| Screengrab from the movie trailer “The Girl Who Left Home”
NEW YORK – Mallorie Ortega’s movie musical, The Girl Who Left Home, will be screened on Wednesday, May 17, at 6:30 p.m. at The Theatre at New York Film Academy, 1st Floor at 17 Battery Place, New York, in downtown Manhattan.
The musical dramedy stars, among others, Haven Everly in the lead role (Christine Santos), Emy Coligado (Mary Santos), Paolo Montalban (Tony), Lora Nicolas Olaes (Megan), Liz Casasola (Bess), Russwin Francisco (Manny), and Mitch Poulos (Dennis). It is about a young Filipina woman who returns home after her father’s sudden passing to face her complicated past. With familial obligations from her mourning mother, Christine must save the family restaurant or pursue her dreams.
The Girl Who Left Home is the first Filipino-American-produced movie musical screened in New York City to celebrate Asian American and Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
After the screening, a Question & Answer will follow with Mallorie Ortega (writer/director/producer), Angelo Santos (producer), and Lora Nicolas Olaes (supporting actress). It will be moderated by Filipina American film producer Cecilia R. Reyes (producer of Yellow Rose). The event is free, but RSVP is required as seats are limited and filling up fast.
Besides The Girl Who Left Home (2020), Mallorie Ortega is also known for the film Mango Sticky Rice (2016), which she directed and won Best Comedy, Best Director, and Best Short in the Asian On Film Festival. The movie is a short musical romance featuring a young woman (Katie) who loves food, and Chris, a restaurant delivery man who has fallen for Katie but doesn’t dare to tell her. Written by Naomi Iwamoto, Mango Sticky Rice stars Mina Son, Topher Park, and George Tsai.
Ortega also directed Song Cupid and produced (assistant line producer) the TV movie Charlie Foxtrot, and the movie shorts, My Loyal Audience and Aphasia. She was also a production designer in several short movies. Such as Tender is the Kiss (2020), The Purple Iris (2020), When Pigs Fly (2017), Solo (2016), Boise (2016), Real Boy (2015), In the Basement (2015), and three episodes of the TV series Warigami (2015).
Watch the movie trailer here.
