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 takes the Big Apple

Chairman Bobby vs. the Statue of Liberty (photo of Kevin Wang by Johnny Vong)

Little Mao is going to Manhattan.  It will play the Asian American International Film Festival on Saturday, August 3 at 3:30 in the In Times of Innocence shorts program.

"We are proud to play on Yankees territory," proclaimed Chairman Bobby.  "We shall take the game to them."  When the Chairman was advised that the film was playing and not his baseball team, Bobby revised his remark to say, "Oh...well, we're still proud to be playing New York especially so close to our comrades in Chinatown and that our message will reaching the centre of America.  Play on!"

New York follows successful screenings this year in San Francisco, Los Angeles (where star Ariyena Sorani was nominated for an acting award), Toronto and Puerto Rico.

Little Mao will screen at at the Anthology of Film Archives (AFA) at 32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street) on August 2.  Members of Bobby's team will be on hand to witness the historic event.

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MAO makes Asian premiere at Singapore International Children's Film Festival

Little Mao is screening close to the Motherland on June 23 at the Singapore International Children's Film Festival, aka Big Eyes Big Minds.  Mao appears in the Magic Tricks & Politics program for kids 7-12 on Sunday, 23 June at 4:30pm.

Come to the screening if you're in Singapore!

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)

Sold-out screening at ReelWorld 2013

Left to right: ReelWorld programmer Bobby Del Rio, Mao director Allan Tong, and Goodness in Rwanda director Gord Rand at the screening's Q&A (photo: Sari Colt)

Little Mao unspooled before a sold-out audience at yesterday's screening at the ReelWorld Film Festival at Canada Square cinemas in Toronto. Credit for packing the house largely goes to Tara Hughes, producer of the feature documentary Goodness in Rwanda, that followed Mao at the 4:00 pm screening and which picked ReelWorld's Audience Award.  Little Mao cast members Tia Ng and Brian Obonna showed up in style.

Katie Chats' Katie Uhlmann (left) and Allan at the ReelWorld opening night, April 10 during an interview (photo: Joanne Uhlmann)

On opening night of ReelWorld, interviewer Katie Uhlmann spoke to Allan for her Youtube channel, Kate Chats, which can be seen here.

LITTLE MAO director talks to Katie Chats at ReelWorld's opening night

Director/writer Allan Tong (right) interviewed by the lovely Katie Uhlmann of Katie Chats at opening night of ReelWorld  (photo by Sari Colt)

Earlier tonight at the ReelWorld Film Festival's opening night, Allan spoke to interviewer  Katie Uhlmann on her online show, Katie Chats.  A few weeks earlier at the March 20 ReelWorld press conference, Allan spoke to interviewer Katie Uhlmann.

Little Mao screens at ReelWorld on Saturday, April 13 at 4:00pm at Canada Square Cinemas before the documentary, Goodness in Rwanda.  Tickets