The W.O.W. Youth Series kicked off with an Asian American Female Filmmakers Panel this past June, centering Asian American female narratives and voices and discussing the many obstacles Asian American female filmmakers face in a predominantly white and male film industry. NYU film student and W.O.W short film director, Denise Zhou, moderated a discussion with three Asian American female filmmakers, ManSee Kong, Ursula Liang, and Theresa Loong about how their race and gender intersect to inform their work and address their challenges working in the film business.

As a continuation of this series, we will be holding screenings of all three filmmakers' films at 26 Mott St. Next up is Ursula Liang's 9-Man Film.

SPECIAL NOTES:

This event will prioritize youth attendees, but also welcomes the public.

ABOUT 9-MAN

9-MAN uncovers an isolated and unique streetball tournament played by Chinese-Americans in the heart of Chinatowns across the USA and Canada. Largely undiscovered by the mainstream, the game is a gritty, athletic, chaotic urban treasure traditionally played in parking lots and back alleys and it is fiercely protected by a community of men who who require that 2/3 of players are “100% Chinese.” A 9-Man tournament grew in the 1930’s, at a time when anti-Chinese sentiment and laws forced restaurant workers and laundrymen to socialize exclusively amongst themselves. Today it’s a lasting connection to Chinatown for a dynamic community of men who know a different, more integrated world, but still fight to maintain autonomy and tradition.

ABOUT URSULA LIANG

URSULA LIANG is a journalist who has told stories in a wide range of media. She has worked for The New York Times Op-Docs, T: The New York Times Style Magazine, ESPN The Magazine, Asia Pacific Forum on WBAI, StirTV, the Jax Show, Hyphen magazine and currently freelances as a film and television producer (“Tough Love,” “Wo Ai Ni Mommy,” “UFC Countdown,” “UFC Primetime”) and story consultant. Liang also works for the film publicity company, the 2050 Group, is a founding member of the Filipino American Museum, and sits on the advisory board of the Dynasty Project. Liang grew up in Newton, Mass. and lives in the Bronx, New York. “9-Man” is her debut as a director.