RISING TOGETHER 2019
OCTOBER 24 27 BRATTLE THEATRE | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
WATCH FILMS, MEET FILMMAKERS & ENGAGE IN DISCUSSIONS
BA A F F. O R G BAAFF IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP AND ARTSEMERSON
WELCOME Dear Friends,
TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 Welcome 02 Thanks To Our Supporters 09 About BAAFF & Venues 10 Line Up At-A-Glance 12 Guest Apperance 13 Pre-Festival Screenings 15 Lucky Grandma 17 Seadrift 19 Shorts: After Dark 21 Panel: Rising Together 22 Shorts: Finding Your Place 23 Go Back To China 25 Shorts: Queer & Here 26 Shorts: Discovery 27 Geographies of Kinship 29 Yellow Rose
Welcome to BAAFF 2019! In honor of Asian American Resource Workshop's 40th Anniversary, our film selections this year highlight both historic and contemporary stories in an effort to deepen understanding and appreciation of Asian American experiences in RISING TOGETHER. Through this year's films, the festival is uplifting stories of people and organizations that have paved the way for a more just and inclusive society. New this year, BAAFF will be working more closely with ArtsEmerson, Boston's leading presenter of contemporary world theatre. They are dedicated to engaging all communities through stories that reveal and deepen our connection to each other by cultivating diversity in the arts and in the audience—which resonates so much with the mission of the Festival. Through this partnership, we are excited to announce the launch of a monthly series starting in February at Emerson's Paramount Center. The monthly series reflects the growth and demand for BAAFF curated content and expands the opportunity to showcase both new and encore films! The Boston Asian American Film Festival continues to be the largest Asian American film festival in New England because of the filmmakers, volunteers, sponsors, and guests--like YOU!--who keep this festival running. Help us continue to spread the word, and please join us to engage, participate, and enjoy the festival as we RISE TOGETHER!
30 2020 BAAFF Spring Series 31 Chinatown Rising 32 Acknowledgements
Susan Chinsen Festival Director
Connie Y. Chan Associate Festival Director
All information on events and guests are subject to change without notice. Special guest appearances and more info will be updated on the website. BAAFF assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear on any materials.
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
PREMIERE FESTIVAL SPONSORS
PREMIERE FESTIVAL PARTNERS
BAAFF IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP AND ARTSEMERSON This program is supported in part by a grant from the Boston Cultural Council and administered by the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture. - 2 B o s t o n A s i a n A m e r i c a n F i l m F e s t i v a l 2 0 1 9 | B A A F F. O R G
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
October 24, 2019 Dear Friends:
October 24, 2019 On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito and I would like to welcome you to the 2019 Dear Friends: Boston Asian American Film Festival. October 24, 2019 On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Lieutenant For Karyn years Polito BAAFFand has continued encourage, and Governor I would like totowelcome you inspire, to the 2019 Dear Friends: cultivateAsian creative thinking here in the Commonwealth and Boston American Film both Festival. beyond. an Commonwealth excellent way to celebrate Asian Lieutenant American On BAAFF behalf ofisthe of Massachusetts, cultureFor andKaryn history whileand pushing thelike creative limits ofyou ourinspire, most years BAAFF has continued encourage, and Governor Polito I would totowelcome to the gifted 2019 citizens. ThisAmerican year’s theme, “Rising highlights and the cultivateAsian creative thinking both here in Together,” the Commonwealth Boston Film Festival. importance of is supporting andway encouraging beyond. BAAFF an excellent to celebrateAsian Asian American filmmakers and talent. cultureFor andyears history while pushing the creative limits of ourinspire, most gifted BAAFF has continued to encourage, and citizens. This year’s theme, highlights and the cultivate creative thinking both “Rising here in Together,” the Commonwealth Lieutenant Polito and proudAsian to support the importance of Governor supporting andway encouraging American beyond. BAAFF is an excellent toI are celebrate Asian Boston and Asian American Film Festival and would to most extend our filmmakers and talent. culture history while pushing the creative limitslike of our gifted most heartfelt to all “Rising those who have made this festival citizens. This appreciation year’s theme, Together,” highlights the possible. Please our Polito very wishes another successful Lieutenant Governor and I are for proud to support the importance of accept supporting andbest encouraging Asian American and most enjoyable festival. Boston Asian Film Festival and would like to extend our filmmakers andAmerican talent. most heartfelt appreciation to all those who have made this festival Sincerely, possible. Please accept our Polito very best another successful Lieutenant Governor and wishes I are for proud to support the and most enjoyable festival. Boston Asian American Film Festival and would like to extend our most heartfelt appreciation to all those who have made this festival Sincerely,Please accept our very best wishes for another successful possible. and most enjoyable festival. KARYN E. POLITO CHARLES D. BAKER GOVERNOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
CHARLES D. BAKER GOVERNOR
KARYN E. POLITO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
CHARLES D. BAKER GOVERNOR
KARYN E. POLITO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Sincerely,
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THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
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THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
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THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
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THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS
WHY I CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL What do you do after a decade of so successfully empowering Asian Americans through film? BAAFF's way of empowering as I have observed it over the years takes so many forms, including: screening accurate and compelling representations of Asian American history, culture and values, exposing historical inaccuracies and injustices, promoting equitable inclusion, connections and advocacy, contributing to a more creative and just society, and showcasing narrative and documentary films of the highest artistic quality and integrity. What you do if you are BAAFF is not rest on your past success but proceed with renewed energy into a new decade with the inspiring vision of Rising Together! Being a BAAFF supporter from early discussions about its possibilities over a decade ago, I am even more enthusiastic about supporting BAAFF as an individual sponsor into the festival's second decade. Seeing the films, learning through panel discussions and Q&A's with filmmakers, interacting with artists and activists as well as an incredible team of volunteers all have immeasurably enriched my personal life and strongly motivated me as an ally and activist. Thanks to Susan Chinsen for her vision and leadership as Festival Director from the very first annual festival to now the eleventh! Thanks to the incredibly talented and dedicated team of volunteers who make this special festival possible! Thanks to an audience who contribute beyond the cost of their tickets so BAAFF can be financially sustainable! Please contribute in whatever way you can and as generously as you can with your time and treasure to support BAAFF's mission now and into the future. May all of us commit to a future of Rising Together in all our individual and intersecting identities and communities! -Stewart Barns
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Rising Together: 40 Years in Community
Social Justice with A Pan-Asian Lens • Dorchester Organizing & Training Initiative • Sticky Rice Project • Activist Training Institute • AARW Writers’ Group • Boston Asian American Film Festival 42 Charles St., Suite D, Dorchester, MA 02122-1441 (617) 942-8178 || info@aarw.org || www.aarw.org
ABOUT BAAFF & VENUES
ABOUT BAAFF (BAAFF.ORG) Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. BAAFF is a co-production of Asian American Resource Workshop and ArtsEmerson. The BAAFF Committee plans and supports the annual Film Festival in October, the Short Waves Competition in the spring, and now a monthly screening series. To get involved as a volunteer, sponsor, donor, and/or supporter, please contact us!
CONTACT US
Email us: baaff@aarw.org
Follow us: twitter.com/bostonaafilm
Like us: facebook.com/baaff
YouTube: BostonAAFF
VENUES
BRATTLE THEATRE 40 Brattle St. (Harvard Square)
EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER 559 Washington St. (Downtown Crossing)
PAO ARTS CENTER/BCNC 99 Albany St. (Chinatown)
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LINE UP AT-A-GLANCE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12
3:30PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
ALTERNATIVE FACTS: THE LIES OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066 Q&A with Director Jon Osaki TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24
6:45PM | BRATTLE THEATRE LUCKY GRANDMA [Opening Night Film] Q&A with Director Sasie Sealy, Actor Tsai Chin & Actor Michael Tow Followed by Reception at Hong Kong Restaurant 9:45PM | BRATTLE THEATRE LUCKY GRANDMA [Screening Only] FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
7:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER THE FAREWELL [Free Screening] SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20 4:00PM | NEWTON CITY HALL 9-MAN [Free Screening]
All information on events and guests are subject to change without notice. Special guest appearances and more info will be updated on the website. BAAFF assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear on any materials.
6:30PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER SEADRIFT [Centerpiece Film] PRECEDED BY JUSTICE FOR VINCENT Q&A with Director Tim Tsai & Advisor/Producer Thao Ha (Seadrift), Writer/Producer Lawrence Chau (Justice for Vincent) 9:30PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
SHORTS: AFTER DARK Secret Lives of Asians at Night | The Visit | Albatross Soup | Stucco | Gong Ju | Go To Sleep: A Lao Ghost Story Q&A with various filmmakers (see page 19)
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LINE UP AT-A-GLANCE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26 1:00PM | PAO ARTS CENTER RISING TOGETHER [Free Community Panel] Panel discussion, hosted by BAAFF Festival Director, Susan Chinsen, on the role Asian American independent film and filmakers have had, and continue to have in advancing a more just and inclusive society. Featuring Dr. Thao Ha (Advisor/Producer, Seadrift), Chris Hastings (Executive Producer/Editorial Manager, World Channel/WGBH) and Julie Zhan (Co-Director, Zoetic)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27 12:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
SHORTS: FINDING YOUR PLACE The Ice Cake Man | The Moon and the Night | Afterschool | Strangers' Reunion | Hae Hawai'i | Bruised | Zoetic Q&A with various filmmakers (see page 26)
3:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
SHORTS: FINDING YOUR PLACE Navigating Hope | Kung Fu Chit | SOMA | Mama Yen | A Sweet and Sour Christmas | Seeking Settled Ground | Minidoka Q&A with various filmmakers (see page 22)
6:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
GO BACK TO CHINA Skype Q&A with Director Emily Ting
3:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
GEOGRAPHIES OF KINSHIP Q&A with Director Deann Borshay Liem
6:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER YELLOW ROSE [Closing Night Film] Q&A with Actor Princess Punzalan Followed by Reception
9:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER
SHORTS: QUEER & HERE Glorious Mrs. Kim | Halwa | Engaged | My Mother, Myself, and I | Kiss of the Rabbit God Q&A with various filmmakers (see page 22)
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2:00PM | EMERSON PARAMOUNT CENTER CHINATOWN RISING PRECEDED BY EVERYONE COUNTS: ACTIVE CENSORSHIP Q&A with Co-Director Josh Chuck (Chinatown Rising)
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GUEST APPEARANCE
Jon Osaki
Michael Tow
Tsai Chin
Deann Borshay Liem
Director Alternative Facts
Actor Lucky Grandma
Actor Lucky Grandma
Director Geographies of Kinship
Tim Tsai
Thao Ha
Lawrence Chau
Princess Punzalan
Director Seadrift
Advisor / Producer Seadrift
Writer/Producer/Actor Justice for Vincent
Actor Yellow Rose
Memie Osuga
Rob Chen
Julie Zhan
Ty Sanga
Director Afterschool
Actor Secret Lives of Asians at Night
Co-Director / Actor Zoetic
Director Hae Hawai’i
Phet Mahathongdy
Ova Saopeng
Mohammad Arifuzzaman
Josh Chuck
Director/Actor Go to Sleep: A Lao Ghost Story
Actor Go to Sleep: A Lao Ghost Story
Director Seeking Settled Ground
Co-Director Chinatown Rising
All information on events and guests are subject to change notice. Special guest appearances and more info - 1 2without B othe s t website. o n A s i BAAFF an Am e r i c a nnoFresponsibility i l m F e s t i vfor a lany 2 0errors 1 9 |that B Amay A F F. ORG will be updated on assumes appear on any materials.
PRE-FESTIVAL SCREENINGS
ALTERNATIVE FACTS: THE LIES OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 3:30PM Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston DIRECTED BY JON OSAKI | 65 MINS | DOCUMENTARY Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066 is a documentary feature film about the false information and political influences which led to the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans. The film also examines the parallels to the current climate of fear, targeting of immigrant and religious communities, and similar attempts to abuse the powers of the government.
THE FAREWELL (FREE) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 7PM Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston DIRECTED BY LULU WANG | 98 MINS | NARRATIVE In this funny, uplifting tale based on an actual lie, Chinese-born, U.S.-raised Billi (Awkwafina) reluctantly returns to Changchun to find that, although the whole family knows their beloved matriarch, Nai Nai, has been given mere weeks to live, everyone has decided not to tell Nai Nai herself. Co-presented by the Bright Lights Film Series.
Preceded by Everyone Counts: Looking Forward to the 2020 Census and Japantown: A Walk Through Memory
PANELISTS - Jon Osaki, Director, Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066 - Fatema Ahmad, Deputy Director, Muslim Justice League - Kevin Lam, Organizing Director, Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) - Moderated by Paul Watanabe, Director of the Institute for Asian American Studies and Professor of Political Science, UMass Boston Co-presented with NEJACL (New England Japanese American Citizens League)
9-MAN (FREE) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 4PM Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave. DIRECTED BY URSULA LIANG | 89 MINS | DOCUMENTARY 9-MAN by Ursula Liang, who grew up in Newton, takes us behind the scenes of 9-man volleyball, a Chinatown street game with connections to Newton, giving us insights into Chinese-American history. Co-presented with Historic Newton and the Boston Hurricanes.
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1238 Mass Ave Cambridge, MA 02138 • Harvard Square www.hongkongharvard.com • 617-864-5311
Two days of golf with gifts and prizes at an exclusive, private golf club, named by Golf Magazine as one of the top ten new courses in America.
Coming up in 2020 • Email baaff@aarw.org for more information
NARRATIVE FILM
OPENING NIGHT FILM
LUCKY GRANDMA
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 6:45PM Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA (Harvard Square) ENCORE SCREENING: 9:45PM (SCREENING ONLY) DIRECTED BY SASIE SEALY | 87 MINS | DRAMA | USA | MANDARIN, ENGLISH, CANTONESE, WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES In the heart of Chinatown, New York, an ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma (Tsai Chin) is eager to live life as an independent woman, despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller (Wai Ching Ho) predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma decides to head to the casino and goes all in, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck... suddenly attracting the attention of some local gangsters (including Little Handsome actor and BAAFF alum, Michael Tow). Desperate to protect herself, Grandma employs the services of a bodyguard (Corey Ha) from a rival gang and soon finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war. DIRECTOR'S BIO | Sasie Sealy is an award-winning writer/director from North Carolina, known for combining visually striking imagery and playful moments. Her films have screened at the Smithsonian Institute and festivals around the world, and she has twice been awarded the short filmmaking prize at the Tribeca Film Festival, with New York Magazine calling her film The Elephant Garden "one of the most touching and poignant films we've seen this year." Her previous short Dance Mania Fantastic was named one of Tribeca's +5, and she has won numerous grants and support from the Sundance Institute, New York State Council on the Arts, Film Independent, the Sloan Foundation, and the Tribeca Film Institute. Lucky Grandma is her feature debut. OPENING 6:45PM SCREENING FOLLOWED BY: Q&A with Director Sasie Sealy, Actor Tsai Chin and Actor Michael Tow
Opening Night Reception at Hong Kong Restaurant
CO-PRESENTED BY: - 15 B o s t o n A s i a n A m e r i c a n F i l m F e s t i v a l 2 0 1 9 | B A A F F. O R G
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
DOCUMENTARY FILM
DOCUMENTARY
CENTERPIECE FILM
SEADRIFT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 6:30PM Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston DIRECTED BY TIM TSAI | 69 MINS | DOCUMENTARY | USA | VIETNAMESE | ENGLISH In 1979, a Vietnamese refugee shoots and kills a white crab fisherman at the public town docks in Seadrift, TX. What began as a dispute over fishing territory erupts into violence and ignites a maelstrom of boat burnings, KKK intimidation, and other hostilities against Vietnamese refugees along the Gulf Coast. Set during the early days of Vietnamese refugee arrival in the U.S. "Seadrift" examines the shooting and its dramatic aftermath, and reveals the unexpected consequences that continue to reverberate today. DIRECTOR'S BIO | Tim Tsai is an editor/filmmaker and the executive director of the Austin Asian American Film Festival. He directed KLRU-TV's short documentary series Austin Revealed: Pioneers from the East, which profiles some of the earliest Chinese American families to settle in Central Texas. Seadrift is his first feature. SCREENING PRECEDED BY: JUSTICE FOR VINCENT Directed by Andy Palmer | 15 MINS | NARRATIVE | USA A brutal case of bloodshed, a mother's loss and a community's outrage, Justice For Vincent (JFV) is an intensely disturbing yet honest and inspiring modern story about race told from a rarely seen Asian American perspective. The award-winning short film is based on the historic Vincent Chin case that sparked the first Pan-Asian civil rights movement in America. SCREENING FOLLOWED BY: Q&A with Director Tim Tsai and Advisor/Producer Dr. Thao Ha (Seadrift) and Writer/Producer/Actor Lawrence Chau (Justice for Vincent) CO-PRESENTED BY: - 17 B o s t o n A s i a n A m e r i c a n F i l m F e s t i v a l 2 0 1 9 | B A A F F. O R G
Save $10 code: CAMBODIAN10 • 2 Tickets for $40 code: POST2for40 Limited Availability. Offer may end at any time
We are proud to support the Boston Asian American Film Festival and its efforts to showcase Asian American experiences through film and media.
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SHORTS PROGRAM
DOCUMENTARY
SHORTS: AFTER DARK FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 9:30PM
Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston From a dark comedy about a teenager fitting into a new school to a group of misfits roaming around the streets of New York City at night, "After Dark" provides snippets of all dark matters in our lives.
SECRET LIVES OF ASIANS AT NIGHT
STUCCO
DIRECTED BY KEVIN WANG ("KEFF") | 18 MINS What does the "model minority" do after dark? (A screwball noir in 5 languages.) Q&A with Actor Rob Chen
DIRECTED BY JANINA GAVANKAR & RUSSO SCHELLING | 18 MINS J is trying and failing to move forward as the scars of old relationships keep her trapped inside her new home. ​
THE VISIT DIRECTED BY ROXY SHIH | 15 MINS A pregnant woman and her husband visit her lonely, aging grandmother in the rural mountains of Taiwan only to witness the older woman's mysterious disappearance.
GONG JU
ALBATROSS SOUP
GO TO SLEEP: A LAO GHOST STORY
DIRECTED BY WINNIE CHEUNG | 7 MINS A dizzying descent into deductive reasoning animated from illustrations by celebrated Toronto artist Fiona Smyth, Albatross Soup is a hybrid documentary film based on an entertaining yet disturbing lateral thinking puzzle.
DIRECTED BY PHET MAHATHONGDY | 15 MINS A middle-aged Lao refugee struggles with his harrowing past, failing marriage, and demanding career when he is haunted by mysterious supernatural entities from his homeland known as Phi. Q&A with Director/Actor Phet Mahathongdy & Actor Ova Saopeng
DIRECTED BY JEROME YOO | 11 MINS After a cruel incident, Korean student Gong Ju is forced to attend school abroad in hopes she changes her violent ways.
CO-PRESENTED BY:
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NOVEMBER 21-23 // PAO ARTS CENTER Thursday, November 21, 7:00pm Friday, November 22, 7:30pm Saturday, November 23, 7:30pm
140 LBS: HOW BEAUTY KILLED MY MOTHER Written & Performed by Susan Lieu. Directed by Sara Porkalob. Two hours into surgery, Susan’s mother loses oxygen to her brain and the plastic surgeon deliberately does not call 9-1-1 for fourteen minutes. Five days later, while in a coma, she flatlines. The surgeon is charged with medical negligence and her family falls apart; no one talks about what happened. Nineteen years later on her wedding day, Susan’s mother’s seat sits empty and Susan realizes she can no longer ignore what she’s always wanted: to know who her mother was. Sifting through thousands of deposition pages and reaching out to the killer’s family, Susan uncovers the painful truth of her mother, herself, and the impossible ideal of Vietnamese feminine beauty. Theatrical, autobiographical solo dramedy, 75 minutes, no intermission.
Get your tickets: bit.ly/140PoundsBoston
COMMUNITY PANEL
FREE COMMUNITY EVENT
RISING TOGETHER
PRESENTED BY:
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1PM Pao Arts Center, 99 Albany St. Boston, MA Panel discussion, hosted by BAAFF Festival Director, Susan Chinsen, on the role Asian American independent film and filmakers have had, and continue to have in advancing a more just and inclusive society.
DR. THAO HA is Vietnamese refugee who came to the U.S. in 1975 as part of the first wave exodus post Fall of Saigon. She grew up in Houston, Texas, received a doctorate in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin, and is currently a professor of Sociology at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA. She's published works in the areas of race, gender, immigration, and Vietnamese American experiences in the South. Her current projects include a memoir about growing up Vietnamese in the South and a humanities project on Asian American incarceration. She is also the advisor and producer of documentary, Seadrift.
CHRIS HASTINGS is the executive producer/editorial manager of WORLD Channel and WORLDChannel.org in charge of content development, acquisition, and production for both. At WGBH, Chris is best known for inventing and creating high quality media at low cost, earning him three regional Emmys for the WGBH LAB Open Call program. He received his Bachelors degree from Kutztown State University of Pennsylvania and his Masters from American University.
JULIE ZHAN is an actress, filmmaker, and dancer born and raised in Guangzhou, China. Her work spans the small screen (NCIS: Los Angeles, Grandfathered, Pretty Little Liars, Wisdom of the Crowd), big screen (Comfort), digital screen (Walmart's Wizard and the Rent, Wong Fu's Yappie, Smosh, Fullscreen), and stage (ABC Talent Showcase). Most recently, Zhan became one of the three 2019 HBO Visionaries for her film, Zoetic, that she co-wrote and co-directed alongside Wesley Chan, available on all HBO platforms. - 21 B o s t o n A s i a n A m e r i c a n F i l m F e s t i v a l 2 0 1 9 | B A A F F. O R G
SHORTS PROGRAM
DOCUMENTARY
SHORTS: FINDING YOUR PLACE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 3PM
Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston In this series of documentary shorts, we explore identities of individuals who all rise to find their place in today's world.
NAVIGATING HOPE
A SWEET AND SOUR CHRISTMAS
DIRECTED BY SAYED HASHIMI | 9 MINS A refugee in the United States finds new hope helping other refugees navigate the challenges of life in America.
DIRECTED BY ARAM SIU WAI COLLIER | 17 MINS Take out and eat in, Christmas Day at the King Wok restaurant means feeding families, one deep fried chicken ball at a time.
KUNG FU CHIT
SEEKING SETTLED GROUND
IRECTED BY YEN-LINH CHIT | 3 MINS D An inside peek of a girl's life at her Kung Fu school. Director Chit is currently a high school student in Lynn, Massachusetts. Q&A with Director Yen-Linh Chit
DIRECTED BY MOHAMMAD ARIFUZZAMAN| 14 MINS A newly arrived Rohingya refugee from Myanmar does everything he can to integrate into American society, but struggles with loneliness and homesickness. Q&A with Director Mohammad Arifuzzaman and CSFilm Founding Director, Michael Sheridan
SOMA DIRECTED BY PETER TRINH | 11 MINS What happens when a master of her craft creates something with her bare hands, putting behind it tradition, family, and extreme attention to detail? In Chef Mutsuko Soma's case...the best soba noodles in America.
MINIDOKA
MAMA YEN
CO-PRESENTED BY:
DIRECTED BY MEGUMI NISHIKURA | 14 MINS A young Japanese American activist traces his family history of incarceration during World War II and applies lessons learned to today's politics.
IRECTED BY JIALE HU | 13 MINS D How a Vietnam refugee lost, found, and brought a sense of home to others in the American Midwest with her food. Q&A with Director Jiale Hu - 22 B o s t o n A s i a n A m e r i c a n F i l m F e s t i v a l 2 0 1 9 | B A A F F. O R G
NARRATIVE FILM
GO BACK TO CHINA SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 6PM
Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston DIRECTED BY EMILY TING | 95 MINS | NARRATIVE | USA/CHINA | ENGLISH, CANTONESE WITH CHINESE SUBTITLES When spoiled rich girl Sasha Li (Anna Akana) blows through half of her trust fund, she is cut off by her father and forced to go back to China and work for the family toy business. What begins simply as a way to regain financial support soon develops into a life-altering journey of self discovery. Go Back to China is a hilarious, heartfelt, and compelling portrait of what happens when today's Millennial culture clashes with the old school, hard working values that families around the world have continued to instill and pass down. DIRECTOR'S BIO | Emily Ting most recently wrote, produced, and directed her second feature Go Back to China, starring Anna Akana, Richard Ng, Lynn Chen, and Kelly Hu. Her first feature Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong, starring Jamie Chung and Bryan Greenberg, premiered at the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival and was distributed theatrically by Gravitas Ventures in 2016. The film was also released theatrically in Hong Kong, Macau, and Thailand.
SCREENING FOLLOWED BY: Skype Q&A with Director Emily Ting CO-PRESENTED BY:
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Proud Supporter of BAAFF • • •
Buyer Representation Seller Representation Closing Attorneys
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Refinancing Commercial Real Estate Business Formation
Attorneys:
Nancy A. Lee, Esq. | nlee@leeassociatespc.com Sarah Chung, Esq. | schung@leeassociatespc.com June Oh, Esq. | joh@leeassociatespc.com Georgia Crowninshield, Esq. | gcrowninshield@leeassociatespc.com
Languages Available:
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Tel: 617-934-1668
SHORTS PROGRAM
DOCUMENTARY
SHORTS: QUEER & HERE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 9PM
Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston This series of shorts brings us together to explore what it means to rise and be queer.
GLORIOUS MRS. KIM
MY MOTHER, MYSELF & I
DIRECTED BY MONICA CHO | 16 MINS Glorious Mrs. Kim follows a Korean mother accepting her drag queen son by coming to terms with her own past and dreams.
DIRECTED BY KING YAW SOON | 8 MINS Four vignettes, four mother-son moments, one unspoken truth. These four moments offer a glimpse into their relationship and how it evolves across the years as they tread lightly on the issue of traditional Chinese family values and the social taboos of sexual infidelity and identity. Q&A with Assistant Director Davyana San Miguel
HALWA DIRECTED BY GAYATRI BAJPAI & NIRAV BHAKTA | 15 MINS On the eve of her wedding anniversary, empty-nester Sujata Chopra attempts to find some joy in her broken marriage, until she learns about the passing of her childhood companion's spouse on Facebook.
ENGAGED IRECTED BY DAVID SCALA | 17 MINS D Starring Daniel K. Isaac (BILLIONS) and Ryan Jamaal Swain (POSE). Darren keeps trying–and failing–to propose to his boyfriend Elliot.
KISS OF THE RABBIT GOD DIRECTED BY ANDREW THOMAS HUANG | 15 MINS A Chinese-American restaurant worker falls in love with an 18th century Qing Dynasty god who visits him at night and leads him on a journey of sexual awakening and self discovery.
CO-PRESENTED BY:
QAPA Queer Asian Pacific-Islander Alliance
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SHORTS PROGRAM
DOCUMENTARY
SHORTS: DISCOVERY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 12PM
Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston Self realization, re-kindling an old memory with a loved one, or experiencing love for the first time, this series of shorts explores those moments of discovery–both big and small–that ultimately have a profound impact on us.
THE ICE CAKE MAN
HAE HAWAI'I
DIRECTED BY MAX CHO | 8 MINS A man finds meaning in a childhood memory as he searches for the last words to say to his dying grandfather.
DIRECTED BY TY SANGA | 17 MINS After the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy, loyalists to the crown protect what is left of their dissolving kingdom. They recruit a young thief to safeguard the unifying symbol of the people. Q&A with Director Ty Sanga
THE MOON AND THE NIGHT DIRECTED BY ERIN LAU | 20 MINS Set in rural Hawai'i, this is a coming-of-age tale of a young woman who must make the difficult realization that to save her family, she must stand on her own.
AFTERSCHOOL DIRECTED BY MEMIE OSUGA | 5 MINS Two sisters wait for their mom to come home afterschool. Winner of BAAFF Short Waves 2019. Q&A with Director Memie Osuga
STRANGERS' REUNION DIRECTED BY LIZ SARGENT | 13 MINS Mira, a Korean-American adoptee, travels to Hong Kong to meet her birth mother for the first time with only a basic understanding of each other's languages.
BRUISED DIRECTED BY ROK WON HWANG & SAMANTHA TU | 3 MINS The girl in the back of the classroom cannot focus on her test. She is doing her best to hide a secret from the rest of the class and the teacher. Will she be able to keep the secret from being discovered?
ZOETIC DIRECTED BY WESLEY CHAN & JULIE ZHAN | 22 MINS A coming of age story about a single, 60-year-old Chinese immigrant mother who, for the first time ever, is challenged to finally think of her own wants and needs and reluctantly agrees to navigate the world of online dating apps with the help of her daughter. Q&A with Co-Director Julie Zhan
CO-PRESENTED BY:
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DOCUMENTARY FILM
DOCUMENTARY
GEOGRAPHIES OF KINSHIP SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 3PM
Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston PRESENTED BY: DIRECTED BY DEANN BORSHAY LIEM | 81 MINS | DOCUMENTARY | USA | ENGLISH In this powerful tale about the rise of Korea's global adoption program, four adult adoptees return to their country of birth and reconnect with their roots, mapping the geographies of kinship that bind them to a homeland they never knew. DIRECTOR'S BIO | Deann Borshay Liem is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker internationally known for her landmark adoption films, First Person Plural, In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee, and Geographies of Kinship. She has directed, produced, and executive produced a variety of award-winning documentaries and is the director/editor of a series of videos for legaciesofthekoreanwar.org, a web-based oral history project giving voice to memories of Korean Americans whose lives were shaped by the Korean War. SCREENING FOLLOWED BY: Q&A with Director Deann Borshay Liem CO-PRESENTED BY:
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FILM EXPO
SHERATON BOSTON HOTEL
3 DAYS
(MARCH 19-22)
FREE ADMISSION TO FILM EXPO & BOOK EXHIBIT
http://bit .ly/AASFilmsE xpo
CALL FOR FILMS #AAS2020
We invite you to submit your film related to A sia produced by scholars and independant filmmakers. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Nov. 15, 2019
NARRATIVE FILM
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
YELLOW ROSE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 27, 6PM Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston DIRECTED BY DIANE PARAGAS | 94 MINS | NARRATIVE | USA | ENGLISH Rose, an undocumented Filipino girl, dreams of one day leaving her small Texas town to pursue her country music dreams. Her world is shattered when her mom suddenly gets picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Rose, facing this new reality, is forced to flee the scene, leaving behind the only life she knows, and embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she searches for a new home in the honky tonk world of Austin, Texas. DIRECTOR'S BIO | Diane Paragas is an award-winning director, editor, cinematographer and producer of commercials, narrative features and documentaries. She owns and operates Civilian Studios, a Brooklyn based production company. She is most known for her documentary, Brooklyn Boheme, a feature length documentary about an African American arts movement that she made in tandem with writer and critic Nelson George featuring Spike Lee, Chris Rock, and Rosie Perez to name a few. SCREENING FOLLOWED BY: Q&A with Actor Princess Punzalan Closing Night Reception with Filipino samplings provided by Jules' Kitchen Music performances by The Sunset Kings featuring former BAAFFster, Allister Quilon
CO-PRESENTER:
Filipino Festival Malden, MA PILIPINO EDUCATION ADVOCACY AND RESOURCES
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BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS
Spring 2020
SER IES
February 15 • March 14 • April 18 • May 16 • June 13 Emerson Paramount Center Asian representation on the big screen is on the RISE and BAAFF continues to bring you more opportunities to see new and reflective work. Starting February 2020, please join us for a monthly series that will further showcase compelling stories connected to Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Join the BAAFF email list or follow us on social media for more information.
BAAFF.ORG SPECIAL THANKS TO
DOCUMENTARY FILM
DOCUMENTARY
CHINATOWN RISING
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2PM Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Downtown Boston DIRECTED BY HARRY & JOSH CHUCK | 112 MINS | DOCUMENTARY | USA | ENGLISH Against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement of the mid-1960s, a young San Francisco Chinatown resident armed with a 16mm camera and leftover film scraps from a local TV station, turned his lens onto his community. Totaling more than 20,000 feet of film (10 hours), Harry Chuck's exquisite unreleased footage has captured a divided community's struggles for self-determination. CO-DIRECTORS' BIO | Former Youth Director and later Executive Director of Cameron House, Harry Chuck was the catalyst for multiple citywide efforts that benefit San Francisco's Chinatown community to this very day. Harry Chuck began shooting the footage used in the film forty-five years ago, while attending San Francisco State University. His son and co-director, Josh Chuck, has been working in the community for over 15 years. SCREENING FOLLOWED BY: Q&A with Co-Director Josh Chuck SCREENING PRECEDED BY: EVERYONE COUNTS: ACTIVE CENSORSHIP DIRECTED BY RAULY FABIAN, KENNY HE, DARWIN SOTO | 4 MINS Everyone Counts is a four-part video series filmed and produced by the Castle Square Tenants Organization's Teen Program, a media internship for high school students in Boston's South End neighborhood. The series explores the importance of local government and active citizenship with the approach of the 2020 U.S. Census. In this episode of "Everyone Counts," we learn about what it means to be an active and engaged citizen, and why filling out the Census is so important to community activism. CO-PRESENTED BY:
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BAAFF STAFF
AARW STAFF
BIG THANKS TO ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS
Executive Director - Carolyn Chou Administrative Manager - Janet Gee Program Coordinator - Angelina Hua Organizing Director - Kevin Lam Political Education Director - Janhavi Madabushi
Festival Director - Susan Chinsen Associate Festival Director - Connie Chan Festival Manager - Ellen Kaye Director of Production - Alan Kwan Programming Manager - Tiffany Lam, Anna Zeng & Ally Yee Talent Relations Manager - Alan Wong Social Media Manager - Eugenia Beh Website Manager - Sarah O'Neill Govt. Outreach & Sponsorship Manager- Jeff Lee Volunteer Manager - Minh Nguyen & Karen Yu Graphic Designer - Connie Chan Illustration Artist - Anna Zeng Production Assistant - Kenny Leibe Alice Yeh Alison (Yueming) Qu Alma Balonon-Rosen Amy Tung Andrew Nagal Angela Yang April Chu Ariana Lee Ben Lee Brad Riew Callie Kennedy Connie Rab Chandarith Moeun Christine Hui Dahlia Somers Debbie Nguyen Denise Khor Elvis Tran Esther Tzau Harrison Kim Ivy Chen Joanne Trinh Jocelyn Cheng Jong Wai Tommee Kelly Sou Lindsey Lo
Manaswini Parimi Maria Gallant Melody Takeuchi Michael Baker Michelle Zeng Miranda Tran Nancy Wong Nick Eddinger Peggy Wang Pete Tran Polly Yang Samantha Wong Sefanya Hiennadi Sharon Chen Shawn Andrews Shilpi Suneja Stacey Wong Stella Wan Tammy Lam Tiina Xu Victoria Stuewe Victoria Zhuang William Hui Yvonne Ng Zhi Wei Chen
AARW BOARD OF DIRECTORS President - Nam Le Treasurer - Somy Kim Secretary - Amy Jiravisitcul Anisha Asundi Laura Knuttunen Binh Le Brandon Lee
Celina Lee Shristi Pant Shiliu Wang Wayne Yeh
ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE WORKSHOP Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), founded in 1979 as one of the Boston area's first pan-Asian organizations, is an intergenerational social justice nonprofit that promotes Asian-American identity while addressing contemporary issues affecting our communities. AARW is a member-based organization that uses arts, education, and activism to build the skills and political analysis of our pan-Asian membership. BAAFF is a production of AARW. FOR MORE INFO: AARW.ORG
TELL US HOW WE ARE DOING BAAFF.ORG/SURVEY
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S outh C ove Community Health Center The Premier Asian Community Health Center of Massachusetts 麻州首屈一指亞裔社區醫療中心
Malden 摩頓
Quincy 昆士
Boston 波士頓
Proud Sponsor of the 11th Boston Asian American Film Festival Washington St. Clinic 華盛頓街診所 885 Washington St. 617-482-7555
成人科、小兒科、足科及社會服務部 Adult Medicine, Pediatrics, Podiatry and Social Services
South St. Clinic 南街診所 145 South St. 617-521-6730
婦科、牙科、 眼科、X 光乳房攝影篩檢、骨質篩檢、家庭計劃、心理科、 營養科/奶卷、幼兒培育組 及課餘活動中心 OB/GYN, Dentistry, Optometry, Mammography, Bone Density, Family Planning, Behavioral Health, WIC, Early Intervention and BASE
Hancock St. Clinic 漢考克街診所 435 Hancock St. 617-318-3300
成人科、340B 藥房及社會服務部 Adult Medicine, 340B Pharmacy and Social Services
Holmes St. Clinic 霍姆斯街診所 88 Holmes St. 617-318-3200
婦科、小兒科、牙科、眼科、心理科、家庭計劃 及社會服務部 OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Dentistry, Optometry, Behavioral Health, Family Planning, and Social Services
Commercial St. Clinic 商業街診所 277 Commercial St. 781-912-2500
成人科、婦科 、小兒科、眼科及社會服務部 Adult Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Optometry, and Social Services
華醫以改善未能得到完善或足夠醫療服務的麻州居民的健康與福利為宗旨，並特別重視麻州亞裔人仕的保 健。 本中心提供高品質的社區健康服務和保健活動，讓麻州居民普遍享有切合其語言和文化的服務。 SCCHC IS DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED IN MASSACHUSETTS, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON ASIAN AMERICANS. THIS MISSION IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CARE AND PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AS WELL AS LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT FOR THESE POPULATIONS. 華人醫務中心悉心協助有需要人士申請醫療福利及聯邦 (可負擔健保法案) 或麻州全民保險計劃。 WE PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH MASSHEALTH, AFFORDABLE CARE ACT PLAN & HEALTH SAFETY NET APPLICATIONS. HTTP:WWW.SCCHC.ORG
Tufts Medical Center is a proud supporter of the Boston Asian American Film Festival. Congratulations on 11 years of showcasing Asian American experience through film and supporting Asian American representation in media. Located in the heart of Chinatown, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of our neighbors and beyond. 我們地處唐人街中心﹐竭誠服務於社區。 Primary Care 成人科: 617-636-5400 General Pediatrics 小兒內科: 617-636-5255 Chinese Language Appointment Scheduling Access Line 中文預約服務熱線: 617-636-8833 Interpreter Services 翻譯部: 617-636-5331
www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org | www.floatinghospital.org Learn more at: 請前往: www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/asiancommunity. To find a doctor, visit: www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/FindADoc