MOCA CINEMA - Pianoman

The Museum of Chinese in America is dedicated to preserving and presenting immigrant experiences while advocating for the community's rights. In celebration of Women's History Month, MOCA is proud to present filmmaker Sunny Liu's poignant documentary, Pianoman, which follows the extraordinary journey of David Avendaño, an undocumented Mexican immigrant. David's dream of building a piano factory in Yonkers, NY, exemplifies resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Despite immense challenges that threaten his livelihood and his family’s unity, David’s determination remains steadfast as he pursues his vision.

Friday, March 14 at 4:30pm - screening only

Friday, March 14 at 7pm - screening, followed by a Q&A session with Filmmaker Sunny Liu

Saturday, March 15 at 2pm - screening only

Saturday, March 15 at 3:30pm - screening only

Sunday, March 16 at 2pm - screening only

Production Team

Sunny Liu: Director / Producer / Cinematographer / Editor and Sound Mixer

Frank Vitale: Co-Producer / Additional Cinematographer

Zhaowei Hu: Associate Producer / Additional Cinematographer

David Huang: Co-Producer

Jasmine Moni Guo: Lead Composer / Music Supervisor

Aleksandar Hadžievski: Additional Composer / Music Mixing

Yijia Zeng: Post-Production Supervisor / Translator / Trailer Editor

Stephish Szuyu Liu: Graphic Designer

Fifi Zhang: Production Assistant / Writing Assistant

Ketevan Beraia: Post-Production Assistant

Mariana Baldó Ayala: Post-Production Assistant / Translator

Sunny Liu is an award-winning filmmaker, pianist/composer, and animator based in New York, celebrated for her commitment to amplifying marginalized voices through powerful, emotionally driven storytelling. A graduate of Emerson College, The New School, and the School of Visual Arts, her work has garnered acclaim at prestigious festivals like the Tribeca Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, and Doc NYC, with additional screenings on Amazon Prime.

Her classical piano background enriches her films with a rhythmic sensibility, allowing her to create narratives that resonate emotionally while maintaining dynamic pacing. This blend of artistic training and technical expertise enables Sunny to navigate multiple roles—including director, producer, cinematographer, editor, and sound mixer—each infused with her precision and heartfelt approach.

Sunny’s work explores critical social issues, shining a light on often-overlooked communities such as individuals with disabilities, those facing mental illness, food insecurity, undocumented immigrants, and the wrongfully incarcerated. Through her storytelling, she fosters dialogue that inspires action, driving community collaboration and advocacy. As an active member of Film Fatales, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, and the Asian American Documentary Network, she champions ethical representation, ensuring that underrepresented voices are heard and respected in the industry.

Looking ahead, Sunny is collaborating on two impactful PBS documentaries and a Hulu film with Emmy-winning filmmakers Luchina Fisher and Elan Bogarin, as well as Emmy-winning journalist Karishma Vyas. Driven by a passion for social change, her mission is to create art that moves audiences and sparks meaningful conversations. By mentoring emerging directors, Sunny helps cultivate a new generation of socially conscious storytellers, ensuring every voice finds its place in the rich tapestry of our shared humanity.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre Street, New York, United States