When You Don't Look Like Your Own Culture: The Story of KAYA (Official Selection at Tribeca Film Festival)

Half-Filipina kickboxer Nia played by Isabel Lamers sees a chance to finally belong by joining a prestigious Filipino Martial Arts team in this action packed short film KAYA, an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival.

When top-down gym owner, Angel, turns Nia down, Nia secretly starts training with queer outcast Malic, who introduces her not only to the techniques of FMA, but to the philosophy and values at the heart of it.

As pressure mounts outside the gym from her social-climbing mother, Maria, to become more acceptable, i.e. more “white”, more feminine, Nia realizes that belonging will never come from shrinking herself to fit others’ expectations.

When Angel denies her a place at try outs, Nia refuses to give up. In a final show-down, Nia allows her Western-influenced kickboxing background and her FMA training to merge into a fighting style entirely her own. #shortfilm #filmfestival #tribecafilmfestival #martialarts #filipina #womenempowerment #culturalheritage #cinema #cinematography #choreography #johnwick #filmmaking #filmmaker