Synopsis: MODEL is a stirring family drama that confronts a question that is familiar to all – what in life is truly most important. Lu is a young, self-reliant Chinese immigrant fighting to make a life for herself in New York City. Her hard work seems to pay off when she is offered an internship at the architecture firm of her dreams. The only obstacle is her visa, which will soon expire. Just as she begins to agonize over her lack of options, her estranged father appears with a potential solution. He pleads for her to assume guardianship of the seven-year-old half-brother she has never met, so that the boy can receive life-saving medical care in the U.S. This begrudgingly accepted arrangement, which will allow Lu to remain in the country, in fact does so much more. As she reexamines both her priorities and her past, her outlook is forever changed, and she slowly mends her relationship with the family she left behind.

— Max Wexler

Director's Bio: Born and raised in Beijing, Ran Jing is an award-winning writer and director. She holds a BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and began her professional career as a story artist in the feature animation industry. Her credits include PEANUTS, THE BOOK OF LIFE and the RIO franchise, and she has worked closely with award-winning directors including Jorge R. Gutierrez, Aron Warner, and Carlos Saldanha. Her 2017 live action short film FISH STEW was selected by multiple international film festivals, including HollyShorts, NewFilmmakers NY, and the Chinese American Film Festival. MODEL is Ran’s first feature film.