Experiencing Interruptions?

I'm Not Here

Sci-fi​/Fantasy Short Film
Logline:
An Imaginative, visually rich story in which two characters tackle themes of social media, isolation in a crowd, and the need to connect.

Summary:
We follow two characters from two different generations living in a society obsessed with their phones. And I mean more obsessed than a lot of us are today. One of them becomes an ex-librarian who has never owned a phone and hates what society has become. The other is a high school student who grew up into this phone obsessed society, but then one day loses her phone. As both of their lives change, so does their view of people.

  • Emel Saat
    Director
  • Emel Saat
    Writer
  • Frederic C. McDuffie
    Producer
  • Emel Saat
    Producer
  • Mari Miyaoto
    Key Cast
    "Kyoko"
  • Kaori Eda
    Key Cast
    "Chiemi"
  • Eiko Kawashima
    Key Cast
    "Mom"
  • Masaya Okubo
    Key Cast
    "Dad"
  • Miyu Yokota
    Key Cast
    "Yoori"
  • Haruka Koszer
    Key Cast
    "Yume"
  • Resa Mishina
    Key Cast
    "Nami"
  • Orion Brown
    Cinematographer
  • Nicole Maupin
    Sound
  • Dimitrios Alexander Kapoukranidis
    Music
  • Martín Molina
    Assistant Director
  • Brittani Cunningham
    Production Design
  • Emel Saat
    Editor
  • Emel Saat
    Character Design
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    ここにいない (Koko Ni Inai)
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Short
  • Genres:
    sci-fi, fantasy
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 27, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    Japanese
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Emel Saat

Writer/Director/Editor

Emel Saat is a creative writer, director, and editor living in New York City. Because of her passion for film, you will always find her working on multiple projects. Besides film, Saat is working with her brother and father in their Tiny Homes business in NYC. Not only did she help build at tiny home, but she also shot and will be editing the process.

Saat has written, directed and produced Koko Ni Inai (I'm Not Here). Her script has won first place at the Archer Craig Mathias Screen Writers Award 2016 and was a finalist in both LA’s 2016 Back in the Box Screenplay Competition, and Nantucket’s Showtime Screenplay Competition in 2017. 

Saat has always had an interest in animation and made her first animated film Kitty City, with her sister about their cat in an unusual city. Using their artistic and imaginative talents, they drew and painted every frame by hand. They are very happy to have Kitty City screened at the 2018 Soo Film Festival. 

Saat is inspired by the world and the possible magic hidden within people and everyday life. She believes the only way to bring out this magic is to show it through film. She cannot wait to work with wonderful people who also want to explore the world of story and imagination.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

The tone of Koko Ni Inai (I'm Not Here) was inspired from living in Osaka, Japan for a semester in college. The lack of interaction from students at Hunter College (in NYC) who are obsessed with their phones, inspired the story.

I am not an extrovert, but seeing the lack of interaction between groups of friends, classmates, family and couples is sad. We should not lose our connections with others because of a device. As humans, we need each other.

Koko Ni Inai (I'm Not Here) is not to bring us all down. We already know our attachment to devices is a problem. This is a story to show we can still re-connect with the people around us.