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

LITTLE MAO debuts in Latin America at Rincon International Film Festival

 Hola comrades!

Little Mao makes its Latin American premiere at Puerto Rico's Rincon International Film Festival on Tuesday. On April 9, it will play at 1:45 at the Villa Cofresi Resort. In its sixth year, Rincon is the largest film festival in tropical Puerto Rico.

photo by Maloney Aguirre

"I am proud to be unveiling my film in the homeland of legendary Blue Jays Roberto Alomar and Carlos Delgado," beamed Chairman Bobby (Kevin Wang above) from Toronto.

The Rincon screening takes place on the same week as the ReelWorld screening on April 13 in Toronto, and a few weeks before Little Mao graces the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival at the same time that star Ariyena Sorani (Comrade Cindy) may pick up a trophy at the Young Artists Awards.

Only one week into April (and the baseball season, hence this metaphor), Little Mao has hit a single, a double and a triple.  Can it deliver a home run to complete the cycle?  Stay tuned, comrades...

LITTLE MAO goes Hollywood

On the heels of conquering San Francisco, Little Mao will now storm Hollywood.  Little Mao will play the LA Asian Pacific Film Fest on May 3 and 4.  No word yet on whether Chairman Bobby will stroll the red carpet, "but it's the right colour," he sagely noted.

Comrade Cindy (Ariyena Sorani) looks west to Tinseltown

The screenings perfectly complement Comrade Ariyena Sorani (aka Koh)'s nomination for Best Actress at the Young Artists Awards taking place in Studio City on May 5.  Here's to a clean sweep in L.A!

Little Mao star earns Best Actress nomination in Hollywood

Ariyena Sorani (aka Ariyena Koh) has been nominated for Best Actress under age 10 in a short film at the Young Artists Awards.  Ariyena excelled as Chairman Bobby's younger, wiser sister Cindy in Little Mao.  Ariyena competes against 18 other talented actresses in this category.  The winner will be announced on Sunday, May 5, 2013 in the Empire Ballroom of the Sportsmen's Lodge Hotel, Studio City, California.

Congratulations, comrade Ariyena!