The world premiere of director and filmmaker Sunny Zhao’s highly anticipated independent feature The Gift screened to a packed theater of industry and celebrity guests, cementing its status as one of the hottest premieres in Hollywood this year. More than 350 industry professionals, domestic and international media crews — including Variety, which co-sponsored the event — and fashion luminaries attended the unforgettable evening.
The film was released theatrically on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025.
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The premiere featured an expansive outdoor red carpet in the heart of Hollywood, highlighted by red-and-gold décor and a stunning 24-foot step-and-repeat backdrop for VIP arrivals. Executive Producer Phoenix Han welcomed guests and greeted media on the carpet in a striking, elegant look.
Inside the theater, from the opening scene to the closing frame, Zhao’s storytelling, emotional depth and stunning cinematic visuals captivated the audience, culminating in a powerful finale.
The event was hosted by television host and comedian Jaime Monroy, whose charisma and lively audience interaction kept the Q&A session energetic and engaging.
During the Q&A, filmmaker Sunny Zhao shared heartfelt insights into his creative vision and personal inspiration behind the film, referencing his own closing quote:
“Sometimes only melody could say more, and sometimes only love could heal us.”
Zhao was joined on stage by cast members Elyse Dufour (Adult Abigail Phillips), Eric Brenner (Adam Cohen) and Jeffrey Klemmer (Harry Phillips), each offering thoughtful reflections on their characters and the artistic process behind bringing The Gift to life.
One of the most memorable moments came when Zhao recognized the 25 talented art students whose paintings appear throughout the film. Host Monroy invited the students to stand and face the audience, where they each received a warm round of applause.
At the conclusion of the Q&A, a representative from the office of California State Treasurer Fiona Ma presented Zhao with an official certificate honoring his artistic brilliance, creative vision and contributions to independent cinema.
Following the screening, guests enjoyed a lavish after-party featuring gourmet cuisine catered by a renowned Chinese restaurant. The celebration continued past midnight as attendees toasted Zhao, the cast and the crew under the Hollywood skyline and moonlit night.
Notable Attendees
The premiere guest list included:
Master Eric Lee (legendary martial artist), Ewart Chin (actor/producer), Anthony Preston (actor), Jake Miller (actor), Al Walser (singer, Grammy winner), Eve Richards (actress/podcast host), Tamara Clatterbuck (actress), McKenzi Brooke (actress, singer, influencer with 21M followers), Larry Namer (E! co-founder/producer), Youssef Guezoum (film composer) and Lenore Zann (voice of Rogue in X-Men ’97).
Fashion luminaries in attendance included global fashion icon Sue Wong and Hollywood celebrity fashion designer Kiki Wang, adding high-fashion glamour to the event.
Members of the indie film, music and streaming communities included Nitish Kannan, Ci Zhang, Kathy Garver, Tiger Sheu, Nancy Harding, Jacqueline Murphy, Meredith Thomas, Eugenia Kuzmina, Chris Grainger, James Darius and Steve Cooke.
Honored Guests included Allan Fu, Angel Chu, Anna An, Anthony Hu, Michael and Christine Antonovich, Cindy Pei, Curtis and Wendy Lee, David Liang, Eddy Liu, Emily Wang, Feifei Zhao, Gerald and Diane Wang, Grace Han, Jack Shao, Jessica Gagellgos, Jing Sun, Juliette Zhuo, Lei Wang, Letty Lopez, Omar Gagellgos, Richard Ren, Ruby Au, Samual Kang, ShiPing Zeng, Woody Mu, Xia Yu, Xin Wang, Ying Zhan and Yue Liu You.
From heartfelt audience reactions to a final standing ovation, one sentiment was clear: the world premiere of The Gift was not only a cinematic milestone, but a cultural celebration of connection, artistry and community.
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