The Other Side Special Screening and Q&A with Writer/Director Josh Leong, Cast and Crew

Date: Saturday, February 20, 2021
Time: 11:00 am EST


THE OTHER SIDE is a narrative short film raising awareness for the ongoing orphan crisis in Ethiopia and starring Ethan Herisse from Ava DuVernay's Emmy-winning Netflix series WHEN THEY SEE US. Directed by 20-year-old filmmaker Josh Leong and produced by NYU students, the film was inspired by a true story and shot in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The film has played at five Academy Award-Qualifying Film Festivals and has helped raise $50,000 for orphans affected by COVID-19 in Ethiopia. To learn more about the crisis and read the film's companion guide, please visit www.theothersideshortfilm.com.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the Cast and Crew, including Writer and Director Josh Leong, Producer Sofia Bara, Director of Photography Tom Ingwersen, Actors Ethan Herisse (When They See Us), Adonai Kelelom, and Actress and Grammy-Nominated Recording Artist Wayna Wondwossen.

Josh Leong. Writer and Director / Based in New York, New York

Josh Leong is an Asian-American writer/director from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Leong was recognized by President Obama and the House of Representatives. Winner of a Scholastic American Visions Award in 2018, Leong’s films have been screened at four Academy Award®-qualifying festivals and internationally. He has since developed commercials for clients such as Facebook, Uber, and Google under 1st Ave Machine. Josh interns with Circle of Confusion and De Line Pictures under producer Donald De Line, a former executive at Paramount Pictures and Walt Disney Studios.

Sofia Bara. Producer

Sofia Bara is an Argentinean writer and producer based in New York City. She has produced numerous commercials and short films, specializing in international production from Puerto Rico to Romania. Whether writing or producing, Sofia views film as a catalyst for truthful stories and instigating change. While pursuing a BFA at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and a Minor in Business, Sofia works on LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT. Currently, she interns at Inner Child Productions under Debbie Liebling, former executive at 20th Century Fox and Universal Pictures.

Tom Ingwersen. Director of Photography

Tom Ingwersen is a German filmmaker currently studying at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Working for Bauer Media he has traveled around the world capturing stories from all walks of life. He has been the director of photography for award-winning films, such as The Other Side. As a writer/director he is currently working on a short film in production and a feature-length film in pre-production.

Ethan Herisse. Actor

Ethan Herisse is an American actor who entered the film world at age 12. He has appeared in a number of notable films and videos such as “Key & Peele”, “Miss Virginia”, and “About a Boy.” Herisse now stars as Young Yusef Salaam in Ava DuVernay's limited Netflix series, "When They See Us,” the most-watched series on Netflix during its opening two weeks, remaining a heavy favorite at the Primetime Emmy Awards.

Adonai Girmaye Kelelom. Actor

Adonai Girmaye Kelelom is a 15-year-old Ethiopian actor. Though the role of Kiya stands as Kelelom’s professional debut, portraying this role has been one of “the best experiences [he’s] ever had,” and has inspired him to pursue a career in acting. He aims to study acting as well as neuroscience in the United States in the near future.

Wayna Wondwossen. Actress, Recording Artist

Wayna Wondwossen is an R&B/soul singer and songwriter. Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Wayna is a Grammy-nominated performing artist. She worked as a writer for the Clinton White House before releasing three solo albums, garnering three Billboard-charting singles and a Grammy nomination. She currently tours as a vocalist with musical icon Stevie Wonder.

No Crying At The Dinner Table Special Screening and Q&A with Director Carol Nguyen and Producer Aziz Zoromba

Date: Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Time: 9:00 am EST


Screening of filmmaker Carol Nguyen’s most recent short film titled “No Crying At The Dinner Table.” Nguyen interviews her family to craft a portrait of love, grief, and intergenerational trauma. No Crying at the Dinner Table (2019) was selected at over 75 Festivals around the world and won over 15 awards, including the Grand Prize for Best Short Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival, qualifying the film for an Academy Award.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Director, Carol Nguyen, and Producer Aziz Zoromba.

Carol Nguyen. Filmmaker / Based in Montreal, Canada

Carol Nguyen is a 22-year-old Vietnamese Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto and Montreal. Her films often explore the subjects of cultural identity, family, and memory. Her most recent film “No Crying at the Dinner Table” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and had its international premiere at IDFA 2019, where she was also invited as the Opening Night speaker. Carol is a 2018 Sundance Ignite fellow, Adobe Creativity Scholar and a TIFF Share Her Journey ambassador, where she strives to empower diverse voices and women through her own stories and personal experiences in the film industry. Today, Carol is working towards developing her first documentary feature as well as an animated short.

Aziz Zoromba. Director and Producer / Based in Montreal, Canada

Aziz Zoromba is a Canadian-Egyptian director and producer. His work, documentary, and fiction, mainly explore themes of cultural identity, family life, coming of age, and the repercussions of being a second-generation Canadian. His short films Leila (2017), Amal (2018) & Faraway (2020) have screened internationally at dozens of festivals. He is a recipient of the 2019 Sundance Ignite Fellowship from the Sundance Institute.  Aziz also co-produced the short documentary No Crying at the Dinner Table (2019), selected at over 75 Festivals around the world and winner of over 15 awards, including the Grand Prize for Best Short Documentary at the SXSW Film Festival, qualifying the film for an Academy Award.