okaasan (mom)

After her grandmother’s death, a daughter returns from far away to her mother’s home in rural Japan, nestled in the mountains. Suddenly close together after some time apart, mother and daughter attempt to work past guilt, old resentment, and distance in order to connect, each in their own ways.

Director’s Bio
Kana Hatakeyama is a Japanese-American filmmaker and actor based in NYC. Her short film “okaasan (mom)” marks her directorial debut. As an actor, she has performed in critically-acclaimed plays in NYC and around the country, as well as in the Emmy Award-recognized Netflix shows “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Orange is the New Black,” the latter in a recurring role in its recently released sixth season. Film credits include “Split” and “Tape” (upcoming) directed by Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee Deborah Kampmeier. Kana grew up in both Japan and the United States, and has also spent time living in France, Argentina and Kenya. She is a graduate of Duke University.

Plays in

MATINEE ONE

The MATINEE ONE screening at the Nitehawk Shorts Festival features eight films that explore the encouragement of imagination, pursued ambition, and the struggles in life that are both personal and culture.