River of Small Gods

An injured construction worker named Anela discovers that she has been displaced from her home. Looking for work, she is approached by an enigmatic sculptor who asks her to fetch precious lava stones for a large fee. River of Small Gods is a modern myth that highlights our disconnection from the land, and the ways in which the land calls to us.

Directed by Bradley Tangonan
Produced by Rea Chupek
Written by Bradley Tangonan

About the filmmaker: Bradley Tangonan has written and directed over thirty short films and documentaries over his seven years as an independent and commercial director. His work has been featured in the Smithsonian film showcase, National Geographic, and the Atlantic. His latest short film, River of Small Gods, received the best director Pasifika award at the Wairoa Māori Film Festival. His previous short film, “Wilder Palms”, won both the Jury and Audience Awards for best short film at the 2017 Hawaii International Film Festival. He was chosen by the Hawaiʻi Tourism Board to direct a series of ten short documentaries featuring native Hawaiian cultural practitioners to increase international cultural and environmental awareness about Hawaiʻi. Bradley holds a BS in molecular biology from Stanford University.

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