Film Independent’s Fiscal Sponsorship program opens the door to nonprofit funding for independent filmmakers and media artists. Donate today and help bring ZhiZha! to life.

Logline

In the wake of their mother’s death, two estranged sisters battle over the legacy of their family business—the last Taoist paper effigy shop in Southern California.

Synopsis

After the recent death of their mother, sisters LIA and CHLOE WANG have inherited their family’s paper effigy shop, and it’s now up to them to figure out how to run it without their mom around. In preparation for their mother’s funeral, the sisters are in the process of creating an eight-foot paper house for her journey to the spirit world.

When Lia and Chloe receive an appraisal on the value of the shop, they discover that the building is worth a lot because of gentrification in the neighborhood. Lia wants to sell the business. The shop isn’t doing well, and she thinks they’re better off getting rid of it. Chloe is frustrated that her sister is willing to throw their family legacy away, but she manages to convince Lia to wait until after their mother’s funeral to make any decisions.

As Lia and Chloe work on the giant paper house, childhood memories of the shop come back to Lia— memories of both her parents (before her father passed), and what it was like working on paper crafts in the back room as a child, when they were all still together as one cohesive family.

Meet the Filmmakers

DESDEMONA CHIANG — Writer/Director
@desdemonachiang.com
Desdemona Chiang is a Taiwan-born American director/writer working for the stage and screen, creating and developing stories about unique intergenerational immigrant experiences. With a 20-year directing career in regional theatre, she is expanding her work to include film and television.

Her TV pilot MADE IN USA was developed with the Sundance Episodic Program, The Orchard Project, The Writers Lab, and WeScreenplay. Her TV pilot ZHIZHA! was developed as part of Film Independent’s 2024 Episodic lab and winner of the SeriesFest Pitch-a-Thon and the ATX Festival Pitch Competition. She is developing and directing her first full-length feature, SOMETHING ABOUT THE TIDE (Tribeca/AT&T Untold Stories finalist 2024), and made her episodic directing debut on FIRE COUNTRY on CBS/Paramount+ in February 2025. Her second short film, SEE YOU TOMORROW TOMORROW TOMORROW, featuring comedian Irene Tu and actress Lisa Lu is currently in the film festival circuit.

Affiliations/Awards: Princess Grace Award. Sundance Institute Asian American Fellowship. CAPE Julia Gouw Honorable Mention. AFI DWW+. WIF Directing Fellow. Gold House Futures. Rideback Rise Circle. MFA Directing: University of Washington.

SELENA LEONI — Producer
@selenaleoni.com.com
Selena Leoni is a transnational producer and executive with over a decade of experience. Raised in Italy and China, she brings a unique perspective to global storytelling.

Selena led projects across platforms like Hulu, Amazon, and PBS and earned recognition at major festivals: BIENVENIDOS A LOS ANGELES was shortlisted for the 2024 Oscars, EID MUBARAK is an Honorable Mention on the 2024 Gold List, and HAINT was a finalist at the 2024 Tribeca and Chanel Through Her Lens Program and winner of the 2025 Hillman Grad Rising Voices Program. Her feature film, YOUNG KING, the debut feature of Emmy-winning director Bryant Griffin, premiered at the 2024 American Black Film Festival and won the Programmers’ Award at the 2025 Pan African Film Festival.

As a member of BAFTA Connect, Berlinale Talents, Gold House Futures, and Film Independent’s Project Involve, Selena champions social inclusion and amplifies marginalized voices in the industry.

Make a donation to ZhiZha!.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact fiscalsponsorship@filmindependent.org.