In this contemplative coming of age portrait, Yosef, a spirited athlete, is becoming more aware of his family history, after being displaced from their Iraqi homeland. ⍟ World Premiere
Director: Naveen Chaubal
Runtime: 86
Fest Year: 2026
Soon after the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003, Yosef and his family fled their home to begin anew—first to Egypt, then gaining asylum in Louisville, Kentucky. With a nostalgic, profound score of electric piano, organ, and saxophone, and a palette of earthy hues and rusty reds, director Naveen Chaubal crafts a compelling debut about a curious and driven 19-year-old who guides us through his journey confronting cultural dissonance and seeking his place in the world. When his younger sister Azraa returns to Egypt, Yosef wonders if he should take a different path. Evocative, gentle, and intimate, Pinball brings into focus what it’s like to be young, navigating family expectations, financial pressures, and the realities of life in a diaspora that has faced displacement due to war and man-made threats. (AT)