Dreamline

Vaanen (16) is an ambitious 1st generation Indian-American classically trained tabla player - but he’d much rather become the next big name in hip-hop. Blasting Kanye on the speakers, eating Taco Bell beefy burritos, and smoking with his friends, Vaanen's behavior is completely at odds with the expectations of his heavily traditional father. When he gets an opportunity to break into the industry, he skips an important networking dinner organized by his father to go work on his beats with his friends instead. A heated argument between father and son ensues - where culture and beliefs violently clash. With some advice from his best friend Rashaad, Vaanen learns that he must let his father into his life, leading him to mend his relationship with his father and find his unique musical voice in the process.

Director/Writer: Harshith S. Kotni

Producers: Julie Xiaolan Zhao, Skylar Eunjean Kim, and Sam Barnett

Cinematographer: Pengfei Song

Production Designer: Adela Hurtado