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An animated short film What Are You Anyways?, based on the life experiences
of filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns won the award for best animated short
subject at the Canadian Awards for Electronic and Animated Arts last
week.
The film which examines the issues
of racism in a small town, is an autobiographical recollection of Jeff's
life growing up as a mixed-race person in Kelowna, part of British Columbia,
Canada. It looks at particular periods in his life where he battles with
finding an identity - from his childhood origins to his acknowledgement
of once being ashamed of his Japanese heritage.
Since the release of What
Are You Anyways?, Jeff, who is of Japanese, Scottish, German and Russian
parentage has become somewhat of a spokesperson for Hapa (a person of
mixed Asian decent) advocacy by writing articles and lecturing at conferences,
universities, and workshops about mixed-race identity and issues.
This is not the only Accolade
for What Are You Anyways?, it has received incredible international praise,
winning seven awards and screening at more than 35 international film
festivals to date.
As well as being extremely honoured by the awards, Jeff says he is happy
with the public's response to the film. 'So many people from around the
world respond to how much they relate to my film and in turn share their
own stories with me.' says Jeff.
'I can only hope for continued success with all my future projects and
that my work will continue to touch the lives of people around the world.'
Jeff is currently working on two more short animated films and a documentary
on Hapa children to be release in 2007.