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Tears Burn to Ash film image; a lit cityscape at night

Tears Burn to Ash

An encounter with a doppelganger in Japan cracks open the edges of reality, as a return to the homeland becomes a search through memory, absence, and the ghosts of identity.

Director
Cast

Veena Yamano

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2025

Language

In English and Japanese with English subtitles

Links
18+
15 min
BC Spotlight Cinemas of Asia Drama Family Relations Shorts Women Directors

This short is featured in:

Muljil: Diving film image; person riding a moped down a deserted street

5: The absurd & spiritual

Shorts from: Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Poland, Portugal.

 

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Credits & Director

Producer

Thea Loo, Natalie Murao

Screenwriter

Natalie Murao

Cinematography

Kaayla Whachell

Editor

Anna Chiyeko Shannon

Production Design

Masaharu Maeda

Original Music

Veron Xio

Natalie Murao headshot

Natalie Murao

Natalie Murao is a yonsei (fourth generation) Japanese Canadian filmmaker and educator. Her work often explores themes of identity and generational disconnect, aiming to expand the notion of Asian diasporic cinema. Her film, No More Parties (2020) played at Sundance, TIFF Next Wave, and Palm Springs Shortfest, among others, and was exhibited online through TIFF Bell Lightbox. Her documentary Blue Garden (2022) was selected for Telefilm Canada’s Not Short on Talent program at Clermont-Ferrand and is now available to watch on CBC Gem. Natalie has received mentorship through Sundance Ignite, VIFF Catalyst, and Experimental Forest Films.

VIFF Short Forum

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