Struggling with identity is the core of Andrea A. Walter’s feature debut EMPTY BY DESIGN. The film follows two young adults: Samantha (Rhian Ramos), a mixed-race woman who was asked to return to the Philippines to help after her parents passed away, and Eric (Osric Chau), a stuntman whose work brings him back home after living in the US for years. Samantha and Eric’s paths cross one night when she lends him cash to get into a club, and soon after they recognize another from school they begin to reconnect. Aimless like your 20s should feel, EMPTY BY DESIGN is a confident drama that explores what it feels like to be lost as a young adult: from careers choices to the desire to find yourself in a childhood that feels long lost. Pulling from her own experiences, Walter creates a wandering drama that perfectly depicts to feel torn between multiple countries and lives. – Jenny Nulf, Director of Programming

Special Centerpiece Presentation includes an extended conversation with cast & crew!

Student Admission: $15 – To receive your student discount you must purchase tickets at the box office and show your student ID.

AFS Members receive $2 off.

Interested in seeing multiple films and supporting AAAFF? Festival badges and passes are available at:https://www.aaafilmfest.org/attend/