CAAMFEST 36 Program Guide

You make things look impossibly easy. Just like X1.

Making films that capture our imagination isn’t easy. It only looks that way because talented Asian American filmmakers from CAAMFest strive to do so. Just like Xfinity X1 makes discovering more Asian American entertainment impossibly easy.

Enjoy more of what you love at the Asian American Film and TV destination only on X1; a carefully curated collection of TV shows, films, shorts, and more. And you can simply find it all by just saying “Asian American” into your X1 Voice Remote. It’s that easy.

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Wall to Wall Creativity From street art to fine art and so much more.

More OURHONGKONG stories at www.brandhk.gov.hk Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, San Francisco www.hketosf.gov.hk

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15/3/18 3:55 pm

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT CAAM

4

HISTORY OF ASIAN PACIFC AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH

7

SPONSORS

8

A TRIBUTE TO NORMAN MINETA BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER EVAN LOW

10

PEI-PEI CHENG: QUEEN OF ASIAN ACTION MOVIES

11

HOPE IN HARD TIMES: A CONVERSATION WITH BRENDA WONG AOKI

12

TO NEW COMICS AND SUPERHEROES

13

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT—A NEW FILM ABOUT A 19TH CENTURY LAW WITH 21ST CENTURY LESSONS

14

NEW VOICES FROM THE SOUTH: G YAMAZAWA

15

PRESERVING FOODWAYS WITH CHEF TU DAVID PHU

18

WELCOME TO CAAMFEST36

19

AWARDS

21

GALAS

22

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

24

CAAMUNITY SCREENINGS

26

COMCAST NARRATIVES

28

DOCUMENTARIES

30

SHORTS

32

MUSIC AND LIVE PERFORMANCES

34

FOOD FILMS

36

CALENDAR

38

BOX OFFICE AND TICKETING

40

VENUES

41

STAFF AND BOARD

46

INDEX

47

CAAMEDIA.ORG 3

Join Join Us Us in in Celebrating Celebrating

Asian Asian Pacific Pacific American American Heritage Heritage Month Month MAY MAY 2018 2018 apasf.org apasf.org SAN FRANCISCO CELEBRATION PARTNERS SAN FRANCISCO CELEBRATION PARTNERS APA Heritage Foundation APA Heritage Foundation Asian Pacific Fund Asian Pacific Fund Asian Art Museum Asian Art Museum CAAMFest CAAMFest San Francisco Public Library San Francisco Public Library

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. We do this by funding, producing, distributing, and exhibiting works in film, television, and digital media. For 38 years, CAAM has exposed audiences to new voices and communities, advancing our collective understanding of the American experience through programs specifically designed to engage the Asian American community and the public at large.

I M PAC T For nearly four decades, CAAM has created opportunities for Americans and people around the globe to understand the diverse stories and experiences of Asian Americans through: • Careers. CAAM empowers filmmakers to achieve their full potential by providing training, funding, distribution, and access to professional networks.

• Community. Connecting filmmakers and their stories to people and communities in schools, community centers, theaters, and neighborhoods, bridging conversations about inclusiveness and social equity.

• Perspective. CAAM-supported work changes the way audiences see the world, changing hearts and minds, inspiring empathy and meaningful social action.

Public Media CAAM presents innovative, engaging Asian American works on public television through our dynamic documentary programs. CAAM’s award-winning public TV programs are seen by over 5 million Americans, including 47 documentary shows in the last four years and more than 200 films since 1982. Since launching the groundbreaking Asian American anthology series Silk Screen (1982-1987) on PBS, CAAM has continued to bring timely and relevant works to viewers nationwide. CAAM is a member of the National Minority Consortia, designated by the Corporation for

4 CAAMFEST 36

Public Broadcasting (CPB) to provide diverse programming to the Public Broadcast Service (PBS).

CAAMFest CAAM presents CAAMFest (formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival) in May, the world’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian film, food, and music programs, annually presenting over 100 works in San Francisco and Oakland. Since 1982, our film festival has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema.

Media Fund CAAM provides funding and support for provocative and timely Asian American film and media projects from independent producers. CAAM awards production and completion funds for projects intended for public television broadcast. Since 1990, more than $5 million has been granted to over 150 projects. Funding is made possible with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Educational Distribution CAAM’s catalog includes more than 250 titles, constituting the country’s largest collection of Asian American films and videos for educational distribution. Our award-winning documentaries, personal stories, dramas, and experimental works reflect the rich history and diversity of Asian people in the U.S. and global diaspora.

CAAM Fellowship Furthering CAAM’s work to nurture Asian American media professionals and advance the field of Asian American media, the CAAM Fellowship Program connects emerging makers with leading professionals in the field. The CAAM Fellowship Program is unique in its field-wide approach seeking to develop the talents and skills of a range of media professions including producers, directors, and executives.

g n i t a r b e l eC n i s U n i o J

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YOUR 8102STORY. YAM OUR STORY.

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SRENTRAP NOITARBELEC OCSICNARF NAS

n o itadnu oF egat ireH APA The year is 1980 and Asian American filmmakers and activists from across the country dnuF cfi i caP na is A converge for a three-day conference at UC Berkeley. The topic: the creation of an muesuM t rA naisA organization that could support and strengthen Asian American media. This is where tseisFwhere MA A C the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) was born. it all began. This y r ar b i L c i l b uP oc s i c n arF n a S Nearly four decades later, CAAM stands strong, grounded in its dedication to presenting the richness and diversity of the Asian American experience. From funding and producing to distributing and exhibiting media, CAAM has exposed audiences nationwide to the voices and stories of Asian American communities.

But what is the Asian American voice — what is our story? We are fighters and dreamers.

We are creators, believers, and innovators. We move and we shake... and we empower.

This year marks a milestone for CAAM. Aligning the core components of our work, we come together with the rest of the country to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM). This pivotal move to May brings power in unity in more ways than one — a deeper connection between our annual festival and our critical work in public media and the building of a collective community across state and border lines.

Here, we come together as a community: a community of filmmakers and creatives, a community sharing Asian and Asian American stories, a community together, celebrating inclusiveness and improving cultural equity. Drawn together, we break down walls, open windows and hold up mirrors — we change perceptions, offer new perspectives and reflect our own realities, working to advance the national understanding of the American experience at large. This is the heart of who we are and what we do. We bring your story to light, our story to light, and we welcome you into our CAAM family. ­— The CAAM Staff

CAAMEDIA.ORG 5

MTT Conducts

San Francisco Symphony

New Season On Sale Now

Guest Artists

Beethoven’s Ninth

Yuja Wang

Stravinsky’s Firebird

Itzhak Perlman

Mahler’s Symphony No.7

Evgeny Kissin Joshua Bell

Music for Families

Film Series

Family-Friendly Matinees with Pre-Concert Lobby Activities

Jurassic Park Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Mary Poppins Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Box Office Hours Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat noon–6pm, Sun 2 hours prior to concerts. *Subject to availability.

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And More!

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GLOBAL INCLUSION is proud to sponsor

the 36th Annual CAAMFest Celebrating the world’s most innovative Asian and Asian American artists

History of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month We kick-off APA Heritage Month by remembering the leaders and advocates

ASIAN PACIFIC HERITAGE MONTH EVENTS

who helped bring this designation to life. APAHM began with Jeanie Jew, a staffer

CAAM is pleased to be a part of San Francisco’s

on Capitol Hill and board member of the Organization of Chinese Americans.

official celebration. Join us and our partners

Jew was frustrated that Asian Pacific Americans were not included in the celebration

during May 2018!

of the United States bicentennial, and she started a nationwide advocacy campaign to designate one week in May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. In addition, she also wanted to commemorate her great grandfather, who helped build the

APIA BUILDING RAILROADS ACROSS AMERICA | APRIL 29 | 12PM | SFPL | SFPL.ORG

Transcontinental Railroad.

APA HERITAGE AWARDS CEREMONY Jew enlisted the support of Ruby Moy, an administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. Frank Horton of New York. In June 1977, a bill was introduced by Horton and co-sponsored

AND RECEPTION | MAY 2 | 5:30PM | HERBST | APASF.ORG

by U.S. Rep. Norman Mineta of California, urging the president to proclaim the seven day period beginning May 4, 1979, as “Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week.”

A similar bill was also introduced in the Senate by Hawaii Senators Daniel Inouye

APA HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION |

MAY 6 | 10:30AM | AAM | ASIANART.ORG

and Spark Matsunaga. Eventually, both bills were revised to conform to the Census Bureau’s designation of the community as “Asian/Pacific.”

CAAMFEST OPENING NIGHT FILM AND GALA | MAY 10 | 7PM | CASTRO AND AAM |

The week of May 4 was selected for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week as

CAAMFEST.COM

memoriam to two historical events that took place during that period: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States, recorded as May 7, 1843;

HERITAGE SF MUSIC FESTIVAL | MAY 19 |

and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869.

3PM | MIDWAY | HERITAGE-SF.ORG

The persistent efforts of Jew, Moy, and a coalition of national advocacy organizations

MY FAVORITE BOOK WITH VANESSA HUA |

secured 231 Congressional representatives to co-sponsor the bill, which passed by an

MAY 22 | SFPL | SFPL.ORG

overwhelming majority in the House and the Senate.

On Oct. 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the joint resolution into law that proclaimed the week beginning May 4, 1979 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.

Carter issued Presidential Proclamation 4650, which spoke to the significant role of Asian/Pacific Americans in American history, with contributions to the sciences, arts, industry, government, and commerce.

As the adopted joint resolution did not contain provisions for following years, Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Bush continued to annually issue proclamations designating a week in May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week upon re-application by community organizations.

It took more than 10 years of advocacy before the celebration was extended to include the entire month of May. Bush issued Presidential Proclamation 6130 on May 7, 1990, designating that month as the first “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.”

Then in 1992, Horton introduced legislation that permanently designed May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.” *Adapted from the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month San Francisco website. Learn more at apasf.org/

CAAMEDIA.ORG 7

SPONSORS PRESENTING

MAJOR

SUPPORTING

GRAND

PREMIER

GLOBAL INCLUSION FOUNDATIONS & PUBLIC SUPPORT

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FOUNDATIONS & PUBLIC SUPPORT

MEDIA

CONTD.

TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY

IN-KIND

VENUE

CAAMEDIA.ORG 9

A TRIBUTE TO NORM AN MINE TA

by Assemblymember Evan Low

Center for Asian American Media CAAMFest 2018

Dear CAAMFest Attendees:

On behalf of the 28th Assembly District of California, I commend CAAMFest 2018 on its great selection of AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY by producers Dianne Fukami and Debra Nakatomi of The Mineta Legacy Project.

Celebrating its 36th festival at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco, CAAMFest will host the world premiere of the compelling, untold story of a true public servant and Asian American icon: U.S. Secretary Norman Yoshio Mineta. This exceptional documentary captures the trailblazing career and life of the first Asian American mayor of a major city, and first Asian American to serve on a Presidential cabinet. As the son of immigrants, forcibly removed from his home to spend years in an internment camp during World War II, Secretary Mineta was a Congressman when President Bill Clinton appointed him as the Secretary of Commerce. In an act speaking to Mineta’s character and reputation, he was subsequently appointed by President George W. Bush to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

Secretary Mineta personifies our dreams and aspirations. As an Asian American youth growing up in the Bay Area, Secretary Mineta served as the prime example of political and civic empowerment of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community. In fact, Secretary Mineta’s impact on building the APA pipeline of leadership for future generations cannot be understated. His own experience overcoming intolerance and injustice continues to inspire my own career.

There is no doubt in my mind that you will enjoy this unique and engaging documentary. I offer my best wishes for CAAMFest 2018 and the success of The Mineta Legacy Project in preserving and promoting Asian American history and culture.

Sincerely,

Evan Low Assemblymember, 28th District – San José/Silicon Valley California State Assembly | State of California

For more CAAMFest screening information, go to page 22.

10 CAAMFEST36

PEI-PEI CHENG: QUEEN OF ASIAN ACTION MOVIES

Commanding the screen and occupying fiery lead roles, Pei-Pei Cheng paved

role of Jade Fox in Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN

the way for Asian and Asian American women to be fierce warriors in film.

DRAGON. Once again showing her unparalleled talents, Cheng was not the

The Shanghai-born star found herself working as a child actress with one

unbeatable heroine, but rather a dark force to be feared. She continues to

of the largest film production companies in Hong Kong, The Shaw Brothers

command the screen as Maria in the CAAMFest film, MEDITATION PARK,

Studio. She exhibited her diverse skill sets, from ballet to martial arts, that

alongside Sandra Oh, as a devoted mother and wife who must reassess

quickly defined her as a martial arts heroine. Cheng claimed her throne as

her life and go on a journey of self-discovery. Cheng is a warrior on and off

the "Queen of Swords" at age 20 when she landed the lead role in King Hu’s

screen, claiming and occupying lead roles as her own and inspiring Asian and

wuxia film, COME DRINK WITH ME. Her role as the unbeatable, determined

Asian American women to do the same.

Golden Swallow set her on a path to make over 20 films with Shaw Brothers

— Chelsea Lee

Studio. Cheng continued to take roles across Asia after moving to Los Angeles and working in television, and in 2000, she seized the dark, intense

For more CAAMFest screening information, go to page 24.

PAST SPOTLIGHT HONOREES 2017 Ham Tran & Emoki Omori 2016 Mabel Cheung & H.P. Mendoza 2015 Arthur Dong 2014 Grace Lee 2013 Royston Tan 2012 Joan Chen 2011 Gurinder Chadha 2010 Freida Mock Lee 2009 Kiyoshi Kurosawa 2008 Wayne Wang 2007 Spencer Nakasako 2006 James Shigeta 2005 Steven Okazaki 2004 Anna May Wong (posthumous tribute) 2003 Curtis Choy 2001 Loni Ding

MEOW

CAAMEDIA.ORG 11

HOPE IN HARD TIMES:

A CONVERSATION WITH BRENDA WONG AOKI Banished families, anti-Asian hysteria,

a much easier thing because Obama was in, and

and two lives interwoven by activism and art.

then Hillary was going to win, and life was just

These themes make up the multifaceted

going to go on. I thought maybe it was a nice time

performance of Bay Area storyteller Brenda

for a love story. And when Trump won, it was just

Wong Aoki’s AUNT LILY’S FLOWER BOOK:

so jaw-dropping, it was just like some sci-fi

100 YEARS OF LEGALIZED RACISM, which

horror movie. And I felt that the job of a storyteller

closes CAAMFest this year on May 24 at the

is to bring the community together to act as an

Herbst Theater. Wong Aoki shifts between

intermediary between the universe and the people

playing multiple characters, from her own

and weave us together strategies for living, hope

ancestors to those of her husband’s, composer

in hard times, and reassurance that humankind has

Mark Izu. AUNT LILY’S centers around the hopes

been here before.

and successes of each family, and the impact of

Is there anything you do to prepare to

long-standing anti-Asian sentiment: from Izu’s

perform? Do you have some kind of ritual?

father, who served in (and survived) the 442nd during World War II, to Wong Aoki’s Japanese grandfather, who was kicked out of the San

I rehearse a lot. I rehearse about a month in

Francisco community he founded. AUNT LILY’S

advance with just myself. And then we have about

is Wong Aoki’s way to bring about community

eight rehearsals with the band and then we have

healing. Rather than “watching a play,” she says,

three rehearsals with the multimedia. I can't really

“It’s about bearing witness. These are people

start talking to anybody about a month before

who really lived.”

showtime, I have to just really be in the show.

I want to stay with all these people. I feel so responsible.

— Diana Tsuchida

What advice do you give to aspiring storytellers

What was your biggest inspiration for writing AUNT LILY’S FLOWER BOOK: 100 YEARS OF LEGALIZED RACISM?

is that I was a ghetto girl from Long Beach who was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. And then I find

and artists who want to utilize their family stories?

out that grandpa was daimyo [feudal lords].

It’s a compilation of things, which is kind of

We go back to the Yoshinaka and the Genji Heike

I think it's really important to speak in first

amazing that it all worked. But it's basically pulling

wars. We had pedigree. And when grandpa's

person. If you can get stories in first person,

together my personal story, my family with Mark's

little brother Gunjiro ran away with a white girl,

nothing beats primary source. And you have to

family, and putting it together through the lens of

he must have been humiliated that the archdeacon

really dig through your consciousness and feel

us as performing artists. We came into the arts as

of the church, who was of lower status, could

whether or not you're pimping pain because some

activists. Mark had been a union organizer in San

send him and grandma away to Utah to convert

people like to go out there and wallow in their

Francisco, and I had come more from education

the Mormons.

sorrow, but what is the point? Use it to build a connection between hearts.

and community organizing around street gangs and keeping the peace. At some point we realized

What I realized is that knowing your past you

there are good people doing social service, but

can change your future. But I didn't really

there's not as many people impacting the human

understand until now that you have to try really

heart and energizing the soul. And if you can't

hard to change your future. The past is so

energize the soul, a general will tell you that you

responsible for your behavior and your perspective.

can't win a war without the hearts and minds.

When you were unearthing family stories, which one shocked you the most?

When people watch AUNT LILY’S at CAAMFest, what meaning do you hope they take away?

I want us to come together and shine our lights together because you know, more flashlights

You live on both sides of the cultural landscape with Chinese and Japanese heritage.

Was that part of the reason why you wanted to do a performance like AUNT LILY’S?

together make more clarity in the darkness.

That's basically what we've got right now, we've got somebody pulling the wool over our eyes.

We just need to shine a light. I learned this from my Chinese side: You can't let them get you down

I was blown away to find out that my grandpa had founded [San Francisco] Japantown in 1897. He

I have to be inspired. It is has to feel that there

because then they're winning. And if nothing else,

was sent by the Meiji Emperor to start the first

was some divine intervention that says, “This

just live.

Japanese settlement in America with

is what needs to be said through the collective

support from the Episcopal Church, which at the

unconsciousness right now.” Before Aunt Lily

For more CAAMFest screening information,

time was called the Anglican Church. All I knew

came out, I was supposed to do another show,

go to page 23.

12 CAAMFEST36

TO NEW

COMICS AND SUPERHEROES

What do you think of when you picture a

Vishavjit Singh: As I travel to different schools

Keith Knight: The past decade has given rise

superhero? If you’re like most Americans, the

and I meet brown kids, South Asian kids, Middle

to an amazing group of women creators working

image that comes to mind is of the white, male

Eastern kids, Hispanic kids, some of them do

outside the superhero genre. There’s the tween

comic book characters that have dominated the

mention representation, but I found that even the

book market and graphic novels. There are also

pop landscape for decades. The new documentary

Caucasian kids all kind of respond to my cartoons

are a lot more ways to build audiences and

DRAWN TOGETHER: COMICS, DIVERSITY,

because they haven’t seen turbans and beards

support via websites like Patreon, which enables

AND STEREOTYPES (part of CAAMFest 2018),

represented in comic book media before. And

folks to support one’s work via art patronage.

directed by Harleen Singh, seeks to change that.

then when I ask them to draw their own cartoons,

I’ve rebuilt my career after the demise of print by

even though I don’t ask them to, many of the

cultivating an amazing and wonderful group of

I chat with Singh and the three cartoonists

kids choose to draw characters with turbans and

supporters.

who are subjects in the film — Super Sikh

beards, because it is all very fresh to them.

creator Eileen Kaur Alden, K-Chronicles artist

And here’s the thing: The most milquetoast

Keith Knight, and Vishvajit Singh of Sikhtoons —

Eileen Kaur Alden: We interviewed a number

music is generally the easiest to find, right?

on illustrating diverse cultures and more.

of Punjabi Sikh kids in India before working on

It’s on all the pop radio stations. And the most

(For the full interview, head to caamedia.org).

Super Sikh, and we asked them who their favorite

interesting stuff, you gotta search for. It’s the

superhero was. Each of them gave a standard

same for comics. I know my work isn’t easy to

answer: Batman, Superman, etc. Offering them

find, but I hope it’s worth searching for.

— Lakshmi Gandhi

Super Sikh comics has made them incredibly Congrats on such an interesting and thought

happy. I get looks of amazement and sheer joy.

of you mentioned how you devoured comics

While the dominant conversation around

reflected in the stories you read. Can you

universes, the world of independent comics is

provoking film. I kept thinking about how all as kids, yet never saw your experiences

describe what it’s like when fans talk about what your work means to them?

Harleen Singh: As cultural minorities, if we

comics revolve around the Marvel and DC

incredibly diverse, as we see in the film. Can

you talk about how indie comics have changed over the last decade or so?

In the film one of the interviewees mentions that the stories and illustrations seen by

children are often remembered for the rest of their lives. How do comics and their creators reflect the world around them?

EK: I think each creator has their own lens through which they see the world. When you put your creative ideas out there in a comic book for

don't tell our own stories, nobody else will.

VS: Beyond the world of the big publishers,

kids to see, you may be planting seeds that take

That's why I look for commonalities that advance

comic books are incredibly diverse. Comic-cons

them far beyond their own life experience.

the conversation on diversity and inclusion. My

over the years are increasingly diverse in terms of

films usually provoke some thoughts and people

stories about people of color and LGBT stories.

For more CAAMFest screening information,

tend to place themselves in the situation and

And I would like to believe that Marvel and DC

go to page 26.

reflect. That is where change happens.

are scouting these creators. Hopefully they’ll find this diverse market.

CAAMEDIA.ORG 13

“The greatest thing to have learned is that across time, the Chinese were standing up every step of the way,” Yu said.

Chinese Americans in the 19th century may not have been able to vote, and immigrants may have been barred from citizenship, but they used both the press and the legal system to wage a steady resistance.

Chinese Americans challenged local anti-Chinese ordinances in an estimated 10,000 lawsuits, according to the film. Some of those cases made it all the way up to the Supreme Court, and

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT

—A New Film About a 19th Century Law with 21st Century Lessons

ultimately formed the basis for key legal principles in the country. In 1898, the Supreme Court cited the 14th Amendment when it ruled that Wong Kim Ark, the son of Chinese immigrants, was indeed a U.S. citizen because he was born in the U.S., thus establishing birthright citizenship.

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT, a documentary

of Chinese immigrants in 1878: “California must

film directed by Ric Burns and Li-Shin Yu, offers a

be all American or all Chinese.” By the 1870s,

It wasn’t only Chinese immigrants who spoke

window into the past and a simultaneous

anti-Chinese sentiment had curdled into outright

out against their exclusion. Frederick Douglass

offering to understand the current political debates

violence and hostility in many communities

and Henry Highland Garnet, a deeply respected

around immigration. The Chinese Exclusion Act,

throughout the west coast.

Black abolitionist, also spoke out against Chinese

signed into law on May 6, 1882, was the first

exclusion.

significant U.S. law to restrict immigration, and

By the time the Chinese Exclusion Act became

remains the only law which did so on the basis of a

the law in 1882, Chinese immigrants were firmly

“One of the greatest ironies is how Chinese

person’s nationality.

established in the popular imagination as

Americans showed America the way,” Burns said.

villainous culprits responsible for the country’s

“They said, ‘We’re going to improve the system

The law was the culmination of decades of anti-

every economic woe. The law made it illegal for

using its own tools to force greater justice and

immigrant rhetoric and violence targeted at

Chinese immigrants to come to the U.S., it made

equality.’”

Chinese immigrants, who arrived in the U.S. in the

it illegal for those who left to re-enter the U.S.,

mid-1800s fleeing political instability and war in

and it made it illegal for Chinese nationals to

China following promises of work and riches in

become U.S. citizens. The law was overturned only

the Gold Rush. Once in the U.S., and after the

in the 1940s, but it wasn’t functionally dismantled

boom years of the Gold Rush ended, Chinese

until 1965 during the Civil Rights era — just 50

immigrants made easy targets as scapegoats

years ago.

for the economic plight of others.

Burns and Yu said their priority was to show the Political figures built their careers off of whipping up

many interwoven economic, social, and political

nativist sentiment under the guise of pro-worker pop-

forces in the U.S. and abroad that led to the Chinese

ulism. Political figures like John Bigler, the third

Exclusion Act.

— Julianne Hing Article edited and adapted from an online article at www.caamedia.org.

For more information about THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT documentary, screenings, and educational outreach, please visit caamedia.org/the-chinese-exclusion-act/

against Chinese immigration and championing

But the other chapter of the story of the Chinese

taxes on Chinese laborers as early as the 1850s.

Exclusion Act is one of resistance. Co-director Yu

The labor leader and anti-Chinese advocate Denis

says that in the years of making this film, the sto-

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT is directed by Ric Burns and Li-Shin Yu of Steeplechase Films and co-produced by the Center for Asian American Media. The documentary premieres as a Special Presentation of American Experience

Kearney made a speech calling for the exclusion

ries of resistance stood out to her over and over:

Films on May 29, 2018.

governor of California, made his name crusading

14 CAAMFEST36

G YA M A Z AWA "had to take a job that he didn't really choose, had a strong voice that he couldn't really use, that's why immigrants be cookin' that food, it's the only way they communicate with you, I seen him put a knife through a sea of dead dreams, oh but the life force that the dead brings."

From Dining Room, G Yamazawa ABOUT G YAMAZAWA National Poetry Slam Champion. Cultural Diplomat for the Department of State. Kundiman Fellow, Team Backpack certified. G Yamazawa has been featured on ABC, NBC, NPR, PBS, and has toured over 200 universities both domestic and internationally. With notable performances at the Sundance Film Festival and the Pentagon, Yamazawa continues to challenge the American perspective of race and culture, poetry and rap, and the phenomena of the human condition.

Yamazawa’s debut album SHOUTS TO DURHAM charted on the iTunes top 100 rap albums, and his hit single NORTH CACK has garnered millions of views and streams around the world. He is on the festival circuit and performing live throughout the U.S., and is also working on his sophomore release. For more information on Yamazawa, head to gyamazawa.com or follow him @gyamazawa on social media.

G Yamazawa is a featured artist at Directions in Sound at CAAMFest 2018. For more CAAMFest event information, go to page 34.

CAAMEDIA.ORG 15

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PRESERVING FOODWAYS

WITH CHEF TU DAVID PHU For many people, even those intimately

isn’t available in the States, his recipes are. We’re

familiar with Southeast Asian cuisine, finding

excited to present one exclusively for CAAMFest.

creative ways to cook with fish sauce is a challenge. But for Oakland-native Tu David Phu

The story of how Chef Tu went from Phú Quốc

(2017 SF Chronicle Rising Star, Top Chef 15), it's

to Top Chef using ingredients largely unfamiliar

second nature. And that’s because his family has

to Western palates is captured in BLOODLINE,

been cooking with it, and making it, since 1895 on

a documentary food film directed by CAAM-

Phú Quốc island — the birthplace of Vietnamese

alumnus James Q. Chan and presented in

fish sauce. Chef Tu showcases the tangy sauce

CAAMFest 2018 as part of the launch-event

in many dishes that appear in his traveling

for FIRST KITCHEN — a new food series created

dining venture, Chef’s Hawker Centre, and

by Santhosh Daniel and executive produced

although Hung Thanh (his family fish sauce brand)

with Phu, and producers Chan and Miles Ito.

CÁ KHO TỘ | PEPPERCORN BRAISED FISH “An iconic dish stemming from the Mien Tay region (Southwest Vietnam/Mekong Delta); surrounded by rivers, Mien Tay prides itself in the cookery of freshwater fish, specifically Cá Kho Tộ.”

— Chef Tu

Ingredients

Procedure

1⁄2 cup palm sugar

1. Sweat aromatics on medium heat in a pot with

1⁄4 cup cracked peppercorns

oil and brown (2 min)

1⁄2 cup fish sauce

2. Add sugar, fish sauce, and soy, and reduce into

1⁄4 cup soy sauce 1 cup water 1 tbsp garlic, minced 1 tbsp ginger, minced 1 tbsp lemongrass, minced 1 tbsp cooking oil Fish 4, 2-4 oz portions (have your fishmonger prepare for you; see Notes)

a syrup consistency (3-5 min) 3. Add water and bring to simmer 4. Add fish steaks, cook on low heat for about 20 minutes

Notes *This recipe is best suited for catfish, salmon, swordfish, or scallops. *The flavors infuse, deepen, and taste even better the next day.

For more CAAMFest screening information, go to page 36.

18 CAAMFEST36

HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE 36TH ANNUAL CAAMFEST!

During the heart of Asian Pacific American Heritage

master Shoko Hikage. Wong-Aoki will transport the

Month, we are thrilled to showcase so many stories

audience through a multimedia tale of family secrets and

from our communities and to amplify the vital voices of

resilience in the face of discrimination. We promise you

our filmmakers and artists. Our 15-day festival — now

this is a not-to-be-missed performance.

four days longer — encompasses more than 100 film screenings and events in over 15 venues throughout

Join us on the CAAMFest journey as you dig in to

San Francisco and Oakland. In addition to our in-theater

our program guide, this year with enhanced editorial

experiences, we are expanding our music, live

content. And, we’re always around if you do want

performance, and food offerings. Our tagline is

personal recommendations.

CULTURE, IN EVERY SENSE, and that’s what we will be delivering.

Lastly, we want to extend thank to our wonderful members, whose support keeps our gears turning

At a moment when civic engagement is at its most

throughout the year, and to our Presenting and Grand

necessary and crucial, we are elated to open our

Sponsors — Comcast Xfinity, AARP, the Asian Art

festival with the world premiere of Dianne Fukami’s

Museum, and Boba Guys. Our deep thanks to the

AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS

incredible CAAM fam as well: our staff, board, and

LEGACY. This inspirational and timely portrait sets the

interns. We’re so lucky to have such a fantastic mix of

perfect tone to kick off our festival, and we’re so honored

passionate individuals. This festival could not exist

to have Secretary Mineta in attendance at the Castro

without their dedication, late nights and all. And a

Theatre on Thursday, May 10!

special shout out to former Development Director Debbie Ng and former Festival Assistant Director

Our Centerpiece Presentations are purposefully

Lin Kung. After many great years at CAAM, they have

audacious, from the world premiere of H.P. Mendoza’s

both moved on to serve the broader arts community.

(CAAMFest Spotlight alumnus) newest dark comedy,

Although they may no longer be working CAAMFest,

BITTER MELON, to CAAMFest newcomer Kulap

Debbie’s strategic direction helped make this move to

Vilaysack’s ORIGIN STORY, a brave personal journey

May a reality, and Lin’s creative imprint is on every page

that takes her to Laos to reunite with her father. Both films

of this guide.

express the complexity and future-focused voices within Asian American cinema.

See you at the festival!

We will wrap up our festival with AUNT LILY’S FLOWER BOOK: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LEGALIZED RACISM

Stephen Gong, Executive Director

on May 24 at the historic Herbst Theater, featuring a live performance by Brenda Wong-Aoki, set to music by Emmy Award-winning composer Mark Izu and koto

20 CAAMFEST36

Masashi Niwano, Festival & Exhibitions Director

AWARDS

COMCAST NARRATIVE COMPETITION

LONI DING AWARD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE DOCUMENTARY

INSPIRASIAN STUDENT FILM AWARD

The Comcast Narrative Competition Award

The Loni Ding Award for Social Justice

Recognizing promising voices in Asian and

highlights the diversity and ingenuity of modern

Documentary recognizes the film and film-

Asian American media, the InspirASIAN Student

cinema and recognizes excellence in narrative

maker that most reflect the passions of late TV

Film Award is presented to college students

filmmaking.

producer Loni Ding. She devoted her life to

who exemplify the voice of a new generation.

advocacy and played a key role in the founding

DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

of several public media organizations, includ-

Co-sponsored by InspirAsian, a nonprofit

ing CAAM.

organization focused on the representation of Asian Pacific Islanders employed by AT&T Inc.

The Documentary Competition showcases a dynamic selection of films that fearlessly capture the challenging reality and surprising beauty inherent to the human experience.

21CF CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD In partnership with 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion, CAAMFest is proud to present our inaugural Cinematography Award. This award

SF FILM CRITICS AWARD

is presented to an Asian-American Director of

In partnership with the San Francisco Film

elevates storytelling and exemplifies creativity

Critics Circle, CAAMFest proudly celebrates cinematic achievements in global cinema.

Award winners are selected by members of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle, a nonprofit

Photography whose work on a CAAMFest film and vision.

and its wholly owned subsidiaries.

AUDIENCE AWARD The Audience Award lets you, our audience, honor your festival favorite. Vote for the narrative that touched your heart or the most eye-opening documentary, and give their directors much-deserved recognition. Check to see if your favorites won on the CAAM website after the festival.

service organization of Bay Area film critics, reviewers, writers, authors, and editors.

CAAMEDIA.ORG 21

GAL AS OPENING NIGHT

AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY DIANE FUKAMI / USA 2018 / 60 MINS THUR MAY 10 | 7:00PM | CASTRO

Join us for the World premiere of Dianne Fukami’s newest documentary, which celebrates the rich life and career of Norman Y. Mineta, one of the most well-respected and influential Japanese American community leaders of our times. This powerful and inspirational portrait explores Mineta — from being interned as a child during World War II to being mayor of San Jose and serving as cabinet secretary under two presidents.

OPENING NIGHT GAL A

THUR MAY 10 | 9:30PM | AAM

MEOW

22 CAAMFEST36

Come unwind with CAAMFest revelers after watching AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY at our Opening Night Gala at the Asian Art Museum. Dine, drink, and dance as you indulge in what CAAM does best — art, music, and food. Delight in mouthwatering culinary creations from local favorites, including Boba Guys, Sol Food, Alchemy SF, Hodo Soy, Lee’s Deli, Socola Chocolatier, and Magnolia Ice Cream. Sway to the sweet sounds of the classics and move to the DJ while soaking in the museum’s newest exhibit, Divine Bodies. How can we see the human in the divine and the divine in the human? Images of gods and goddesses, buddhas and bodhisattvas, humans and their environments — whether sculpted centuries ago or photographed recently — invite you to ponder the power of transformation, the possibility of transcendence and the relationship of the body to the cosmos.

GALAS

CENTERPIECES

BITTER MELON

ORIGIN STORY

H.P. MENDOZA / USA 2018 / 95 MINS

KULAP VILAYSACK / USA 2018 / 106 MINS

SAT MAY 19 | 7:30 PM | ROXIE

SAT MAY 19 | 2:10PM | ROXIE

SAT MAY 12 | 6:50 PM | KABUKI

WED MAY 23 | 6:30PM | PIEDMONT

SUN MAY 13 | 6:00PM | KABUKI

At 14, Kulap Vilaysack discovered that the man she called father was in fact BITTER MELON is a tragicomedy from San Francisco filmmaker H.P. Mendoza

not. Now a successful actor, director, and podcaster, Kulap embarks on a

that follows a family’s attempts to right their wrongs, resulting in the

quest that takes her from Minnesota and the Mekong to disentangle family

discovery of many unsavory truths. The dark, quirky revenge comedy turns

secrets and the decade-long emotional paralysis that has caused a rift with

into exercise in empathy and exploration of family cycles. This is the film's

her mother.

World Premiere.

CLOSING NIGHT AUNT LILY’S FLOWER BOOK: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LEGALIZED RACISM THUR MAY 24 | 6:15 PM | HERBST

THUR MAY 24 | 7:00 PM | HERBST Bay Area storyteller and activist Brenda Wong Aoki presents AUNT LILY’S FLOWER BOOK: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF LEGALIZED RACISM. A live performance set to music by Emmy Award-winning composer Mark Izu and koto master Shoko Hikage, Wong Aoki takes the audience through a tale of family secrets and resilience in the face of discrimination. A Power of Personal Story talk before the show will be led by psychologist and filmmaker Satsuki Ina and CAAM Executive Director Stephen Gong.

CAAMEDIA.ORG 23

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS SPOTLIGHT: PEI-PEI CHENG Pei-Pei Cheng’s breakout role as the dart-throwing expert

CAAMFEAST: A CONVERSATION WITH PEI-PEI CHENG

MON MAY 14 | 7:00PM | CHINA LIVE

swordswoman in COME DRINK WITH ME portended fearsome,

Join the “Queen of Swords,” actress and martial

powerhouse performances to come in an internationally

arts legend Pei-Pei Cheng, in an intimate on-stage

renowned career in film and television.

conversation at China Live. Dine on a selection of delectable bites and inspired refreshments from executive chef George Chen as we celebrate the career of our CAAMFest Spotlight honoree.

MEDITATION PARK

COME DRINK WITH ME

GOLDEN SWALLOW

MINA SHUM / CANADA 2017 / 94 MINS

KING HU / HONG KONG 1966 / 90 MINS

CHANG CHEH / HONG KONG 1968 / 104 MINS

When Maria finds out her husband has been

In the film that revolutionized the wuxia genre,

Continuing the saga of Golden Swallow from

having an affair, she breaks out of her shell,

a gang of bandits battle against a mysterious

COME DRINK WITH ME, Chang Cheh centers

making friends with the local park ladies and

swordswoman, Golden Swallow, while a

this sequel upon a love triangle with a cutthroat

silent disco dancing on the grass. MEDITATION

drunken master combats his long time foe. With

philosophical dilemma. As Golden Swallow

PARK, is a light-hearted film filled with humor,

poisoned darts and slicing bloodshed, COME

trains peacefully with Iron Whip, her old beau,

self-love, and liberation, starring the legendary

DRINK WITH ME set the stage for the dance-like

Silver Roc, impersonates her while killing evil

Pei-Pei Cheng (CAAMFest 2018’s Spotlight

martial arts choreography we know today.

gangsters to get her attention.

TUE MAY 15 | 6:00PM | KABUKI

MON MAY 14 | 9:00PM | KABUKI

TUES MAY 15 | 9:00PM | KABUKI

Honoree), Sandra Oh, and Tzi Ma.

AMERICAN SOUTH INITIATIVE: STORIES FROM THE AMERICAN SOUTH SHORTS

SUN MAY 13 | 4:30PM | KABUKI

This year, CAAM launched its American South Initiative, kicking off with its first-ever regional convening in Durham, North Carolina. The initiative is a year-long effort engaging the Asian

COME AND TAKE IT PJ Raval and Ellen Spiro / USA 2018 / 24 mins JUNE Huay-Bing Law / USA 2017 /13 mins

American documentary filmmaking community to build an infrastructure connecting social

LEADWAY

justice and cultural organizations in the American South.

Robbie Fisher & Dudley Percy Olsson / USA 2014 / 10 mins

As part of this initiative, STORIES FROM THE AMERICAN SOUTH SHORTS brings

PHETMIXAY MEANS FIGHTER

uniquely-curated Asian American voices to the social justice and cultural identity issues lying

Rita Phetmixay / USA 2017 / 13 mins

in the lesser-explored region. 66 MINS

WHITMAN, ALABAMA Jennifer Crandall / USA 2017 / 6 mins

24 CAAMFEST36

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

PACIFIC ISLANDERS IN COMMUNICATIONS: PACIFIC SHOWCASE CAAMFest celebrates our 6th Pacific Islander Showcase with our National Minority Consortia partner, Pacific Islanders in Communications. Journey to Hawai'i, Micronesia, and Tonga with four stories of resilience and belonging.

OUT OF STATE

ISLAND SOLDIER

CIARA LACY / USA 2017 / 82 MINS

NATHAN FITCH / MICRONESIA 2017 / 86 MINS

Trapped in an endless cycle of hardship, Native Hawaiians struggle to

Warriors for a country that isn’t theirs, soldiers from the Micronesian island

find their place after incarceration. The lives of two former inmates move in

of Kosrae lay down their lives for the U.S. military without the benefits of

different directions when one deals with unemployment and the other finds

citizenship. Honest and touching, the film tells the story of a community

love. Prison is the past, but can these two survive reality without being

ripped apart by the loss of its members and the people healing it.

SUN MAY 13 | 3:10PM | KABUKI

FRI MAY 11 | 5:20PM | KABUKI

sent back?

Preceded by I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE (Stefan C. Schaefer / USA 2017 / 20

Prededed by LADY EVA (Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson / Tonga 2017 / 11 mins)

mins)

MEMORIES TO LIGHT: ASIAN AMERICAN HOME MOVIES

MUSLIM YOUTH VOICES 3.0

TUES MAY 15 | 7:10PM | KABUKI

SUN MAY 13 | 12:00PM | NEW PEOPLE | FREE

Brought to light and saved from basements, garages, and closets across

The Muslim Youth Voices Project is a national initiative of the Center for

the country, where they are sometimes forgotten for decades, CAAM has

Asian American Media and funded by the Doris Duke Foundation for

digitized over 250 home movie reels from more than 30 Asian American

Islamic Art’s Building Bridges Program. Through three summers of work-

families. We are excited to chat with and present a program of new short

shops, CAAM amplified young people’s expression and celebration of

films by three talented local media makers, each showcasing a unique

Muslim life by giving them the essential tools to tell their own stories on

approach to using the home movie footage digitized for CAAM’s Memories

their own terms. We are thrilled to present the world premiere of short films

to Light: Asian American home movies project. 17 MINS

produced by youth from Plano, Texas, and Portland, Oregon, from our 2017 summer workshop, our culminating year of the program. The film screening

MY IMMIGRANT STORY

will be followed by a panel discussion.

Yuriko Gamo Romer / USA 2018 / 3 mins ON THE LINE Tina Takemoto / USA 2018 / 7 mins THE LEW FAMILY: 1940S TO 1960S Lance Lew / USA 2018 / 7 mins

CAAMEDIA.ORG 25

CA A MUNIT Y ASIAN ART MUSEUM / DRAWN TOGETHER: COMICS, DIVERSITY, AND STEREOTYPES

THE CENTER FOR SPORT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE / FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE

CURRAN THEATER / THE STATE OF THE ART with DAVID HENRY HWANG AND JEANINE TESORI

HARLEEN SINGH / USA 2017 / 52 MINS

JUN STINSON / USA 2017 / 40 MINS

THUR MAY 17 | 7:00PM | CURRAN

What comes to mind when you think of a

FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE follows two young

artists join us in a conversation about creating,

superhero? In this new documentary, a trio

immigrant soccer players and their coach

collaborating, and the genesis of their exciting

of comics creators from diverse backgrounds

from Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood on an

new work, SOFT POWER. They provide a rare

work to make a mark with stories featuring

inspiring and surprising journey toward

peek behind the curtain that will show us what it

women and people of color in an industry

adulthood — a timely film during debates

really takes to get plays and musicals from idea

that is often hesitant to embrace change.

over immigration and a moving portrait of

to Opening Night. This SHOW & TELL is hosted

resiliency and hope.

in partnership with The Curran in San Francisco

THUR MAY 17 | 7:00PM | AAM

TUES MAY 22 | 6:30 PM | PIEDMONT

Two of theater’s most unique and contemporary

in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

OAKLAND ASIAN CULTURAL CENTER / HALFWAY HOME: ASIAN AMERICAN ART IN THE CENTRAL VALLEY

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA / FAMILY PICTURES USA: DETROIT IS THE FUTURE AND IT'S OKAY!

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH / POWER IN UNITY

S. STEVE AROUNSACK / USA 2018 / 27 MINS

THOMAS ALLEN HARRIS / USA 2018 / 30 MINS

JAMES Q. CHAN / USA 2017 / 32 MINS

Spotlighting four artists living and working

Photo albums are portals to rich, diverse stories

San Francisco’s high-flying economy comes at

in California’s Central Valley, this CAAM

in Detroit, MI, in the pilot episode of this CAAM-

the cost to low-income residents. Many longtime,

co-produced project is an affirmation of the

co-produced PBS series and transmedia project.

immigrant, communities are being displaced by

cultural and artistic practices Asian American

Host/director Thomas Allen Harris traverses

profit-driven developers, but Chinese seniors in

communities are often forced to shed through

America’s cities and neighborhoods, exploring

Chinatown find renewed spirit as they fight the

processes of immigration and assimilation.

personal moments, shared experiences,

injustice by organizing and building coalitions

and family connections found through captured

with the Community Tenants Association.

SAT MAY 19 | 7:00PM | OACC

FRI MAY 18 | 7:00PM | OMCA

WED MAY 23 | 6:30 PM | SF LIBRARY

photographic memories, while extracting universal elements of humanity.

Preceded by LIMINAL SPACE/CROSSINGS (Jim Choi & Chihiro Wimbush / USA 2017 / 16 mins) and CHINATOWN (Chet Canlas / USA 2017 / 3 mins)

26 CAAMFEST36

CAAMUNITY

CAAM FIL MM AKER SUMMIT Empowering Asian American filmmakers and telling Asian American stories have always been at the center of CAAM’s mission, and we forcefully advocate for both in defining our country’s narrative. In 2018, there is a cacophony of voices driven to the forefront

SUPERFEST / THIS CLOSE

by the divisive political climate working to re-configure gender norms or politically

ANDREW AHN / USA 2018 / 30 MINS

reimagine, and retool the narrative of “a nation of immigrants” and embrace a much

TUES MAY 22 | 7:00PM | LIGHTHOUSE

engage diverse communities across the country. It is clear that America must rethink, more dynamic reality of her citizens.

THIS CLOSE, created by, written, and starring

The 2018 CAAM Filmmaker Summit is a space where Asian American documentary

Shoshannah Stern and Josh Feldman, both

filmmakers, media organizations, and community leaders can discuss questions

deaf actors, explores the relationship between

surrounding the American zeitgeist and strategize ways in which the Asian American

best friends. Directed by CAAMFest alumnus

filmmaking community can have the most impact. The Summit will examine what it

Andrew Ahn, this program includes a screening

means to be an Asian American storyteller with identities that encompass race,

and conversation exploring how diverse

gender, class, and politics across a multiplicity of media.

communities can collaborate and create together.

Much great work and energy has transpired since the International Documentary Association’s 2016 Getting Real conference, when Grace Lee and Leo Chiang launched A-Doc, the Asian American documentary filmmaker network. CAAM believes this moment necessitates more proactive investments in precise project and filmmaker development specifically targeting gaps and opportunities. We are particularly eager to catalyze community-wide energy toward building a robust and sustainable support network.

CAAM is developing a multiyear national initiative focused on building a talent pipeline

THEWALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM / BAMBI (IN CELEBRATION OF TYRUS WONG)

and strategic infrastructure for the Asian American social issues documentary filmmaking community. With recent support from the MacArthur Foundation and JustFilms/Ford Foundation coming at an extremely opportune moment, the Asian American filmmaking community continues to amplify its voice in the social issues documentary sphere.

DAVID HAND / USA 1942 / 70 MINS FRI MAY 11 | 4:00PM | DISNEY

Join CAAM and The Walt Disney Family Museum for a special screening of BAMBI, in celebration of the Disney artist Tyrus Wong.

Wong had an incredible gift for evoking feeling in his art, and Walt Disney saw the talent in him.

Wong’s work as a concept artist on BAMBI can be seen in this iconic Disney film.

CAAMEDIA.ORG 27

COMCAST NARRATIVES THIS YEAR, CAAMFEST BOLDLY INTEGRATES OUR

20 WEEKS

NARRATIVE COMPETITION AND CINEMASIA FILM

LEENA PENDHARKAR / USA 2017 / 90 MINS

SHOWCASES, CREATING A SNAPSHOT OF NARRATIVE

Expecting parents Maya and Ronan are

FILMMAKING FROM ACROSS THE ASIAN DIASPORA.

their unborn child’s serious health condition

GET LOST IN THE STREETS OF METRO MANILA, WHERE ANIMATED MONSTERS COHABITATE WITH HUMANS, OR FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN AWKWARD PIECE OF PERFORMANCE ART AT A GROCERY STORE. WITH THESE FILMS, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

forced to confront the unknown as they discover in a 20-week scan. Inspired by a true story, 20 WEEKS follows the couple as they navigate the challenges of pregnancy and the impact it has on their perceptions of parenthood and their relationship.

Preceded by THE LAYOVER (Mahesh Pailoor & Anu Pradhan / USA 2017 / 9 mins) MON MAY 14 | 9:10PM | KABUKI

HALF WIDOW

I CAN, I WILL, I DID

SAVING SALLY

DANISH RENZU / INDIA 2017 / 91 MINS

NADINE TRUONG / USA 2017 / 110 MINS

AVID LIONGOREN / PHILIPPINES 2016 /

Inspired by the life of activist Parveena

Ben, a foster teen who gets injured as a

Ahanger, HALF WIDOW is a story of loss and

result of bullying, finds the meaning of

Hopelessly in love with his spunky best friend

self-actualization amidst the tense backdrop

discipline and peace through taekwondo. A

Sally, Marty uses his comics to fantasize about

of the Kashmir conflict between China, India,

compelling narrative of growth, forgiveness,

saving her from the monsters who are her

and Pakistan. When Neela’s husband

and perseverance. The film is based on the

uptight parents and her tool of a boyfriend.

disappears from their home in Srinagar,

teachings of Grand Master Ik Jo Kang, who

Geeky and delightful, Manila is animated into

she goes in search of answers and a means

plays a fictionalized version of himself.

a surreal backdrop of a love story for the

to tell his story.

SUN MAY 13 | 12:10PM | KABUKI WED MAY 16 | 9:00PM | KABUKI

28 CAAMFEST36

94 MINS

teenage soul.

SAT MAY 12 | 3:30PM | KABUKI

SAT MAY 12 | 9:30PM | KABUKI

NARRATIVES

DEAD PIGS

EAT A BOWL OF TEA (OUT OF THE VAULTS)

GO FOR BROKE: AN ORIGIN STO RY

CATHY YAN / CHINA, USA 2017 / 130 MINS

WAYNE WANG / USA 1989 / 102 MINS

ALEXANDER BOCCHIERI / USA 2017 /

The lives of five eccentric social climbers dance

On the cusp of its 20th anniversary, master

and then collide, while a bevy of mysterious pig

filmmaker Wayne Wang’s EAT A BOWL OF TEA

Before the 442nd and 100th infantry became

corpses float lazily towards Shanghai in director

continues to charm audiences with humor and

two of the most decorated military units in

Cathy Yan's offbeat and effervescent debut film.

soul. In this rare director’s cut, Wang’s landmark

history, the young Japanese American men

With a dazzling ensemble cast and quirky

Asian American feature explores the harsh

faced jarring discrimination at home. GO FOR

arthouse appeal, DEAD PIGS is a sharply

realities of Chinese immigrants in the 1940s and

BROKE: AN ORIGIN STORY provides insight

observed portrait of rapidly-changing China.

reminds us of the pioneers and everyday heroes

into the inspiring lives of the men who fought

who paved the way for newer generations.

to prove themselves to their country.

SUN MAY 20 | 12:30PM | ROXIE

SAT MAY 12 | 2:30PM | KABUKI

SUN MAY 13 | 12:30PM | KABUKI

STAND UP MA N

UN LOVABLE

WHITE RABBIT

ARAM COLLIER / CANADA 2017 / 85 MINS

SUZI YOONESSI / USA 2018 / 79 MINS

DARYL WEIN / USA 2018 / 71 MINS

Exiled in nowhere, Canada, Moses Kim

Joy’s addiction to sex and love is her primary

What does it mean to be an artist? Where is the

struggles with a life he never expected to have:

compass for self-worth and thus far it’s led her

line between fact and fiction? Comedian Vivian

taking care of a young family, his teenage

to rock bottom. UNLOVABLE is a spirited drama

Bang tears down construed norms as a Korean

cousin from Korea, and the failing family

filled with comedic moments that traces the

American performance artist who braves odd

restaurant. What he really wants to do is get

ups and downs of Joy’s path toward accepting

jobs in an authentic, unapologetic nature to find

back to doing stand-up comedy in Toronto.

herself, finding true friendship — and even

her place in the world.

But how?

being a little okay.

SUN MAY 13 | 4:15PM | NEW PEOPLE

FRI MAY 11 | 9:40PM | KABUKI

SUN MAY 13 | 8:50PM | KABUKI

104 MINS

MON MAY 14 | 6:30PM | KABUKI

FRI MAY 11 | 7:30PM | KABUKI

SUN MAY 20 | 8:00PM | ROXIE

CAAMEDIA.ORG 29

DOCUMENTARIES CAAMFEST HAS BEEN A STEADFAST PLATFORM FOR UNFLINCHING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING DOCUMENTARIES, AND THE FILMS IN THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION CARRY ON THIS TRADITION, MEDITATING ON THE POWER OF CONNECTION. FROM A RURAL NEPALESE MONASTERY AND THE REMOTE FORESTS OF MALAYSIA, TO CHINA’S NEW DIGITAL FRONTIER AND THE NEW YORK YANKEES DUGOUT, HOW FAR WILL WE GO TO MAKE SENSE OF THE PAST, OURSELVES, AND ONE ANOTHER?

L AT E LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG STORY

LOOKING FOR?

MINDING THE GAP

FRANK W. CHEN / USA 2017 / 96 MINS

CHOU TUN-YEN / TAIWAN 2016 / 61 MINS

BING LIU / USA 2018 / 93 MINS

More than a story of baseball, LATE LIFE: THE

Dating apps have become the most convenient,

A clear-eyed portrait of masculinity, race, class,

CHIEN-MING WANG STORY follows the inspir-

and sometimes safest, way for gay men to con-

and skateboarding in rust belt America, Bing

ing perseverance of pitcher Chien-Ming Wang

nect in the today’s obstacle course of sexuality,

Liu’s first feature follows three young men

as he faces a career-threatening injury and tries

romance, and friendship. Swipe through 60 gay

through the tumult and trauma of their lives.

to work his way back to Major League Baseball.

men from seven cities across the globe as they

Tender, unflinching, a compulsive licking of

The heartbreaking yet heartwarming documen-

navigate a digital network of millions, searching

wounds, the film asks — what do men do with

tary transcends sports by exploring the uncon-

for love, lust, and loss.

their hurt?

Preceded by LIONS IN WAITING (Jason

SUN MAY 13 | 1:40PM | NEW PEOPLE

ditional support of Wang’s family, friends, and fans around the world.

Karman / Canada 2017 / 17 mins) SAT MAY 12 | 9:20PM | KABUKI

SUN MAY 13 | 6:40PM | NEW PEOPLE

30 CAAMFEST36

SAT MAY 19 | 5:10PM | ROXIE

DOCS

A LIT T LE WISDOM

A T IM E TO SWIM

H AVA N A D I VA S

YUQI KANG / NEPAL 2017 / 92 MINS

ASHLEY DUONG / MALAYSIA 2017 / 82 MINS

S. LOUISA WEI / HONG KONG 2018 / 90 MINS

A LITTLE WISDOM director Yuqi Kang brings

Mutang Urud straddles two disparate worlds

CAAMFest Alum S. Louisa Wei is back with

a mindful eye into the lives of Hopakuli and

— at once a stay at home dad in Montreal and

a new documentary about Caridad and

Chorten — two orphaned brothers living among

a warrior for indigenous rights halfway across

Georgina, octogenarian Cantonese Opera

monks in Lumbini, Nepal. After opening with

the globe. Follow Mutang’s tumultuous journey

singers who grew up in Havana’s Barrio Chino.

meditative languid takes, the film turns increas-

home to Borneo, and explore how the destruc-

On a personal quest, they trace their place in

ingly disquieting as we watch the boys wrestle

tion of place affects the communities that once

the history of Cuba’s Chinese diaspora and

with the world armed with little guidance.

thrived there.

their role in preserving the last vestiges of

SAT MAY 12 | 12:00PM | KABUKI

SAT MAY 12 | 12:00PM | NEW PEOPLE

this community’s culture.

TUES MAY 22 | 8:30PM | PIEDMONT

SUN MAY 20 | 5:40PM | ROXIE

NAILED IT

THE P EOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE

THE REGISTRY

ADELE FREE PHAM / USA 2017 / 59 MINS

HAO WU / CHINA, USA 2018 / 94 MINS

BILL KUBOTA & STEVE OZONE / USA 2018 /

In 1975, 20 Vietnamese refugee women created

Login to a digital universe where hundreds of

a multibillion dollar industry that supports their

millions seek social connection and economic

For the Japanese Americans who served in

community to this day. NAILED IT is a capti-

success. Follow three Chinese live streamers

World War II, acknowledgment of the vital

vating exploration of the genesis of how a nail

whose virtual currency of persona and talents

roles they played has been long delayed. THE

salon ended up in every strip mall – and the sur-

can earn them six figures every month, as long

REGISTRY details the efforts of aging veter-

vival of a community.

as they maintain likes, tips, gifts, and worship

ans to document the crucial work performed

from their fellow, plugged-in population.

by Japanese American translators in the Pacific

SAT MAY 12 | 4:50PM | KABUKI SAT MAY 19 | 12:20PM | ROXIE

57 MINS

theater and the focal point that military service SAT MAY 12 | 7:00PM | KABUKI

WED MAY 23 | 9:00PM | PIEDMONT

played in their identities.

Preceded by THREE BOYS MANZANAR (Preeti Deb / USA 2018 / 7 mins) SUN MAY 13 | 2:40PM | KABUKI

CAAMEDIA.ORG 31

SHORTS ALT ERED STATES

EPI S ODICS

FIGHTERS & DREAMERS

Don’t panic, it’s just a movie … right?

A trio of sharp, hilarious and painfully rel-

What would life be without fighters

The collection of heart-pulsing shorts in

evant series from creators Chelsea Chang,

and dreamers? Dedicated to everyday heroes,

ALTERED STATES will be sure to keep you up

Douglas Kim, and Susane Lee capture everyday

this inspirational program honors those who

all night long. From sci-fi to horror to what lurks

moments overflowing with energy, humor, and

stand up for their rights, protest in the streets,

in-between, these filmmakers take genre

heart. Diverse, polished performances inject

and fight passionately for social equity.

storytelling to the next level, one fright at

fresh talent and ideas while elevating the entire

These powerful portraits celebrate the enduring

a time. 82 MINS

program to new heights. Binge watching

spirit of our diverse communities. 84 MINS

FRI MAY 11 | 10:00PM | KABUKI ASWANG NEXT DOOR Bernard Badion / USA 2017 / 6 mins RUNNER

never felt so good! 73 MINS SAT MAY 12 | 4:30PM | NEW PEOPLE HELLA STRANGERS

MON MAY 14 | 6:40PM | KABUKI 98 YEARS* AND COUNTING: MORE WOMEN LEADERS NEEDED EVERYWHERE

Chelsea Chang / USA 2018 / 27 mins

Kirthi Nath & Zel Anders / USA 2018 / 3 mins

JUST DOUG

ALICE AT THE STORE

Dan Chen / USA 2017 / 26 mins

Christopher Woon-Chen / USA 2017 / 18 mins

CROSSINGS)

SUSANELAND

AMERICAN DREAMING

Cyrus Tabar / USA 2018 / 8 mins

Andrew Olsen / USA 2017 / 20 mins

Matthew Hashiguchi / USA 2017 / 11 mins

Yung-Jae Chen / USA 2018 / 25 mins SANZU NO KAWA (THE RIVERS OF THREE

SPACE BUTTHOLE

HOAI (ONGOING, MEMORY)

David Chai / USA 2017 / 8 mins

Quyên Nguyen-Le / USA 2017 / 10 mins

THE TROUBLED TROUBADOUR

IRON HANDS

Forest Ian Etsler & Sébastien Simon /

Johnson Cheng / USA 2017 / 10 mins

S. Korea 2016 / 23 mins

SAN JOSE TOFU CO.

A VACATION IN HOLLYWOOD

Sean Au / USA 2018 / 8 mins

Mukesh Vidyasagar / USA 2017 /

SUNNY

4 mins

Sam Chung / USA 2017 / 12 mins

YOUR HAND IN MIND

WOKE

Alice Park / USA 2017 / 8 mins

Venk Potula / USA 2017 / 11 mins

32 CAAMFEST36

SHORTS

IN T RANSITION

LIFE, ANIMATED

MADE YOU A MIX TAPE

If life truly is a highway, then get ready for a

Whimsy and imagination take hold in LIFE,

Music can soothe the soul but is it powerful

momentary detour. From family tragedy to

ANIMATED. Featuring San Francisco

enough to change the world? To fix a

isolation in a foreign land, IN TRANSITION

daydreamers, burgeoning cosplayers,

broken heart? This collection of melodic shorts

explores how life’s hurdles are no match for

and the world’s biggest fan of strawberries,

explores the true potential of music and

the human spirit and that a green light could

life gets a bit of a twist — and much more

its everlasting power to stimulate and feed

be just around the corner. 85 MINS

interesting — with just a touch of animation.

our spirits, one beat at a time. 68 MINS

FRI MAY 11 | 5:10PM | KABUKI FLOATING LIGHT Natalie Murao / Canada 2017 / 12 mins MISS WORLD Georgia Fu / Taiwan 2017 / 19 mins MONDAY Dinh Thai / USA 2017 / 18 mins

81 MINS SUN MAY 13 | 8:40PM | KABUKI 73 QUESTIONS WITH STEVE JONES Leah Nichols / USA 2017 / 10 mins CENTENTARIAN Clifford Miu / USA, Canada 2017 / 5 mins MARVEL PRESENTS A NEW SUPERHERO...

SUN MAY 13 | 6:40PM | KABUKI 9 AT 38 Catherine Lee / South Korea 2017 / 18 mins AFTEREARTH Jess X. Snow / USA 2017 / 13 mins FLIP THE RECORD Marie Jamora / USA 2016 / 15 mins

MODEL MINORITY!

SOLO

Theodore A. Adams III / USA 2018 / 20 mins

Sean Dacanay / USA 2017 / 2 mins

David Liu / USA 2017 / 12 mins

THE PILGRIMAGE

TO BE FIONA

TIGERSTYLE

Kevin Wong / USA 2017 / 16 mins

Fiona Lu / USA 2017 / 6 mins

Rachel Lattin, Jordyn Romero, Elliott Powell,

PACHINKO

Riani Singgih, & Paloma Young / Scotland,

Luis Grane / USA 2017 / 4 mins

USA 2017 / 10 mins

OTHELLO-SAN

SOAP & SHADOWS Donna Mae Foronda / USA 2017 / 8 mins STRAWBERRIES WILL SAVE THE WORLD Yoko Okumura / USA 2017 / 6 mins WHITE TUNNEL Lan-Chi Chien & Chin Wei Chang /

OUT/HERE Celebrating a new wave of provocative voices, this year’s OUT/HERE takes a trip around

Taiwan, Japan 2016 / 22 mins WONDER BUFFALO Christine T. Berg / USA 2017 / 18 mins

WOMEN ON T H E RISE: SOUTH KOREA N CINEMA

the globe. From a cemetery in Daly City,

Women filmmakers are not just on the rise in

to the streets of Pakistan, this collection of

Hollywood — they’re changing the cinema

portraits gives you snapshots of daily life from

landscape all around the globe. Join us as we

the diverse LGBTQ community. 83 MINS

celebrate three emerging filmmakers who are bringing bold new stories to the big screen

TUES MAY 15 | 8:50PM | KABUKI DECODING DARKMATTER Crystal Waterton / USA 2017 / 22 mins GRANDMOTHER AND ME Kat Cole / USA 2017 / 7 mins KHOL (OPEN)

and watch a refreshing take on South Korean cinema. 77 MINS WED MAY 16 | 6:30 PM | KABUKI 170 BUCKS FOR A CAB, ONE RIDE, ONE NIGHT

Faroukh Virani / USA 2018 / 12 mins

Yena Kang / South Korea 2018 / 34 mins

LIMBOLAND

A LETTER FOR SANG-HA

Melanie Ramos / USA 2017 / 18 mins

Mina Fitzpatrick / USA, S. Korea 2017 / 27 mins

MAYBE

PRAGMA

Kat Cole / USA 2017 / 10 mins

Jihyun Park / South Korea 2014 / 16 mins

RANI Hammad Rizvi / USA, Pakistan 2018 / 14 mins

CAAMEDIA.ORG 33

MUSIC & LIVE PERFORM ANCES

ANATOMY OF A MU SIC VIDEO WITH WARREN FU Acclaimed music video director Warren Fu takes us behind the camera to discuss his videos, creative challenges, and working with the likes of Daft Punk, The Weeknd, Snoop Dogg, Pharrell, A Tribe Called Quest, and Mark Ronson. Join Fu, a former art director at Lucasfilm, for an engaging discussion.

SAT MAY 12 | 2:40PM | NEW PEOPLE

DISORIENTED COMEDY SHOW

FICTION AND OTHER REALITIES

Who’s ready to laugh? The DISORIENTED

BOBBY CHOY / SOUTH KOREA, USA 2017 /

COMEDY team: Jenny Yang, D’Lo, and Atsuko

90 MINS

Okatsuka are at CAAMFest and taking over Japantown in a not-to-be missed comedy show.

Singer-songwriter Big Phony makes his

This first-ever (mostly) female, Asian American

directorial debut with this intimate,

stand-up comedy troupe has performed more

semi-biographical musical drama. Bobby, a

than 70 shows since 2012 and will headline

struggling Korean American singer-songwriter,

CAAMFest’s Saturday night festivities.

is suddenly given an opportunity to be a roadie for his best friend’s band on a world tour.

SAT MAY 12 | 7:30PM | NEW PEOPLE

SAT MAY 12 | 9:30PM | NEW PEOPLE

Arriving in Seoul, a “land where everyone looks like him,” he ditches the band and searches for meaning in his life.

FRI MAY 11 | 7:40PM | NEW PEOPLE

FRI MAY 11 | 10:00PM | NEW PEOPLE

34 CAAMFEST36

MUSIC

ANATOMY OF A MUSIC VIDEO WIT H RUBY IBARRA

ASIANS AMERICANS A N D H I P-H O P PA N E L

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND

Pinay rapper Ruby Ibarra makes her directorial

CAAM and the Oakland Museum of California

CAAMFest’s premier music showcase is moving

debut showing how she orchestrated an

bring together a panel of key hip-hop thought

to Oakland! This annual concert is a festival

ambitious vision for her music video of “Us,”

leaders and artists to explore the Asian

favorite and has been a popular launching point

working through logistical nightmares and

American community’s deep connection with

for celebrated artists, such as Dengue Fever,

corralling a crowdsourced all-Pinay cast of 200

the genre. This free panel is co-curated by Asian

Awkwafina, DJ Vinroc, and more. This year,

to create a multi-dimensional narrative. This

American Music Conference and builds upon

CAAM welcomes three bold and dynamic voices

documentary showcases the song’s global

the Oakland Museum of California’s RESPECT:

in hip-hop: the Bay Area’s own Lyrics Born and

tropes of resistance and solidarity, serving as

Hip-Hop Style & Wisdom exhibit.

Ruby Ibarra will take the stage with rising star G Yamazawa, who comes to CAAMFest from

a Pinay anthem for women to continue rising.

NOTHING ON US: PINAYS RISING BEHIND

FRI MAY 18 | 5:30PM | OMCA

Los Angeles by way of North Carolina. Join us for this powerhouse trio in celebration of the

THE SCENES (Ruby Ibarra & Evelyn Obasmo /

vibrant Asian American music scene.

USA 2018 / 30 mins) FRI MAY 18 | 9:00PM | STAR

SUN MAY 20 | 3:40 PM | ROXIE

H E R I TA G E S F

SHE, WHO CAN SEE

T O K Y O B E AT S

During the heart of Asian Pacific American

ALLELUIA PANIS / USA 2018 / 23 MINS

In a society where conformity is the norm,

Heritage Month, Heritage SF brings together

it is never easy to break the mold. TOKYO

top artists for a free day of high-energy music

SHE, WHO CAN SEE, a riveting new dance

BEATS spins out three shorts that illustrate the

and a celebration of Asian American and Pacific

film by acclaimed choreographer and stage

difficulties of “making it big” in Tokyo and the

Islander community. This festival is sure to draw

director Alleluia Panis of KulArts is at the core

hurdles that people must overcome to pursue

huge crowds to enjoy some of the Bay Area’s

of this uniquely San Francisco event. Part film

the things that they love. 82 MINS

top food trucks, retail booths and an awards

screening and part live performance, this one

ceremony honoring key community leaders and

of a kind program is a love letter to the vibrant,

organizations.

Bay Area Filipino American community and culture.

Heritage SF is produced by the Center for Asian American Media in collaboration with Boba Guys, ISAtv, and Undiscovered SF.

SUN MAY 13 | 9:15PM | NEW PEOPLE THE BAND’S NEW STAGE Takeshi Tanaka / Japan 2017 / 25 mins

WED MAY 16 | 7:00PM | KABUKI

LET’S GO HOME Takuya Matsumoto / Japan 2016 / 39 mins

SAT MAY 19 | 4PM | MIDWAY

OUR MAN IN TOKYO (THE BALLAD OF SHIN MIYATA)

Akira Boch / Japan 2018 / 18 mins

CAAMEDIA.ORG 35

FOOD FILMS FIRST KITCHEN

JIMAMI TOFU

JAMES Q. CHAN / USA 2018 / 15 MINS

JASON CHAN & CHRISTIAN LEE / JAPAN, SINGAPORE 2017 / 121 MINS

A sneak-preview of the BLOODLINE, directed by CAAMFest alum James Q.

Love, food, and a deep connection to place are the savory bites in Ryan’s

Chan and featuring chef Tu David Phu (Top Chef 15 and SF Chronicle Rising

life. After the disappearance of his wife Yuki, he sets out to find her in her

Star 2017). This vibrant, personal film about food, family and creativity is the

hometown in Okinawa, where he discovers flavors beyond his imagination

premiere episode of the new documentary food series, FIRST KITCHEN.

at her father’s restaurant.

Join us for this special launch-event featuring a film screening and tasting menu curated by Phu and our host venue Black Cat, as well as an opportunity to meet director James Q. Chan, series creator and executive producer

FRI MAY 11 | 5:30PM | NEW PEOPLE SAT MAY 12 | 12:30PM | KABUKI

Santhosh Daniel and Phu (also co-executive producer of the series). Ticket holders will receive a discount on Black Cat’s live music performance immediately following the FIRST KITCHEN event—check the Black Cat calendar for artist details (blackcatsf.com)!

SUN MAY 20 | 5:00PM | BLACK CAT

L U M P I A (15 T H A N N I V E R S A R Y )

UL AM: MAIN DISH

PATRICIO GINELSA JR. / USA 2003 / 81 MINS

ALEXANDRA CUERDO / USA 2017 / 80 MINS

“The ultimate home movie” is back on the big screen just in time for its

Could it be that Filipino food, the underdog of Asian cuisines,

15th anniversary! This wacky, eccentric and boisterous film promises

is having its moment at last? In ULAM (main dish in tagalog), Filipino

a good time and is sure to make you crave lumpias (don’t worry, we have

American filmmaker Alexandra Cuerdo tries to answer this question and

you covered). Catch LUMPIA before the upcoming release of LUMPIA 2!

follows the rise of Filipino food through the experiences of award-winning chefs attempting to move the cuisine to the center of the American table.

SAT MAY 19 | 9:50PM | ROXIE

36 CAAMFEST36

FRI MAY 11 | 7:45PM | KABUKI

BART. Proud supporter of the Center for Asian American Media and CAAMFEST 2018.

C A LE N T H U R S D AY M AY 10

S U N D AY M AY 13

7:00 PM 9:30 PM

CASTRO

OPENING NIGHT: AN AMERICAN STORY:

1:40 PM

NP

MINDING THE GAP

12:00 PM

NP

MUSLIM YOUTH VOICES

AAM

NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY OPENING NIGHT GALA

12:10 PM

KABUKI

HALF WIDOW

12:30 PM

KABUKI

GO FOR BROKE: AN ORIGIN STORY

2:40 PM

KABUKI

THE REGISTRY

3:10 PM

KABUKI

OUT OF STATE

4:15 PM

NP

STAND UP MAN

4:30 PM

KABUKI

STORIES FROM THE AMERICAN SOUTH

F R I D AY M AY 11 4:00 PM

DISNEY

BAMBI

5:10 PM

KABUKI

IN TRANSITION SHORTS

5:10 PM

NP

JIMAMI TOFU

6:00 PM

KABUKI

CENTERPIECE: ORIGIN STORY

5:20 PM

KABUKI

ISLAND SOLDIER

6:40 PM

KABUKI

MADE YOU A MIX TAPE SHORTS

7:30 PM

KABUKI

WHITE RABBIT

6:40 PM

NP

LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG

7:40 PM

NP

FICTION AND OTHER REALITIES

7:45 PM

KABUKI

ULAM: MAIN DISH

9:40 PM

KABUKI

UNLOVABLE

10:00 PM

KABUKI

ALTERED STATES SHORTS

10:00 PM

NP

FICTION AND OTHER REALITIES

S AT U R D AY M AY 12

SHORTS

STORY 8:40 PM

KABUKI

LIFE, ANIMATED SHORTS

8:50 PM

KABUKI

DEAD PIGS

9:15 PM

NP

TOKYO BEATS SHORTS

M O N D AY M AY 14 6:30 PM

KABUKI

GO FOR BROKE: AN ORIGIN STORY

6:30 PM

CHINA

CAAMFEAST: A CONVERSATION WITH

JIMAMI TOFU

6:40 PM

KABUKI

FIGHTERS AND DREAMERS SHORTS

KABUKI

EAT A BOWL A TEA

9:00 PM

KABUKI

COME DRINK WITH ME

NP

ANATOMY OF A MUSIC VIDEO

9:10 PM

KABUKI

20 WEEKS

12:00 PM

KABUKI

A LITTLE WISDOM

12:00 PM

NP

A TIME TO SWIM

12:30 PM

KABUKI

2:30 PM 2:40 PM

W/ WARREN FU 3:30 PM

KABUKI

I CAN, I WILL, I DID

4:30 PM

NP

EPISODICS SHORTS

4:50 PM

KABUKI

NAILED IT

6:50 PM

KABUKI

CENTERPIECE: BITTER MELON

7:00 PM

KABUKI

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE

7:30 PM

NP

DISORIENTED COMEDY SHOW

9:20 PM

KABUKI

LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG STORY

9:30 PM

KABUKI

SAVING SALLY

9:30 PM

NP

DISORIENTED COMEDY SHOW

PEI-PEI CHENG

T U E S D AY M AY 15 6:00 PM

KABUKI

MEDITATION PARK

7:10 PM

KABUKI

MEMORIES TO LIGHT

8:50 PM

KABUKI

OUT/HERE SHORTS

9:00 PM

KABUKI

GOLDEN SWALLOW

W E D N E S D AY M AY 16 6:30 PM

KABUKI

WOMEN ON THE RISE: SOUTH KOREAN CINEMA SHORTS

38 CAAMFEST36

7:00 PM

KABUKI

SHE, WHO CAN SEE

9:00 PM

KABUKI

HALF WIDOW

NDA R T H U R S D AY M AY 17

W E D N E S D AY M AY 23

7:00 PM

DRAWN TOGETHER: COMICS, DIVERSITY,

6:30 PM

SFPL

POWER IN UNITY

AND STEREOTYPES

6:30 PM

PIEDMONT

CENTERPIECE: BITTER MELON

THE STATE OF THE ART WITH DAVID

9:00 PM

PIEDMONT

THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE

7:00 PM

AAM CURRAN

HENRY HWANG AND JEANINE TESORI

T H U R S D AY M AY 24

F R I D AY M AY 18

6:15 PM

5:00 PM

OMCA

CAAMFEST @ OMCA

5:30 PM

OMCA

ASIAN AMERICANS AND HIP-HOP PANEL

7:00 PM

OMCA

FAMILY PICTURES, USA: DETROIT IS THE

HERBST

AUNT LILY: THE POWER OF PERSONAL STORY TALK BACK

7:00 PM

HERBST

CLOSING NIGHT PERFORMANCE: AUNT LILY'S FLOWER BOOK

FUTURE AND IT'S OKAY 9:00 PM

STAR

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND

S AT U R D AY M AY 19

VENUE KEY

12:20 PM

ROXIE

NAILED IT

KABUKI

AMC KABUKI 8

2:10 PM

ROXIE

CENTERPIECE: ORIGIN STORY

AAM

ASIAN ART MUSEUM

4:00 PM

MIDWAY

HERITAGE SF

BLACK

BLACK CAT

5:10 PM

ROXIE

LOOKING FOR?

CASTRO

CASTRO THEATRE

7:00 PM

OACC

HALFWAY HOME

CHINA

CHINA LIVE

7:30 PM

ROXIE

CENTERPIECE: BITTER MELON

CURRAN

CURRAN THEATRE

9:50 PM

ROXIE

LUMPIA

HERBST

HERBST THEATRE

LIGHTHOUSE

LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED

NP

NEW PEOPLE CINEMA

OACC

OAKLAND ASIAN CULTURAL CENTER

OMCA

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA

DEAD PIGS

PIEDMONT

PIEDMONT THEATRE

ANATOMY OF A MUSIC VIDEO

ROXIE

ROXIE THEATER

W/ RUBY IBARRA

SFPL

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH

STAR

STARLINE SOCIAL CLUB

MIDWAY

THE MIDWAY

DISNEY

THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM

S U N D AY M AY 20 12:30 PM 3:40 PM

ROXIE ROXIE

5:00 PM

BLACK

FIRST KITCHEN

5:40 PM

ROXIE

HAVANA DIVAS

8:00 PM

ROXIE

UNLOVABLE

GALA PRESENTATIONS

T U E S D AY M AY 22

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & CAAMUNITY SCREENINGS

6:30 PM

PIEDMONT

FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE

GENERAL SCREENINGS

7:00 PM

LIGHTHOUSE

THIS CLOSE

8:30 PM

PIEDMONT

A LITTLE WISDOM

CAAMEDIA.ORG 39

BOX OFFICE & TICKETING GENERAL

MEMBER

$14

$12

$13

-

REGULAR SCREENINGS & PANELS STUDENT, SENIORS (65+), & DISABLED

All online fees have been eliminated!

TICKET DELIVERY There are three ticket delivery options for online or phone orders: E-Delivery. Tickets are attached to the

OPENING NIGHT

confirmation email sent after completion of the order. Tickets may be either printed in advance

SCREENING W/ RESERVED SEATING & GALA*

$90

-

SCREENING & GALA

$65

$55

SCREENING ONLY

$35

-

GALA ONLY

$40

-

CENTERPIECE FILMS

$20

$17

CLOSING NIGHT PRESENTATION

$20

$17

DISORIENTED COMEDY SHOW

$20

$17

tickets mailed ends on Tuesday, May 1st.

CAAMFEAST: A CONVERSATION WITH PEI-PEI CHENG

$80

$70

RUSH SHOWS

FIRST KITCHEN

$80

$70

*limited quantity

or presented on a mobile device for entry.

Will Call. Tickets available for pick up at the box office at the first screening in the order. Please note: tickets purchased in separate transactions will not automatically be packaged together.

Standard Mail. Mail orders will be sent within 5 to 7 days of purchase. An additional fee is charged for mail orders. The option to have

Last-minute tickets ­— rush tickets — may be

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND

available just before show time when advance tickets have sold out. A rush line will form outside the venue usually one hour before show

PRESALE

$20

$15

AT THE DOOR

$25

$20

CAAMFEST 6-PACK

$75

-

Save $9 on 6 tickets with the 6-pack! Purchase the 6-pack first, then sign in and select tickets for the films you want to see. 6-Packs can be used in any permutation you choose (e.g., 2 tickets to 3 films, 3 tickets to 2 films). Valid for regularly-priced ($14) screenings only.

CAAMFEST ALL-ACCESS PASS

$500

$450

Skip the lines! The All-Access Pass gives you VIP access to every moment of CAAMFest.

This includes all Gala Presentations, regular screenings and any additional ticketed events.

You will also receive priority seating for all screenings. Excludes CAAMunity Screenings.

time. Approximately 10 minutes prior to the screening, empty seats are counted and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis to those in line. Rush tickets will only be sold to those actually waiting in line. One rush ticket per person in the rush line, and there are no guarantees.

SEATING AND QUEUES Unless otherwise noted, all seating for CAAMFest screenings and events is general admission, i.e. first-come, first-served, non-reserved seating.

Ticket-holder and Rush lines (queues) will be held outside of the venues, please plan accordingly.

HOW TO BUY TICKETS ONLINE

IN PERSON (AMC KABUKI 8)

April 12 – 15 // Member Sales

May 3rd – May 10th // 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM

April 16 – May 24 // General Public

May 11th – 24th // Box office opens at venue one hour before first screening of the day.

Go to: caamedia.org.

Day-of-show tickets may be purchased at all other theater box offices. Have questions?

Email us at boxoffice@caamedia.org or call 415.552.5580.

THE FINE PRINT All ticket sales are final. No refunds, exchanges or reprints on any purchases. Ticket holder must arrive at least 15 minutes before show time to guarantee entry.

CAAMFest is not responsible for lost, stolen or misplaced tickets. We will be unable to admit patrons without tickets. All seating is at management’s discretion.

40 CAAMFEST 36

VENUES CASTRO CASTRO THEATRE 429 Castro Street | 415.621.6120 castrotheatre.com

JAPANTOWN AMC KABUKI 8 1881 Post Street | 415.346.3243 amctheatres.com NEW PEOPLE CINEMA 1746 Post Street | 415.525.8630 newpeopleworld.com

SOMA/CIVIC CENTER

OAKLAND

CIVIC CENTER BART STATION

12TH ST & LAKE MERRITT BART STATIONS

ASIAN ART MUSEUM 200 Larkin Street | 415.581.3500 www.asianart.org

OAKLAND ASIAN CULTURAL CENTER 388 9th Street | 510.637.0455 oacc.cc

BLACK CAT 400 Eddy Street | 415.358.1999 blackcatsf.com HERBST THEATRE 401 Van Ness Avenue | 415.392.4400 sfwmpac.org/herbst-theatre LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND

OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA 1000 Oak Street | 510.318.8400 museumca.org PIEDMONT THEATRE 4186 Piedmont Avenue | 510.985.1252 landmarktheatres.com STARLINE SOCIAL CLUB 2236 Martin Luther King Jr. Way 510.593.2109 | starlinesocialclub.com

AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED 1155 Market Street | Phone: 415.431.1481 VIDEO PHONE: 415.255.5906

MISSION

lighthouse-sf.org

ROXIE THEATER 3117 16th Street | 415.863.1087 roxie.com

SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN BRANCH 100 Larkin Street | 415.557.4400 sfpl.org

16TH ST BART STATION

CHINATOWN

DOGPATCH

CHINA LIVE 644 Broadway | 415.788.8188 chinalivesf.com

THE MIDWAY 900 Marin Street themidwaysf.com

PRESIDIO

TENDERLOIN

THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM 104 Montgomery Street | 415.345.6800 waltdisney.org

CURRAN THEATRE 445 Geary Street | 415.358.1220 sfcurran.com

CAAMFest is BARTable!

For more detailed BART information, visit the Getting Around page on caamfest.com or bartable.bart.gov.

The best in independent film kqed.org

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STAFF LIST BOARD OF DIRECTORS CO-CHAIRS DIPTI GHOSH VINCENT PAN

PROGRAMS ANNIE VU DIACONU DAVIN AGATEP SAPANA SAKYA TANYA YULE

VICE CHAIR MYONG LEIGH

FESTIVAL STAFF

TREASURER STEPHANIE WEI SECRETARY JOHNNIE D. GILES MEMBERS BILL IMADA BRENT QUAN HALL CHRISTINE CHEN CHRISTOPHER AU DAVID LEI HANSON LI JAMES BAO MATT MUI NAJA PHAM LOCKWOOD PAULA MADISON PHILOMENA KING STEPHEN GONG TESSIE GUILLERMO

CAAM STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEPHEN GONG DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS DON YOUNG FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION JAMES OTT MARISA MARISCOTTI TABITHA OWYANG DEVELOPMENT JENNIFER CHU SIERRA LEE DIGITAL & INTERACTIVE MEDIA ASHLYN PERRI MOMO CHANG

FESTIVAL & EXHIBITIONS DIRECTOR MASASHI NIWANO PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR LANSIA WANN MARKETING MANAGER MARKY ENRIQUEZ OPERATIONS MANAGER JOANNA CHIN OPERATIONS ASSISTANT SOPHIE GUNTHER OPERATIONS CONSULTANT KAR YIN THAM PRINT TRAFFIC COORDINATOR JESSE DUBUS GUEST SERVICES & TRAVEL COORDINATOR JENNIFER LUI VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR CZARINA GARCIA EVENTS ASSOCIATE EMILY SAN NICOLAS SENIOR FESTIVAL PROGRAM CONSULTANT LINDA BLACKABY GRAPHIC DESIGNER LAWRENCE GUZMAN PUBLICATIONS EDITOR HARRY MOK BOX OFFICE BOX CUBED PUBLICIST LARSEN ASSOCIATES

46 CAAMFEST36

SPECIAL EVENTS PRODUCTION GIRL FRIDAY PRODUCTIONS PHILIP WALKER MUSLIM YOUTH VOICES PROJECT EVENT & OUTREACH COORDINATORS AARON (HAROON) DEAN AÏDAH ALIYAH RASHEED

INTERNS ALEXANDER LEE BOMI KIM CHELSEA LEE CHRISTIAN SANCHEZ CHRISTINE ABIBA COLIN GALESTE CORAL MURAKAMI-FESTER FUSON YU HANNA YUE JONAH BUCHANAN JOYCE GOMEZ LAUREN LOLA LUCY SAEPHAN MALLORY CHEN MINSEO KANG SUNNY LIN YILING DING FESTIVAL TRAILER KONTENT FILMS CAAM IDENTITY & DESIGN IW GROUP INC FESTIVAL WEBSITE GALA FESTIVAL ENGINE TECHNICIANS CAT LAM JACOB HEULE JON BASTIAN THEATER OPERATIONS STAFF CHRISTINE CHUNG DAVID MAC JONATHAN WOO KIMBER HIGHTOWER MICHELLE FARJARDO NADINE JOHNSON SHAWN YEE STEPHANIE PASVANKIAS STEPHEN CHUN MEOW MEOW - LK

INDEX 170 BUCKS FOR A CAB, ONE RIDE, ONE NIGHT 33 20 WEEKS 28 73 QUESTIONS 33 9 AT 38 33 98* YEARS AND COUNTING: MORE WOMEN LEADERS NEEDED EVERYWHERE 32

HALF WIDOW 28 HALFWAY HOME 26 HAVANA DIVAS 31 HELLA STRANGERS 32 HERITAGE SF 35 HOAI (ONGOING, MEMORY) 32

AFTEREARTH 33

I AM BECAUSE YOU ARE 25

ALICE AT THE STORE 32

I CAN I WILL I DID 28

AMERICAN DREAMING 32

IRON HANDS 32

AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY 10, 22

ISLAND SOLDIER 25

ANATOMY OF A MUSIC VIDEO W/ RUBY IBARRA 35 ANATOMY OF A MUSIC VIDEO W/ WARREN FU 34 ASIAN AMERICANS AND HIP-HOP PANEL 35 ASWANG NEXT DOOR 32 AUNT LILY'S FLOWER BOOK: 100 YEARS OF LEGALIZED RACISM 12, 23 BAMBI 27 BAND'S NEW STAGE, THE 35 BITTER MELON 23 CAAMFEAST: A CONVERSATION WITH PEI-PEI CHENG 24 CENTENTARIAN 33 CHINATOWN 26 COME AND TAKE IT 24 COME DRINK WITH ME 11, 24 DEAD PIGS 29 DECODING DARKMATTER 33 DIRECTIONS IN SOUND 15, 35 DISORIENTED COMEDY SHOW 34 DRAWN TOGETHER: COMICS, DIVERSITY, AND STEREOTYPES 13, 26 EAT A BOWL OF TEA 29 FAMILY PICTURES, USA: DETROIT IS THE FUTURE AND IT'S OKAY! 26

JIMAMI TOFU 36 JUNE 24 JUST DOUG 32

OUR MAN OF TOKYO (THE BALLAD OF SHIN MIYATA) 35 OUT OF STATE 25 PACHINKO 33 PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE, THE 31 PHETMIXAY MEANS FIGHTER 24 PILGRIMAGE, THE 33 POWER IN UNITY 26 PRAGMA 33 RANI 33 REGISTRY, THE 31 RUNNER 32 SAN JOSE TOFU CO. 32

KHOL (OPEN) 33

SANZU NO KAWA (THE RIVERS OF THREE CROSSINGS) 32

LADY EVA 25

SAVING SALLY 28

LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG STORY 30

SHE, WHO CAN SEE 35

LAYOVER, THE 28

STATE OF THE ART, THE W/ DAVID HENRY HWANG AND JEANINE TESORI 26

LEADWAY 24

SOAP AND SHADOWS 33

LET'S GO HOME 35

SOLO 33

LETTER FROM SANG-HA, A 33

SPACE BUTTHOLE 32

LEW FAMILY: 1940S TO 1960S, THE 25

STAND UP MAN 29

LIMBOLAND 33

STRAWBERRIES WILL SAVE THE WORLD 33

LIMINAL SPACES/CROSSING 26

SUNNY 32

LIONS IN WAITING 30

SUSANELAND 32

LITTLE WISDOM, A 31

THIS CLOSE 27

LOOKING FOR? 30

THREE BOYS MANZANAR 31

LUMPIA 36

TIGERSTYLE 33

MARVEL PRESENTS A NEW SUPERHERO... MODEL MINORITY! 33

TIME TO SWIM, A 31

MAYBE 33 MEDITATION PARK 11, 24 MEMORIES TO LIGHT 25 MINDING THE GAP 30 MISS WORLD 33

FICTION & OTHER REALITIES 34

MONDAY 33

FIRST KITCHEN 18, 36

MUSLIM YOUTH VOICES 3.0 25

FLIP THE RECORD 33

MY IMMIGRANT STORY 25

FLOATING LIGHT 33

NAILED IT 31

FUTBOLISTAS 4 LIFE 26

ON THE LINE 25

GO FOR BROKE: AN ORIGIN STORY 29

OPENING NIGHT GALA 22

GOLDEN SWALLOW 24

ORIGIN STORY 23

GRANDMOTHER AND ME 33

OTHELLO-SAN 33

TO BE FIONA 33 TROUBLED TROUBADOUR, THE 32 ULAM: MAIN DISH 36 UNLOVABLE 29 VACATION IN HOLLYWOOD, A 32 WHITE RABBIT 29 WHITE TUNNEL 33 WHITMAN, ALABAMA 24 WOKE 32 WONDER BUFFALO 33 YOUR HAND IN MINE 32

CAAMEDIA.ORG 47

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