Auntyland

Auntyland is a multidisciplinary arts platform to celebrate aunts in the global majority through events, publishing, and programs: Auntyland Film Festival, devoted to short films by and for women and multicultural storytellers over 50 years old; a blog featuring auntie stories and literary arts; and a special holiday called #RealAuntiesDay. Auntyland is a creative place where diverse voices are amplified and promoted.
"We shed light on aunts in global world communities. Scholars have studied mothers and grandmothers, but rarely the aunts. While aunthood can happen at any age, we aim to disrupt tired stereotypes about 'aunties' and mature women," said Sylvia Wong Lewis, a proud auntie, and Auntyland founder. 
Operating at the intersection of identity, gender, and age, Auntyland is based on a spirit of deep inquiry. We celebrate women artists who question, disrupt, and challenge inherited notions of social and cultural hierarchy. 
In response to Covid19 and to keep people healthy, the annual March holiday ‘Real Aunties Day,’ and Auntyland Film Festival launched virtual programs. 
We are a New York City-based artist-activist community of volunteers. We seek donations to pay honorariums to writers, filmmakers, facilitators, and production costs for our film festival and other public programs.

"Real Aunties are queens and superheroes in global communities. Anyone who has ever been called 'Auntie'  or 'Titi' know this multicultural truth. 'Aunty' is a word that has a racist past, but it is also a title of respect for mature women in many cultures, especially for the Caribbean, African, Asian, and African American people. Besides saving the world with our political activism, aunties are joyful, fly, and ageless. We hope to inspire, entertain, and inform. We believe Auntyland can help cure, heal, and fix problems in our global society," said Lewis. 

Sylvia Wong Lewis, is an award-winning filmmaker, journalist, and community volunteer. Her film ‘From Shanghai to Harlem,’ portrayed her grandmothers’ brave (Im)migration journeys. Her radio drama 'Madame Tempy,' about her paternal grandmother, and other stories have been featured on BBC Radio and other media outlets. A retired public servant and educator, Sylvia is the CEO of Narrative Network, a storytelling company for social change, that manages Auntyland.