As cinephiles talk of Asian filmmaking doyens, short films seem to fall off the radar, even if many outstanding short films from Asian are released every year. Diverse in genre, style, story, and length, we highlight below some recent Asian short films that are truly memorable in some way — perhaps for different audiences, but deserving of a watch all the same. The list below is presented in chronological order by release year, then alphabetically by production country.
1. Counterfeit Kunkoo by Reema Sengupta (India, 2018)
A young single woman, Smita (Kani Kusruti), lives in Mumbai and is trying to find an apartment to rent in the city. However, as an unmarried woman, the landlords refuse to take her seriously, refusing her tenancy at every turn despite the undeniable fact that she would be a perfect resident. Although she tries many tricks to get around the patriarchal system, Smita begins to realize how futile her search might be. In the sensitive and emotional “Counterfetit Kunkoo”, director Reema Sengupta points a very effective trigger at India's patriarchal undergirding, especially in the growing urban middle class.
2. Night Bus by Joe Hsieh (Taiwan, 2019)
You'll never know where Joe Hsieh's wild-ride mystery short will go next with turns like a soap opera but played out like a drama. After an elderly lady's (Grace Chen Shu-Fang) necklace is stolen, the passengers of the bus begin to stumble upon more and more shocking events, leading to an explosive conclusion filled with a monkey, betrayal, and revenge. As long as viewers buy into the absurdity of the premise and every (violent) new twist, it's guaranteed to be the most fun you'll ever have on a night bus.
3. Rendang of Death by Percolate Galactic (Indonesia, 2020)
For another maxed-out animated short comes Percolate Galactic's “Rendang of Death”, taking place in a Padang restaurant and leading to the craziest bar brawl you might ever see on screen. Two friends fight over the last plate of rendang during a busy lunch hour, leading to a deliciously gory mess. The simple, cartoon-like visual style — complete with hilarious facial expressions and over-the-top effects — brings the whole short to life and is an unforgettable way to showcase animation.
4. The Unseen River by Phạm Ngọc Lân (Vietnam, 2020)
Taking place along the Mekong, this short follows two couples, one young and one older, meandering like the river but finding its footing in the connections between the two stories. Filled with expressive imagery of the region showcasing contemporary life and a soft score with traditional instruments, the film is also a meditative exploration that goes beyond simply a narrative portrait of contemporary life. The director further plays with generations, time, and the so-called modernity/tradition binary that is transcended in modern-day Vietnam.
5. Makassar Is a City for Football Fans by Khozy Rizal (Indonesia, 2021)
Khozy Rizal's tender but sad short first played in the short film selection of 2022 Sundance, the queer storyline standing out for its social realism. Akbar (Sabri Sahafuddin), fresh into university, must pretend to like football in order to fit in among the other young men, despite hiding a secret. Although much of the dialogue spells out the film's message, the acting and mise-en-scène create the perils of the patriarchal atmosphere to a tee. The director's newest short, “Basri & Salma in a Never-Ending Comedy” (2023), was the first Indonesian film to compete in Cannes' short film competition.
6. Tomato Kitchen by Junyi Xiao (China, 2023)
In “Tomato Kitchen”, a man dining at the eponymous restaurant realizes what exactly he's been dining on when he follows a man with a tomato head out of the diner. The film plays as an easily read — but nonetheless effective — metaphor for oppression, consumption, and the silent subjugation of the marginalized, even if the premise is startling at first. Its bright colors and almost Cubist geometric style makes it further compelling. Junyi Xiao's dark short film earned Oscar qualification by securing the Best International Animation Short Film Award at the International Animation Festival Chilemonos.
7. Oyu by Atsushi Hirai (France, 2023)
Although the film was produced by France's Miyu Productions, Paris-based Japanese filmmaker Atsushi Hirai brings the setting of his short film back to his hometown, Toyama. The short made its world premiere in the 2023 Cannes' Directors Fortnight and has traveled the festival circuit since. The young Satoshi (Okihido Yoshizawa) comes to the public baths to fetch his mother's old bathing set, leading to a night of reflection at the baths that leads to an unexpected but rewarding evening. The 21-minute short film can feel much longer for those not comfortable with slow cinema, filled with a sense of calmness like Wim Wenders' “Perfect Days”, to name a recent feature.
8. Bugs by Gwai Lou (Malaysia, 2023)
“Bugs” is by Malaysia-based Spanish filmmaker David Yanez, who sardonically uses the name Gwai Lou (a Cantonese pseudo-derogatory term for Westerners). The short follows two boys (Muhammad Ikhliel Amree and Syahmi Rafiq Syazwi) who try to make money streaming online. After one of the boys accidentally cuts himself on camera and a subscriber gives him a lot of money for it, they realize Internet viewers are really more interested in morbid and grotesque viewing material — and one of the boys is ready to do it for the cash. It's an unexpected short that speaks to what viewers are shocked (or not shocked) by in today's content-rich era — as well as what young people might to do earn that attention.
9. Hito by Stephen Lopez (Philippines, 2023)
This short will appeal to fans of absurdist comedy — but watch for the bold, anti-authoritarian political messaging buried under its bright and boisterous surface. Internet-age surrealist oversaturated collage sequences are embedded in a coming-of-age tale of 14-year-old Jani (Kyrie Allison Samodio), who meets a talking catfish named Kiefer (Maricel Soriano) — who helps her realize how to escape the matrix that the government has put her in. Part meme, part political commentary, “Hito” may stun, repel, or delight — but you'll never forget it.
10. Remains of the Hot Day by Wenqian Zhang (China, 2024)
The film landed at the 2024 Berlinale with a splash, winning a Silver Bear – Jury Prize for Short Film. Set in the 1990s, the film follows a simple day in a family home in China as the children play, the family eats a meal, and the parents figure out how to calm their young baby. What's so compelling about the film is the combination of its sizzling sound design and unique camera angles, capturing the immense level of exhaustion in the home due to the heat and the family's fatigue.
