Cami Kwan's 'Paper Daughter': A Stop-Motion Film About Angel Island Immigration and Family History
By
Destiny Jackson
Summary
An interview with writer/director/animator Cami Kwan about her stop-motion animated short film 'Paper Daughter,' which tells the story of her great-grandmother Joy Dep Chan, who immigrated from China through Angel Island in 1926 by assuming another girl's identity. The film explores the sacrifices of Chinese immigrants and the intergenerational impact of those decisions. The article covers the film's handcrafted stop-motion production, its personal family origins, and its premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
Source
DeadlineCami Kwan's 'Paper Daughter': A Stop-Motion Film About Angel Island Immigration and Family Historydeadline.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledPaper Daughter began with a story that had lived in her family for generations.
Inspired by her great-grandmother Joy Dep Chan, who immigrated from China through Angel Island in 1926 by assuming another girl's identity, the stop-motion animated short explores the sacrifices Chinese immigrants made in pursuit of a better future and the generations shaped by those decisions.
Paper Daughter follows a young girl named Joy as she sets sail toward America, where she must take on another identity to begin a new life.
You might also wanna read
Taiwan Secures 4 Official Selections at Annecy 2026, Brings 25 Projects to MIFA Market
Taiwan is making a strong showing at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival and MIFA market, with four official competition s
Variety·11d ago
Review: Beth Macy's "Paper Girl" Examines Rural-Urban Divide in America
The article reviews Beth Macy's new book "Paper Girl: A Memoir of Home and Family in a Fractured America," which examines the political and
newyorker.com·8mo ago
'In Waves' Review: Stunning Animation Can't Save a Clichéd Coming-of-Age Story
A review of Phuong Mai Nguyen's animated film "In Waves," based on AJ Dungo's graphic memoir. The film tells the story of shy teenager AJ wh
IndieWire·1mo ago
Hoi Chan's Artistic Evolution: Exploring Light, Color and Translucency in New Orleans
This article profiles artist Hoi Chan, a Chinese-born visual artist who graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York and relocated t
Creative Boom·8mo ago
Gkids Acquires North American Rights to Wartime Anime 'Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood'
Gkids has acquired North American rights to 'Cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood,' a wartime animated drama directed by Ina Yukimitsu and based
Variety·10d ago
Kogonada's Hong Kong-Set Film 'Zi' Acquired by Parallax Films for International Distribution
Director Kogonada's latest film "Zi," set in Hong Kong, has been acquired by Parallax Films for international sales outside North America. T
Variety·12d ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.