ISLAS RESONANTES FILM
Premiered at Marsèll Paradise, Milan in November 2023.
Screened at Museo Diocesano during Design Week 2024 and at Triennale Museum, Milan in June 2024 as an immersive live show for One Ocean Foundation's Ocean Week.
Filmed in the open sea, Islas Resonantes is an immersive film that invites us to surrender and let ourselves be nourished by the organism we belong to, to respect it and protect it as such.
Humans depend on the ocean and the earth, not the other way around.
Produced, written and directed by Yu Lin Humm
DOP Gunnar Heilmann
Support Roots Run Deep
We are raising 20k in this crowdfunding campaign to jumpstart the pre-production of Roots Run Deep
Roots Run Deep seeks to awaken ancestral memory through a cinematic journey across continents, cultures, and generations.
We explore the common human wound of displacement, inherited trauma, and identity fragmentation - while offering a message of agency, sovereignty, and healing.
This film is to remind people that understanding where we come from - our roots - can empower us to shape where we’re going.
Why tell this story?
We live in a world where we feel increasingly disconnected from each other, from our nature, from the land, and our origins. There’s a rising crisis of identity, belonging, and inherited, unaddressed pain.
This film addresses that disconnection, tracing a family lineage shaped by war, colonization, migration, and love, resilience. It reflects a global experience of not remembering where we come from, and the transformative power of reactivating forgotten genetic codes.
What is this film about exactly?
This debut feature film follows the life of a Colombian man, sent to Korea in the 1950s during the proxy war. From there, he finds himself entangled in Vietnam’s war-torn landscape when the country was under occupation and was fighting off both French and Japanese troops. There, he meets Yue Chan, a Chinese refugee from Japanese-occupied China.
Their love, although genuine, is shaped more by external circumstances than intention. Their actions unknowingly sow seeds that will affect their descendants, for generations. The story weaves through themes of migration, intergenerational trauma, and the silent legacy we all carry.
Through its characters, the film reflects our shared human history and invites audiences to look inward: What do I carry that isn’t mine? What do I choose to pass on? What do I choose to leave behind?
To every person who chooses to support Roots Run Deep, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
You are donating to a film and co-creating a movement to amplify important messages of millenary indigenous wisdom.
Whether you donate 10 euros or 1,000 - your contribution matters a lot.
We are all bringing each other home.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is Roots Run Deep about?
Roots Run Deep is a fiction feature film, 120’, a cinematic homage to ancestry, the concept of home when in exile, and the internal quest of identity.
The story follows a Colombian man sent to Korea in the 1950s who later gets lost and stuck in Vietnam, where he meets Yue Chan - a young woman, refugee from the Japanese invasion of China.
Their intense and brief love, shaped by war and migration, creates a generational legacy that echoes across continents.
The film invites audiences to ask: What do I carry that isn’t mine? And what do I choose to pass on?
2. What stage of production are you currently in?
We are in pre-production (development): finalizing the script, conducting research, scouting international locations, casting, building the team of executive producers and creating the structure for international co-production.
3. How will the funds be used?
All funds raised will go directly toward:
Finalizing the screenplay and visual storyboards
Casting and international location scouting
Administrative and legal setup
Budgeting, scheduling, and production planning
Visual and concept development
4. Why is this story important now?
In a time when the global majority has been relentlessly disconnected from heritage, identity, and belonging, Roots Run Deep reflects the universal journey of remembering where we come from.
The film speaks to the global rise in cultural hybridity, migration, and intergenerational trauma, and it offers a message of reconciliation and empowerment.
5. How is this film different from other identity-driven projects?
Unlike many films that focus solely on one culture or conflict, Roots Run Deep spans multiple continents and generations.
It explores how histories of colonization, migration, and war interweave across families, revealing our shared humanity beyond national boundaries. Based on a real story, it gives voice to all the secrets held by generations across the continents.
The approach combines magic realism, historical textures, and emotional depth, appealing to both art-house and global audiences.
6. Will backers receive updates on progress?
Yes. All backers, regardless of tier , will receive:
Updates on development milestones
Behind-the-scenes content
Invitations to private online previews or Q&A sessions as the film evolves
Transparency and engagement are central to this campaign.
7. When will the film be completed?
We anticipate the development phase will conclude within 3 months, followed by principal photography in 2026, depending on funding and location permissions.
Post-production and festival circulation are expected to begin in 2027.
As with all international independent productions, timelines may adjust as we secure partnerships and finalize logistics.
8. How will Roots Run Deep reach audiences?
Our release strategy includes:
Submissions to major international film festivals (Venice, Cannes, Toronto, Rotterdam, Sundance)
Global streaming and distribution opportunities
Screenings at cultural institutions and universities
Educational partnerships and dialogues around identity, ancestry, and healing
We aim to reach both the art-house circuit and global audiences hungry for meaningful cinema.
9. What do backers receive in return?
Backers receive exclusive access, creative materials, and recognition, from digital lookbooks and behind-the-scenes updates to on-screen credits and producer titles, depending on their level of contribution.
10. Can organizations, foundations or companies become sponsors or co-producers?
Absolutely.
We welcome partnerships with production companies, cultural institutions, and foundations aligned with our project.
Sponsorship and co-production inquiries can be directed to:
📩 roots_run_deep_film@proton.me
11. How can I share or support beyond donating?
Even if you can’t contribute financially, you can make a huge impact by:
Sharing the campaign on social media and with your friends, families
Introducing us to potential collaborators or funders
Hosting community or educational screenings once the film is complete
Volunteer to provide skill during the initial steps of the film, until it walks on its own feet
Every act of support, financial or otherwise, helps this project take root.
Will this project resonate?
There is a growing global appetite for emotionally resonant, culturally rich, and socially conscious cinema. Audiences are eager for stories that explore heritage, migration, and human complexity, multicultural perspectives.
Roots Run Deep speaks to a global generation questioning identity and legacy, finally facing and healing intergenerational trauma. It has the potential to resonate with multicultural audiences worldwide, and with the right support, it could reach millions through festivals, streaming platforms, and educational circuits.
Concept Trailer
Why are we seeking funding?
This is a totally indipendent film. We are now in the pre-production stage of the film, a crucial moment to build the foundations. Your donations will go directly toward:
Finalizing the script and storyboarding
Casting and location scouting
Administrative and legal groundwork
Production planning and budgeting
Visual research and creative development
All proceeds go directly to these development expenses. Every contribution, small or large, helps us move closer to production.
Islas Resonantes Film
(CH 2023 / 30’)
Written & Directed by Yu Lin Humm
DOP Gunnar Heilmann
Full movie available on request - this is the introduction.
Supported by YAMAMOTO
Best Dive Official
Docktown
Cortana
Collected Harmony
(US 2012 / 3’46)
Director Dustin Lynn
DOP Yu Lin Humm
Music Dukes of Chutney
Watch here Nowness.com