When You Left Me On That Boulevard

Thanksgiving 2006 in Paradise Hills, Southeast San Diego. 15-year-old Ly and her cousins get high before a boisterous Thanksgiving at their auntie’s house. Stoned and harboring a naive romance with a maybe-boyfriend, Ly moves through the gossip, nosiness, and loudness of her family’s holiday celebration until the day ends.

Directed by Kayla Abuda Galang
Produced by Samantha Skinner, Alifya Ali, Udoy Rahim, and David Oconer

Director’s Bio: Born in Olongapo, Philippines, and raised in San Diego and Houston, Kayla Abuda Galang is an Austin-based filmmaker exploring themes of femininity, home, and belonging. She draws from the minutiae of her communities, surroundings, and memory to craft immersive and richly textured character-driven stories. Her latest film, “When You Left Me on That Boulevard”, received the Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and the Special Jury Award for Vision at the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival. She is currently developing her first feature film.

Plays in

Young, Dumb, & Asian American

Being “dumb,” wild, and free are the cornerstones of youth. At times it can feel like Asian Americans are caught between the expectations of our parents and the society around us. This shorts program reminds us that it’s okay not to take life too seriously or to take silly things way too seriously.