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By: Monica De Mesa, Alan Lam, Eric Militaru, Minh Tan Trinh, Siqi Li and Carlos Montoya-Aviles
Course: IAT 443 Senior Project in Creative Media

Description: "Hot Tofu, Ôngbà" is a short film/pilot episode to our docuseries called "Hot Tofu". The Hot Tofu series is a heartfelt exploration of the immigrant experience in Metro Vancouver, told through the lens of food, culture, and entrepreneurship. The idiom "Hasty people don’t get to eat hot tofu" serves as a metaphor for the immigrant journey, which demands patience and perseverance. This pilot episode looks at the stories of Ôngbà restaurant owner Viet Bach Nguyen and head chef (and wife of Viet) Quynh Anh Pham. Their story touches on family love, resilience through challenge, and the power of hospitality to nurture community. (The short film is not currently published as we will be submitting the film to several film festivals).