MANEKI | A Lesbian Short Film Story

Watch the heartwarming story of Aiko, a young cashier working at a ramen restaurant, as she navigates the complexities of love, rejection, and friendship. Aiko gets rejected by Jean, her favorite regular, but when Jean returns to the restaurant and tries to bridge the gap, Aiko must reconcile her feelings as their relationship enters uncharted territory. As they embark on this new journey, they must confront the challenges of social expectations, personal desires, and the true meaning of connection. Official Selection Austin Film Festival Outfest Fusion Asian American International Film Festival San Diego Asian Film Festival Boston Asian American Film Festival Santa Monica International Film Festival. If you ask someone out, and you get rejected, can you still be friends? That’s the question we sought to answer with this cute, light-hearted coming-of-age film, exploring the nuances of human relationships and the power of vulnerability. Starring Iris Liu as Aiko https://instagram.com/irisliuofficial Elsie Wang as Jean https://www.instagram.com/elsielwang Garth Sodetani as Ricky https://www.instagram.com/kidtani Cory Wong as a customer https://www.instagram.com/cswongphoto Directed by Brandon Okumura https://www.instagram.com/brandokumura Written by Maggie Wong https://www.instagram.com/maggarino Story by Maggie Wong, Brandon Okumura, and Katherine Tran https://www.instagram.com/k_tran Produced by Leon Cheo https://www.instagram.com/leoncheo Cinematography by Jucel Andrin https://www.instagram.com/jucelandrin_ 1st AD – Austin Quon https://www.instagram.com/quonfucious 1st AC – Isaiah Walk https://www.instagram.com/isaiahwalk_dp Gaffer – Jamon Tolbert https://www.instagram.com/jamon.tolbert Key Grip – Christian Kim https://www.instagram.com/christian_kiim G/E Swing – Brendan Yoo https://www.instagram.com/_brendan.yoo_ Sound Mixing and Sound Design – Marcos Castro https://www.instagram.com/mantonitro Production Design – Grace Kim https://www.instagram.com/msgracekim Art PA – Danielle Kim https://www.instagram.com/danielle_daeun PA/Runner/2nd AC – Riley Okumura https://www.instagram.com/itsrileyokay Location – My Ramen Bar https://www.instagram.com/myramenbar. With its thoughtful pacing and authentic characters, this film invites you to reflect on your own experiences with love, heartbreak, and the search for connection. #gayfilm #bisexual #lesbian #shortfilm #comedy #drama #lgbtq #lgbtqfilm #queer #romance #rejection #relationships #gaypanic #ramen #4k #asianamerican #okiemedia

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MANEKI | Full Lesbian Short Film