Who do they see?
A proof of concept short exploring mixed-race identity through the ancient rhythms of Filipino Martial Arts.
Tribeca Festival - World Premiere - 2026
Two Worlds, One Body
What does it mean to carry two cultures in a single body? To feel the pull of an ancestral homeland, while navigating a society that demands you choose a side?
KAYA explores these questions through the physical language of Filipino Martial Arts, where every block is a boundary defining oneself, and every strike is a conversation between two worlds.
The feature film expands this intimate exploration into an epic narrative that speaks to the 33 million mixed-race individuals in America alone, a demographic whose stories remain criminally underrepresented in action cinema.
Shorts Synsopsis:
Half-Filipina kickboxer Nia sees a chance to finally belong by joining a prestigious Filipino Martial Arts team. When top-dog gym owner, Angel, turns Nia down, she secretly starts training with queer outcast Malic, who introduces her not only to the techniques of FMA, but to the philosophy and values at the heart of it. As pressure mounts outside the gym from her social-climbing mother, Maria, to become more acceptable, i.e. more white, more feminine, Nia realizes that belonging will never come from shrinking herself to fit others’ expectations. When Angel denies her a place at tryouts, Nia refuses to give up. In a final show-down, Nia allows her Western-influenced kickboxing background and her FMA training to merge into a fighting style that is uniquely her own.
Actor-Writer-Director Isabel Lamers
Isabel Lamers is a Filipina-German actor, writer and director based in Los Angeles. Shaped by her mixed-race heritage and upbringing, Isabel strives to tell stories from a unique point of view. In particular, she likes to tell larger societal issues in intimate, character-driven narratives that everyone can relate to. She also aims to give a voice to women-empowering stories. Isabel’s notable acting credits include Tar, Club Zero (a 2023 Cannes Palme d’Or nominee) and Black Nights Tallinn main selection Philippine feature SISA. She also co-wrote and starred in the award-winning short A DOZEN SUNS, nominated at the Cannes Short Film Festival, and FilAm Creative 2025 Audience award A SERIOUS GAME.
KAYA (2026) is Isabel’s directorial debut. It's a deeply personal story inspired by Isabel’s upbringing in the Philippines and her discovery of the indigenous martial arts of the Philippines as a powerful tool of self-expression, cultural connection and identity. The film is both an homage to her home, the Philippines, and a testament to the trials and tribulations of reclaiming one’s own identity.
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