I hope MAYA will have you laughing, crying, and everything in between. And that you walk away with renewed confidence to embrace the messiness of life.

About the Inspiration

MAYA is based on my real-life dog, Maya, a sweet but timid rescue who’s scared of just about everything.

In 2020, I just graduated from film school, divorced a cheater, and struggled to rebuild my life in a country where I knew no one. With no income, I had to say goodbye to Maya.

Months later, when I finally settled into a tiny apartment and landed a minimum-wage job, my ex called. He gave me two days to decide whether to take Maya back, or he’d return her to the shelter.

Maya was nine. I was broke.

I took her in, hiding her in a no-big-dogs-allowed apartment. It was one of the toughest times of my life, but we had each other. Only each other.

As a divorcée in my thirties, I chose the safer path: I gave up my dream for stability. I got a better-paying job that has nothing to do with filmmaking. Slowly, I forgot why I came to the U.S. in the first place…

Then one day at the beach, this nervous, elderly pup walked straight into the high tide with quiet determination. Her unexpected courage made me wonder: Have I ever been that brave in my own life?

I spent the next two years writing and polishing MAYA, a script that’s now been recognized by multiple competitions and festivals.

Maya may not know she inspired a film. But every time she naps by my desk, I’m reminded that sometimes, the smallest companions lead us to the biggest breakthroughs.

This film is for her. And for anyone who's ever felt lost, but kept going anyway.

Why This Matters

We All Live Under Expectations

In our 20s, we’re expected to earn a degree. In our 30s, to marry and start a family. By our 40s, we’re supposed to have a stable career and life all figured out.

But not everyone fits that timeline. Some of us fall behind, or realize we no longer want what we were told to chase.

MAYA asks: What happens when you miss the deadline for the life you were told to want? And what if that’s exactly where something new begins?

Female Resilience, Redefined

According to the Sundance Institute, 68% of women filmmakers abandon their creative projects due to self-doubt and external pressures, including societal expectations about motherhood and career stability.

Emma’s journey echoes that quiet unraveling, caught between the comfort of what she knows and the dream she’s afraid to admit she still has. Her story isn’t about a triumphant breakthrough, it’s about the slow, tender decision to try again.

Senior Dog Advocacy

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), senior dogs only have a 25% adoption rate, compared to a 60% adoption rate for younger dogs. This means that senior dogs are often the last to be adopted.

Like Emma, these dogs are often overlooked because they’ve outlived society’s idea of “prime.” MAYA gives a spotlight to animals who still have so much love to give and life to live, as well as draws strong parallels to people who feel that society has left them behind.

Partnerships for Impact

We’re proud to partner with SF SPCA to advocate for senior dog adoption through MAYA.

The Script

MAYA has received recognition from several prestigious screenwriting competitions:

• The script made it onto Coverfly's Red List in 2025
• Ranked #6 in Drama Short, top 2% discoverable projects on Coverfly
• Finalist at the SF Indie Script Competition (2025)
• Semifinalist at the Raindance Script Competition (2025)
• Quarterfinalist at the ScreenCraft Film Fund (2025)
• Quarterfinalist at the Inroads Fellowship (2025)
• Honorable Mention at the Finish Line Script Competition (2025)

Director's Vision

Magical Realism

With MAYA, I aim to continue exploring that delicate balance of heart and humor, using unexpected visual elements to express the unspoken fears of uncertainty.

I’ll use production design, camera angles, and lighting to transform the ordinary into the overwhelming, where something as simple as an air filter feels monstrous, and a harmless ocean tide crashes like a tsunami. By embracing the absurdity of a timid dog’s perspective, we also hold up a mirror to the fears and anxieties in our own lives.

Emma and Maya's Point-of-View

The story will unfold entirely through the perspectives of Emma and Maya. This dual Point-of View creates an immersive and emotionally textured experience, allowing the audience to view the world through the eyes of both woman and animal.

By staying close to Emma’s inner life and Maya’s instinctive responses, the film invites viewers to laugh, grieve, and ultimately heal alongside them.

Redefining A Stereotype

As an AAPI filmmaker, I want MAYA to challenge the stereotype of the high-achieving Asian family by focusing on a less represented but deeply authentic experience: a woman rewriting her life’s broken script on her own terms, and a mother, who is learning to loosen her traditional mindset to support her daughter’s evolving identity. This dynamic reveals the generational tensions and transformations within AAPI families that are rarely explored on screen.

Cindera Che

Our amazing actress who plays Hua, the protagonist’s mother: sharp, practical, and unfiltered, with every tough comment coming from a place of deep love.

We Need Your Help

We are a passionate team of artists committed to telling this story, but filmmaking takes a village. We need your support to bring MAYA to life!

Your contribution will help us:

• Secure filming locations
• Rent camera and production equipment
• Feed our hardworking cast and crew
• Provide fair pay to our talented team
• Hire a SAG-qualified dog handler

Schedule Stripboard

Please Help Get the Word Out

Please follow our campaign on Seed & Spark. Once we reach 250 followers, we'll qualify for a chance to win an AAPI Rally Film Fund grant. Your follow could help unlock crucial funding for our film!

You can also help by sharing this campaign with friends, family, and anyone who might want to support our story. Every share brings us one step closer to making this film a reality.

If you'd like to stay updated on the project, please follow us on Instagram at @maya_short_film or visit our website: mayashortfilm.com.

We'd also love to hear from you! If you have any advice, suggestions, or just want to say hello, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Meet the Talent

Actor for "Hua" - Cindera Che

Cindera Che is an accomplished Asian American actor and dancer whose career spans over three decades. She is best known for her striking role as the Madame in Michael Jackson: Smooth Criminal and has appeared in hit shows such as Fresh Off the Boat, Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Lethal Weapon, and Alan Yang’s Netflix feature Tigertail.

Meet the Team

Director/Writer - Xin Liu

Xin Liu began her storytelling journey as a TV journalist in China. In 2016, she moved to the U.S. to pursue her passion for cinematic storytelling. Since then, she has directed several award-winning short films and documentaries, often delving into social issues through the lens of everyday life. With a distinctive blend of dark humor and imagination, her work is both emotionally resonant and sharply observant.

Her films have screened at festivals including Tribeca, Raindance, SF Indie Fest, SF Dance Fest, and others.

Producer - April Wang

April Wang is a producer, screenwriter, and animal advocate with a unique background in Journalism and Film Studies. Holding an MFA in Film and Television Producing from Chapman University, she has worked in the US, China, and Japan. With experience in producing award-winning short films and contributing to the production, distribution, and acquisition of theatrical Chinese-American projects. A proud Whippet adopter and dedicated animal shelter volunteer, she combines her love for storytelling and animals in her work.

Associate Producer - Matthew Weser

Matthew is a talented emerging filmmaker who has been collaborating with Xin Liu on film productions since 2022. With a sharp eye for storytelling and experience in screenwriting, he brought valuable insight and creativity to the development of MAYA. His contributions played a vital role in refining the narrative, helping the screenplay gain recognition from several prestigious film festivals.

Cinematographer - Kun She

Kun She is an award-winning cinematographer/director and film instructor with over ten years’ experience in professional film and commercial production. As a cinematographer, he received the Kodak Cinematography Scholarship Award in 2018. His works have been widely screened in museums (Asian Art Museum, Sotheby's Hong Kong, etc.) and film festivals (São Paulo International Film Festival, Cinequest, etc.) around the world and recognized by international mainstream media like Yahoo and CGTN.