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Uproot

Uproot, directed by Queena Liu, is a film about a family's silent struggles with mental health care in immigrant communities. Ten years ago, the director's father was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his forties and spent two years in and out of a psychiatric hospital. This film documents the director's first time having an open and honest conversation with her family about his diagnosis that she never could as a child.

  • Queena Liu
    Director
  • Nadia Cejic
    Producer
  • Queena Liu
    Producer
  • Guoliang Liu
    Key Cast
  • Mei Chen
    Key Cast
  • Jin Liu
    Key Cast
  • Beatrice Martin
    Cinematographer
  • William Peng
    Sound Recordist
  • Queena Liu
    Editor
  • Owen Viragos
    Music Composer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 4 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 2, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    300 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English, Yue Chinese (Cantonese)
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    June 5, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Lift-Off First-Time Filmmaker Sessions

    July 12, 2023
    Finalist
  • Asian American International Film Festival
    New York
    United States
    July 31, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Au Contraire Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    August 21, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Forest City Film Festival
    London, Ontario
    Canada
    Best Short Documentary
  • Rendezvous With Madness
    Toronto
    Canada
    October 29, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Regent Park Film Festival
    Toronto
    November 25, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Pendance Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
    February 25, 2024
  • Long Story Shorts International Film Festival

    Best Documentary
  • Toronto Short Film Festival
    Toronto
    Canada
Director Biography - Queena Liu

Queena Liu is a Chinese-Canadian director and cinematographer based in Toronto. Growing up with a passion for music and visual arts, her filmmaking style draws from a diverse set of skills and inspiration. Her goal is to tell poetic and emotionally-resonant stories that reflect on personal experiences, community, and intersecting identities. She is currently completing a BFA in film studies at Toronto Metropolitan University.

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