In a near-future America where immigrants vanish without warning, Mei Insawang — a Thai woman who’s learned how to disappear in plain sight — makes the choice to be seen.

When her younger brother is taken during a wave of government-sanctioned raids, Mei abandons the quiet life she’s built and sets out to find him. But her search leads her back to the man she once loved, and into the heart of a system designed to erase people like her.

Mei I. is part sci-fi, part thriller, part drama. But, at its core, it’s a story about identity, family, and survival. It’s about what we’re forced to leave behind, and what we refuse to.

It’s a story about choosing survival, even when it means walking away from everything that ever felt like home.

There are personal threads here—about immigration, about siblings, about the ghosts we carry when we leave places behind. By using genre, we don’t soften the truth. We sharpen it. We hold it in a frame long enough to really see it. And maybe, begin to change it.

This is a world on edge. Empty streets. Low light. Faces you almost recognize. Inspired by the emotional precision and the quiet urgency of Children of Men and Civil War, the film moves with intention and weight.

It is bleak. But never without beauty. It is quiet. But never without fire.

We’re a small team, but not a fragile one. For all of us – Jeff, Harry, and Tin – this is our debut feature film. But, this is not the first project we've worked on together. Our dynamic together is about bringing clarity, focus, and a shared sense of urgency to every frame.

This story is deeply personal for us. As Southeast Asian immigrants and children of immigrants, we know what it means to navigate belonging, identity, and fear—sometimes all at once. Mei I. isn’t just a film we want to make. It’s a story we feel.

We do a lot with a little. We’re grounded, clear-eyed, and ready.

Because the world this film imagines isn’t far away.

It’s already here.

And the people in power are counting on us not to look too closely.

Unbadged officers. No-knock raids. Families torn apart in the middle of the night.

Children deported while undergoing treatment. Surveillance passed off as safety.

These aren’t plot points. They’re headlines.

Mei I. isn’t just a story. It’s a refusal to look away, to stay silent, to let it be someone else’s problem.

This film bears witness to the quiet machinery of erasure — the policies, the fear, the language that makes people feel small enough to vanish.

And it asks:

If this was happening to someone you loved, would you still scroll past?

Would you still call it fiction?

This is not a warning. It’s an alarm.

We’re making noise while we still can.

Right now, Mei I. lives in treatment decks, Dropbox folders, and late-night group texts. But, with your help, we’re ready to pull it into the real world.

This campaign will fund the production of our debut feature film. That includes:

• Paying our cast and crew fairly
• Securing locations
• Renting gear
• Feeding everyone on set (seriously, no one works well hungry)
• Covering post-production

We’re planning to shoot in Atlanta in the late fall. After that, we’ll move into editing, color, and sound, with the goal of submitting to festivals in 2026.

Your support gets us there, but it also brings you along for the ride.

Backers at every tier will get behind-the-scenes updates, digital perks, and a front-row seat to how an independent film gets made from scratch. We’re building something intimate, personal, and cinematic.

If we’re lucky enough to pass our $10K goal, here’s where the next dollars go:

$20,000 – Post-Production Power

We bring in specialists for sound design, color correction, and original scoring — the finishing touches that give Mei I.its emotional weight and visual clarity. These details matter. They’re how a good indie film becomes unforgettable.

$25,000 – Festival Circuit

We set aside funds for festival submissions, travel, and outreach. From major showcases to smaller, community-led screenings, we want to share Mei I. where it’ll resonate loudest — especially with AANHPI audiences and immigrant communities.

$30,000 – In-Person Screenings + Impact

We’ll take Mei I. on the road. This level unlocks in-person screenings, panel conversations, and community events that bring people together around the film. We’re not just trying to get into theaters. We’re trying to build space for reflection, visibility, and dialogue.

These are conservative numbers — the bare minimum needed to do this the way it deserves. Every dollar beyond these goals gives us more time, flexibility, and creative freedom to make something powerful. Something unforgettable.

This isn’t just about watching something meaningful.

It’s about making something meaningful — together.

Here’s how you can help bring Mei I. to life:

1. Follow the campaign

That single click helps us unlock important platform tools, and builds momentum. seedandspark.com/fund/mei-i

2. Support the project

Every contribution — big or small — helps us pay our cast and crew, rent equipment, secure locations, and bring this story into the world.

3. Share it

Talk about it. Post about it. Text your group chat. Word of mouth is how indie films survive, and your voice carries more than you think.

4. Offer your skills or connections

Got experience with production? Know someone in PR? Have an email list you’d be willing to share this with? We’d love to hear from you.

? Copy + Paste to Share

Make it easy on yourself. Here’s some social media copy you can post or DM right now:

Instagram / Facebook:

My friend @JeffSangwan is making his debut feature film, @Meii.film — a powerful dystopian thriller about a Thai immigrant trying to find her brother before she disappears too. It’s raw, timely, and AANHPI-led.

Follow and support the campaign here: seedandspark.com/fund/mei-i

#SupportIndieFilm #AANHPIVoices #MeiIFilm

Twitter / Threads:

A Thai woman disappears to find her brother in a near-future America where immigrants vanish without warning.

@jeffsangwan’s debut feature is bold, timely, and rooted in lived experience.

Follow + support here: seedandspark.com/fund/mei-i

Text / Email:

Hey — I wanted to share a film I’m supporting called Mei I. It’s a dystopian drama about a Thai immigrant searching for her missing brother. The story’s personal, urgent, and being made by a Southeast Asian team. If you’re into AANHPI stories, indie film, or bold, timely storytelling — check it out: seedandspark.com/fund/mei-i

You are the reason films like this get made.

Not studios. Not streaming algorithms.

People. People who believe that some stories shouldn’t be buried.

People who know that representation isn’t a trend. It’s a lifeline.

When you follow, support, or share Mei I., you’re doing more than backing a film.

You’re building space for Southeast Asian voices. For immigrant stories. For stories that refuse to disappear.

Your support turns belief into momentum. It makes the difference between almost and actually.

Between silence and witness.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for walking this road with us.

We can’t wait to show you where it leads.