We are very happy to announce that one of our clients, Stefanos Tai will premiere his feature film “We Don’t Dance For Nothing” at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival (Canada) on May 10, 2022 (Tuesday | 8:15 pm) at the The Cinematheque (1131 Howe St, Vancouver, BC).

Cast: Miles Sible, Xyza Cada, Chaya Joyce Baris, Marie Cornelio, Vinia Pamplona, Anna Agawa, Reagan Cornelio, Andrew Baris (Miss Powers), Juliana Wong, Gratiano Wong, Bianca Lo, Baron Lo.

We Don’t Dance for Nothing is a photo-montage love letter to the Filipina domestic workers of Hong Kong. Stefanos Tai’s film follows a young domestic worker who wants to break free and follow her dreams of independence, love and motherhood. Captured on Super 16 during the Hong Kong protests of2019, the film’s imagery is a blend of stills and live-action footage. Tai touches upon LGBTQ+ themes, issues of workers’ rights, and Hong Kong’s changing political landscape, capturing moments of joy amidst struggle. By vividly expressing the entrapment felt by Filipina domestic workers and the freedom they find in dance, Tai’s film moves beyond media (mis)representations of their community and shows them as people full of talent, joy and grace. (DOXA Doc Film Festival 2022)

Director’s Statement:
After four years in Hong Kong, beyond all the neon, urban density and mountains, only one thing has never ceased to amaze me: the way thousands of Filipina Domestic Workers (“helpers”) publicly celebrate their off-days.
Walking down these crowded Sunday streets, I asked myself: How can these women, often abused and treated as second class citizens, dance each minute with such zest? How do these unlikely heroes summon so much love, joy, and humanity in the face of enormous struggle? And how have their beauty and passion never been represented properly on film?
I began to research their stories. I became their friend. I joined them in dance and witnessed the selfless ways they mother their employers’ children”. I have been a part of their joy, felt their fears, and heard their heartbreak.
They are my heroes, and I believe their stories to be essential. This film is my love letter to them. – Stefanos Tai

Screening Dates:
May 10, 2022 | Tuesday | The Cinematheque (Vancouver) | 8:15 pm
May 14, 2022 | Saturday | The Cinematheque (Vancouver) | 3:45 pm
The film will be available online during the festival

Trailer:

For more information about the screenings and the DOXA festival please visit: https://www.doxafestival.ca/

About the director:
Stefanos Tai is a Chinese – Greek – American director raised by dancers in New York. His works are intensely anthropological, and he spends years immersing himself in a community before daring to show its complexity and grace on screen.
His debut feature is the culmination of many dialogues and remembrances with Filiipina Domestic Workers in Hong Kong. Through the combination of still images, recreated/real events, and high-octane dance scenes, the film is the world’s first hybrid “photo-montage” feature.
His shorts have screened at Tribeca, BAM, Cinequest, Savannah, Woodstock, Harvard, and others.
He’s also directed branded content in the Google Creative Lab and TBWA\; clients include Breguet, Hennessy, Kipling, Li & Fung, and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The film has also been selected for the Inside Out LGBTQ+ Film Festival which will take place from May 26 until June 5, 2022 in cinemas and online. You can catch the film on May 29, Sunday, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox 1 (350 King Street West at John Street, Toronto) at 6:45 pm – More info here: https://insideout.ca/

Follow We Don’t Dance for Nothing on social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WDDFN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wedontdancefornothing/

Credits:
Featured Dancers: Anson Bean; John Maguigad; Natalie Law; Nishien Valdejueza; Jenny Suen; Jhoshwa Ledesma; Margaret Enriquez, Russell Aranza, Dea Puentespina, Rhys Torres, Chrishna Tumbaga, Steven Lee, Annika Mo, Benedict Wan, Whampy Cordero, Eliana Mary Suarez, Janesa De Guzman, and Larissa Mui.
Producer: Paloma Choque
Executive Producer: Roger Young, Mariel Mendoza
Producer Designer: Catherine Wu
Co-Producer: Lukas Borovicka
Associate Producers: Katrina Chen, Malah Quinay, Vanko Ng
Editor: Makamoto
Sound Design: Jack Tse
Music: Bill Liang
Additional Music: Justin Porteous
Director of Photography: Ran Zhang
Costume Design: Jhoshwa Ledesma
Choreographers: Jennifer Chiang, Lauren Beare

What we did for Stefanos Tai?
We kept him updated on the latest call for entries from international film festivals. We also helped him in taking key decisions to implement a strategized submission plan that will maximize his chances to get screened at top events. We are very happy he was able to get a great Premiere at the Doxa Film Festival and future screenings this year. As always, we are here to help filmmakers, so if you have having problems or inquiries on how to plan your submissions send us a message: https://asianfilmfestivals.com/contact/