Filmed across the Hong Kong islands, 'Ashima' follows Natacha Maboma, a young Cameroonian-American woman who, at the time of making the film, had been living and travelling abroad in Asia for 3 years. Whilst visiting Hong Kong for the first time, Natacha reflects on the experience of being a young woman - and specifically, a black woman - living away from home and travelling the world on her own. Her thoughts are interspersed with the lyrics from 3 songs that have had a special significance for her during her travels.
*'Ashima' won the award for Best International Director at the 2020 Oregon Documentary Film Festival,
*won the Merit Award for Best Documentary at The One Club for Creativity's 100th ADC Awards,
*was a Finalist in the No Logo category at the 2021 Ciclope Asia Awards,
*was a Finalist in the No Logo category at the 2021 Ciclope Africa Awards,
*was shortlisted for Best Cinematography at the 2020 Kinsale Shark Awards,
*was shortlisted for the Cultural Impact, Cinematography, Unscripted and New Generation awards at the 2020 Berlin Commercial Awards,
*was an Official Selection of the 24th Annual Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama,
*was an Official Selection of The 10th Jozi Film Festival in Johannesburg, South Africa,
*was nominated for Best International Film at the 2021 Oregon Short Film Festival,
*was an Official Selection of Birmingham Southern College's inaugural Hilltop Film Festival in Birmingham, Alabama,
*was an Official Selection of the Asian Film Festival in Los Angeles,
*and has been featured on Booooooom, Beyond the Short and Film Shortage.
Featuring Natacha Maboma
Directed by Dillon M. Banda
Cinematography by Dillon M. Banda
Edited by Sean Cunningham
Sound Design by IYO
Music by Hotel Neon
Production Assistance by Van Ngoc Dang
Produced by SoundChips + Dillon & Co
Click here to view a series of photographs taken across Hong Kong on 35mm and medium format film, in and around the time 'Ashima' was made. And click here to see a series of Natacha's portraits taken on location, also on 35mm and medium format film.