Home Court

Best Documentary Feature, 2024 Austin Asian American Film Festival

Remember the name Ashley Chea. Insanely shifty on the ball and dangerous anywhere on the court with her high basketball IQ, she is everything you’d want in a point guard. But to truly understand what makes Ashley special, you have to watch her on and off the hardwood. In HOME COURT, director Erica Tanamachi weaves together the history of Japanese and Asian American basketball, the immigrant story of one Cambodian American family and their donut shop, and the incredible story of Flintridge Prep’s Ashley Chea, a passionate and relentless basketball prodigy who redefines what it means to be an Asian American baller.

Ashley’s passion was fostered by her dad who fell in love with basketball watching mid-90’s NBA. Enter Jayme Kiyomura Chan, a coach that every high school athlete deserves but very few get. Carrying with her the storied legacy of Asian American basketball, Chan goes above and beyond and becomes an integral part of shaping Ashley into sport greatness.

HOME COURT takes us through Ashley’s highs and lows of being both a D1 athlete and a teenager, from facing a tough injury during her sophomore year to competing at the prestigious McDonald’s All-American Camp, then searching for the right university for her professional journey. Intertwining the rich history of Asian American basketball with the relatable challenges of growing up, HOME COURT is a moving and celebratory tribute to those who break barriers and redefine expectations, both on and off the court.

– Matthias Hong

Co-presented by California Association of Asian and Pasifika Leaders in Education in partnership with San Diego County Office of Education Asian American and Educators Network.