Year of the Cat

Audience Award, 2025 CAAMFest
Special Jury Prize, Documentary Feature, 2025 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

YEAR OF THE CAT follows Vietnamese-American filmmaker Tony Nguyen as he searches for the identity of his biological father, lost in the aftermath of the Fall of Saigon. Crafted in the style of an investigative home movie, this moving and highly personal documentary delicately intertwines moments of humor and tenderness, offering an intimate account of how children of refugees are impacted by war and loss.

Tony has wondered about his biological father his entire life, even more so after having children of his own. His mother, who gave birth to him upon her arrival to the States in 1975, thinks she knows who the father is, but her memories have been long tainted due to time and traumatic exile. Undeterred, Tony takes it upon himself to trace his roots, picking up clues thanks to 23andMe and the help of an extraordinary ensemble of eager friends, family, and strangers. His search traverses continents and decades, taking us through years of detective work, individual and collective effort, emotional rollercoasters, and hope running out of steam. Throughout, Tony is unapologetically himself, displaying moments of raw emotion, vulnerability, and love. Years in the making, Nguyen offers a space for transformation and healing on his path to confronting generational pain and unpacking inherited trauma.

– Zaza Nguyen