Jia is a 2023 Australian short film written, co-produced, directed, and edited by Vee Shi. It was co-produced by Nicholson Ren and Taysha McFarland, with Nicholson also serving as the film's cinematographer. The film premiered at Flickerfest in 2023, and was nominated for Best Short Film at the 13th AACTA Awards.
Plot A grieving Chinese mother travels to Australia and embarks on a road trip with Eric to remember her late son. Ming's conservative values are tested when she learns that Eric was her son's lover.
Cast Sel Hiew as Ming Yu Tyler Jenkins as Eric Hughes Peter Isaac Koh as Yao Chen
Production Jia received a $15,000 grant from AACTA, through their Pitch: Focus program. This also provided the addition of loaned equipment from Sony. The film was inspired by the director's personal relationship with his mother and was shot in a week across various locations in Victoria, Australia.
Accolades Award Category Recipient(s) Result AACTA Awards Best Short Film Jia Screen Producers Australia Awards Short Film Production of the Year Jia AWGIE Awards Short Film Vee Shi Australian Directors' Guild Awards Best Direction in a Student Film Vee Shi Flickerfest Awards Best Direction in an Australian Short Film Vee Shi Best Actor Sel Hiew Melbourne Queer Film Festival Awards Best Australian Short Film Vee Shi St Kilda Short Film Festival 2024 Top Short Films Jia Iris Prize Youth Jury Award Jia Stellar Short Film Festival Best Performance Sel Hiew Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival Best Australian Film Jia Sardinia Queer Film Short Film Festival AGedO Special Award Jia Sony Catchlight Film Festival Best Cinematography (Fiction) Nicholson Ren Canberra Short Film Festival Best Cinematography Nicholson Ren Melbourne Multicultural Film Festival Best Short Fiction Film Jia People's Choice Jia
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