Wangmo&Pema

Tibetan sisters, 14-year-old Pema and 19-year-old Wangmo, are reunited with their mother after three years apart. Pema & Wangmo had been living together in India while their mother started a new life for them in New York City. When family is reunited in Queens, future dreams collide with past traumas.

  • Yan Mengyu
    Director
  • Yan Mengyu
    Writer
  • Yan Mengyu
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    30 minutes
  • Production Budget:
    20,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Tibetan
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - School of Visual Arts
Director Biography - Yan Mengyu

Mengyu Yan is a writer-director and cinematographer with roots in mid-China near the Yangtze River, later raised in Canton. She holds a BFA in Environmental Art Design from China and completed her MFA in Social Documentary Film at SVA in NYC in 2023.

Mengyu has showcased her storytelling prowess through impactful short documentaries like "Backyard Barber" (2021), "We're Dancing!" (2022), and "Wangmo & Pema" (2023). Her unique ability to capture diverse subjects with compelling narratives and visually striking aesthetics defines her work.

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Director Statement

In directing this film, my aim is to intricately capture the depth of family relationships and human experiences through the lens, influenced by my experiences in Elmhurst, Queens. While volunteering for a non-profit organization dedicated to the Tibetan community, I encountered Wangmo and Pema, two sisters recently reunited with their mother in New York. Drawn to the captivating dynamics between them, I formed a meaningful friendship with the sisters and their mother.

The emotional complexity of their reunion and the family's intricate history became central themes I wanted to explore. Through this narrative, I seek to evoke the excitement and poignant moments hidden behind family reunions. Simultaneously, I am committed to portraying the subtle emotional entanglements among family members and their struggles in the face of both new beginnings and past traumas. This film is a celebration of family, doubling as a tribute to those who exhibit resilience and courage in the face of change.

As a director, I endeavor to create resonance between the audience and the family's experiences through visual language and emotional depth. Viewers, while engaging with this film, are encouraged to reflect on their own familial relationships and consider how they shape their futures amidst the dynamics of reunions and separations. This project serves as an opportunity to express profound emotions through cinema, with the hope that audiences find resonance and inspiration in their own lives while appreciating the presented story on screen.