WRITER + DIRECTOR
PEILIN KUO
You can make a tax deductible charitable donation to Asian CineVision, a 501c3 non-profit organization to support this film.
Peilin Kuo is an award-winning writer/director, born and raised in Taiwan. After graduating with a degree in theater, Peilin directed, edited, produced music videos, commercial spots, and television in Taipei. Peilin is now a New York based filmmaker.
Her first short film, everyday won the "Someone to Watch 2005" award from CineWomen NY and was broadcast by PBS “Reel New York Film Festival” in 2007. Her short film Prescott Place was nominated for the “Excellence in Short Filmmaking” award at the Asian American International Film Festival 2011. This film was also an official selection at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2012 and won an "Honorable Mention" award from Asians On Film Festival 2012.
Her latest short film Once Upon a Time in the Bamboo, a fantasy martial arts film, won the “Best Super Short Award” from NJ International Short Film Festival 2021, was a Nominee of the “Best Short Short Award” at Queens World Film Festival 2021 and was a finalist for “Best Narrative Short” competition at Cinelounge Presents International Film Festival 2021.
Director's Statement
GAN BEI 乾杯 is partially based on my own experience. As an immigrant, I often feel like I'm caught between two worlds. We come to America to pursue our dreams but there are many sacrifices and regrets that have been left behind. Sometimes we look back and suddenly realize we have missed something that’s truly meaningful and important.
We often see movies that have characters come from outside America to explore their journeys in the land of America, but not many the other way around. This movie follows an Asian American young woman who goes back to her motherland in search of the meaning of love.
The idea is to cooperate with actors in the process of filming. Instead of making a scripted story look real, I believe the actors can bring authenticity to the characters and the story.