Spotlight
In a small New Jersey dance studio, 15-year-old Hanui Jeong is training for the largest multi-label K-pop audition and competition in North America. She began dancing three years ago, after being adopted by her aunt, Mee Jung, former professional dancer and K-pop dance instructor. In the studio, Hanui’s aunt pushes her to be her best, offering tough love along the way. While Hanui’s talents shine, she struggles to fit into the competitive world of K-pop, an industry where perfection is required but impossible to achieve. A new student, 15-year-old Jacob Comia from Staten Island, joins the studio just months before the competition. His looks and charm earn instant praise, but charm alone may not be enough to make it to the top. As the students prepare for the big stage, Hanui must decide if her love of dance can withstand the unrelenting pressure and impossible standards of the K-pop industry.
Screens live on SATURDAY, Dec. 6
Q&A with filmmakers to follow
Filmmakers
Ken Wu
Almar Ahad
Ken Wu is a Chinese-American documentary filmmaker and photographer who explores bicultural identities, examining preservation of cultural heritage and traditions, linguistic assimilation and belonging, and migrant family structures.
As a graduate of Columbia Journalism School’s documentary cohort, his documentary filmmaking spans English, Chinese, Spanish, and Korean, reflecting a deep commitment to cross-cultural storytelling.
From capturing the lives of teenagers aspiring to be K-pop idols to portraying the experiences of older generations trying to preserve a part of themselves, his work explores themes ranging from the fragility of preserving endangered languages to the tensions between family legacy and the intergenerational pursuit of the American Dream. His latest documentary and thesis film, “Spotlight,” explores the challenges and aspirations of young teens navigating the competitive, multi-billion-dollar K-pop industry.
Email: kw3174@columbia.edu
Almar Ahad holds a Master of Science from Columbia Journalism School, specializing in documentary filmmaking. An Afghan-American multimedia storyteller with a background spanning filmmaking, nonprofit development, and tech, she is passionate about exploring identity, tradition, and the lived experiences of refugees. She previously served as an editorial intern at Eastern Standard Times, where she contributed to the development and production of short-form documentaries. Her work seeks to bridge personal narratives with broader cultural and political themes, centering underrepresented voices and global perspectives. She aspires to continue telling stories that foster empathy, spark dialogue, and deepen understanding across cultures and communities. Her latest documentary thesis film, “Spotlight,” delves into the challenges and aspirations of young teens navigating the competitive, multi-billion-dollar K-pop industry.
Email: almar.ahad@columbia.edu
