Our short film, Tsehai (pronounced “suh-high”), is a proof of concept.

In 2020, quarantined in two different countries, we met in an LA-based virtual screenwriting workshop. Fast-forward 2 years and here we are, sharing a film that required a level of vulnerability neither of us could’ve anticipated.

Sarah: At my first ever film festival, I watched a feature called Woven by Ethiopian-Eritrean American writer/director Salome Mulugeta. It was the first time I’d seen an accurate representation of my own Ethiopian mother in U.S. cinema. Her language, her food, her jokes, her gestures—I wanted to yell to the world “OH MY GOD Y’ALL MY MOM IS IN A MOVIE!” It was the truest sense of validation. That night, I left the theater knowing I’d write my first screenplay. That script became Tsehai.

David: A standout film that stuck with me since its release is Lulu Wang’s The Farewell. Lulu’s story opened a conversation that I was struggling to meet with words amongst friends and family members. It validated my family’s experience as American born Filipinos & drove my inspiration to create films as engines of empathy. I also can’t go on without mentioning my younger sister, Grace “Jek” Ramos, who’s also a producer on this film. Talking to her about art, life, and what filmmaking has done for us served as a big inspiration for my approach to the making of Tsehai & I’m so grateful to share this fulfilling journey with her.

Through this filmmaking process, we’ve been awestruck by the talent and dedication of our community. Cast, crew, and contributors have told us how they resonate with the story of Tsehai. These conversations and perspectives have encouraged us to be better storytellers. Over time, our objective became clear: “Validate others’ experiences with our own.” Thank you so much for being here. We’re eager to learn your beautiful, messy truths too.

With love,
David & Sarah