Champion, Broken Drawer, my own mecca — Bridging Perspectives Film Series

The series closes with an evening featuring a selection of powerful films that highlight the creativity, diversity, and storytelling of female filmmakers. Folliwing the screening, the filmakers will join David Roach, founder of the Oakland International FIlm Festival, for a question and answer.

It’s 1997, and 9-year-old Jimin just moved to California. Jimin refuses to speak to her father who stayed behind in Korea, but when a major financial crisis devastates their home country, all hopes that he can join them in America dissipates. Now, Jimin must gather the courage to take the next steps alone.

Run Time: 13:09

Kim J.Y. Han is a Korean American writer-director with a passion for socially con- scious stories and pushing boundaries in genre or form. Prior to becoming an independent filmmaker, Han was a Manager of Scripted TV Programming at NBCUniversal. She was also a Creative Executive fellow with Film Independent Project Involve, where she produced several short films that premiered and won awards at major festivals, including Berlinale and SXSW. Han most recently shot Champion, a short film about a girl seeking to mend her broken heart after moving to California without her father.

Following a sudden breakup with his fiancé, Arjun Singh must confront childhood trauma hidden deep inside his family’s heirloom. Inspired by true events and a tragic hate crime, Broken Drawer explores the power of love and letting go.

Run Time: 14:20

Rippin Sindher is a multi-hyphenated South Asian storyteller. She participated in the Ryan Murphy HALF Directing Program as a directing fellow on “Ratched.” Her script “Namaste Bride Ji” was a Top 20 for Lena Waithe’s 2021 Rising Voices Program and previously, her romcom script was a finalist for the Sundance New Voices Lab and the AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women. She has directed festival-winning films including “Broken Drawer”. California without her father.

Oakland native, Dre, must contort himself in order to safely navigate through life. We follow Dre as he comes to terms with the relationship between his vessel and his world.

Run Time: 10:54

Alba Roland Mejia is a writer, producer, and director based in Oakland, CA. She has an MFA in Cinema from San Francisco State University (SFSU) with a focus in directing narrative. Alba’s work focuses on the African diaspora and strives to capture the true essence of storytelling by pulling from real life experiences.

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Bridging Perspectives: Exploring Social Justice with the Oakland International Film Festival is a transformative three-part film screening series that delves into pressing social issues of our time: climate change, racial and gender justice. This series, presented by Northeastern University and Mills Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Oakland International Film Festival, offers a unique lens on pivotal movements and challenges, fostering dialogue and inspiring action.

"Bridging Perspectives" is more than just a film series—it's an invitation to reflect, engage, and act. Each screening will be followed by a curated conversation with the filmmakers and community leaders.

Don’t miss this opportunity to broaden your horizons and be part of a community dedicated to social justice and positive change.

Host or Publisher Mills Performing Arts