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.
screenings
upcoming
9.11–17 Roxie Theater, San Francisco, CA First Looks #14
9.20 Boston Film Festival
9.23 Richmond International Film Festival, VA
9.23–26 Charlotte Film Festival, NC
9.25 Footcandle Film Festival, NC
9.27 Imagine This Women’s Film Festival, NYC Shorts Program 8
10.9 Wilmington International Film Festival, DE
10.24 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival, CA
10.– * Multi-city theatrical run, Germany / Distribution by Interfilm Berlin
* full schedule TBA
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20266.26–28 Nevada City Film Festival
6.11–13 Southside Film Festival, Philadelphia, PA
5.30 Seattle Asian American Film Festival
4.23–30 Dallas International Film Festival
4.17–25 River Run Film Festival, Winston-Salem, NC Program 1
4.17 Filmfest Dresden, Germany Youth Programme 1
4.16–26 Washington DC International Film Festival
4.12–16 Florida Film Festival Shorts 3: Can’t get Enough
4.12–13 Cleveland International Film Festival Shorts Program 9
4.8 Minneapolis International Film Festival Shorts Program 1
2025
11.4–8 Interfilm / Kuki Film Festival Berlin
10.19–26 Hawaii International Film Festival Glimmer Shorts
gallery
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