Fairhope Film Festival Opens With U.S. Premiere of Singapore Mahjong Comedy

FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope Film Festival begins its 14th annual run on Thursday, Nov. 12, and organizers have chosen a lighthearted import to set the tone: LUCK MY LIFE, a comedy from Singapore built around the clicking tiles of mahjong. The Thursday showing at Centennial Hall on the Fairhope campus of Coastal Alabama Community College will be the first time the film has been screened anywhere in the United States.

The opening-night feature launches four days of independent cinema on the Eastern Shore, with the festival continuing through Sunday, Nov. 15. Moviegoers who cannot make it Thursday will get a second chance, as an encore screening of the comedy is planned for that closing Sunday.

A Fairhope Film Festival Opening With International Flair

For a festival rooted in a small bayside city, opening with a U.S. premiere from Southeast Asia is a notable draw. LUCK MY LIFE is promoted as the first Singaporean feature built entirely around mahjong, and it arrives in Fairhope after a strong showing at home, where it was among the major releases of the 2026 Lunar New Year season following its Feb. 17 debut.

Audiences will also have the chance to hear directly from the people who made it. Director Eric Wong and producer Careen Tham are making the trip from Singapore to attend the festival and take part in a question-and-answer session with the audience.

Festival leadership described the movie as a tale of stumbling, pushing back and finding a new path forward, set inside the colorful world of the game, and said the festival was excited to be the site of its American premiere.

What the Mahjong Comedy Is About

The story centers on Zhuo Tian Cai, played by Richie Koh, a man who comes into the world with almost supernatural good fortune whenever he sits down at a mahjong table. That gift vanishes after he treats the game with disrespect, and his luck turns sour.

To win it back, he has to start over. With help from four mahjong masters and the woman he loves, Zhuo works to relearn the game from the ground up and to pick up some humility along the way. The film builds toward a final showdown with Gu Lei, the reigning champion.

In addition to Koh, the cast includes Tay Ping Hui and Cynthia Li. The film has a running time of 103 minutes. Dialogue is in Mandarin, and the screenings will include English subtitles.

Quick facts about the opening-night film

• Title: LUCK MY LIFE
• Origin: Singapore
• Director: Eric Wong
• Stars: Richie Koh, Tay Ping Hui and Cynthia Li
• Length: 103 minutes
• Language: Mandarin with English subtitles
• Fairhope showings: Opening night, Thursday, Nov. 12, at Centennial Hall, plus an encore on Sunday, Nov. 15

Why Mahjong Feels Timely Right Now

The choice of film lines up with a broader trend. Mahjong has been enjoying a revival across the United States, with social clubs, organized leagues and tournament nights drawing in a new generation of players who are discovering the game for the first time.

Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in China and is typically played by four people. Players draw and discard tiles while trying to assemble winning combinations, blending skill, strategy, memory and a good measure of chance. That mix of planning and luck is exactly what the film plays with, as its hero learns that fortune alone is not enough to stay on top.

On the Gulf Coast, interest in the game has grown visibly as well, with dedicated play spaces and regular game nights becoming more common. For local players, a big-screen comedy about the game offers a fun night out that speaks directly to a hobby they already love, while newcomers can enjoy it as a story about pride, setbacks and second chances.

Inside the 14th Annual Festival

Now in its 14th year, the Fairhope Film Festival focuses on independent film and is held in downtown Fairhope each November. Its stated mission centers on bringing the community together and celebrating artistic work. Over four days, the event presents films, visiting filmmakers and special events, giving residents and visitors a chance to see movies that often do not reach mainstream theaters.

This year’s festival runs Nov. 12 through Nov. 15. Sponsors for the 2026 edition include The Grand Hotel, United Bank, Marspec Technical Products and the University of South Alabama.

Fairhope, perched on the bluffs along the eastern side of Mobile Bay, is known for its walkable downtown, galleries and active arts scene, which makes it a natural home for a festival built around filmmakers and their audiences. Screenings and gatherings spread across the city give festivalgoers a reason to explore shops and restaurants between films.

Planning Your Visit to the Fairhope Film Festival

Those hoping to catch the U.S. premiere should plan to be at Centennial Hall at Coastal Alabama Community College in Fairhope on Thursday, Nov. 12. Anyone who misses opening night can watch for the encore screening on Sunday, Nov. 15, the final day of the festival.

Ticket details, passes and the full schedule of films and events for all four days are available through the Fairhope Film Festival website. Because the opening-night film includes a visit from its director and producer, festivalgoers interested in the audience Q&A may want to check the schedule closely and arrive early.

What Comes Next

After the opening-night premiere, the festival will move through its full lineup of independent films and filmmaker appearances before wrapping up on Sunday, Nov. 15, with the encore of LUCK MY LIFE among the weekend’s offerings.

For more arts and entertainment news from the Eastern Shore, visit our Fairhope news page and our Film section.