MAIN COMPETITION
Paper Daughter
Directed by Cami Kwan
Country United States
Year 2025
Runtime 15′
Joy, an immigrant from China, enters the United States under a false identity as a “Paper Daughter,” memorizing the details of a deceased girl named Mae and crafting a paper mask in her likeness. Upon arriving at Angel Island, she faces detention and interrogation. During the inspection, her mask begins to crumble until Mae’s ghost appears, guiding and helping her through. Joy moves toward freedom, carrying Mae’s memory with her.
Cami Kwan
Cami Kwan is a Chinese-American director specializing in stop-motion animation. She draws on her background as a queer, multiracial individual to create stories for young audiences that explore emotions, relationships, identity, and culture. She began her career on the Emmy-winning series Tumble Leaf before founding the independent animation studio Apartment D, where she creates stop-motion series for brands such as Monster High, American Girl, and Sanrio.
