Never fade away
Never Fade Away is the moving true story about a young Chinese immigrant who escapes his homeland in the 1940's during the Japanese Invasion, comes to America with nothing but his hopes and dreams, and how a radio and a waltz changes his life. Told through narration, music and dance, this short film shines a light on the healing power of music as well as the power of the immigrant experience. Featuring history-making dancer Chun Wai Chan and the exquisite ballerina Xiaoxiao Cao, their stunning pas de deux at the end will take your breath away. This story of heritage will bring you to tears and the music and dance will make your heart soar.
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DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
What started out as a love letter to my parents, has since turned into an homage to all those who came here before us- the diverse community of people from all backgrounds living in America- a country where dreams can come true. The story’s themes are universal: the healing power of music and the profound impact of the immigrant experience. It is a testament to the resilience and hope that define our shared journey.
Never Fade Away is archived at the Bob Hope Memorial Library at Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island in perpetuity by the National Park Service for use in permanent and temporary exhibits, for loan to other institutions, and for research by historians and others interested in the Statue of Liberty and American immigration.
Now streaming on PBS Rhode Island's Emmy award-winning series ART Inc.:
Never Fade Away, winner of 44 laurels from film festivals world wide.
The Love Letter, a short segment about Donna Weng Friedman's emotional journey as writer, director and producer of Never Fade Away.
articles
Roma Cinephilia Magazine:Films You Must Not Miss
NEVER FADE AWAY Review : Critical Dance by Jerry Hochman
Hope, Dreams, and the Healing Power of Music “Never Fade Away”
NEVER FADE AWAY AT THE UTAH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
MOCA Cinema Presents Never Fade Away
NEVER FADE AWAY WITH MAGEE HICKEY, WPIX 11 News
NEVER FADE AWAY, Donna Weng Friedman with Lucy Yang on ABC NEWS
Woman Around Town-Donna Weng Friedman and Ariel Grossman: Never Fade Away
Pointe Magazine: Chun Wai Chan Talks About His Role in Never Fade Away:
NFA on Asian American Life, CUNY TV with Kyung Yoon
Film Festival Awards, 2023
Best NYC Film: NYC Downtown Short Film Festival
Best USA Short: New York International Immigration Film Festival
Best Musical Documentary Short: American Filmatic Arts Awards
Best Soundtrack:
London Indie Film Festival
Best Original Script: Athens International Art Film Festival
Best Debut Filmmaker:
London Indie Film Festival
Indo French International Film Festival
Best Short Documentary:
Indo French International Film Festival
Indie Short Film Festival
Best Cinematography: Garrett Parker; London Indie Film Festival
Best Film Score: London Indie Film Festival
Best Female Filmmaker: New Jersey Film Awards
Best Editor: New Jersey Film Awards
Best Inspirational Film: New Jersey Film Awards
Best Movie Poster: New Jersey Film Awards
Finalist - Best First Time Director (Female): Indie Short Film Fest
SEMI-FINALIST:
Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival
Paris International Short Film Festival
Chicago Independent Film Awards
Honorable Mention:
Independent Short Film Festival: Best First Time Director (Female)
Greece International Film Festival- Best Short Documentary
London Indie Film Festival- Best Short Documentary
Nominated:
Best Short Documentary:
Queens World Film Festival
Winter Film Awards
New York Odyssey Film Festival
Fescilmar Festival Venezuela
Orion International Film Festival
Utah Film Festival, Best BIPOC Filmmaker
Selected:
Winter Film Awards International Film Festival:
screening at LOOK Cinemas, NYC, Saturday February 24, 2024
screening at the Museum of the Moving Image
Roma Short Film Festival
Cannes World Film Festival
Ketchikan Dance Film Festival
Indian Independent Film Festival
New York International Immigration Film Festival: Award winner
(screening and awards ceremony Jan 13, 2024)
Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Documentary Short: IndieX Film Festival
Outstanding Achievement Award for Best Screendance Short: Indie Short Film Fest
Silver Medal Best Screendance Short: Independent Short Film Festival
Credits
Writer, Director, Producer:Donna Weng Friedman
Cinematographer: Garrett Parker
Editor: Siyi Chen
Choreographer of Waltz: Ariel Grossman
Solo dance, Chun Wai Chan
Dancers: Chun Wai Chan and Xiaoxiao Cao
Mijo Chang, as young Donna
Narration: Donna Weng Friedman
Vocal Narration Producer: David Frost
Sound Mixer: William Hsieh
Skillman Music Recording Studio
Craig Friedman: Duck Installation Specialist
Music: Performed by Donna Weng Friedman
Audio Recording Engineer David Merrill
Waltz in C sharp minor by Frederic Chopin
Prelude by Beata Moon
Space Between the Fish and the Moon by Chinary Ung
Production coordinator Deborah Corrales
Film Consultant: Hao Wu
Poster: Xiran Luo
Made possible by the generous donations from:
Melissa Ko and Douglas Hahn Family Foundation
The Yen Family Charitable Foundation
Polsinelli Law Firm
Women Who Innovate Grant
Special thanks:
Ariel Rivka Dance
WQXR
Living Archives
Chi Li
Chris Hegedus
Steve Weng
Craig Friedman
Jean Tsien
Frazer Pennebaker
Mary Engel
