BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang: Inside the #AAIFF46 NY Premiere of THE HARVEST with Caylee So, Doua Moua, Perry Yung

Quad Cinema in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

On July 29, I went to Asian CineVision’s 46th Asian American International Film Festival’s sold-out New York premiere of Caylee So’s The Harvest at Quad Cinema.

Quad Cinema in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Quad Cinema in New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Written by and starring Doua Moua, the cast also features Perry Yung, Dawn Ying Yuen, Chrisna Chhor, Christine Lin and More.

Producer, Writer and Star Doua Moua, Caylee So, Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

The film has been playing festivals around the country and I had a chance to sit down with Perry, Director Caylee So, and Producer, Writer and Star Doua Moua at the La MaMa Rehearsal Studios prior to the screening. The Harvest is also produced by John Houselog with Executive Producers Yoson An and Money Vang.

Doua Moua, Perry Yung, Caylee So and John Houselog. Photo by Lia Chang

After a car accident leaves his family in need of his help, Thai returns home to Southern California, only to find his whole world in disarray. With mounting medical bills and secrets of their own, the family watches as Cher, a tough and stubborn Hmong father, suffers through the devastating effects of kidney failure. Thai struggles to chose between his fractured relationship with his family, or a life free from the burdens of traditions.

The production team includes Director of Photography Brian Nguyen, Composer Roman Molino Dunn, Editor Frank Martinez, Production Designer Christy Gray, Makeup by Dou Pothmolita, Costumes by Juliette Lunger and Casting Director Dea Vise.

This 44th episode of BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang will air on Sunday, August 13 at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and will stream on MNN2. You can watch it below.

Interview with Perry Yung, Doua Moua and Caylee So. 

Interview with Perry Yung

Director Caylee So was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, her parents having fled the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a M.F.A. in Film Directing from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. So is the co-founder of the Cambodia Town Film Festival and an honorary committee member of the Cambodian International Film Festival. Her award winning feature film, IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC, which represented Cambodia in the country’s 2018 Oscar submission.

Photo coverage of THE HARVEST team at #AAIFF46.

AAIFF46 Festival Director Kayla Wong. Photo by Lia Chang

AAIFF46 NY Premiere of THE HARVEST. Photo by Lia Chang

Doua Moua. Photo by Lia Chang

Doua Moua. Photo by Lia Chang

Doua Moua. Photo by Lia Chang

Director Caylee So. Photo by Lia Chang

Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Perry Yung and Lia Chang

Perry Yung and Lia Chang

Amasa Amos, Amy Chang, Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Marissa Carpio, Nancy Eng, Perry Yung, Karen Lee and Wai-Ching Ho. Photo by Lia Chang

Lillian Ling, Arlan Huang and Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Amy Chang, Caylee So and Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Lauren Yee and Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Lauren Yee and Caylee So. Photo by Lia Chang

Doua Moua, Lauren Yee, Caylee So and Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Perry Yung, John Houselog, Amy Chang and Doua Moua. Photo by Lia Chang

Caylee So, Perry Yung, John Houselog, Amy Chang, Doua Moua, Nancy Eng, Nick Sakai. Photo by Lia Chang

Doua Moua, Karen Lee, Perry Yung, Lia Chang, Nancy Eng, Jun Suenaga, Billy Asai, Wai-Ching Ho, Phil Nee, Amy Chang, Caylee So.

Perry Yung, Billy Asai, Jun Suenaga. Photo by Lia Chang

Caylee So, Doua Moua, Perry Yung and Lia Chang. Photo by Phil Nee

AAIFF46 Festival Director Kayla Wong, Lia Chang, Perry Yung, Karen Lee, Phil Nee, Wai-Ching Ho, Nancy Eng.

Perry Yung and Henry Chang. Photo by Lia Chang

Back Row: Wing Lee, Dave Chang, June Jee, Shuhei Kinoshita, Perry Yung, Caylee So, Karen Lee, Phil Nee, Doua Moua, Wai-Ching Ho. Front Row: Jinny Chung, Yixin Cen, Henry Chang. Photo by Lia Chang

Jun Suenaga, Caylee So, Billy Asai, A Martina Asai, Perry Yung. Photo by Lia Chang

Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com

July 29: Asian CineVision’s 46th Asian American International Film Festival is Screening New York Premiere of Caylee So’s THE HARVEST Starring Doua Moua, Perry Yung, Dawn Ying Yuen and Chirsna Chhor

Asian CineVision’s 46th Asian American International Film Festival is screening the New York premiere of Caylee So’s The Harvest  on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Quad Cinema, 34 W. 13th St. in New York at 4:30pm. A live in-person Q & A with the filmmakers will follow the screening.

Tickets are $16. Get 25% off your tickets for the NYC Premiere of The Harvest. Code: AAIFFHarvest46
Info & Tickets

Written by and starring Doua Moua (Mulan, Gran Torino), the cast also features Perry Yung (“Warriors,” “The Knick”), Dawn Ying Yuen, Chrisna Chhor, Lucas Velazquez, Hua Lee, Alfonso Caballero, Saikong Yang, Tomas K Thao, Mai Moua, Tsabmim Xyooj, Kue Lee, Chai Yang, ZhongKhang Yang, Mary Ly, Amery K Thao, Anneston Pisayavong, Arianna Rivas, Tin Tin, Blake Kevin Dwyer, Greg Yoder, Christine Lin, and Tress Glenn.

After a car accident leaves his family in need of his help, Thai returns home to Southern California, only to find his whole world in disarray. With mounting medical bills and secrets of their own, the family watches as Cher, a tough and stubborn Hmong father, suffers through the devastating effects of kidney failure. Thai struggles to chose between his fractured relationship with his family, or a life free from the burdens of traditions.

Interview with Perry Yung

The Harvest is produced by John Houselog and Doua Moua; with Executive Producers Yoson An and Money Vang. The production team includes Director of Photography Brian Nguyen, Composer Roman Molino Dunn, Editor Frank Martinez, Production Designer Christy Gray, Makeup by Dou Pothmolita, Costumes by
Juliette Lunger and Casting Director Dea Vise.

Director Caylee So was born in a refugee camp in Thailand, her parents having fled the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. She holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a M.F.A. in Film Directing from Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. So is the co-founder of the Cambodia Town Film Festival and an honorary committee member of the Cambodian International Film Festival. Her award winning feature film, IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC, which represented Cambodia in the country’s 2018 Oscar submission.

Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com

Apr. 16 & 23: BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang: Highlights of Farland Chang’s Docuseries EAST MEETS WEST: JOURNEYS ALONG THE SILK ROAD with National Geographic Photographer Michael Yamashita, airs on FIOS 34, RCN 83, and Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2

The 30th episode of BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang, executive produced and hosted by Lia, airs on April 16 and 23 at 1:30pm and 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, and Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2. If you miss the episode, it is archived on my youtube channel.

Michael Yamashita and Lia Chang

My mentor, National Geographic Photographer Michael Yamashita has captured some of the world’s most awe-inspiring photos for four decades, combining his dual passions of photography and travel.

On this edition of Backstage Pass with Lia Chang, you’ll get to see highlights of “East Meets West”, a nine part docuseries, produced by Emmy award winning journalist Farland Chang, which brings epic chapters of history to life as this legendary photographer shares his lifetime of secrets.

“East Meets West” is based on Mike’s award-winning stories, books & films: Marco Polo: The China Mystery Revealed; Marco Polo: A Photographer’s Journey; Ghost Fleet: The Adventures of China’s Zheng He; The Great Wall: From Beginning to End; Shangri-La: Along the Tea Road to Lhasa; and New York: Flying High.

Farland Chang and Michael Yamashita. Photo by Lia Chang

I met Mike and Farland in 1993, when I attended my first Asian American Journalists Association convention in LA.

Mike is known for epic stories that retrace the paths of famous travelers, like Marco Polo, the Japanese poet Basho, and the Chinese explorer Zheng He. After graduating from Wesleyan University with a degree in Asian studies, he spent seven years in Asia, which became his area of specialty. Returning to the United States fluent in Japanese, he began shooting for National Geographic as well as many other U.S. and international clients. His feature documentary, The Ghost Fleet, won the Best Historical Documentary prize at the New York International Independent Film Festival. His National Geographic Channel documentary, Marco Polo: The China Mystery Revealed, received two Asian Television and Film Awards and was also included in the top 20 most popular NG Channel documentaries of the decade.

Sharing a vision of Bridging East and West. It has been invaluable to be part of an organization of Asian  American storytellers, educators, and  journalists working towards accurate and fair coverage of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders and AANHPI issues.

Episodes 1 & 2 of East Meets West are currently streaming worldwide. Episodes 3, 4, and 5 will launch this summer. www.eastmeetswestfilm.com.

Lia Chang. Photo by Erich McMillan-McCall

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian, corporate photographer and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2.

Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. Her short film, When the World Was Young garnered a 2021 DisOrient Film Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations.

Lia is the recipient of the 2022 Prospect Muse Award, 2000 OCA Chinese American Journalist Award, the 2001 AAJA National Award for New Media. Lia is an AAJA Executive Leadership Graduate (2000), a Western Knight Fellow at USC’s Annenberg College of Communications for Specialized Journalism on Entertainment Journalism in the Digital Age (2000), a National Press Photographers Association Visual Edge/Visual Journalism Fellow at the Poynter Institute for New Media (2001), a Scripps Howard New Media Fellow at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism (2002), and a National Tropical Botanical Garden Environmental Journalism Fellow (2003). She was a syndicated columnist for KYODO News, writing about arts and entertainment in her “What’s Hot in New York” column.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2023 Lia Chang Multimedia, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang, unless otherwise indicated. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at backstagepasswithliachang@gmail.com.

Feb. 22 & 26: BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang: 2023 Doris Duke Artist Kristina Wong; Interview with THE HARVEST Star Perry Yung; Lunar New Year at The Met and in New York Chinatown airs on on FIOS 34, RCN 83, and Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2

The twenty first episode of BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang, executive produced and hosted by Lia, airs on February 22 at 6pm and February 26 at 1pm (EST) on FIOS 34, RCN 83, and Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2. If you miss the episode, it is archived on my youtube channel.

David Lee Hyunh, Kristina Wong, Daniel K. Isaac and Lia Chang attend the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Awards Ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on February 13, 2023.

On this edition of Backstage Pass with Lia Chang, Kristina Wong came to New York to receive the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Award which included $550,000.

Lia Chang and Perry Yung

I sat down with actor Perry Yung to chat about his latest film, The Harvest; enjoyed many family friendly Lunar New Year and Year of the Rabbit activities at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Laura Brandel and her daughter, Haven Tuesday, including visiting with Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka and puppeteers Jennifer Barnhart and Pam Arciero. The Met’s Lion Dancers were the Chinese Center on Long Island’s Lion Dancer Troupe, and the AAPI Jazz Collective played several sets in the Main Hall.  My extra bonus – heading down to New York Chinatown and catching up with Lion Dancers from the NY Chinatown Freeman Athletic Club and the Chinatown Community Young Lions.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival recently screened the World Premiere of Caylee So’s THE HARVEST on February 12 and 13.

Written by and starring Doua Moua (Mulan, Gran Torino), the cast also features Perry Yung (“Warriors,” “The Knick”), Dawn Ying Yuen, Chrisna Chhor, Lucas Velazquez, Hua Lee, Alfonso Caballero, Saikong Yang, Tomas K Thao, Mai Moua, Tsabmim Xyooj, Kue Lee, Chai Yang, ZhongKhang Yang, Mary Ly, Amery K Thao, Anneston Pisayavong, Arianna Rivas, Tin Tin, Blake Kevin Dwyer, Greg Yoder, Christine Lin, and Tress Glenn.

After a car accident leaves his family in need of his help, Thai returns home to Southern California, only to find his whole world in disarray. With mounting medical bills and secrets of their own, the family watches as Cher, a tough and stubborn Hmong father, suffers through the devastating effects of kidney failure. Thai struggles to chose between his fractured relationship with his family, or a life free from the burdens of traditions.

Check out my interview with Perry and all of my Lunar New Year fun.

Lia Chang at the Museum of Broadway with the display of Winter Wonderland Gingerbread Houses currently on view through December 31, 2022. Photo by Erich McMillan-McCall.

THE HARVEST is produced by John Houselog and Doua Moua; with Executive Producers Yoson An and Money Vang. The production team includes Director of Photography Brian Nguyen, Composer Roman Molino Dunn, Editor Frank Martinez, Production Designer Christy Gray, Makeup by Dou Pothmolita, Costumes by
Juliette Lunger and Casting Director Dea Vise.

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian, corporate photographer and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2.

Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. Her short film, When the World Was Young garnered a 2021 DisOrient Film Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations.

Lia is the recipient of the 2022 Prospect Muse Award, 2000 OCA Chinese American Journalist Award, the 2001 AAJA National Award for New Media. Lia is an AAJA Executive Leadership Graduate (2000), a Western Knight Fellow at USC’s Annenberg College of Communications for Specialized Journalism on Entertainment Journalism in the Digital Age (2000), a National Press Photographers Association Visual Edge/Visual Journalism Fellow at the Poynter Institute for New Media (2001), a Scripps Howard New Media Fellow at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism (2002), and a National Tropical Botanical Garden Environmental Journalism Fellow (2003).

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2023 Lia Chang Multimedia, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang, unless otherwise indicated. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at backstagepasswithliachang@gmail.com.

Feb. 22 & 26: BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang: 2023 Doris Duke Artist Kristina Wong; Interview with THE HARVEST Star Perry Yung; Lunar New Year at The Met and in New York Chinatown airs on on FIOS 34, RCN 83, and Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2

The twenty first episode of BACKSTAGE PASS with Lia Chang, executive produced and hosted by Lia, airs on February 22 at 6pm and February 26 at 1pm (EST) on FIOS 34, RCN 83, and Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2. If you miss the episode, it is archived on my youtube channel.

David Lee Hyunh, Kristina Wong, Daniel K. Isaac and Lia Chang attend the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Awards Ceremony at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on February 13, 2023.

On this edition of Backstage Pass with Lia Chang, Kristina Wong came to New York to receive the 2023 Doris Duke Artist Award which included $550,000.

Lia Chang and Perry Yung

I sat down with actor Perry Yung to chat about his latest film, The Harvest; enjoyed many family friendly Lunar New Year and Year of the Rabbit activities at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with Laura Brandel and her daughter, Haven Tuesday, including visiting with Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka and puppeteers Jennifer Barnhart and Pam Arciero. The Met’s Lion Dancers were the Chinese Center on Long Island’s Lion Dancer Troupe, and the AAPI Jazz Collective played several sets in the Main Hall.  My extra bonus – heading down to New York Chinatown and catching up with Lion Dancers from the NY Chinatown Freeman Athletic Club and the Chinatown Community Young Lions.

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival recently screened the World Premiere of Caylee So’s THE HARVEST on February 12 and 13.

Written by and starring Doua Moua (Mulan, Gran Torino), the cast also features Perry Yung (“Warriors,” “The Knick”), Dawn Ying Yuen, Chrisna Chhor, Lucas Velazquez, Hua Lee, Alfonso Caballero, Saikong Yang, Tomas K Thao, Mai Moua, Tsabmim Xyooj, Kue Lee, Chai Yang, ZhongKhang Yang, Mary Ly, Amery K Thao, Anneston Pisayavong, Arianna Rivas, Tin Tin, Blake Kevin Dwyer, Greg Yoder, Christine Lin, and Tress Glenn.

After a car accident leaves his family in need of his help, Thai returns home to Southern California, only to find his whole world in disarray. With mounting medical bills and secrets of their own, the family watches as Cher, a tough and stubborn Hmong father, suffers through the devastating effects of kidney failure. Thai struggles to chose between his fractured relationship with his family, or a life free from the burdens of traditions.

Check out my interview with Perry and all of my Lunar New Year fun.

Lia Chang at the Museum of Broadway with the display of Winter Wonderland Gingerbread Houses currently on view through December 31, 2022. Photo by Erich McMillan-McCall.

THE HARVEST is produced by John Houselog and Doua Moua; with Executive Producers Yoson An and Money Vang. The production team includes Director of Photography Brian Nguyen, Composer Roman Molino Dunn, Editor Frank Martinez, Production Designer Christy Gray, Makeup by Dou Pothmolita, Costumes by
Juliette Lunger and Casting Director Dea Vise.

Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian, corporate photographer and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996, and streams on MNN2.

Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. Her short film, When the World Was Young garnered a 2021 DisOrient Film Audience Choice Award for Best Short Narrative. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman. She stars in and served as Executive Producer for the short independent films Hide and Seek, Balancing Act, Rom-Com Gone Wrong, Belongingness and When the World was Young. She is also the Executive Producer for The Cactus, The Language Lesson, The Writer and Cream and 2 Shugahs. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations.

Lia is the recipient of the 2022 Prospect Muse Award, 2000 OCA Chinese American Journalist Award, the 2001 AAJA National Award for New Media. Lia is an AAJA Executive Leadership Graduate (2000), a Western Knight Fellow at USC’s Annenberg College of Communications for Specialized Journalism on Entertainment Journalism in the Digital Age (2000), a National Press Photographers Association Visual Edge/Visual Journalism Fellow at the Poynter Institute for New Media (2001), a Scripps Howard New Media Fellow at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism (2002), and a National Tropical Botanical Garden Environmental Journalism Fellow (2003).

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2023 Lia Chang Multimedia, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang, unless otherwise indicated. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at backstagepasswithliachang@gmail.com.

Feb. 12 & 13: Santa Barbara International Film Festival is Screening World Premiere of Caylee So’s THE HARVEST Starring Doua Moua, Perry Yung, Dawn Ying Yuen and Chirsna Chhor; Interview with Perry Yung

The Santa Barbara International Film Festival is screening the World Premiere of Caylee So’s THE HARVEST on Sunday, February 12, 2023 at 7:40pm at the Fiesta 5 Theatre Aud #4, 916 State Street;  and on Monday, February 13 at 2:20pm at the Metro 4 Theatre Aud #2, 618 State Street in Santa Barbara.

Written by and starring Doua Moua (Mulan, Gran Torino), the cast also features Perry Yung (“Warriors,” “The Knick”), Dawn Ying Yuen, Chrisna Chhor, Lucas Velazquez, Hua Lee, Alfonso Caballero, Saikong Yang, Tomas K Thao, Mai Moua, Tsabmim Xyooj, Kue Lee, Chai Yang, ZhongKhang Yang, Mary Ly, Amery K Thao, Anneston Pisayavong, Arianna Rivas, Tin Tin, Blake Kevin Dwyer, Greg Yoder, Christine Lin, and Tress Glenn.

After a car accident leaves his family in need of his help, Thai returns home to Southern California, only to find his whole world in disarray. With mounting medical bills and secrets of their own, the family watches as Cher, a tough and stubborn Hmong father, suffers through the devastating effects of kidney failure. Thai struggles to chose between his fractured relationship with his family, or a life free from the burdens of traditions.

Check out my interview with Perry.

Click here for tickets and more information.

SBIFF’s Education Center (Box Office/Will Call, Volunteer HQ) – 1330 State Street Suite 101

THE HARVEST is produced by John Houselog and Doua Moua; with Executive Producers Yoson An and Money Vang. The production team includes Director of Photography Brian Nguyen, Composer Roman Molino Dunn, Editor Frank Martinez, Production Designer Christy Gray, Makeup by Dou Pothmolita, Costumes by
Juliette Lunger and Casting Director Dea Vise.