Private Project

Buffering...Please Wait

A nameless woman confronts the memory device embedded inside her brain, in search of a loss identity. The truth, however, bears too much weight. Whatever she uncovers, continues to weigh her down, time and time again.

  • Samantha Cheryl Lai
    Director
  • Samantha Cheryl Lai
    Writer
  • Samantha Cheryl Lai
    Producer
  • Rachel Yueh Lo
    Producer
  • Pei-Jen Yu
    Key Cast
    "the woman"
  • Christopher Lung
    Key Cast
    "Jon"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Drama
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    35,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Taiwan
  • Language:
    English, Mandarin Chinese
  • Shooting Format:
    RED, Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Boston Science Fiction Film Festival
    Boston
    United States
    February 17, 2024
    USA Premiere
    Official Selection
  • The Philip K. Dick Science Fiction and Supernatural Festival
    New York City
    United States
    April 4, 2024
    New York Premiere
    Award Winner: Best Philip K. Dick Short
  • Fantasia International Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    July 29, 2023
    World Premiere
    Nomination: Best International Short. Official Selection.
  • Busan New Wave Short Film Festival
    Busan
    Korea, Republic of
    Asian Premiere
    Award Winner: Best Cinematography
  • Festival Internacional de Curtas de Verín
    Verin
    Spain
    September 8, 2024
    European Premiere
    Horizons
Director Biography - Samantha Cheryl Lai

Canadian writer-director. Born and raised in Canada with parents from Hong Kong. Upon completing her undergrad in Architecture at Dalhousie University, she moves to Taiwan. Eventually, pursuing a master's degree in Film Production.

Graduate of the MFA program at the Tapei National University of the Arts, majoring in screenwriting. A credited writer on numerous Taiwanese TV shows since 2018, she also directed the opening and closing sequence of Taiwanese TV series a Haunted Heart(2020) . "Buffering...Please Wait" is her narrative directing debut.

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Director Statement

This film is my personal take on loss. Although the events depicted are only fictional, the emotions stem from the real life experience of me losing my dearest father in spring of 2021.