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Holy Ghost Conversation

Putting himself in front of the camera, Chinese film student Kai Luo attempts to reveal the complexities of his friendship with Hal Rawlings, an older African American spare change newspaper vendor he met upon his arrival in the U.S. As they reenact the events that happened a year ago, both begin to struggle with the authenticity and ethical issues of the project. However, no documentary form can claim moral superiority.

  • Kai Luo
    Director
  • Kai Luo
    Writer
  • Nick Matthys
    Producer
  • Zayan Agha
    Producer
    The Round Lake, Solatia
  • Kai Luo
    Key Cast
    "Kai"
  • Hal Rawlings
    Key Cast
    "Hal"
  • Seonghoon Park
    Director of Photography
    In Cod We Trust
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Hybrid Documentary, Docudrama
  • Runtime:
    29 minutes 56 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 19, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    17:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Emerson College
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • San Sebastián International Film Festival
    San Sebastián
    Spain
    September 24, 2024
    World Premiere
    Nest Section
  • Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival
    Clermont-Ferrand
    France
    February 1, 2025
    French Premiere
    International Competition
  • ethnocineca – International Documentary Film Festival Vienna
    Vienna
    Austria
    May 8, 2025
    Austrian Premiere
    ISA – International Shorts Award
  • Chinese Film Festival Hamburg
    Hamburg
    Germany
    May 7, 2025
    German Premiere
    Short Film Competition
  • Galacticat - The International Film Festival of Tàrrega i Ponent
    Tàrrega
    Spain
    July 14, 2025
    Catalan Premiere
  • Kuan-Du FIlm Festival
    Taipei
    Taiwan
    October 4, 2025
    Taiwan Premiere
  • Vita Shorts
    Shanghai
    China
    October 18, 2025
    Chinese Premiere
  • Wuhan Bailin Film Festival
    Wuhan
    China
    November 1, 2025
    Wuhan Premiere
  • NOWNESS Short Film Awards
    Shanghai
    China
    November 21, 2025
Distribution Information
  • Parallax Films
    Distributor
    Country: China
Director Biography - Kai Luo

Kai Luo (Zhengkai Luo) is a Chinese filmmaker and performance artist, currently based in Hong Kong and Beijing. He often uses his presence to examine the space between representation and reality. His short film debut, Holy Ghost Conversation (2024), premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and was in international competition at Clermont-Ferrand. With Rithy Panh as advisor, his debut feature, Topology of A House, is currently in development, supported by the Doha Film Institute. Kai holds a BSc from the London School of Economics and an MFA from Emerson College. His work is archived at Tabakalera Contemporary Art Center and has been shown at Ethnocineca, Galactica, DOC NYC, NOWNESS and dozens of festivals and platforms.

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Director Statement

"Holy Ghost Conversation" emerged from a place of introspection, reflecting my journey through complex questions about intercultural relationships, authenticity and representation.

Through the lens of a naive Chinese film student gazing at American society, "Holy Ghost Conversation" provides a unique perspective on the intricate dynamics of the filmmaker’s relationship with his subject and the complexities of self-representation in film.