Directed By Jess Dang
USA | Narrative | 90 min
East Coast Premiere
This screening will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A.
In this poignant and gritty debut feature film, SURRENDER follows Naomi, a young Asian American woman whose life is disrupted by her secret gambling addiction. As she navigates her struggles, Naomi confronts feelings of denial and shame, which affect her relationships with family, colleagues, and herself. Ultimately, she reaches a breaking point and must decide between a path of destruction or one of self-love.
Friday, August 08 2025
8:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Regal Union Square - Auditorium 14
850 Broadway
New York, NY
Strong language
English, Chinese (Mandarin)
English
East Coast Premiere
2025
90 minutes
Coming-of-Age, Drama, Family
Narrative
USA
Jess Dang
Jess Dang is a Chinese-American writer and director based in Los Angeles. Her debut feature film, SURRENDER—featuring Andrea Bang from Kim's Convenience and Keiko Agena from Gilmore Girls—premiered as the opening night film at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival in May 2025. SURRENDER is currently making its way through the festival circuit. Dang aims to amplify Asian voices and highlight underrepresented communities by exploring social justice, humanitarian progress, and mental health themes. Jess has an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts and a BFA from Parsons School of Design.
Jessica Olthof
Darren Haruo Rae
Jess Dang
Andrea Bang
Fiona Fu
Keiko Agena
Cici Lau
Executive Producer: Andrea Bang
Director of Photography: B. Rubén Mendoza
Editor: Faroukh Virani
Production Designer: Justine Ellen Chen
Composer: Tangelene Bolton
Sound Designer: Sung Rok Choi
Costume Design: Tina Trinh