SUSPENSE, THRILLER, HORROR • SHOWING THURSDAY, APRIL 20, AND FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Beware drunken stupors—they may lead to a fall from glory. Case in point: In #Manhole, prospective groom and prosperous businessman Kayamura (played by Yuto Nakajima) falls into an open manhole after a night overflowing with alcohol, and he must sober up if he's going to find a way out of his dark, claustrophobic predicament during the still hours of the night. As hours pass and panic sets in, he begins to wonder: Was his fall a random accident or a premeditated trap? And will he ever escape the literal depths of misery?

DOCUMENTARY, FAMILY • SHOWING SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Vascillating between exhilartion and exhaustion, Finding Her Beat follows Korean adoptee and Executive Producer Jennifer Weir as she recruits and assembles an international all-woman Taiko drum troupe to perform in St. Paul, Missouri. Passions and competition ignite as the women find ways to come together during the global pandemic, and to find success as an ensemble. Following the screening will be a Q&A with film subjects, and a live taiko performance featuring local artists including Naruwan Taiko’s Diana Wu, who is featured in the documentary.

ACTION, COMEDY, FAMILY • SHOWING SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Priya Kansara shines in Polite Society as Ria, a young student with dreams of becoming a stuntwoman. Although her aspirations are an affront to her parents, her artistic, free-spirited older sister Lena (played by Ritu Arya) heartily supports her. So when Lena's personality begins changing from night to day upon dating Salim (played by Akshay Khanna), Ria suspects Lena has been brainwashed into respectability. What follows looks like a hilarious and fun action-packed romp as Ria and her two closest friends Clara (played by Seraphina Beh) and Alba (played by Ella Bruccoleri) come up with a plan that has a fighting chance of liberating Lena from the clutches of betrothal.

DRAMA, ROMANCE • SHOWING TUESDAY, APRIL 25, AND WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Directed by Saim Sadiq, Joyland appears laced with a sustained, palpable tension that blooms from the patriarchal home life of Haider (played by Ali Junejo) and his unspoken job as a backup dancer at a local burlesque theater. Starring at the theater is Biba (played by Alina Khan), a Trans woman who is seemingly liberated from conforming to the social expectations of hers and Haider's culture. Haider is attracted to Biba's sense of freedom and radical thinking, and what begins as friendship grows into something more. Will Haider be able to reconcile the way he feels when he's with Biba with his sense of obligation to his family?

COMEDY, DRAMA, FAMILY • SHOWING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, AND THURSDAY, APRIL 27

Simply put, Ajoomma may just be the palate cleanser many of us desperately needs. Hong Huifang stars as Lim Bee Hwa, a widow and hardworking Singaporean mother/auntie/elder who indulges herself with a long-deserved vacation, only to become the center of antics and story arcs she'd previously only seen on her favorite K-drama shows. Be ready for hearts to be warmed and for grins to span ear to ear as we quietly cheer Lim on in her unexpected adventure.

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The 12th SDAFF Spring Showcase presented by Pacific Arts Movement takes place from Thursday, April 20, through Thursday, April 27,  at the UltraStar Cinemas in Hazard Center/Mission Valley. General admission for individual screenings is $12; discounted admission for students, seniors, and military is $10. Purchase of an All-Fest Pass grants pass holders with admission to all films at no extra cost, as well as front-of-line access to all films, events, and receptions.