Happy Mask

United States, 11m, Sony F55

A man suffering from depression is given a mysterious happy mask that allows him to keep up a cheerful appearance. However, is the smile genuine?

Director: Yi Liu
Writer: Yi Liu, Sarah Abdulla
Producer: Luca Marcovici
Director of Photography: Minjae Chang
Editor: Yi Liu
Production Design: Claire Wiener  

Cast: Greg Hermann, Ana Ribeiro, Julie Ann Earls, Nick Abeel, Mark Castillo

Contact: Luca Marcovici, lm3155@columbia.edu

About the Director

Yi Liu is a Taiwanese American screenwriter/director. He graduated from National Taiwan University with a degree in Theatre and worked as an actor and lighting designer. After attending Columbia University, Yi Liu embraced his new role as a filmmaker and directed many short films such as Snap and Ping Pong Coach, which won the Student Visionary Award at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.

About the Producer

Luca Marcovici is a Creative Producing student at Columbia University. Born to a Canadian father and a Chinese mother, he was raised in Switzerland and studied law in the UK before moving to New York. Happy Mask is his thesis film, one that taught him how to manage a tight crew and tighter budget to tell a touching, personal story that deftly approaches the difficult theme of depression from a unique perspective.