“The Prince,” a short film focusing on a young dancer and her uncle, an actor, and their struggles with what it means to be Middle-Eastern Americans following a violent, racially charged confrontation on public transportation, will screen as part of the dance and music lineup at the HollyShorts Film Festival on Aug. 15 at noon at TCL Chinese Theatre.

photo courtesy of In Retrospect Writing Services

Written and directed in Vancouver by actress Kyra Zagorsky in her directorial debut, the story of “The Prince” is based on a real-life incident.

“I wrote the first draft of this script before the 2016 presidential election and it was relevant,” she said. “Post-election, it’s not only relevant, but necessary. The word ‘terrorist’ is still typically used in reference to a specific group of people who fit a specific physical description.”

“The assumption that the film evaluates is that regardless of whether someone is Muslim or born in America, as long as someone fits the profile of a ‘terrorist,’ that must mean they’re capable of barbaric acts,” according to a news release. “However, horrifically tragic acts such as the killing of two bystanders in Portland who tried to defend two young Muslim women and the Charleston, South Carolina, massacre that took place on American soil are rarely, if ever, referred to as acts of terrorism.”

Zagorsky said her goal with “The Prince” is to open people’s minds, showing them that the racial divide in today’s world is real and that bystanders and victims of overt racism can, and do, have a voice.

“As artists, we have a responsibility to do something with our creative voices,” she said. “If we want to change our damaged culture and make our society safe and inclusive for everyone, then we have to be conscious of the stories we tell and learn how to deal with such incidents without resorting to aggression and violence. This film is meant to be an eye-opener to the responsibility we have and I hope it inspires individuals to acknowledge their own prejudices and take the initiative to engage with communities unfamiliar to them with an open mind.”

The film has won several accolades including best supporting actor for Lee Majdoub at the Lady Filmmakers Festival, best actor for Lee Majdoub at the FirstGlance Film Festival, award of merit at the Los Angeles Cinema Festival of Hollywood and award of distinction at the Canada Shorts Film Festival.

For information, visit theprinceshortfilm.com.