From Aotearoa to New York: ‘Rice Run’ Selected for AAIFF
DEGANZ member Pon Torthienchai’s short film Rice Run is scheduled to screen at the 49th annual Asian American International Film Festival in New York City. This follows its premiere at the 20th Tasveer Film Festival in Seattle in September of 2025.
The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is the first and longest-running film festival in the United States dedicated exclusively to showcasing works by media artists of Asian descent and highlighting the Asian diaspora experience.
Rice Run follows a 9-year-old boy named Tent who is tasked with delivering a sack of rice to his family’s restaurant. His sense of duty and familial commitment are tested when he encounters an older, unruly group of teenagers who challenge his obligations. This coming-of-age drama explores notions of duty and burden.
The film was developed through the PASC Short Cuts lab and funded by the New Zealand Film Commission’s Fresh Shorts programme.
Congratulations, Pon and the Rice Run team, on the selection!
Last updated on 30 July 2026
