John W Kim's 'Reunion' to World Premiere at Cinequest Film Festival

The comedy feature film stars Candy Clark, Jake Choi, Kelli Garner, and more.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The independent comedy film 'Reunion', written and directed by first generation Korean American filmmaker John W. Kim, is set to world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose, California on March 15th. The film follows an Asian American funeral home worker who goes to his high school reunion, only to be mistaken for a mysterious Asian billionaire. The movie was filmed entirely in Los Angeles, starting production on the day of the devastating Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires.

Why it matters

As one of the few films shooting during the Eaton and Palisades fires, 'Reunion' aims to contribute to the local communities impacted by the disasters and make a creative statement about hope and redemption. The film's diverse cast and independent production also highlight the growing representation of Asian American stories in mainstream cinema.

The details

The comedy feature 'Reunion' stars academy Award-nominated actress Candy Clark, as well as Jake Choi, Kelli Garner, Madeline Zima, Ludi Lin, Ryan Hansen, Helena Mattsson, Sarah Waisman, and Crystal Rivers. The film follows an Asian American funeral home worker who goes to his high school reunion with the hope of jump-starting his life, only to be mistaken for a mysterious Asian billionaire whom no one has seen since graduation.

  • The film is set to world premiere at Cinequest on March 15, 2026 at 12:30pm at the California Theatre in San Jose.
  • 'Reunion' will screen again on March 21, 2026 at 2:45pm at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Mountain View.

The players

John W. Kim

The writer and director of 'Reunion', a first generation Korean American storyteller.

Candy Clark

An academy Award-nominated actress starring in 'Reunion'.

Jake Choi

An actor starring in 'Reunion', known for roles in 'Single Parents' and 'Front Cover'.

Cinequest Film Festival

The film festival where 'Reunion' will world premiere.

Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires

The devastating wildfires that were burning in Los Angeles during the filming of 'Reunion'.

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What they’re saying

“Independent filmmaking under the best of circumstances is challenging. Shooting in Los Angeles at the start of the Eaton and Palisades fires was a sobering experience, and one we did not take lightly. As one of only two films to be shooting last year during that time, the desire to contribute what we could to the communities we were shooting in and make a creative statement about how we live today and what we desire lies at the heart of 'Reunion,' a story about hope and redemption.”

— John W. Kim, Writer and Director of 'Reunion'

What’s next

Tickets for the two Cinequest screenings of 'Reunion' on March 15th and March 21st can be found on the festival's website.

The takeaway

With its diverse cast, independent production, and timely themes of hope and redemption, 'Reunion' represents the growing representation of Asian American stories in mainstream cinema and the resilience of the filmmaking community in the face of natural disasters.