Private Project

Stranger

A French father travels to New York City, the Big Apple, in hopes of finding and meeting his lost daughter after almost 17 years apart. Armed only with a faded photograph and the determination to make amends, he wanders the bustling streets, searching for the family he thought he had lost forever.

  • Hao Zhang
    Director
  • Hao Zhang
    Writer
  • Hao Zhang
    Producer
  • Hao Zhang
    Cinematographer
  • Hao Zhang
    Editor
  • PASCAL YEN-PFISTER
    Key Cast
    "SHAWN"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Family
  • Runtime:
    18 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 8, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States, United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Hao Zhang

Hao Zhang is a passionate filmmaker skilled in writing, directing, producing, cinematography, and editing. Born in China, he moved abroad at 18 to pursue his dreams and began studying filmmaking in New York City and Los Angeles at 23. Through hands-on experience and a love for storytelling, Hao has worked on numerous short films, both during his studies and independently. Each project reflects his commitment to learning and growing as a filmmaker. Hao’s ultimate dream is to create a feature film, bringing his vision to life through every aspect of production. For him, it’s not about the platform—whether in theaters or online—but about sharing meaningful stories with the world. Hao Zhang is a humble yet driven voice in the world of independent filmmaking.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Familiar Stranger is a deeply personal exploration of absence, regret, and the quiet but powerful connections that transcend physical presence. The idea stems from the concept of a "familiar stranger"—someone you’ve never met yet feel inexplicably tied to.

At its core, this short film examines the relationship between a father and a daughter who have never shared a single moment together yet are bound by an invisible thread of longing and unresolved emotions. The father’s journey is not just a search for his daughter but a reckoning with himself—his failures, his hopes, and his yearning for redemption.

Through the bustling, impersonal streets of New York City, we contrast the anonymity of the world with the intimate, haunting pull of familial bonds. This film seeks to ask: How do you reconnect with someone you’ve never met? And can the weight of absence ever be overcome by the hope of a second chance?

I hope Familiar Stranger resonates with anyone who has ever felt the ache of missing someone they’ve never truly known. It’s a story about love, redemption, and the courage it takes to bridge the gap between estrangement and belonging.