Growing up in Oakland’s hip-hop culture, Eng struggles with her Chinese American identity. To her high school basketball team, she’s just that girl who sits on the bench; but to the Asian kids she’s "Americanized." As her sophomore year of high school comes to an end, Eng tries to find a sense of belonging within the two worlds that don't accept her.

Director's Bio:

Erica is a fifth-generation Chinese American director based out of Los Angeles. Erica’s latest film “Americanized” took home a Special Jury Award at Palm Springs International ShortFest and won "Best Short Film" at Bentonville Film Festival. The film based on her experiences playing high school basketball became Oscar-qualified after winning “Best Dramatic Short” at Cinequest.  Erica’s commercial work has been recognized as AdAge’s "Editor's Pick" and “Pick of the Week.” She was selected for SHOOT Magazine's New Directors Showcase and the Commercial Directors Diversity Program – a fellowship partnered with the Directors Guild of America and the Association of Independent Commercial Producers. Since then, Erica has directed content for Facebook, Netflix, NBC Asian America, Bank of America, and Procter & Gamble.

Inspired by her Oakland roots, Erica creates work that reflects the diverse community in which she grew up. As a student, she used her winnings at the San Francisco International Film Festival to buy camera gear and shoot videos around the bay area. Erica moved to Los Angeles where she worked her way up the assistant ladder before becoming the executive assistant to the Academy-nominated director, Michael Mann. She spent six years balancing work with her own projects before taking the leap to become a full-time director.

Erica’s combined background in film and dance influences the rhythm and energy behind her emotional storytelling. Through her character-driven films, she creates stories that explore themes of cross-cultural relationships, acceptance and self-discovery.