San Antonio Filmmaker to Screen New Tokyo Documentary
Nick Mery's 25-minute film following a South Texas jazz drummer will debut at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Documentary
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San Antonio director Nick Mery will screen his new documentary One Night Stand in Tokyo at the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia on Nov. 6, 2026. The film features South Texas jazz drummer Brandon Guerra and explores how music bridges language and cultural differences.
Why it matters
The project examines the value of cultural connectivity by documenting musical collaborations between musicians who had never previously met. It serves as an exploration of how artists transcend linguistic barriers through their craft.
The documentary has a runtime of 25 minutes. It follows the filmmaker's previous work, In Dreams: A Love Letter to Lebanon, which earned recognition at the Lebanese Independent Film Festival and the Tokyo Film Awards.
The players
Nick Mery
He is a San Antonio-based filmmaker who focuses on international cultural storytelling and previously directed In Dreams: A Love Letter to Lebanon.
Brandon Guerra
He is a South Texas jazz drummer who collaborated with Japanese musicians for the documentary project.
Daisuke Abe
He is a guitarist featured on the documentary soundtrack performing the jazz standard Caravan.
The details
Shot primarily in the Shinjuku district, the film captures the spontaneous interactions of South Texas drummer Brandon Guerra as he performs with Japanese musicians. The soundtrack highlights this connection through a version of the jazz standard Caravan featuring Guerra and guitarist Daisuke Abe.
Timeline
Nick Mery traveled to Lebanon in 2018.
A major explosion occurred in Beirut in 2020.
Nick Mery received a City of San Antonio grant in 2025.
Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia autumn programs run from Nov. 5-8, 2026.
One Night Stand in Tokyo will screen on Nov. 6, 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The project follows a pattern of international recognition established by Mery's previous documentary that won awards at the Tokyo Film Awards. This return to the region highlights the growing importance of cross-cultural documentary collaborations in global film festivals.
Viewers can attend the live screening at kino cinéma Shinjuku on Nov. 6, 2026. Those unable to attend in person can access the film through the festival's online screening program available from Nov. 9-22, 2026.
The takeaway
This film demonstrates how independent creators can leverage municipal grants to pursue international storytelling projects. It highlights the continued relevance of cultural exchange as a primary theme in modern documentary film.
What happens next
Online screenings for the festival are scheduled to take place from Nov. 9-22, 2026.
Further reading
Discover more about local independent projects in the Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Texas Public Radio.
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