, a compelling shorts block featured at HAAPIFEST 2025. From the Pacific Islands to Tokyo, these films bring untold stories to the screen with heart, truth, and urgency.
📅 May 31 @ 12:00 PM
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton – 10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042
👉 Reserve your seat for Worldwide Docs at www.haapifest.org/tickets
🌟 Featured Documentary Shorts:
☁️ REACHING FOR THE CLOUDS
📽️ Director: Anika TingTing Boulineau
🕒 6 minutes
This personal short documentary follows the filmmaker’s journey of self-discovery through adoption. Using archival footage and narration, Reaching for the Clouds explores identity, belonging, and the long shadow of China’s One Child Policy.
🏎️ TORQUE
📽️ Director: Ahmed Ali
🕒 14 minutes
Torque takes viewers deep inside Malaysia’s thriving car modification scene. From roaring Skylines to vintage motorbikes, this high-octane short captures the passion and artistry of Southeast Asia’s underground auto world.
🏙️ NOSTALGIA FOR TOKYO
📽️ Director: Haruka Motohashi
🕒 10 minutes
Filmmaker Haruka returns to Tokyo to reconnect with her ailing mother and a city that feels both familiar and foreign. With poetic visuals and raw emotion, Nostalgia for Tokyo captures the longing for connection—across generations and continents.
🌊 IN EXILE
📽️ Director: Nathan Fitch
🕒 11 minutes
This gripping short uncovers the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing in the Pacific Islands, as members of the Marshallese community in Arkansas recount life in exile 78 years later. A vital portrait of displacement, resilience, and history.
⚽ MAYBE IT'S JUST THE RAIN
📽️ Director: Reina Bonta
🕒 15 minutes
Filipino-American center back Reina Bonta narrates the historic debut of the Philippine women’s soccer team at the FIFA World Cup. Combining personal home videos and heartfelt reflection, this film bridges sports and self-discovery.
🌺 CANVAS OF OCEANS
📽️ Directors: Alice Lolohea & Johnson Raela
🕒 58 minutes
A celebration of Pacific culture, Canvas of Oceans follows the 13th FestPAC (Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture) in Hawai‘i. This vibrant documentary honors ancestral traditions while addressing the colonial legacy and the future of cultural preservation.
🎟️ Witness stories that transcend borders and bring us closer to the heart of humanity.
👉 Reserve your seat for Worldwide Docs at www.haapifest.org/tickets
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