Not Valid for Travel is an NYU thesis short film written and directed by Jiaying (Carly) Lin.
Fei, a young Chinese woman, takes a bus across the U.S./Canada border to visit her long-distance partner in Toronto. Fueled by naivety and longing, she forged a fake document to travel immediately. On the bus, she meets Lan, an older Chinese woman, and other international passengers. Starting as strangers, Fei and Lan forge a temporary companionship, which might either help them get across the border or increase their risk of getting detained. As the bus carries its passengers closer and closer to border control, realities begin to reveal themselves.
Not Valid for Travel is a film about life-changing decisions, a journey through borderlands, and the fleeting but profound connections formed when strangers intersect in moments of uncertainty.
As a Chinese-Canadian immigrant myself, my border-crossing journeys between Toronto, Shanghai, and New York have been a significant part of my life since I was 16. Each of these long journeys has been driven by a longing for a home that feels elsewhere, the anxiety when confronted by border authorities, and the realization that reality often differs from what I imagined once I arrived. In a time when political climates grow increasingly harsh toward immigrants, both legal and undocumented, I wanted to make a film that honors the complex experience of these journeys.
We are set to film Not Valid for Travel in New York State in early March 2025, with a fully assembled creative team of senior NYU film students and young professionals in NYC. Our creative team is united by a shared international background, and through our diverse perspectives, we aim to bring a deep understanding of immigration and border-crossing travels to the screen. The film is fully cast, with Iris Feng (Chinese-born) portraying the main character Fei, and Yan Cui (Chinese-Canadian) bringing life to the character Lan. Their performances promise to bring authenticity and emotional depth to this story of longing, connection, and the boundaries—both literal and metaphorical—that define us.
We are seeking additional financial support to cover essential production costs, including production design, location fees, camera equipment, and film festival distribution. Thank you for your support!
