Friday, March 28, 2008
The Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) and the Gene Siskel Film Center present the
13th annual Asian American Showcase - April 11 through 24, 2008. This year's theme is "Lucky 13" as we
celebrate film and video production by Asian American directors through 13 Chicago-premiere programs and a "Lucky 13"-themed exhibition by Asian American artists in the gallery/café.
Feature Highlights:
Ping Pong Playa, by Academy Award-winning director Jessica Yu. A fast-paced comedy featuring Roger Fan, Smith Cho, and screenwriter Jimmy Tsai, who will be in attendance. (Opening Night spotlight – Friday April 11)
Santa Mesa, by first time feature director Ron Morales. A poignant coming-of-age drama set against the chaotic milieu of Manila street life. (Closing Night spotlight – Thursday April 24)
West 32nd, by Michael Kang (The Motel). An edgy crime drama featuring John Cho and Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica).
Documentary highlights:
The Killing of a Chinese Cookie, a humorous but fact-filled history of the questionably Chinese treat.
Wings of Defeat, in which surviving WWII kamikaze pilots speak of their experiences for the first time. Director Risa Morimoto traces the story of her own uncle, who was forced to volunteer for death.
Never Perfect / Miss Chinatown, USA, these two documentaries examine the cultural pressures on today’s Asian American woman, one through the journey of Mei Ahn who is contemplating cosmetic eyelid surgery and the other follows Katie Au into the Miss Chinatown Pageants.
Against The Grain: An Artist Survival Guide To Peru / Vincent Who?, reinforces how art and activism impacts today’s society, whether it’s the statements made from Peruvian artists struggling during decades of corrupt and inept government leaders, or the shocking murder of Vincent Chin 25 years ago
Chicagoan Highlights:
Someplace Else - An engagingly informal profile of Chicago blues-soul-funk musician Vance Kelly and his Backstreet Blues Band weaves through director Kai-Duc Luong's film journal, extending from his first days in Chicago as a foreign student to his three-year struggle to find his voice as an artist through filmmaking. Extended performance sequences of
Kelly and his Backstreet Blues Band at the Checkerboard pose a contrast to the personal and poetic quality of Luong's reflections on Chicago.
SAIC Student Shorts Showcase, a selection of narrative, animated, and experimental shorts by past and
present students of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The WOW Factor:
Life, Love, and Everything in Between – Comedy, drama, music videos, and one honest-to-goodness all-singing all- dancing musical in this amazing collection of short films featuring Juli Kang’s stunningly charming, Damn the Past!
And not to be missed:
Kissing Cousins – first time feature director Aymn Kaderali’s surprising comedy in which a guy accustomed to terminating relationships gets an unwelcome lesson in love.
Option 3 – Independent Spirit Award-nominated Richard Wong (Colma: The Musical) takes off in a new direction with his avant-garde chase film.
Pretty To Think So – the filmmaking duo of Francis Hsueh & Steven Hahn presents a drama set in 2000, as the dot coms are crashing, sexual tension bonds three Manhattan singles in an uneasy triangle.
Also don’t forget:
Lucky 13
Visual Art Show
Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery
Triskaidekaphobia aside, “Lucky 13” features works by 13 Asian American artists who have interpreted and drawn inspiration from the number 13 in ostentatious celebration of the 13th anniversary of the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media’s Asian American Showcase. (Reception April Friday 11, 6:00 – 8:00pm)
For a complete list of all Showcase events, dates and times - please refer to our website at www.faaim.org
All film programs will be at The Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State (between Lake and Randolph Streets), Chicago, IL, Tickets $9/ $7 students Box Office #(312) 846-2800
