Black Box Presents: Catharsis : Short Films

In Partnership with The Philadelphia Asian American Film Foundation

8/23 FREE 7:30pm at The Rail Park

When life throws us curveballs…when the world feels especially unpredictable…when we’re overwhelmed by the everyday…sometimes all we need is a moment to breathe, to scream into the void, or to just get up and move our bodies. These short, experimental films all depict a kind of emotional release, whether through reclaiming one’s identity or simply venting to a loved one. Join PAAFF and Vox Populi for an evening of film, music, and meditation. By the end we will hopefully all feel a bit of catharsis. 

FILMS IN PROGRAM:

State of Being
Directed by Ouree Lee
4 minutes
Combining elements of magical realism and music video, this film portrays an imagined experience based on autobiographical events. Meditating on fluidity and oneness in space, it envisions a reconciliation of disparate cultural realities.

The Mountain Rabbit
Directed by Lucy Soutter
11 minutes
Cindy spends the weekend with her eccentric grandmother.

Murmuration
Directed by Priya Sircar
6 minutes
A meditation on shared experience as generations of a family intertwine during a brief moment in time.

Retrieval
Directed by Fatimah Asghar
18 minutes
Holding the line between magic, fantasy, and grounded reality, this film asks the question: what sight of miraculous intervention do we need to conduct to seam together such a violent rupture?

About The Philadelphia Asian American Film Foundation

The Philadelphia Asian American Film Foundation serves as a platform dedicated to showcasing and celebrating the works of AANHPI (Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) storytellers, primarily through film and video art programs. As the leading hub for AANHPI media, culture, and entertainment in the Greater Philadelphia area, we are committed to empowering diverse creatives, advocating for representation, and fostering a more inclusive and informed community.

About Black Box Presents

Made possible through lead support by the William Penn Foundation, Black Box Presents is a yearlong series transforming our Black Box Performance Theater into a platform for 12 community arts organizations, each curating their own monthly event. This initiative amplifies experimental music, dance, film, and spoken word while ensuring free, accessible programming that strengthens Philadelphia’s creative networks.

About William Penn Foundation

The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is committed to expanding access to resources and opportunities that promote a more vital and just city and region for all. We do this through funding programs in the Philadelphia region in arts and culture, children and families, democracy and civic initiatives, environment and public space, and workforce training and services. Learn more at www.williampennfoundation.org.