Papers
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Drama, Romance
During a green card marriage interview, a couple recalls their tumultuous relationship and questions whether their love can survive under the pressures of bureaucracy.
Papers
San Francisco, California | Film Short
Drama, Romance
1 Campaigns | California, United States
49 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$2,803
Goal: $7,500 for pre-production
During a green card marriage interview, a couple recalls their tumultuous relationship and questions whether their love can survive under the pressures of bureaucracy.
Participating In
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Abbas and Emi are a pair of college students in a whirlwind marriage — a marriage that narrowly prevented Abbas' deportation to Iran. They bring a 200-page binder of photos and documents to their I-485 interview, a process that would grant Abbas permanent residency.
At the interview, each document triggers memories of their complex relationship. Their pre-planned answers paint the picture of a youthful romance, but each flashback reveals hints of their deeper feelings.
When they get home, tensions about their false marriage finally peak: while Emi is deeply committed, Abbas is grappling with the terms of his survival. Can their love survive under the pressures of bureaucracy?
Director's Statement
When they spelled my name wrong on my green card, it took 13 months to fix. And I'm already one of the lucky ones, a “legal alien”. Others are surviving under strict visas, toiling away at undocumented jobs, and torn away from their families. Based on true stories, PAPERS is about the struggles immigrants face on the path to citizenship.
PAPERS explores the textural qualities of documents and memories. The film is split into two aesthetics. First, the interview is cold and clean, filled with the textures of freshly printed paper. The interviewer is a shadow at the edge of the frame, an extension of an uncaring bureaucratic system. Second, our protagonists' flashbacks about their relationship are warm and imperfect. As the film intercuts between these two worlds, truths and half-truths are uncovered.
Funding Breakdown
While we have a total budget of $30K, we're currently raising funds for production!
Stretch Goals
$2.5K Development (Funded! Thank you to Justice For My Sister's Short Film Fund!)
$5K Pre-production (key crew prep & travel) currently in progress...
$20K Production (cast, crew, location, art department, crafty, gear, etc.) *This is where you come in!*
$28K Post-production (assistant editor, sound designer, and colorist)
$30K Deliverables (DCP, captions, accessibility) & festival submissions (Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and more!)
$40K+ Impact campaign focused on collaborating with immigrant rights organizations
Impact
The finished film will begin its journey with film festival submissions focused on immigrant, Asian American, and Arab voices (including CAAMFest, Blackstar, LA Asian Pacific Film Fest, DisOrient, and AFMI’s Arab Film Fest).
But we don't plan to stop there.
We hope to embark on an impact campaign that can raise awareness about immigrant rights. Our outreach list includes the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA (CHIRLA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Muslim Legal Fund of America, and Arab American Civic Council.
Furthermore, our team has collaborated with Bay Area nonprofits such as BAYCAT, Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC), Kearny St. Workshop, FILMSF, Arab Film & Media Institute (AFMI), and Center of Asian American Media (CAAM). We hope to activate the local Bay Area community as well!
Current Supporters
We’re proud to be supported by the Justice for My Sister Short Film Launchpad, as well as the SFFILM FilmHouse Residency!
Fiscal Sponsorship
Our fiscal sponsor is Filmmakers Collaborative SF! For any tax-deducted donations, please contact our team! If you work for a company with a donation match program, you could double your contribution!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew Labor and Talent
Costs $2,500
We've gathered an amazing crew! (Josephine, Sorry to Bother You, Last Black Man in SF) This will cover pre-production wages, travel, etc.
Location and Service Expenses
Costs $1,200
We found an amazing location in Berkeley and would love to rent it for two days!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $800
We’re grateful to have in-kind support for equipment, but we’ll need a slight boost to reach our final vision!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Director/Producer
Ginger Yifan Chen (they/them) is examining structures of power through immigrant narratives and politically-conscious sci-fi. They are a writer, director, and activist from San Francisco by way of Shanghai. Their works have screened at the Asian Art Museum and California Academy of Sciences, as well as festivals such as SF IndieFest and Beverly Hills International. Ginger is an alum of BAYCAT Academy, Chapman University, Kearny Street Workshop, Justice for My Sister, QWOCMAP, and many more. They are currently a resident at SFFILM.
Producers
Christopher Goodman is a Bay Area–born American-Canadian film producer dedicated to championing local talent and telling stories rooted in his community. He focuses on developing narrative short and feature films that reflect the diversity and creative spirit of the Bay Area. His recent producing credits include Freyr (2025), Turn Away (2025), and Trenches (2026), which premiered at major festivals such as Tribeca, LALIFF, and Hollyshorts. Known for his strong creative instincts and hands-on production approach, Christopher partners closely with filmmakers to shape character-driven work.
Cristina Chin is a San Francisco-based filmmaker and commercial producer. With a keen eye for detail and a collaborative spirit, Christina approaches each project with a genuine desire to bring out the best in every story. As a producer, she hopes to continue the work of creating an equitable and safe workspace behind the camera, and as a storyteller, she aspires to share universally relatable stories told through the lens of personal specificity. Her past clients include NatGeo, LinkedIn, Lyft, and SF Giants.
Lukas Sarnow has worked in film for over ten years as an actor, writer, director and producer. They wrote, directed and executive produced a feature film, The Last Day of Retrograde, which is distributed by Gravitas Ventures and available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Tubi and others. Currently, their animated children's feature script is in development. They are also a producer on three short films and the CEO of 'Chillers Productions.' They hold a B.A. from Vassar College in drama and an M.F.A. in creative non-fiction from the University of North Caroline Wilmington.
Dae Philpot is a Bay Area-based producer, writer, actor and camera department assistant. Their projects include Josephine (2026), Unsavory Elements, 50 / 50 Ball, Luca Guadagnino's upcoming film Artificial and many more.
Key Crew
Cinematographer
Jason Joseffer lensed his first feature film, Coldwood, in 2010. He’s shot countless commercials, documentaries and music videos for national TV and streaming networks, including his doc feature, Like A Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres. which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix. He is an alum of the ASC Vision Mentorship program and a member of the International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600).
Production Designer
Omid Matthew has worked as a set dresser, production designer, and art director for over a decade. Some of his projects include: Sorry to Bother You (2018), The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019), and Cabin for Two (2021).
Casting Director
Jason Joseffer is a writer-director who blends genre through storytelling. Some of his projects include: 35 and Ticking with Kevin Hart and Nicole Ari Parker, Neurotika, the BET Awards, and For Evan’s Sake. He’s also been a member of Danny Glover’s “Robey Theatre Company.” In 2025, Fuller completed a BIPOC Sci-fi incubator through Justice For My Sister with production slated for 2026. Jarvis is an alum of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is based in Los Angeles.
1st Assistant Director
Ileana Contreras is a Bay Area filmmaker with over 8 years of experience working on feature films, tv shows, music videos, commercial projects and -her personal favorite- short narrative films. Ileana is proud to have learned her profession through projects like Freaky Tales, I'm A Virgo, The Matrix Resurrections, Didi and many more. She's proud to tell the stories the Bay Area offers story goers and looks forward to working on Papers with this incredible crew.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Abbas and Emi are a pair of college students in a whirlwind marriage — a marriage that narrowly prevented Abbas' deportation to Iran. They bring a 200-page binder of photos and documents to their I-485 interview, a process that would grant Abbas permanent residency.
At the interview, each document triggers memories of their complex relationship. Their pre-planned answers paint the picture of a youthful romance, but each flashback reveals hints of their deeper feelings.
When they get home, tensions about their false marriage finally peak: while Emi is deeply committed, Abbas is grappling with the terms of his survival. Can their love survive under the pressures of bureaucracy?
Director's Statement
When they spelled my name wrong on my green card, it took 13 months to fix. And I'm already one of the lucky ones, a “legal alien”. Others are surviving under strict visas, toiling away at undocumented jobs, and torn away from their families. Based on true stories, PAPERS is about the struggles immigrants face on the path to citizenship.
PAPERS explores the textural qualities of documents and memories. The film is split into two aesthetics. First, the interview is cold and clean, filled with the textures of freshly printed paper. The interviewer is a shadow at the edge of the frame, an extension of an uncaring bureaucratic system. Second, our protagonists' flashbacks about their relationship are warm and imperfect. As the film intercuts between these two worlds, truths and half-truths are uncovered.
Funding Breakdown
While we have a total budget of $30K, we're currently raising funds for production!
Stretch Goals
$2.5K Development (Funded! Thank you to Justice For My Sister's Short Film Fund!)
$5K Pre-production (key crew prep & travel) currently in progress...
$20K Production (cast, crew, location, art department, crafty, gear, etc.) *This is where you come in!*
$28K Post-production (assistant editor, sound designer, and colorist)
$30K Deliverables (DCP, captions, accessibility) & festival submissions (Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, and more!)
$40K+ Impact campaign focused on collaborating with immigrant rights organizations
Impact
The finished film will begin its journey with film festival submissions focused on immigrant, Asian American, and Arab voices (including CAAMFest, Blackstar, LA Asian Pacific Film Fest, DisOrient, and AFMI’s Arab Film Fest).
But we don't plan to stop there.
We hope to embark on an impact campaign that can raise awareness about immigrant rights. Our outreach list includes the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of LA (CHIRLA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Muslim Legal Fund of America, and Arab American Civic Council.
Furthermore, our team has collaborated with Bay Area nonprofits such as BAYCAT, Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC), Kearny St. Workshop, FILMSF, Arab Film & Media Institute (AFMI), and Center of Asian American Media (CAAM). We hope to activate the local Bay Area community as well!
Current Supporters
We’re proud to be supported by the Justice for My Sister Short Film Launchpad, as well as the SFFILM FilmHouse Residency!
Fiscal Sponsorship
Our fiscal sponsor is Filmmakers Collaborative SF! For any tax-deducted donations, please contact our team! If you work for a company with a donation match program, you could double your contribution!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Crew Labor and Talent
Costs $2,500
We've gathered an amazing crew! (Josephine, Sorry to Bother You, Last Black Man in SF) This will cover pre-production wages, travel, etc.
Location and Service Expenses
Costs $1,200
We found an amazing location in Berkeley and would love to rent it for two days!
Equipment Rentals
Costs $800
We’re grateful to have in-kind support for equipment, but we’ll need a slight boost to reach our final vision!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Writer/Director/Producer
Ginger Yifan Chen (they/them) is examining structures of power through immigrant narratives and politically-conscious sci-fi. They are a writer, director, and activist from San Francisco by way of Shanghai. Their works have screened at the Asian Art Museum and California Academy of Sciences, as well as festivals such as SF IndieFest and Beverly Hills International. Ginger is an alum of BAYCAT Academy, Chapman University, Kearny Street Workshop, Justice for My Sister, QWOCMAP, and many more. They are currently a resident at SFFILM.
Producers
Christopher Goodman is a Bay Area–born American-Canadian film producer dedicated to championing local talent and telling stories rooted in his community. He focuses on developing narrative short and feature films that reflect the diversity and creative spirit of the Bay Area. His recent producing credits include Freyr (2025), Turn Away (2025), and Trenches (2026), which premiered at major festivals such as Tribeca, LALIFF, and Hollyshorts. Known for his strong creative instincts and hands-on production approach, Christopher partners closely with filmmakers to shape character-driven work.
Cristina Chin is a San Francisco-based filmmaker and commercial producer. With a keen eye for detail and a collaborative spirit, Christina approaches each project with a genuine desire to bring out the best in every story. As a producer, she hopes to continue the work of creating an equitable and safe workspace behind the camera, and as a storyteller, she aspires to share universally relatable stories told through the lens of personal specificity. Her past clients include NatGeo, LinkedIn, Lyft, and SF Giants.
Lukas Sarnow has worked in film for over ten years as an actor, writer, director and producer. They wrote, directed and executive produced a feature film, The Last Day of Retrograde, which is distributed by Gravitas Ventures and available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Tubi and others. Currently, their animated children's feature script is in development. They are also a producer on three short films and the CEO of 'Chillers Productions.' They hold a B.A. from Vassar College in drama and an M.F.A. in creative non-fiction from the University of North Caroline Wilmington.
Dae Philpot is a Bay Area-based producer, writer, actor and camera department assistant. Their projects include Josephine (2026), Unsavory Elements, 50 / 50 Ball, Luca Guadagnino's upcoming film Artificial and many more.
Key Crew
Cinematographer
Jason Joseffer lensed his first feature film, Coldwood, in 2010. He’s shot countless commercials, documentaries and music videos for national TV and streaming networks, including his doc feature, Like A Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres. which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix. He is an alum of the ASC Vision Mentorship program and a member of the International Cinematographers Guild (Local 600).
Production Designer
Omid Matthew has worked as a set dresser, production designer, and art director for over a decade. Some of his projects include: Sorry to Bother You (2018), The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019), and Cabin for Two (2021).
Casting Director
Jason Joseffer is a writer-director who blends genre through storytelling. Some of his projects include: 35 and Ticking with Kevin Hart and Nicole Ari Parker, Neurotika, the BET Awards, and For Evan’s Sake. He’s also been a member of Danny Glover’s “Robey Theatre Company.” In 2025, Fuller completed a BIPOC Sci-fi incubator through Justice For My Sister with production slated for 2026. Jarvis is an alum of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is based in Los Angeles.
1st Assistant Director
Ileana Contreras is a Bay Area filmmaker with over 8 years of experience working on feature films, tv shows, music videos, commercial projects and -her personal favorite- short narrative films. Ileana is proud to have learned her profession through projects like Freaky Tales, I'm A Virgo, The Matrix Resurrections, Didi and many more. She's proud to tell the stories the Bay Area offers story goers and looks forward to working on Papers with this incredible crew.