Mẹ
Mẹ, mother in the northern Vietnamese dialect, follows two generations of moms as they create a new dish for the family restaurant. Reimagining their parent’s pho shop, the next generation carries on the family legacy through Vietnamese cuisine.
-
Derek KwanDirector
-
Project Type:Documentary
-
Runtime:10 minutes 14 seconds
-
Completion Date:August 7, 2018
-
Production Budget:8,000 USD
-
Country of Origin:Canada
-
Country of Filming:Canada, Viet Nam
-
Language:English, Vietnamese
-
Film Color:Color
-
First-time Filmmaker:No
-
Student Project:No
-
Seattle Asian American Film FestivalSeattle, WA
United States
February 23, 2019
Grand Jury Award - Best Short Documentary -
DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of OregonEugene, OR
United States
March 16, 2019
Winner Best Short Documentary -
42nd Asian American International Film FestivalBrooklyn, NY
United States
July 31, 2019
NEW YORK Premiere
Official Selection -
Vancouver Short Film FestivalVancouver, BC
Canada
January 26, 2019
Official Selection -
NORTHWESTFESTEdmonton, AB
United States
May 5, 2019
ALBERTA Premiere
Official Selection, Best Canadian Short Nominee -
Spokane International Film FestivalSpokane, WA
United States
February 1, 2019
Official Selection -
Houston Asian American & Pacific Islander Film FestivalHouston, TX
United States
June 23, 2019
TEXAS Premiere
Official Selection -
Oregon Short Film FestivalPortland, OR
United States
February 23, 2019
Official Selection
Distribution Information
-
TelusCountry: CanadaRights: Video on Demand
Derek Kwan is an actor and filmmaker based out of Vancouver, Canada. His Short Documentary, Taste of Identity, was an Official Selection at the 19th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival where it was also nominated for Best Canadian Short. His latest film Mẹ, is a Short Documentary funded by Telus Storyhive and has won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Documentary at the 2019 Seattle Asian American Film Festival, as well as Best Short Documentary at the 2019 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon. Derek is also a producer on the narrative short film Idols Never Die which recently screened May 2019 at Cannes as part of Telefilm's Not Short on Talent Program.
Mẹ is a film providing a contemporary lens into the classic family restaurant. A story of struggle, triumph, and legacy, this documentary captures the Vietnamese refugee story following the journey of a family legacy through the humble family restaurant.
With aspirations of screening this film internationally I plan to bring to light the diverse stories of our generation. Food and family are staples to the human condition and I hope to connect with audiences, as we all share these comforts in our own unique way.