Chowmein Holiday Fíìmù Kúkúrú by Lanhua Ma is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award in Àpẹẹrẹ Fíìmù, Fídíò àti Àwòrán Alààyè Competition Category.
FàdákàFíìmù· 2026
Chowmein Holiday Fíìmù Kúkúrú
by Lanhua Ma
Client: Iris Lanhua Ma
Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award Winner in Fíìmù Category
- 30,496
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #183087
The Design
About Chowmein Holiday Fíìmù Kúkúrú
Chowmein Holiday jẹ́ fíìmù kúkúrú awada aláwọ̀ dúdú nípa àwọn ìyá àgbà Amẹ́ríkà tí wọ́n jẹ́ ará Éṣíà méjì, Li Ling àti May, tí wọ́n lọ sí ìrìn àjò ojú ọ̀nà káàkiri California. Àwọn ẹni méjèèjì bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí í ṣe onírúurú ìwà ọ̀daràn nígbà ìrìn àjò náà. Ìyá àgbà kan rí ìdí tuntun fún ìgbésí ayé rẹ̀, nígbà tí èkejì ń pa àṣírí kan mọ́ lọ́wọ́ alábàáṣiṣẹ́pọ̀ rẹ̀ nínú ìwà ọ̀daràn. Wọ́n ṣe fíìmù náà láti béèrè ìbéèrè nípa àwọn èrò àṣàkasà tí ó wọ́pọ̀ nínú sinimá nípa àwọn obìnrin àgbàlagbà. A fi àwọn ìyá àgbà Amẹ́ríkà ará Éṣíà hàn kìí ṣe gẹ́gẹ́ bí ẹni ìdákẹ́jẹ́ tàbí ẹni onírẹ̀lẹ̀, ṣùgbọ́n gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn ọlọ̀tẹ̀ tí ń wá òmìnira, adùn ìgbádùn àti ìtumọ̀ tuntun ní ìgbà ọjọ́ ogbó wọn. Àkókò tí fíìmù náà gbà jẹ́ ìṣẹ́jú mọ́kànlélógún.
The Recognition
About the Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award
Chowmein Holiday Fíìmù Kúkúrú jẹ́ olùborí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award, ìdánimọ̀ onípọ̀nlé lọ́nà àrà ọ̀tọ̀ tí a fún àwọn àwòṣe ìpele gíga jùlọ tó dára tó sì ń kan ọkàn. Àwọn olùborí Fàdákà jẹ́ àwọn iṣẹ́ tó ń tàn yòò gidigidi tó sì ní ìṣẹ̀dá púpọ̀ tí wọ́n ń ṣàfihàn ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀, ẹ̀bùn àti ìmọ̀ràn àwọn olùṣàwòṣe wọn. A retí pé Chowmein Holiday Fíìmù Kúkúrú yóò jẹ́ iṣẹ́ àgbàyanu, àpẹẹrẹ rere, ti ọ̀jáfáfá lọ́nà tó ṣe pàtàkì tó sì ní ìmúṣẹ̀dá tuntun jinlẹ̀. Àwòṣe tó borí Àmì-ẹ̀yẹ Fàdákà A' Design Award yìí jẹ́ ohun ìmúṣẹ̀dá tó hàn gbangba gidigidi tí a mọrírì tó ń ṣe anfàní tó sì ń tì ààlà iṣẹ́ ọnà, sáyẹ́ǹsì, àwòṣe àti ìmọ̀-ẹ̀rọ síwájú. Chowmein Holiday Fíìmù Kúkúrú jẹ́ ẹ̀dá tí ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ń ṣe ìlara, tó ń jí ìfẹ́ inú, tó ń mú ìmọ̀lára rere wá tó sì ń jí ìyàlẹ́nu àti ìyanu.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- Chowmein Holiday is a dark comedy following two Asian American grandmas, Li Ling and May, on a wild road trip. They embark on an exhilarating crime spree across California. During this journey, one discovers a new purpose in life, while the other harbors a hidden secret from her partner in crime.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Medium: Digital Video 4K. Genre: Dark Comedy Short Film. Total Running Time: 21 minutes. Visuals: Full Color. Aspect Ratio: 2.85:1. Audio: Stereo and Surround Sound Mix. Release Year: 2025. Country of Origin: United States. Language: English.
- Tags
- Dark Comedy, Short Film, Asian American Cinema, Elderly Protagonists, Grandmas, Road Trip Movie, Crime Spree, California Landscapes, Female Empowerment, Rebellion, Aging and Identity, Iris Lanhua Ma, Independent Filmmaking, Cinematic Storytelling
- Production Technology
- The project was realized entirely through high definition digital cinema technology. The production utilized advanced digital cinema cameras and professional grade lenses to capture the vibrant, sun drenched aesthetics of the California landscape. The realization process involved sophisticated on location sound recording, dynamic lighting setups to enhance the dark comedic tone, and comprehensive post production workflows. This included precise color grading to reflect the shifting moods of the journey, digital sound mixing, and seamless editing techniques to maintain the energetic pacing of a crime spree narrative.
- Design Challenge
- The primary creative challenge lay in mastering the delicate tonal balance between absurd dark comedy and genuine emotional depth. It was crucial to ensure that the criminal actions of the two grandmas felt believable and rooted in their desperate search for purpose, rather than coming across as mere caricature. Furthermore, executing a dynamic road trip narrative within the constraints of an independent short film format required rigorous logistical planning. The team had to overcome the challenges of shooting across multiple California locations while maintaining visual consistency and keeping the emotional core of the two protagonists at the forefront of every single scene.
- Research
- The foundational research for this project deeply examined the intersection of aging, cultural identity, and the psychology of female rebellion. The creator conducted qualitative observations regarding the lived experiences and unspoken frustrations of elderly Asian American women, exploring how societal invisibility can act as a catalyst for radical behavior. Additionally, the research encompassed a structural analysis of successful dark comedies and buddy road movies, studying how to effectively blend absurd criminal situations with authentic, grounded emotional arcs to create a culturally resonant and highly entertaining narrative.
- Inspiration
- The film is inspired by the desire to subvert traditional cinematic stereotypes of elderly women. It reimagines Asian American grandmas not as quiet or docile figures, but as complex, rebellious individuals seeking liberation, thrill, and new meaning in their later years through an unconventional adventure.
- Project Duration
- Principal photography and production took place across various scenic and urban locations throughout Southern California, United States, using the diverse landscapes to visually represent the characters' physical and emotional journey. The final digital film is slated for its official premiere and festival circuit run in the year 2025, screened at LA Shorts.
- Operation Flow
- The audience is immediately thrust into a fast paced, visually engaging twenty one minute cinematic experience. The narrative flow is meticulously structured to balance moments of high stakes criminal activity with quiet, character driven interactions. Viewers interact with the film emotionally, experiencing a rollercoaster of dark humor, shock, and profound empathy. The pacing accelerates as the road trip progresses, mirroring the escalating tension of the hidden secret, ultimately guiding the audience toward a thought provoking and emotionally resonant climax.
- Patents
- Copyright All rights reserved by Lanhua Ma.
- Team Members
- Lanhua Ma
- Image Credits
- Images courtesy of Iris Lanhua Ma
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
