Festival Art Souterrain
In collaboration with MAFF, discover a curated selection of Korean art films presented in the halls of Place Ville Marie. This evening offers an immersive experience into contemporary Korean filmmaking, blending visual experimentation and innovative storytelling, all within an accessible urban setting.
About MAFF:
Arts East-West, a non-profit media arts organization founded in 1995, is proud to present the Montreal Asian Film Festival (MAFF). Originally conceived as the Korean Film Festival of Canada (KFFC), our annual festival launched in 2013 and has since evolved into a media arts platform organizing film screenings, media art exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, and networking opportunities.
MAFF opens during Asian Heritage Month in North America, and the 2026 edition will run from May 8 to June 13. As a Montreal, Quebec-based organization, MAFF is a fully trilingual festival, with content offered in French, English, and Korean.
Short films:
- An Uninterrupted View of the Sea – English with French subtitles
- Washed My Hands of It – silent film
- Comme une fleuve – French with English subtitles
- Hitting the Noodles et In The Blood – English with English subtitles
An Uninterrupted View of the Sea / Une vue imprenable sur la mer (2021)
By Mika Yatsuhashi
Documentary / 0:15:08 / Japanese-American, Montreal-based
English, French subtitles
Using old photographs, Super 8mm film and FBI documents, a Japanese American filmmaker tells the story of her family’s struggle to prove their American identities during World War II. Standing in flux between the identity of “Alien” and “Citizen”, Mika Yatsuhashi explores the effect of her family’s Japanese immigrant history on her American identity today.
Washed My Hands of It (2023)
By Elmira Laki
Experimental / 0:02:00 / Iranian-Canadian
No dialogue
In Washed My Hands of It, handwashing becomes a metaphor for shedding life’s burdens.
Elmira’s trembling hands portray anxiety, evolving into rawness symbolizing emotional strain.
Despite the pain and bleeding, the washing persists futilely, reflecting the relentless struggle against adversity. The film delves into Elmira’s past experiences and challenges in her homeland, capturing the unyielding nature of these struggles.
Comme une fleuve (Như một dòng sông) (2021)
By Sandra Desmazières
Animation / 0:15:00 / Vietnamese-Canadian
French with subtitles
Deux sœurs grandissent au Vietnam pendant la guerre et vont être séparées par les conséquences du conflit opposant le Nord et le Sud. Après la chute de Saïgon en 1975, Thao, adolescente, doit quitter son pays avec son oncle. Sa grande sœur, Sao Maï, à peine plus âgée, reste avec ses parents, nourrissant l’espoir de la rejoindre bientôt. Mais leur séparation va durer près de vingt ans, au cours desquels les lettres qu’elles échangent sont leur seul lien et un exutoire à leur solitude. Thao et Sao Maï y font le récit de leur quotidien, de leurs souvenirs, de la guerre et de ses fantômes.
Hitting the Noodles (2024)
By Shelly Seo Bahng
Short / 0:06:30 / Korean-Canadian
English with subtitles
Feeling stuck in her limited immigrant status, a young Korean woman eats spicy fire noodles every day for the thrill, instead of taking risks in her own life.
In The Blood (2025)
by Nungshimeren Longkumer
Short / 0:12:39 / Indian-Canadian
English, no subtitles
In The Blood explores the turbulent bond between a Naga-Canadian son and his single mother, as cultural identity and unspoken wounds collide in the quiet corners of their home. When Imsu (or Noah as he tells the world to call him), caught between two worlds and two names, challenges the strained love and patience of his mother, a simple dinner spirals into an emotional standoff that ends only when a line is crossed. Leaving no winners, just distance.
Date: Friday, May 8, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Duration: 2 hours (continuous short film screenings, no intermission)
Audience: All ages
Capacity: 50 to 70 people maximum
Pricing: Registration is required, admission is free.
Participating Artists: Shelly Bahng, Elmira Laki, Mika Yatsuhashi
Screening: 60 minutes
Discussion and moderation: 60 minutes
Target Audience: Film enthusiasts, students, seniors, the Asian-Canadian diaspora, anyone interested in learning more about Asian-Canadian diaspora cinema
Additional Details:
- Guests are encouraged to arrive between 6:30 PM and 6:45 PM. An introduction will present the event and participating organizations before the screenings begin.
- Tickets are free but require mandatory reservation via Zeffy.
Come experience an immersive evening celebrating the richness of contemporary Korean art cinema in the heart of the city!
