Private Project

For the Love of Mangos

Know-it-all Rita tries to chip at her Indian immigrant father's traditionalism by setting him up with her feminist-studies professor. Her plan backfires when he arranges a date of her own with a childhood friend.

  • Kayla Wong
    Director
  • Shefali Lohia
    Writer
  • Kayla Wong
    Writer
  • Paolo Bitanga
    Producer
  • Shefali Lohia
    Producer
  • Angela Yih
    Producer
  • Samuel Liu
    Producer
  • Kayla Wong
    Producer
  • Shunori Ramanathan
    Key Cast
  • Nitin Madan
    Key Cast
  • Sagar Patel
    Key Cast
  • Richard Wong
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    14 minutes 17 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes
  • Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival
    Vancouver
    United States
    November 26, 2016
    North American Premiere
  • Seattle Asian American Film Festival
    Seattle
    February 24, 2017
    West Coast Premiere
  • Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival
    Houston
    June 9, 2017
    Texas Premiere
  • Asian American International Film Festival
    New York
    July 27, 2017
    East Coast Premiere
Director Biography - Kayla Wong

Though a Seattle-native, Kayla is immune to the ways of coffee. To get her through those long nights of video rendering and spreadsheets, she instead relies on the magic of jukebox oldies and buttered-toast. Lives in NYC because NYU debts won't let her leave.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

According to an exercise we did in class before embarking on our directorial journey, I have a fascination with the passing of time. There are so many of those "what-if" moments that occur in a lifetime - regarding career paths, loved ones - that are pivotal to our growth.
"Mangos" is a film strongly rooted in the challenges of growing up in an immigrant family, in a society still very prone to racial stereotyping. But it's also about how within these obstacles, we still have sway - though it may seem that sometimes some things may never change.

If anything, I hope after watching this you'll be overcome with the need to hug your parents. Or better yet, to eat a mango! Enjoy!