Farewell festivals, hello online

After two years of traveling the world, Little Mao finds an online home here:

In spring 2012, Little Mao premiered at three sold-out screenings at the TIFF Kids Film Festival in Toronto before enjoying an extensive road trip to Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Colorado, San Diego, Seattle and as far as Puerto Rico. The closest Mao got to the Motherland was Singapore. Mao played many home games in southern Ontario, returning to Toronto for an encore, Peterborough, Sudbury, Brantford, Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton.

During that time, Little Mao entertained sold-out audiences of kids and grown-ups alike, won awards and found new friends.  "I tip my cap to all my comrades on and off the field," declared a tearful Chairman Bobby who waved his green Mao hat.  "Farewell and good luck."

The filmmakers wish to thank our funders Bravo, the Ontario Arts Council and the National Film Board.  Special thanks to the parents of our cast, our hardworking crew, all the festivals who hosted our film, and the filmmakers' spouses, partners and families.

Some memories:

TIFF Kids' sold-out screening, April 15, 2012: Left to right: Ben Prystawski, Kyle Wong, Kevin Wang (as Little Mao), Alexis Thomas (rear), Ariyena Sorani (in green), Joshua Budd, Brian Obonna (rear), Charlotte Herie & Allan Tong (photo: Mira Budd)

Cinefest Sudbury, September 2012: Allan toasting with POV magazine's lovely Marsha Cummings

Chicago International Children's Film Festival, October 2012: at Chess Records, 2120 South Michigan Avenue, the home of the Chicago blues

Chicago International Children's Film Festival, October 2012: at the legendary Facets Cinema with fellow filmmaker, Julio & Leslie Cabrera

Asian-American International Film Festival, New York, August 2013: with When I Walk's Jason DaSilva.  Allan first met Jason at the Documentary Fellowship Program at 2012 Sundance. Photo taken at closing gala at Asia Society on Park Avenue

August 2011: filming on Perry Wong's front lawn on a humid Sunday afternoon (photo: Perry Wong)

Toronto's ReelWorld Film Festival, April 2013: Allan with Katie Chats during an online interview

TIFF Kids, April 2012: OMNI-TV's Jeffrey Lee interviews Kevin Wang in Mandarin; Kevin was a pro

August 2011: The Little Red Guards between takes in a Scarborough baseball diamond (photo: Babriela Pope)

Hamilton Film Festival, November 2012: Opposing Team Player Tia Ng (far left) during a spirited post-screening Q&A; HFF programmer Nathan Fleet in crouching, far right (photo: Des Ng)

TIFF Kids, April 2012: at the world premiere, Allan's nephew Eli, dad Poy, and brother-in-law Jeff Low (photo: Cathy Tong)

TIFF Kids, April 2012: director's self-portrait at the TIFF Kids' Playstation at the Bell Lightbox

Little Mao hits San Diego

Chairman Bobby and his Little Red Guards return to California on November 9 at the San Diego Asian Film Festival. Earlier this year, Little Mao played CAAM Fest (formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival) and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.  Little Mao is part of SDAFF's Shorts for Shorties program of children's films taking place at the Digiplex Mission Valley. 

"My comrades and I are overjoyed at playing in San Diego," Chairman Bobby said in a press release, which noted that the screening partially compensates for the Toronto Blue Jays failing to make the MLB playoffs this season.

Capitalist America has been kind to Little Mao.  In addition to the three California festivals, New York, Colorado, Seattle and Chicago have played the film before Yankee Imperialists of all ages.

LITTLE MAO in Hollywood

Little Mao plays the LA Asian Pacific Film Fest today and tomorrow!  Click for information and tickets.

 Not only that, but Comrade Ariyena Sorani (aka Koh)'s has been nominated for Best Actress at the Young Artists Awards taking place in Studio City on Sunday, May 5.  Ariyena and her mother, Mary, are in Hollywood this weekend to represent Little Mao and we hope collect her award.  Hail Mao!

Left to right: Isaac Pilozo (Comrade Joe), Kevin Wang (Little Mao) & Ariyena Sorani (Comrade Cindy)

LITTLE MAO debuts in Latin America at Rincon International Film Festival

 Hola comrades!

Little Mao makes its Latin American premiere at Puerto Rico's Rincon International Film Festival on Tuesday. On April 9, it will play at 1:45 at the Villa Cofresi Resort. In its sixth year, Rincon is the largest film festival in tropical Puerto Rico.

photo by Maloney Aguirre

"I am proud to be unveiling my film in the homeland of legendary Blue Jays Roberto Alomar and Carlos Delgado," beamed Chairman Bobby (Kevin Wang above) from Toronto.

The Rincon screening takes place on the same week as the ReelWorld screening on April 13 in Toronto, and a few weeks before Little Mao graces the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival at the same time that star Ariyena Sorani (Comrade Cindy) may pick up a trophy at the Young Artists Awards.

Only one week into April (and the baseball season, hence this metaphor), Little Mao has hit a single, a double and a triple.  Can it deliver a home run to complete the cycle?  Stay tuned, comrades...