8Asians | An Asian American collaborative blog

Overview of The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook

I’ve known professor and filmmaker Valerie Soe ever since she started producing her documentary film, Love Boat: Taiwan, where I eventually became a minor producer, interview subject, and archival footage provider. So when I saw that Valerie was going to have her documentary on The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook screened at CAAMFest 2026, I knew I was going to attend in person. A summary of the film:

“What would you do to protect your neighbors?

In March 2020, as COVID-19 exposed deep fractures in the U.S. public health system, performance artist Kristina Wong launched the Auntie Sewing Squad. A grassroots collective of primarily BIPOC women volunteers, the Aunties mobilized virtually with an urgent mission: to protect those most at risk. What began as a few dozen crafty activists quickly grew into a nationwide network of more than 800 volunteers, sewing and donating masks to historically disenfranchised communities of color.

In this feature-length documentary, director Valerie Soe (Love Boat: Taiwan, The Oak Park Story) follows Kristina Wong (Radical Cram School) as she activates a group of self-proclaimed Aunties to transform domestic spaces as sites of resistance. From their sewing machines, they confront systemic inequities head-on, openly discussing feminism, anti-racism, mutual aid, and collective care.

Through acts both intimate and expansive, the Squad – Aunties, Uncles, and non-binary volunteers alike – reimagines what solidarity looks like in a time of crisis. Their living room “sweatshops” not only become engines of radical care to offer protection, but also a powerful blueprint for community-driven action and change.”

Relationship to Kristina Wong’s Sweatshop Overlord

I have seen ‘Kristina Wong – Sweatshop Overlord’ performance in San Francisco back in May of 2024 at American Conservatory Theater (ACT), which was hilarious and amazing,

so I was familiar with the story. The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook provides a lot more background and context with a lot of interviews with those actively involved in the mask making effort.

Film Q&A

What was amazing to see was that not only those involved with the documentary, but also the many people involved with Auntie Sewing Squad were in attendance. During the post-screening Q&A, I sat next to one of the aunties. She was a local (relatively) from San Jose, which is about 50 miles south of San Francisco.

The footage of the shutdown from COVID-19 from 2020 to 2021 brought back some memories. Amazing to think we went through that, with all those who died (approximately 1.1 million) and how we were all waiting for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like masks and for a vaccine.

Kristina and others felt they needed to step up because our government failed. I agree, our government did fail. Aa bigger failure was the long-term outsourcing strategy which exposed how dependent the world is on global supply chains, and that maybe it makes sense to manufacture things locally – what a concept!

It was heartwarming to see how the community was built – mostly online, through Facebook and frequent Zoom meetings. The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook shows how volunteers wanted to help, where they got supplies and how they learned to sew. What was even more interesting to hear where groups were reaching out asking the Auntie Sewing Squad (ASS for short as Kristina had hilariously realized afterwards after naming her effort). ASS made over 350,000 masks with all non-paid volunteers and donated money and contributions of elastic, cloth, and other supplies.

What I’ve always known and what this documentary demonstrated, was that one person can make a difference. In this case, that person was Kristina Wong, Asian American comedian and activist. We all can make a difference in our own way – either as a leader or individual contributor.

How to See the Movie and other Related Information

Unfortunately, the only way to see the film will probably at a screening at a film festival. There are no currently theatrical or online streaming distribution planned yet. You can keep up-to-date with the documentary and any screenings on its official website – https://www.theauntiesewingsquadresistanceplaybook.com/ or via the Facebook Page or Instagram Page.

At the AMC Kabuki 8 theater, Kristina was also selling her book Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism. Kristina didn’t mention about it (or if she did, I didn’t hear about it) and I didn’t get to learn much about it – but I hope to. One reviewer wrote (as posted on the Amazon.com page):

“The colorful layout and distinct chapter projects make this book one that can be used not only to learn about Asian Americans, but to get readers to see the larger structural issues behind racism and other issues in Asian American communities.”

I will have to take a look and maybe write a review in the future.