about
In this dark comedy short, an eight year old girl has to grow up quickly during a tense car ride. Set in the 1980's.
On a scorching summer day, Shelly and her mom pull up to a gas station. When the gas station attendants refuse to serve them for looking “foreign,” Shelly’s mom refuses to leave. All the adults are soon yelling at each other in their different native languages. It feels like it’s up to Shelly to make the day go right.
upcoming
9.11–17 Roxie Theater, San Francisco
First Looks #14 theatrical run
9.20 Boston Film Festival
9.23 Richmond Intl. Film Festival, VA
9.23–26 Charlotte Film Festival, NC
9.25 Footcandle Film Festival, NC
9.27 Imagine This Women’s Fest, NYC
Shorts Program 8
10.9 Wilmington Intl. Film Festival, DE
10.24 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Festival
10.— Multi-city theatrical run, Germany
Distribution by Interfilm Berlin
(full schedule TBA)
2026
6.26–28 Nevada City Film Festival
6.11–13 Southside Fest, Philadelphia, PA
5.30 Seattle Asian American Film Fest.
4.23–30 Dallas International Film Festival
4.17–25 River Run, Winston-Salem, NC
Narrative Shorts, Program 1
4.17 Filmfest Dresden, Germany
Youth Program 1
4.16–26 Washington DC Intl. Film Festival
4.12–16 Florida Film Festival
Shorts 3: Can’t get Enough
Panel discussion on April 17
4.12–13 Cleveland Intl. Film Festival
Shorts Program 9
4.8 Minneapolis Intl. Film Festival
Shorts 1: We Grow Up Quick
2025
11.4–8 Interfilm / Kuki Film Festival Berlin
Filmtheater am Friedrichshain
10.19–26 Hawaii International Film Festival
Glimmer Short
upcoming
September 11 – 17 Roxie Theater, San Francisco First Looks #14 theatrical run
September 20 Boston Film Festival
September 23 Richmond International Film Festival, VA
September 23 – 26 Charlotte Film Festival, NC
September 25 Footcandle Film Festival, NC
September 27 Imagine This Women’s FIlm Festival, NYC Shorts Program 8
October 9 Wilmington International Film Festival, DE
October 24 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival, CA
All October * Multi-city theatrical run, Germany Distribution by Interfilm Berlin
* full schedule TBA
2026
June 26 – 28 Nevada City Film Festival
June 11 – 13 Southside Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA
May 30 Seattle Asian American Film Festival
April 23 – 30 Dallas International Film Festival
April 17 – 25 River Run Film Festival, Winston-Salem, NC Narrative Shorts, Program 1
April 17 Filmfest Dresden, Germany Youth Programme 1: What We Overcome
April 16 – 26 Washington DC International Film Festival
April 12 – 16 Florida Film Festival Shorts 3: Can’t get Enough / Panel discussion on April 17
April 12 – 13 Cleveland International Film Festival Shorts Program 9
April 8 Minneapolis International Film Festival Shorts 1: We Grow Up Quick
2025
November 4 – 8 Interfilm / Kuki Film Festival Berlin Filmtheater am Friedrichshain
October 19 – 26 Hawaii International Film Festival Glimmer Shorts
screenings
cast & crew
featuring Hayden Tan Olivia Xing Robert Coleman Elijiah Pinkham
writer director Christy Chan
executive producers W. Kamau Bell Gordon Yamate
producers Keith Wilson Christy Chan Jeremy Summer
director of photography Mario Furloni
editors Jonah Moran Christy Chan
production sound Donovan Murphy
sound designer Jeremiah Moore
production designer Keri Shewmaker
wardrobe Katie Sugarman
colorist Robert Arnold
assistant director Violet Kazanjian
consulting producer Nico Opper
script supervisor Dawn Spinella
press kit
download the electronic press kit (EPK):
film supporters
Somewhere To Be was made with support from the Fleishhacker Foundation, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, the Center for Cultural Innovation, The Berkeley Film Foundation, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the Montalvo Art Center’s Lucas Artist Residency Program, and SFFILM House.
graphic & web design Michele Graffieti