Esther Eng was born in San Francisco on September 24, 1914.
Esther Eng was born on September 24, 1914, in San Francisco, California, to a family of Chinese immigrants. Born into a bustling city with a rich cultural tapestry, Eng's upbringing was steeped in diversity and the blending of Chinese and American cultures. Her early life in San Francisco would set the stage for her future work in film, where she uniquely bridged two cultures in her storytelling. She grew up during a time when women, particularly in minority communities, faced substantial barriers to entry in creative fields, yet she pursued her passions unfalteringly, leading to a path-breaking career in filmmaking.