Private Project

Ramen Boys

Kevin finally takes a chance to connect with James, the lifeguard he's admired from afar, leading to an extremely expected first kiss and a summer of love and laughter.

  • Jason Sakaki
    Director
    Devil In Ohio, Prom Pact, Lucky Hank
  • Jason Sakaki
    Writer
  • Paul Almeida
    Producer
  • Johnny Wu
    Key Cast
    "Kevin"
    Joy Ride
  • Brendan Koyanagi
    Key Cast
    "James"
  • Marianna Zouzoulas
    Key Cast
    "Lena"
  • Grace Loeppky
    Cinematographers
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 20 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 10, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    13,000 CAD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • FascinAsian Film Festival (Calgary)
    Calgary
    Canada
    May 3, 2025
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • FascinAsian Film Festival (Edmonton)
    Edmonton
    Canada
    May 10, 2025
    Edmonton Premiere
    Official Selection
  • FascinAsian Film Festival (Winnipeg)
    Winnipeg
    Canada
    May 24, 2025
    Winnipeg Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival
    Calgary
    Canada
    June 11, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Queer North Film Festival
    Sudbury
    Canada
    June 15, 2025
  • Vancouver Queer Film Festival
    Vancouver
    Canada
    September 19, 2025
    West Coast Premiere
  • Reel Pride International Film Festival
    Winnipeg
    Canada
    September 20, 2025
    Audience Choice - Honorable Mention Best Short Jury Choice - Honorable Mention Top Emerging Filmmaker Jury Choice - Honorable Mention Best Community Reflection
  • Itaewon Film Festival
    Seoul
    South Korea
    November 14, 2025
    International Premiere
    Best LGBTQ+ Short
Director Biography - Jason Sakaki

Jason Sakaki (he/him) is an award-winning Queer Japanese-Canadian artist based out of Vancouver, BC. Jason has appeared as an actor in shows on Netflix, Disney Channel, AMC, Warner Bros, Paramount+, CBC, the CW, GAC Family and in the lead cast of the Disney+ Feature Film “Prom Pact”. In theatre, he’s performed across Canada garnering rave reviews for his work in Musicals, Comedies, Shakespeare and Classics. Ramen Boys is his debut as Director and Writer, generously supported by the Japanese Canadian Legacies Fund.

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Director Statement

If there are two things I wish I had as a Queer Asian-Canadian teen, it would be more gay guys on screen and more Asians playing those gay guys. Now, I get to create those roles. As a Queer Asian actor myself, I know how rare these roles are to come by. It was important for me to cast authentically Queer actors for this film. Luckily, after an extensive search, I found my “James” and “Kevin” in Brendan Koyanagi and Johnny Wu.

This film is about having a crush. It’s about dating as an Asian in a sea of white guys who are “into anime”. It’s about yearning for a perfect first kiss. And, it’s mostly about those years of your life where everything else fades away but your pursuit of real, genuine romance.

In many ways, this story is a story I lived. That many Queer Asians have lived. Finding their happy in letting their guard down, in trusting that the person you’re with loves you for you.

Above all else, this film is fun. We so rarely get to just be silly. Our films always have themes of rejection, oppression, racism. I want to forget about that for twelve minutes. It exists, I live it every day, and I can acknowledge that many parts of being Queer and Asian are so, so beautiful.