18 November 2025
Vietnamerica
Following the wars in Vietnam, over two million people fled to country with the collapse of the Republic of Vietnam. That exodus, referred to by many as “the boat people” resulted in nearly half dying while in flight, battling the elements, starvation, and pirates.
Vietnamerica follows Master Nguyen Hoa as he returns to former refugee camps in Southeast Asia after three decades abroad to search for the graves of his wife and two children. Having fled Vietnam in 1981 on a boat with his family and friends, Hoa was the only survivor.
Executive Producer Nancy Bui of the Vietnamese Heritage Foundation joined GETSEA and 26 universities across North America to watch Vietnamerica together simultaneously and connect via Zoom for a discussion with the filmmaker about the Vietnamese diaspora, their struggle, and how Master Hoa’s story is a prism to see the larger group. Hundreds of students, faculty, and community members joined the event.
For more information on the film, visit http://vietnamericamovie.org.
31 March 2025
Hot Stuff
Hot Stuff is an AIFIS film award winning documentary and part of a trio of Indonesian films that delve into energy policies in Indonesia, corporate ties to those policies, and their detrimental effects on local environments and populations.
Director Dandhy Laksono and Producer Cypri Dale joined GETSEA live from the University of Michigan’s Center for Southeast Asia Studies as 23 universities from across North America connected via Zoom to watch Hot Stuff simultaneously, followed by a discussion about the film, energy policy in Indonesia, and the new Prabowo Subianto administration’s response to local grassroots movements in the country.
Nearly 300 viewers from across North America tuned in from in-person screening locations, with another 50+ tuning in from around the globe via a virtual-only option.
1 October 2024
Breaking the Cycle
The official press release for Breaking the Cycle can be found here and the official trailer can be found here.
Breaking the Cycle captures the political awakening among Thais after the rise and fall of Thanathorn, a young politician who calls to end the cycle of coups d’etat. The film explores the 2019 election in Thailand, which marked the end of five years of full military rule and a new group of young politicians who campaign against an authoritarian constitution, sparking hope and a once-in-a-generation youth movement.
Screenings of the film wwere be held simultaneously at twenty-one (21) university campuses across North America. Following the screenings, each campus came together via Zoom for a discussion with the filmmakers, Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn, and Komtouch Napattaloong plus special guest Pita Limjaroenrat.
Over 200 students from across North America came together to watch the film and take part in the discussion on university campuses, with an additional 63 audience members joining the event virtually via Zoom.
9 April 2024
A Showcase of Bophana Center Indigenous Filmmakers
In conjunction with the International Decade of Indigenous Languages, GETSEA and the Bophana Center presented four short films by Indigenous Cambodian filmmakers on the themes of “Healing, Memory & Care” in conjunction with UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages campaign.
Dull Trail (2020) – Directed by KHON Raksa, PEOU Mono & CHOEY Rickydavid, Bunong Language
My Wish (2021) – Directed by KASOL Sinoun, Jarai Language
Trung (2022) – Directed by Khamnhei HEA, Karvet Language
Alive Skin (2022) – Directed by Veasna OEM & Vantha RAT, Khmer Language
In-person screenings of GETSEA’s Simulcast Film Screening with the Bophana Center was held at 19 universities across North America. Each university connected via Zoom with the film makers located at the Bophana Center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia for introductions and a post-screening discussion of the films. Meanwhile, a virtual screening was available for viewers across the globe at KhmerTV.com. Virtual-only viewers were able to join the in-person screening locations for the post-screening discussion with the film makers via Zoom, or watch the discussion through the KhmerTV website or mobile app.
A total of 270 audience members joined the screening at 19 campuses across North America, with additional viewers tuning in remotely via the KhmerTV.com website and mobile app.
16 October 2023
Above and Below the Ground
The official press release for Above and Below the Ground can be found here.
Above and Below the Ground depicts the Indigenous women activists and punk rock pastors leading Myanmar’s first country-wide environmental movement. When the Myanmar army and a Chinese corporate giant force Indigenous Kachin people off their ancestral land to build the massive Myitsone Dam, grandmother Lu Ra stands her ground. We see her struggle to save the sacred confluence and build a movement, mentoring young female law student Hkawn Mai. A Kachin punk rock band made of pastors, BLAST, also takes action, transforming their love songs into protest anthems. Our film follows these individuals through their journey of activism, from their underground beginnings during Myanmar’s military junta rule, to supposed “democratic” reforms and a sudden military coup. During such periods of fledgling democracy and dictatorship–in Myanmar and globally–our film asks how ordinary people can use the power of music, community organizing and women’s leadership to challenge authoritarianism.
The in-person portion of GETSEA’s Simulcast Film Screening of Above and Below the Ground was held at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, where Director Emily Hong and Producer Maggie Lemere held a discussion following the screening. Twenty other universities screened the film simultaneously and join the discussion via Zoom. A total of 216 students and faculty from across North America joined the event. In addition, GETSEA supported events in Hawaii, including the screening of Above and Below the Ground at the Hawaii International Film Festival and educational talks on UH-Manoa campus to an additional 57 students.
A production of Rhiza Collective In Association with Ethnocine Collective
Director & Director of Photography: Emily Hong
Produced By: Maggie Lemere, Ja Nang Tsen, Emily Hong
1 May 2023
Dragon for Sale
Dragon for Sale documents the Indonesian government’s “10 New Balis” development project in Eastern Indonesia and presents a critical look at attempts to turn Flores and the Komodo Islands into an international tourist destination. The documentary film highlights the darker side of the project’s history, including catastrophic environmental degradation and multiple human rights violations as local populations are forced out of their ancestral homes to make way for resorts and restaurants. The film showcases the resistance movements of local communities striving to create alternative tourism development and conservation plans through an indigenous framework of human-animal kinship and coexistence.
The official trailer for Dragon for Sale can be found here.
The in-person portion of GETSEA’s Simulcast Film Screening of Dragon for Sale was held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where Researcher Cypri Dale and Producer Greg Afioma held a discussion following the screening with other filmmakers joining via Zoom. Eight other universities screened the film simultaneously and joined the discussion via Zoom. A total of 148 students and faculty participated in the event.
