“Loving Day” Selected for 2025 American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes

NextShark Projects is proud to announce that the short film “Loving Day”, executive produced by Benny Luo, has been officially selected for the 2025 American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, presented in partnership with Gold House.

Directed by Daeil Kim and co-written by Daeil Kim and Melanie Sudyn, Loving Day explores a powerful and unsettling vision of an alternate America where the landmark Loving v. Virginia decision legalizing interracial marriage has been overturned. The story follows an interracial couple whose wedding plans are suddenly disrupted, forcing them to grapple with the future of their family and child.

The film stars Sidney Flanigan, best known for her award-winning performance in Never Rarely Sometimes Always, which earned a Special Jury Award at Sundance, alongside Ian Oh (Beef), Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time), and Willie C. Carpenter.

Now in its 28th year, the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase is a prestigious platform at Cannes for spotlighting bold new voices in independent film. Past alumni of the American Pavilion program include Ryan Coogler and Jeff Nichols, while this year’s lineup is supported by industry names such as Rainn Wilson and Jason Reitman. Loving Day will screen on May 21, 2025, with a live Q&A to follow.

This selection marks a major milestone for NextShark Projects, the original content and storytelling division of NextShark. With a growing slate of film, digital, and experiential projects, the division is focused on championing culturally resonant narratives and empowering emerging multicultural voices in media.

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