CURTAIN UP! (w/ MOM FIGHT)

CURTAIN UP! is a charming documentary that follows elementary school kids in New York’s Chinatown. They prepare for the musical production of “Frozen Kids,” while they begin to discover their identities. Directors Hui Tong and Kelly Ng go behind the scenes and chronicle the experiences for the students and their families. This theater production is a cultural touch point between East and West and challenges the students on what it means to be Asian American. This profoundly touching and playful film is a must-watch for parents and anyone who’s interested in watching incredible kids shine.

This program starts with the short film, MOM FIGHT (by director Mickey Finnegan).  Two moms seek the hottest toy this holiday season at the local store. The problem is, there’s only one left. When full-time mom Jackie Lee goes on a quest to find the hottest toy of the year this Christmas, she meets her match – another mom with an equal desire. With only one toy left in the store, these two female powerhouses engage in a kung-fu infused MOM FIGHT! Turns out, the only thing stronger than a mother’s love is her punch.

Director Biographies: Hui Tong is a documentary filmmaker and freelance writer based in New York. Five years ago he came to the U.S. for college and developed a strong interest in the intersection of history, arts, culture and identity. He has been making narrative and documentary shorts since high school, and in writing form covered Asian American identity issues. Curtain Up! is his first feature-length documentary.

Kelly Ng is a multimedia journalist from Singapore drawn particularly to stories on minority communities, education and mental health. Her video and written stories have been published on The Atlantic, NBC, and South China Morning Post, among others. She spent five years as a staff reporter at Singapore’s second-most-read newspaper, TODAY, covering immigration, crime, law and health. Curtain Up! is her filmmaking debut.

Program includes exclusive Q&A with co-directors Hui Tong and Kelly Ng.

THIS FILM IS AVAILABLE ON CAAMFEST ON-DEMAND.

Supported by:

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and we’re proud to be supporting the kids of St. Jude this month. Let’s
cure childhood cancer. Together. See how you can help us support St. Jude this month at Stjude.org/Together.

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