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Stepping Stones

Past and present reflect one another in this trio of short documentaries about islands caught in the web of United States influence, and people living in the shadow of that impact. Covering nearly a century of war, exploitation, and emigration, these stories reflect just a fraction of the breadth of identities and experiences blooming in the many corners of the contemporary world’s most prominent empire. The histories of these countries and communities are ripples in a stream, their present circumstances shaped subtly over all that time.

Curated by Arzhang Zafar

In this program


In Exile

Directed by Nathan Fitch

A short film that explores the US nuclear legacy in the Pacific through the lens of members of the Marshallese community in Springdale Arkansas.

When the World Changes

Directed by Benjamin Caruccio and Changhee Chun

Through insightful interviews with historians and survivors, the history of the Jeju Massacre is uncovered, as well as its links to modern day South Korean politics.

Wouldn’t Make It Any Other Way

Directed by Hao Zhou

Having built a colorful queer life in Iowa, a costume designer visits their island homeland of Guam to make costumes for a children’s theatre while reconnecting with distanced parents.