Daly City
An Indonesian boy and his mother bring Chinese takeout to a church potluck and pretend it’s a traditional family dish. The boy's quiet observations lead him to question his parents' behavior as they strive to find a sense of belonging in a new country.
Oscar Campaign:
“Daly City” qualified for submission to the Academy Awards by winning the Grand Jury Prize at the Salute Your Shorts Film Festival in August! Now we need to get the attention of as many voting members of the Academy as possible, which will require a robust PR campaign starting NOW! Here are some expenses associated with the campaign that you can use as a guide for your donation if you wish. (Click “Donate” at the top right of this page.) Thank you for your support!
$500: Help us fund a reception after a “For Your Consideration” screening for Academy members
$800: Help us rent a theater for an FYC screening for Academy members
$950: Fund one email to voting Academy members (recommended 1 email per week)
$2,000: Support new professional graphics and creative assets for the film
$10,000-$25,000: Help us achieve the most crucial step in launching our campaign by hiring a PR firm, and earn an Executive Producer credit – please get in touch with us to discuss!
Director's Statement:
I have always been drawn to making films that tell deeply personal stories based on my own lived experience. These truths, I believe, are what connect audiences to my stories and characters. It's also what has led to the success of my films: "The Dishwasher," which I co-directed, premiered at Tribeca 2019 and was inspired by my experience working as a cook in the kitchen of a New York fine dining restaurant.
My latest project, "Daly City," is an autobiographical story that draws from my experiences growing up as an Indonesian immigrant in the Bay Area. There is a sense of urgency for me to tell this story now. We are living in a moment of self-examination for the AANHPI community, and in recent years there has been much discourse about the idea of the "model minority myth,” a seemingly positive but damaging stereotype that exotifies Asian immigrants and attempts to define our sense of worth.
While this issue has historically been addressed in documentaries, it's rarely explored in fiction. In telling this story as a narrative film, I want the viewer to draw their own conclusions about the cost of assimilation, as told through the perspective of a young Indonesian-American boy straddling both cultures. For me, this story is about inspiring a new generation of immigrants so that we can both understand our parents' sacrifices in becoming the model minority and also transcend them.
Directed by: Nick Hartanto
Produced by: Nick Hartanto, Clara Peterson, and Anton Vicente Kliot
Instagram: @dalycityshortfilm, @nickhartanto
Festivals
We've been to 30+ festivals since our world premiere in NYC:
- Oscar qualifying fests: Hawai'i International, Woodstock and Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
- GRAND JURY PRIZE & Best Cinematography at Salute Your Shorts
- Best Short Film Award at Cinema at Sea Okinawa International Film Festival
- GRAND PRIZE at the 19th Indonesian Film Festival’s Short Film Competition
- Audience Award at Nitehawk Shorts Festival
- Best Short & Best Actor: Jett Automo at the Revolution Me Film Festival
How to Donate:
Donate by credit card at the Donate button on the top of this page. To donate by check or direct deposit, visit this page.
