Taige Shi
Directing
Biography
Taige Shi is a LA-based director who graduated from the UCLA School of Television Film and Theater with an MFA degree in directing. As an international artist, Taige is interested in pursuing arts that can connect people from different cultural and sociological backgrounds. He has received the UCLA Mary Pickford Award the George & Sakaye Aratani Fellowship and the John H. and Patricia W. Mitchell Fellowship for his works and contributions. His short film 'Reconnect,' was selected for several international film festivals, including the semifinals of the Oscar-qualifying Rhode Island International Film Festival, as well as Newfilmmakers NY, Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, and Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival. His thesis film 'Koi' has earned an honorable mention in Grand Jury - Narrative Shorts of Dances with Films. It was selected for other renowned international festivals like the DisOrient Film Festival and Hishort! Film Festival. In addition, Taige actively collaborates with various non-profit organizations, producing public service shorts for Human Rights Watch and showcasing his work at events organized by Creative Visions. Due to his outstanding filmmaking talent, Taige has also served as a screener for the 38th and 39th IDA Documentary Awards. He is also part of the documentary prescreening committee for the 84th 2024 Peabody Awards.
Known For
The sudden death of the son forces an unexpressive and isolated Chinese immigrant father to reflect on his relationship with the deceased son and to rediscover the meaning of family.
Reconnect
Amanda has been dreaming of having her own real-life book romance. When one day, she stumbles upon a penny, her wish starts to become reality as it leads her to Felicity. Brought together by one very lucky penny, their paths cross, and sparks fly between the two.
Lucky Penny
Gaku Takahashi, a veteran professional Japanese boxer who trains in LA, was forced to give up his boxing career due to a violent anti-Asian hate crime on an LA freeway in 2020. The film follows Gaku as he faces chronic pain from the attack and financial difficulties as a result of systemic injustice. Despite these obstacles, Gaku works to overcome physical and mental trauma and pursue justice, all while fighting to get back into the ring.
Gaku: One Last Round
An Asian father and his son must confront their differences as they find their lives strangely paralleling those of Asian carp.