Under Her Skin

China | 2025 | 14min | Drama | Digital
Producer · A film by Shihan Tan

A woman in red removes her wig while looking into a mirror.

A single mother who makes a living fulfilling romantic fantasies as a professional cosplayer hires a stranger to play her husband at her daughter’s birthday party. When the carefully staged celebration begins to unravel, she is forced to confront the reality she has been trying to escape.

Written & directed by: Shihan Tan
Produced by: Alex Jiang, Zhe Jin
Cinematography: Feixue Tang
Production design: Chuyi Chen
Edited by: Shihan Tan
Cast: Jiahan Bu, Miya Zhao, Du Bai

Official selections

2025 Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival
2025 International Film Schools Festival
2026 Next Wave Hainan Film Festival
2026 Golden Rooster Cross-Strait, Hong Kong & Macao Youth Short Film Season

Stills

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Two people face each other in a close-up under purple lighting.

A man sits across a table in a purple-lit room as someone reaches toward him.

A man holds a phone to his ear, seen through a reflective window at night.

A young girl sits at a table with a wig displayed behind her.

A man holding chopsticks sits at a birthday table opposite a woman in red.

A woman in a red sweater looks toward someone beside the birthday table.

A woman in a blue coat stands outside a tailoring shop at night.

A woman in a blue coat holds up a small printed photograph at night.