THE COIN / 硬币

A Film by Siqi Song

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

THE COIN is a film about tradition, family, immigration, and most importantly, about finding ourselves. The story starts with a New Year tradition from Northern China, where I was born and raised. On New Year’s Eve, families would gather in the kitchen and make dumplings together. In a few of the dumplings, we would hide coins in. At the family dinner, whoever eats the dumplings with the coin in will have a blessed year ahead. The coin in here is simply a leap of faith, a little bit of optimism packaged inside a dumpling. But as I grew up and immigrated to different cities and countries, I find I have to constantly change myself to fit in the new environment. For anyone who has experience of moving from one place to another, would have experienced some sort of identity crisis, the feeling of lost and misplaced. But at the end of the day, I find out our past is an essential part of who we are and that’s what makes us special. Finding faith within ourselves is more important than looking for validation from others.

AWARDS

Best International Animation Short Film - Chilemonos International Animation Festival, Chile

Jury Award for Best Short Animation - New Hampshire Film Festival, US

Best Experimental Film - FIRST International Film Festival, China

Best Animation Short Film - Chinese Young Generation Film Forum, China

Prize for Asia Road - Korea Independent Animation Film Festival, Korea

Runner Up - AT&T Film Awards, US

CREDIT

written, designed & directed by SIQI SONG

cinematographer BONGANI MLAMBO

music by ALEXIS GRAPSAS

voice by ANNA PAN

costume design by Qing Wang

animation by BOB BLEVINS, IAN BOONE, MOLLY MCCANDLESS, RICH ZIM

produced by DIANA WARD & ASHIM AHUJA

executive producers VALERIE CASTILLO MARTINEZ & FRANCISCO VELASQUEZ

executive producer KIMBERLY HAN

FiLM iNDEPENDENT PROJECT iNVOLVE present

CONTACT

Sale/Distribution - Francisco Velasquez

fvelasquez@filmindependent.org

Festival submission/screening - Diana Ward

dhward@gmail.com

Director Siqi Song animating on set for her animated short THE COIN.
Behind the scenes of Siqi Song's animated short THE COIN.
Director Siqi Song animating on set for her animated short THE COIN.