Quiz Lady

Official Selection, 2023 Toronto International Film Festival

It’s time for Anne to face her destiny. She’s been watching the show Can’t Stop the Quiz for decades, and her brain contains an encyclopedia of trivia. She would never dare take her quiz show love outside her living room, but circumstances have changed. Her mom has absconded to Macau, leaving her and her sister Jenny with gambling debts payable to a loan shark very likely to abduct Anne’s beloved pug as ransom. Anne has stage fright (and sweaty pits), but Jenny will do whatever it takes to get Anne a seat on Can’t Stop the Quiz (social media, kidnapping, a purse full of drugs).

Such a scenario already anticipates comedy gold. Awkwafina and Sandra Oh guarantee it. As Anne, Awkwafina is the straight-man with the hunched back, the would-be normal person in a world of oddball neighbors and awful coworkers, if not for her own homebody quiz show obsession. As Jenny, Sandra Oh confirms what we’ve already suspected: that we are all just living in a Sandra Oh world. A revved engine dressed like a thrift shop Spice Girl, she’ll settle for 70% of her dreams, usually won through desperate ploys or the fanciful power of “manifesting.” Together they are the dream odd couple, a future classic Asian American comic duo.

Directed by Oscar-winner Jessica Yu (Ping Pong Playa, SDAFF ’08), QUIZ LADY piles on the sibling hijinks and celebrity appearances, and somehow along the way affirms our love for dogs, live TV, Philadelphia, and sisters strapped in for adventure.

– Brian Hu

Director Jessica Yu scheduled to attend.
Screening to be followed by a Q&A.

Admission includes special receptions:
6:00pm–7:00pm Pre-Screening Reception
9:00pm–11:00pm Post-Screening After Party

Spotlight Sponsor: Proven Recruiting.

Reception Sponsor: East West Bank.

Underwriter: Asian and Pacific Islander Alumni Council – UC San Diego