Houston Comedy Film Festival is excited to share that one of its own winners, filmmaker Asha Chai‑Chang, is now an Oscars contender with her acclaimed short film Marque Dos (Second Chance). The trilingual comedy, which took home honors at Houston Comedy Film Festival, is being promoted “For Your Consideration” in the Best Live Action Short Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, placing Asha and her team firmly in the Oscars 2026 conversation.instagram+2
From Festival Win To Oscars Race
Marque Dos has already connected with audiences worldwide, screening at festivals ranging from Diversity in Cannes and the Pan African Film Festival to the Georgia Latino International Film Festival and many more. Along the way, it has earned multiple awards, including wins at Houston Comedy Film Festival, Georgia Latino International Film Festival, and Indigo Moon Film Festival, building powerful momentum heading into awards season.instagram+1
A Trilingual, Afro‑Latine Story
Written and directed by Asha Chai‑Chang, Marque Dos follows Amira, an aspiring tour manager navigating the pressures of the marketing world while trying to stay true to her multifaceted identity. Told in English, Spanish, and ASL, the film celebrates Afro‑Latine experiences and speaks to anyone who has ever felt “boxed in,” using humor to explore ambition, belonging, and self‑acceptance.imdb+2youtube
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The film is produced through Love My Productions and supported by initiatives like the LALIFF Inclusion Fellowship and Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity, underscoring the industry’s investment in Asha’s voice as a creator. Asha, an Emmy‑winning Caribbean filmmaker and CEO of Love My Productions, has become known for centering underrepresented communities in work that is as entertaining as it is socially resonant.instagram+1
Houston Comedy Film Festival Pride
For Houston Comedy Film Festival, Marque Dos represents exactly the kind of bold, inclusive comedy the event was designed to amplify, and its Oscars 2026 contender status is a point of pride for the entire festival community. Audiences who discovered the film at Houston Comedy Film Festival can now cheer it on as it reaches for one of cinema’s highest honors, proving that stories born on the indie festival circuit can travel all the way to the Academy Awards stage.
