Chowmein Holiday by Lanhua Ma Wins Silver in A’ Movie, Video and Animation Design Award

Dark Comedy Short Film Reimagining Asian American Grandmothers Receives International Design Recognition

COMO, CO, ITALY, September 16, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The A’ Design Award has announced Chowmein Holiday by Lanhua Ma as a Silver winner in the Movie, Video and Animation Design category. The A’ Movie, Video and Animation Design Award is one of the highly respected international design competitions, recognizing works that demonstrate excellence and innovation within the film and animation fields. This recognition acknowledges Chowmein Holiday as an outstanding example of good design, selected through a rigorous evaluation process. The achievement positions the short live action film among notable contributions to contemporary cinema. The honor reflects the careful craft and original vision invested in the project.

The Silver A’ Design Award for Chowmein Holiday holds relevance for the broader film industry by spotlighting narratives that challenge conventional representation. The film responds to an evident need for more complex portrayals of elderly women and underrepresented cultural identities on screen. By blending dark comedy with grounded emotional arcs, the work aligns with current trends toward culturally resonant independent storytelling. Audiences and industry professionals alike benefit from narratives that expand the range of characters typically given prominence. The recognition underscores the value of fresh perspectives that broaden cinematic conventions.

Chowmein Holiday follows two Asian American grandmothers, Li Ling and May, as they embark on an exhilarating crime spree across California. During this journey, one discovers a new purpose in life, while the other harbors a hidden secret from her partner in crime. The film distinguishes itself through its delicate tonal balance between absurd dark comedy and genuine emotional depth, ensuring the protagonists feel believable rather than caricatured. Realized entirely through high definition digital cinema technology, the production captured the vibrant, sun drenched aesthetics of the California landscape using advanced cinema cameras and professional grade lenses. Sophisticated post production workflows, including precise color grading and dynamic editing, sustain the energetic pacing of the narrative.

This Silver A’ Design Award recognition may inspire future projects that continue to subvert cinematic stereotypes and explore the intersection of aging, cultural identity, and personal liberation. The honor offers encouragement for further exploration of narratives that center voices often overlooked in mainstream cinema. For the filmmaker, the recognition serves as motivation to pursue continued innovation in storytelling and craft. It reinforces a commitment to creating work that resonates across cultures while maintaining authentic emotional cores.

Project Members
Chowmein Holiday was created by Lanhua Ma, who directed and shaped the creative vision behind the dark comedy short film.

Interested parties may learn more about the award-winning design at the dedicated page on the A’ Design Award website, where additional details about the work and its creator are available. The page offers a closer look at the film, its production, and its recognition.
https://competition.adesignaward.com/ada-winner-design.php?ID=183087

About Lanhua Ma
Lanhua Ma is an emerging international award-winning filmmaker and one of China’s notable young female directors. Her short film, There is Honor among Thieves, won best experimental film at the Chinese First International Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2019. The work later screened at the Tokyo Image Forum Film Festival in Japan and the Seashorts Festival in Malaysia in 2020. Lanhua Ma is from China.

About Iris Lanhua Ma
Iris Lanhua Ma is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles, United States. Her practice spans narrative and experimental film, with a focus on culturally resonant storytelling. Through her work, she explores complex characters and unconventional perspectives within contemporary cinema.

About the Silver A’ Design Award Recognition
The Silver A’ Design Award recognizes designs that demonstrate excellence and innovation within their field. Within the Movie, Video and Animation Design category, entries are evaluated against criteria including originality of concept, narrative clarity, visual aesthetics, sound design, character development, cinematography, editing, scriptwriting, cultural relevance, social message significance, and audience engagement. Recipients are acknowledged for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. The designation reflects strong technical characteristics, artistic skill, and creative insight. Works granted this recognition illustrate notable expertise and a meaningful impact on their discipline.

About A’ Design Award
The A’ Movie, Video and Animation Design Award is an internationally recognized design competition that welcomes a wide range of participants, including brands, filmmakers, design agencies, companies, and manufacturers within the animation and design industries. Entries are evaluated through a blind peer review process and voted upon according to pre-established criteria by a world class jury panel comprising design professionals, film industry experts, journalists, academics, and designers. Organized since 2008 and now in its 18th year, the A’ Design Award is a juried competition open to entries from all countries and across all industries. The ultimate aim of the A’ Design Award is to recognize and promote superior products and projects that advance and benefit society, driven by a philanthropic mission to create a better world through the power of good design. Interested parties may learn more about the A’ Design Award, explore the jury, view past laureates, and take part with their projects at the following url: https://moviedesignaward.com

Makpal Bayetova
A’ DESIGN AWARD & COMPETITION SRL
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