SANSEDAI (三世代) - Award Winning Documentary Short Film

Through intimate conversations over old photobooks and home movies from the 1930s, sansedai (三世代) explores themes of identity and belonging as it follows the filmmaker’s 92-year-old grandmother’s journey growing up during war, migrating to a country that was once deemed an enemy, and what it means to be Japanese-American. Director’s Statement: As a self-taught filmmaker, I was always drawn to the power of visual storytelling and fell in love with the medium of film. Shortly after graduating college, I took a leap of faith and moved to NYC to immerse myself in the film community. Now years later, I’ve worked my way up through the camera department in both NYC & LA and I am proud to share my first documentary short film, sansedai (three generations). This film shares the very personal story of my grandmother growing up during the war in Japan before moving to the US in the 1950s amidst heightened racial tensions, especially towards Japanese people. My grandmother’s wedding kimono connects all three generations and tethers me to my ancestral heritage as I try to define what being Japanese-American means to me. This timely documentary illuminates the lasting impacts of war and imperialism while sharing a first hand account of the uncertainties of migrating to a new country. As a proud granddaughter of immigrants, I hope this film resonates across generations and cultures as we continue to see the humanity in others. If you would like to make a donation to help support this film & the incredible team that helped bring it to life, you can donate here: https://buymeacoffee.com/sansedai written and directed by KAYLI KIMURA featuring YASUKO KIMURA KIYOSHI KIMURA KAYLI KIMURA AMY WEISS produced by VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS & KAYLI KIMURA cinematography by KAYLI KIMURA editor KAYLI KIMURA original music by MIRELLE CABANGBANG & JENNIFER CLEMENA-MAGAT associate producer AKINYEMI additional camera AKINYEMI sound editor MICAH GARRIDO sound mixer AKINYEMI recording engineer AKINYEMI colorist KAYLI KIMURA kimono dresser AKANE MASHIMO archival footage by KIYOSHI & YASUKO KIMURA KIMURA GREAT-GRANDFATHER TANAKA GREAT-GRANDFATHER Thank you for instilling filmmaking in my genes. special thanks AWC 2024 COHORT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS VEIALU AILA-UNSWORTH ASAVARI KUMAR AMY WEISS LISA KIMURA KENNY KIMURA DANNY WEISS AKINYEMI FUJIFILM the armed with a camera fellowship is sponsored in part by grants from SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND CULTURE ELIZABETH SUNG MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS CALIFORNIA ARTS COUNCIL in loving memory of my father DAVID WEISS 1951-2021 © 2024 Kayli Kimura and Visual Communications More info & stay updated on the film: https://kaylikimura.com/sansedai follow on instagram:   / sansedai   Stay up to date with Kayli:   / kaylikimura   Awards: Winner, Best Documentary Short, Barbados Independent Film Festival, 2025 Winner, Grand Jury Award, Best Documentary Short Film, Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival, 2025 Winner, Audience Award, Best Documentary Short Film, Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival, 2025 Screenings: VC Film Festival (formerly Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival), World Premiere // Los Angeles, CA // 2024 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, Bay Area Premiere //2024 Philly Asian American Film Festival, Philadelphia Premiere // 2024 Boston Japan Film Festival, Massachusetts Premiere // 2024 FilmGood Festival // Los Angeles, CA // 2024 Barbados Independent Film Festival, International Premiere, Winner Best Documentary Short // Bridgetown, Barbados // 2025 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon // Oregon Premiere // 2025 Washington, DC International Film Festival // DC Premiere // 2025 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival // Los Angeles, CA // 2025 Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival, Opening Night, Texas Premiere [WINNER - Grand Jury Award & Audience Award for Best Documentary Short] // Houston, TX // 2025 Oakland Short Film Festival // Oakland, CA // 2025 Bravemaker Film Festival // Redwood City, CA // 2025 Press: Visual Communications: https://vcmedia.org/latest-news/2024/... Inside Out Podcast with Yhá Mourhia Wright Live at Bravemaker Film Festival:    • “Am I Japanese Enough?” | Kayli Kimura | I...   Press Kit available upon request. Contact: [email protected] SANSEDAI was made as part of the 2024 Armed with a Camera Fellowship. The Armed with a Camera Fellowship is awarded by Visual Communications, a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American & Pacific Islander filmmakers who empower communities and challenge perspectives. For more information about Visual Communications and the Armed with a Camera Fellowship, visit: https://vcmedia.org/awc sub count: 39 #shortfilm #documentary