The independent drama QUEEN(S), written and directed by Anup Kurian, will open at Kew Gardens Cinemas in Queens, New York, on November 13, 2026, launching a week-long theatrical engagement through November 19.
Produced by Shanti Bandaru and Deepa Nair, the film stars Chi Hua Lee-Secci, Dana Pan, and Bill Engst. The drama centers on Sisi, an undocumented immigrant living in Queens who navigates precarious work, isolation, and the pursuit of a better future while building connections that become an unlikely family.
Filmed over a three-year period in New York City and Southeast Asia, QUEEN(S) follows Sisi’s journey between the city she calls home and the village she continues to dream about. Told primarily in Mandarin with English subtitles, the film presents an immigrant perspective rarely seen in mainstream portrayals of New York, asking a central question: “What does it mean to be an American?”
Through intimate performances and immersive cinematography, the film explores issues of identity, belonging, and the realities faced by undocumented communities. It also examines the promises and limitations of the American Dream through the experiences of those often overlooked by the systems that rely on their labor.
The Queens engagement follows the film’s successful Minneapolis launch on September 17, where sold-out screenings were held at Riverview and Emagine theaters in partnership with nine local advocacy and community organizations.
QUEEN(S) is being released through the Civic Cinema initiative, which seeks to connect socially relevant films with organizations addressing related issues in local communities. As part of the initiative, 50% of the producers’ share of box office revenue will be donated to partner organizations in each release market.
Participating New York organizations include UnLocal, Red Canary Song, the Asian American Bar Association of New York, and Safe Horizon, among others.
Additional city engagements are expected to be announced during the same release week.
Film Information
- Title: QUEEN(S)
- Writer/Director: Anup Kurian
- Producers: Shanti Bandaru, Deepa Nair
- Cast: Chi Hua Lee-Secci, Dana Pan, Bill Engst
- Runtime: 120 minutes
- Languages: English and Mandarin
- Subtitles: English
- Opening Date: November 13, 2026
- Location: Kew Gardens Cinemas, Queens, New York
- Filmed: New York City and Southeast Asia (2022–2025)
Synopsis:
Sisi, an undocumented immigrant living in Queens, takes on the work others ignore while searching for dignity, belonging, and stability. As she forms unexpected bonds and struggles to navigate a system that offers little margin for error, she must reconcile the life she has built in America with the dreams she left behind.
