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SELFLESS
TYPE: Narrative Short
GENRE: Drama
STATUS: Production
LOGLINE
An immigrant mother's plan to secure her American Dream for her son spirals into devastation.
SYNOPSIS
Hemi, a determined mother, hides her husband Jong's illness to keep son Hari focused on school. When Hari returns home, she unveils a chilling plan: fund his tuition with Jong’s life insurance. Horrified, Hari seeks medical care for Jong, but Hemi tragically follows through, sacrificing everything for her son’s future.
ARTISTIC STATEMENT
As a South Korean Judeo-Christian who grew up in both South Korea and the United States, my perspective on character is shaped by value structures of religion and education. SELFLESS is an exploration and satire of the delusion that arises from structures of religion and education perceived as absolute.
From common gossipmongers to self-absolution through faith, Hemi’s self-sacrifice becomes an absurdist, darkly comic culmination of the internal and societal pressures she imposes on herself to be able to provide for her son
KEY CREW
Jason Hyun Kim - Director / Writer / Producer
Jason Hyun Kim is New York based writer/director/producer whose thematic interests lie in the construction of identity. A first generation Korean American having spent his childhood in South Korea and formative years in the United States, Jason has experienced shifting cultures and identities first hand. His explorations to how cultural artifacts such as music and traditions make up one’s identity was expressed through his previous short film Trombone Magic, Winner of Best Narrative Short at the 2021 New York Jazz Film Festival. He studied Media and Cinema Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Charles Mbaruguru - Producer / Line Producer
Charles Mbaruguru is a strategic business operations leader with nearly 12 years of experience at the intersections of technology, finance, and media. As the first business hire at Avail, he built the company’s operational foundation and shaped its first AI product strategy. Previously, in management consulting, Charles drove nearly $200 million in procurement savings for global financial institutions, showcasing his ability to navigate complex challenges and deliver impactful results. Charles’ passion for storytelling and cinema fuels his vision to merge business and film. Inspired by studios like A24 and Neon, he envisions creating “commercial art films” that balance artistic integrity with market appeal. At the heart of Charles’ mission lies a commitment to crafting stories that move people—poetic yet accessible, intimate yet far-reaching.
Geraldine Schubert - Producer / Assistant Director
Geraldine Schubert is a seasoned Producer, renowned for her extensive work as a second unit director and assistant director. She gained recognition for her contributions to notable films such as "Triple Frontier" (2019), "Hitman" (2007), and "Past Lives" (2023). Schubert's career encompasses a diverse array of roles across both cinematic and television projects. In the film sector, she has served as a second assistant director on productions like "Past Lives" (2023) and "Clifford the Big Red Dog" (2021). Her expertise also extends to line production, exemplified by her work on the short film "Esther in Wonderland" (2021). Additionally, she has held positions such as production assistant on films including "Shaft" (2019) and "The Upside" (2017). In television, Schubert's roles have been equally varied and impactful. She has functioned as a second assistant director on series like "Chicago P.D." (2022–2023) and "Flatbush Misdemeanors" (2022), demonstrating her adaptability and leadership in episodic storytelling. Throughout her career, Schubert has consistently showcased a commitment to excellence and a versatile skill set, contributing significantly to both mainstream and independent projects. Her diverse experiences reflect a profound dedication to the craft of filmmaking and television production.
Kevin Kim - Director of Photography
Kevin is a cinematographer and director based in Brooklyn, New York. He studied advertising photography and earned his BFA in Professional Photo Illustration from the Rochester Institute of Technology. His work is showcased in The Flag Project (2021), an exhibition at the iconic Rockefeller Center reflecting the diversity, energy and spirit of New York City organized by the Aperture foundation. His work is also featured on The AI-AP ARCHIVE as a part of the Winning Collection for American Photography 28.
Yulanda Yo-Rong Shieh - Production Designer
Yulanda Yo-Rong Shieh is a production and scenic designer based in New York City. Her love of listening to stories as a kid has grown into a passion for visual storytelling. She enjoys the process of making the imaginary a reality. Born and raised in Taiwan, she has her BA in theatre and has designed sets for many features produced in Asia, including Black and White II (Yueh-Hsun Tsai), Journey to the West II (Hark Tsui), Bleeding Steel (Leo Zhang), The Taste of Rice Flower (Peng-Fei Song), and L’Autre Continent (Romain Cogitore). Her production design work has been seen in Oscar-qualifying festivals such as Palm Springs Film Festival, HollyShorts, Austin Film Festival, Chicago International Children's Film Festival, American Black Film Festival, BronzeLens Film Festival, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, among other BAFTA and Canadian Screen Award-qualifying festivals. She received her MFA in Design For Stage and Film at NYU/Tisch and is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.
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