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Exploration of mental health can be treated as taboo in many spaces. These films tell stories that actively center the importance of emotional vulnerability, introspection, and support. Stories such as these take an unflinching look at mental health struggles and some viewer discretion may be advised.
This screening features 4 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
In search of an escape, Manu joins his childhood friend Vish on a spontaneous trip to a lakeside cabin. As they rekindle their friendship, buried tensions and repressed feelings begin to emerge.
Director Biography - Varun Venkatesh, Emil Irimpan
Emil and Varun are childhood friends turned filmmakers from California now living in New York.
Director Statement
Growing up in a close childhood friend group, we have witnessed some relationships fall apart while others strengthened over time. As a result, we are deeply interested in exploring why certain friendships persist while others fail to stand the test of time. "My Brother, My Friend" investigates the universal complexities of adult friendships through the specific lens of South Asian American men. These relationships have a uniquely beautiful form of intimacy and a sense of life-long obligation while still suffering from many of the familiar traps of masculinity: fear of true vulnerability and emotional repression. Through the characters of Manu and Vish, we seek to examine the emotional openness, shared history, and a mutual willingness to evolve necessary for maintaining a lifelong friendship.
- Year2025
- Runtime21 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorVarun Venkatesh and Emil Irimpan
- ScreenwriterVarun Venkatesh and Emil Irimpan
- ProducerVarun Venkatesh, Emil Irimpan, Yasmine Carruthers, Nazir Alston
- CastAmogh Kapoor, Sam Arthur
Exploration of mental health can be treated as taboo in many spaces. These films tell stories that actively center the importance of emotional vulnerability, introspection, and support. Stories such as these take an unflinching look at mental health struggles and some viewer discretion may be advised.
This screening features 4 films. Toggle between film descriptions by scrolling and clicking on the buttons on the top right.
In search of an escape, Manu joins his childhood friend Vish on a spontaneous trip to a lakeside cabin. As they rekindle their friendship, buried tensions and repressed feelings begin to emerge.
Director Biography - Varun Venkatesh, Emil Irimpan
Emil and Varun are childhood friends turned filmmakers from California now living in New York.
Director Statement
Growing up in a close childhood friend group, we have witnessed some relationships fall apart while others strengthened over time. As a result, we are deeply interested in exploring why certain friendships persist while others fail to stand the test of time. "My Brother, My Friend" investigates the universal complexities of adult friendships through the specific lens of South Asian American men. These relationships have a uniquely beautiful form of intimacy and a sense of life-long obligation while still suffering from many of the familiar traps of masculinity: fear of true vulnerability and emotional repression. Through the characters of Manu and Vish, we seek to examine the emotional openness, shared history, and a mutual willingness to evolve necessary for maintaining a lifelong friendship.
- Year2025
- Runtime21 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorVarun Venkatesh and Emil Irimpan
- ScreenwriterVarun Venkatesh and Emil Irimpan
- ProducerVarun Venkatesh, Emil Irimpan, Yasmine Carruthers, Nazir Alston
- CastAmogh Kapoor, Sam Arthur