"My Beijing Birthday" is a 52-minute documentary that takes a heart-felt and humorous look at the rapidly changing lives of a group of young Beijingers through the eyes of an American, Howie Snyder. The story shows us the group as 8 year olds in 1996 studying Chinese stand-up comedy with Howie and their teacher Mrs Ma. We visit the group again in 2008 as they reflect on their lives and their new dreams for the future.