Brush of the God (カミノフデ ～怪獣たちのいる島)
Closing Night Film & Awards Night
Special Guests: Producer Daisuke Sato will attend the screening to accept a posthumous award for Keizo Murase.
Brush of the God (カミノフデ ～怪獣たちのいる島)
A love letter to tokusatsu films by a true legend of the genre.
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Japan | Fantasy | 2024 | 74 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Keizo Murase
Screenwriter: Takeshi Nakazawa
Starring: Rio Suzuki, Takeru Narahara, Takumi Saitoh, Shinji Higuchi, Shiro Sano
Film Source: Kaminofude Film Partners
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.:
APUC will present awards for Best Film, Best New Director & Best Short for our first-ever APUC Film Competition!
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.:
Producer Daisuke Sato will attend the screening to accept a posthumous award for Keizo Murase. The screening will begin shortly afterwards.
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Closing Night reception held at the McGuffins Bar & Lounge at the AMC NEWCITY 14. Tickets holders for Closing Night Party pass includes reserved seats tickets for the program mentioned above plus admission to the Reception with beer and snacks. This event is good for 21 years old & above and wine & spirited drinks are Cash Bar.
SYNOPSIS:
While attending the funeral of her special effects artist grandfather, Akari and her classmate Takuya, a tokusatsu fanatic, come across a film prop that sucks them into the world of fearsome giant monsters. To find their way home, they must unlock the secrets of this fantasy world.
On his first and last directorial effort, Keizo Murase used all six decades of his experience as a suit-maker and sculptor on classic kaiju films to create one to beat them all. This heartfelt love letter to old-school tokusatsu films will thrill devoted fans and inspire young audiences to get into the genre.
ABOUT KEIZO MURASE:
Keizo Murase was the President of Twenty Ltd. and one of the leaders in Kaiju model making field of Japan. He joined Toho, a Japanese film company in 1958 and started his career with Varan, le monstre géant (1958). He also worked a lot of production created in the golden era of Toho’s Tokusatsu films including Mothra (1961) and King Kong contre Godzilla (1962). In addition to Toho films, in Gamera (1965), a Daiei film, he was responsible for making suits for another famous Kaiju, Gamera. Through his creations, he build a foundation of model making technics. Inthe Hong Kong film, Le Colosse de Hong Kong (1977), he worked for model making as well as directing and stunting for some special effect scenes. In addition to sculpting King Ghidorah and Mothra in the Heisei era, he sculpted the monster suit for Howl from beyond the Fog (2019) and supervised the hero suit for the American film Iké Boys (2021). Brush of the God was his first movie as general director.
ABOUT DAISUKE SATO:
Daisuke Sato began his career in the special effects field as a modeling assistant for Godzilla, Mothra, and King Ghidorah: The Great Monsters All-Out Attack (2001). He has been involved in the creation of practical effects for such productions as GodzillaFinal Wars (2004), Gamera (2006), Ultraman Moebius & Ultra Brothers (2006), and Tokusatsu Kigeki Oki Yuzo: The Greatest Battle of My Life (2010). He directed the short film The Land of Fog (2019), then worked as cinematographer on Kaike Neko Kyousoukyoku (2021), as co-director and SFX/cinematographer on Hoshi 35 (2023), and directed SFX scenes for the American film Ikè Boys (2024). He served as the special effects director and producer of the NYAFF 2024 film Brush of the God.
Date:
Sunday, April 13, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
The Land of Morning Calm (아침바다 갈매기는)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award and APUC’s Francis Kwong Memorial Award (for an emerging new director)
Special Guest: Director Park Ri-woong is scheduled to attend in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Pat McDonald).
The Land of Morning Calm
(아침바다 갈매기는)
An angry exposé of prejudice and xenophobia in modern Korea
S. Korea | Drama | 2024 | 114 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
U. S. Premiere
Director/Screenwriter: Park Ri-woong
Starring: Yoon Joo-sang, Yang Hee-kyung, Khazsak, Park Jong-hwan
Film Source: Hive Filmworks
Director Park Ri-woong is scheduled to attend in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
To escape his life, a young fisherman fakes his disappearance. His boss, a cranky boat captain, reluctantly plays along so that the fisherman’s Vietnamese wife can receive the insurance payout. However, racism rears its ugly head as the investigation progresses.
Winner of the New Currents Award at Busan International Film Festival, Park Ri-woong’s follow-up to the acclaimed Girl with a Bulldozer is another angry indictment of the woes plaguing Korean society. At the center of this riveting story of small-town xenophobia is a captivating performance by Yoon Joo-sang as the furious boat captain who surprisingly become the story’s moral compass.
Park Ri-woong, Director/Screenwriter
Born in 1978, Park studied journalism and broadcasting at Korea University and filmdirecting at Korea National University of Arts. He first experienced film production as a production assistant on the feature film GANGSTER HIGH (2006) and made his first shortfilm, FAMILY (2005), at the Hankyoreh Film School. His first feature, THE GIRL ON A BULLDOZER (2021), screened in the Panorama section of the Busan IFF and was released in theaters in 2022. His latest feature film, THE LAND OF MORNING CALM (2024), won the New Currents Award, KB New Currents Audience Award and NETPAC Award at the 29th Busan IFF.
Screening Date:
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Showtime:
7:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Partially Supported By:
Love Lies (我談的那場戀愛)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for APUC’s Francis Kwong Memorial Award (for an emerging new director)
Special Guests: Director Ho Miu-ki and producer Chan Hing Ka are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Pat McDonald).
Love Lies
(我談的那場戀愛)
An online romance scam changes two strangers’ lives in this Hong Kong sleeper hit
Hong Kong | Comedy-Drama | 2024 | 116 minutes
In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Ho Miu-ki
Screenwriters: Ho Miu-ki, Chan Hing-kei
Starring: Sandra Ng, Michael Cheung, Stephy Tang, Chan Fai-hung
Film Source: One Cool Films
Director Ho Miu-ki and producer Chan Hing Ka are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
Widowed doctor Veronica falls for a French engineer named “Alain” on a dating app. However, what she doesn’t know is that “Alain” is actually a young man who works for an online romance scamming ring. But when “Alain” begins to feel sorry for Veronica, an unlikely connection starts to form.
Screenwriter Ho Miu-ki’s exploration of bonds forged in deception looks at online dating scams with empathy for both sides of the crime. With a splendid award-nominated performance by Sandra Ng and a charismatic turn by pop star Micheal Cheung, the film touches on loneliness and emotional trauma with poignancy.
Ho Miu-ki, Director
Screening Date:
Saturday, April 12, 2025
6:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
The Uniform (夜校女生)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award
Special Guests: Director Chuang Ching-Shen, producer Tang Tsai-Yang and actress Chen Yan-fei are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Pat McDonald).
The Uniform (夜校女生)
A celebration of young female friendship and living free of labels
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Taiwan | Youth Drama | 2024 | 109 minutes
In Mandarin w/Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Chuang Ching-Shen
Screenwriters: Hsu Hui-Fang, Wang Li-Wen
Starring: Chen Yan-fei, Chloe Xiang, Chiu Yi-tai, Chi Chin
Film Source: Sanling Chang
Director Chuang Ching-Shen, producer Tang Tsai-Yang and actress Chen Yan-fei are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
Additionally, Chen Yan-fei will will receive the APUC Bright Star Award.
SYNOPSIS:
The year is 1997. Ai is forced to enroll in the night school of an elite girls’ high school, but night students are often inferior by their day school counterparts. Nevertheless, Ai becomes close friends with her day school desk-mate, Min.
Chuang Ching-Shen’s coming-of-age drama explores the obsession with elitism and privilege in an education system riddled with inequalities while portraying a friendship between girls whose camaraderie transcend class. In addition to featuring two of Taiwan’s best up-and-coming young actresses in outstanding performances, Chi Chin also shines as a Ai’s single mother.
Chuang Ching-Shen, Director
Chuang Ching-Shen received his MFA from the Dept. of Filmmaking at Taipe iNational University of the Arts. His first feature film High Flash won three awards in the Golden Horse Film Project Promotion (FPP), and was co-produced by Sylvia Chang, Ma Tien-Tsung, and Liao Ching-Sung. It was also selected as the closing film of the 2018 Taipei Film Festival. Another movie The Magnificent Bobita was nominated for Best Makeup & Costume Design and Best Art Direction at the 2019 Golden Horse Awards. In recent years, he has also started making TV series such as The Summer Temple Fair and A Wonderful Journey, both of which achieved high ratings and garnered positive reviews.
Chen Yan-fei, Actress
Chen Yan-fei won the Best New Performer Award at the 57th Golden Horse Awards and the Best New Performer Award at the 2021 Taipei Film Awards with her role in the film The Silent Forest (2020). In 2023, she starred in the Netflix political thriller series Wave Makers, for which she was nominated for the ACA Rising Star and Best Supporting Actress Awards at the Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards.
Screening Date:
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Showtime:
5:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER (Coming Soon)
Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Shorts Series #2 - Asian American Perspectives
APUC Competition - UNDER THE KASAYA and THE LITTLE SHOPPING TROLLEY are in the running for the 2025 APUC Best Short Film Award
Special Guest: Jon Osaki, director of MAKING WAVES: THE RISE OF ASIAN AMERICA, is scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Shorts Series #2 - Asian American Perspectives
This new program showcases unique perspectives and a nuanced exploration of Asian experiences across North America.
In the spirit of greater representation and celebrating the diverse voices of Asian storytellers, Asian Pop-Up Cinema is proud to expand its selection to include films from Asian American and Asian Canadian filmmakers! This new program showcases unique perspectives and a nuanced exploration of Asian experiences across North America.
Total program runtime: 106 minutes
Tantrum
Canada | Drama | 2023 | 15 minutes
In Korean with English subtitles
Director: Soomin Choi
Determined and full of life, 7-year-old Moa is excited about her upcoming choir competition, but her joy fades quickly when she realizes her mother has forgotten all about it. Desperate to be seen and heard, Moa resorts to bold and unexpected measures to win back her attention. Will her efforts bring them closer together or push them further apart?
Under the Kasaya
Canada | Drama | 2024 | 15 minutes
In Chinese with English subtitles
Director: Jennifer Fan Jiang
Fourteen-year-old Jean has always been taught that truth leads to liberation—but after an unsettling encounter with her Buddhist mentor, she is confronted with a devastating choice: carry the weight of a painful secret, or confess to her deeply devout mother. Inspired by the filmmaker’s own experience, this deeply personal story explores the weight of unspoken truths and the courage it takes to break the silence.
The Little Shopping Trolley
Canada | Drama | 2024 | 18 minutes
In French and Vietnamese with English subtitles
Director: Laurence Ly
Struggling to make ends meet in Montreal, a Vietnamese mother of three faces an unexpected battle at the grocery store. Denied the right to buy 12 discount laundry detergents, she must find a way to outmaneuver the system to claim what should be hers. This heartfelt tale of capitalism, family, and resilience offers an earnest look at the immigrant experience, all wrapped in an unconventional Christmas story.
Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America
United States | Documentary | 2024 | 58 minutes
In English
Directors: Jon Osaki, Josh Chuck – INTRO & Q&A by director Jon Osaki
This thoughtful documentary explores the role of Ethnic Studies in redefining narratives and empowering Asian American communities. From its origins at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State to present-day movements, it amplifies the voices of activists, educators, and youth who advocate for expanding education to challenge harmful stereotypes, combat anti-Asian hate, and empower future generations.
The Directors
Screening Date:
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
The Beetle Project (숙제)
The Beetle Project (숙제)
A beetle becomes an unlikely catalyst bringing the two Koreas together in this sweet family film
WORLD PREMIERE
S. Korea | Drama | 2025 | 100 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director: Jin Kwang-kyo
Screenwriter:
Starring: Sung Dong-il, Kim Bo-min, Jung Hye-sun
Film Source: Finecut
SYNOPSIS:
In North Korea, torrential rains force the dams open, sending floodwater into the south. Later, two kids in South Korea pick up a plastic bag carrying a beetle in the stream. When they learn that the beetle is a North Korean child’s school project, they raise the beetle for him.
Showing kids grappling with similar issues on both sides of the border (sibling rivalry, absent parents, bullying, etc.), The Beetle Project is a compassionate film that transcends political or economic divide. Seeing children band together to raise the delicate beetle will undoubtedly melt even the hardest of hearts.
Screening Date:
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Showtime:
2:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
Gallery
Partially Supported By:
Crocodile Tears (Air Mata Buaya)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for APUC’s Francis Kwong Memorial Award (for an emerging new director)
Crocodile Tears
(Air Mata Buaya)
Nature’s ferocity is no match for a mother’s scorn in this tense and atmospheric drama
Indonesia, France, Singapore, Germany | Drama | 2024 | 99 minutes
In Indonesian w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Tumpal Tampubolon
Starring: Marissa Anita, Yusuf Mahardika, Zulfa Maharani
Film Source: Cercamon
SYNOPSIS:
Johan lives alone with his mother in voluntary exile on a crocodile farm, with only a white crocodile as their confidant. Their life is disrupted when Johan falls for a girl in town, threatening their lives’ delicate balance.
In Asia, it’s normal for children to live with their parents well into their adulthood. While most parents look forward to becoming an empty-nester, Tumpal Tampubolon asks what happens when a parent takes extreme measures to keep their child around in this chilling and peculiar mother-son drama. Like the family crocodile, this matriarch will bite when you least expect it.
Screening Date:
Friday, April 11, 2025
8:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Teki Cometh (敵)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award
Teki Cometh (敵)
A retired professor faces an invisible enemy in one of the most acclaimed Japanese films of 2024
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Japan | Drama | 2024 | 108 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Daihachi Yoshida
Starring: Kyozo Nagatsuka, Kumo Takiuchi, Asuka Kurosawa, Yumi Kawak
Film Source: Happinet Phantom
SYNOPSIS:
Gisuke is a widowed retired college professor who lives alone and occasionally receive visits from his students. One day, he finds a post on the internet about an approaching enemy. The more he sees it, the more he feels an ominous feeling growing inside.
Director Daihachi Yoshida successfully turns what many believe to be an “unfilmable” novel into a compelling character study about paranoia and aging that is eerily dreamy, multi-layered and beautifully cinematic. This widely acclaimed drama won an unprecedented three prizes at the Tokyo International Film Festival – the Grand Prix, Best Director and Best Actor.
Daihachi Yoshida, Director/Screenwriter
Daihachi’s first theatrical feature film Funuke Show Some Love, You Losers! was selected for 2007 Cannes FilmFestival Critic’s Week and was also screened at Karlovy Varyand WarsawInternational Film Festival (Free Spirit Awards). In 2012, The Kirishima Thing based on Ryo Asai’s bestseller novel, became huge commercial hit earning him numerous awards, including Best Film and Best Director at Japan Academy Film Prize. He went on to win audience Award and Best Actress Award at Tokyo International Film Festival with Pale Moon (2014) and was also awarded Kim Ji Seok Award at the Busan International Film Festival with The Scythian Lamb (2017).
Screening Date:
Friday, April 11, 2025
7:30PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
A Long Shot (老枪)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award and APUC’s Francis Kwong Memorial Award (for an emerging new director)
A Long Shot (老枪)
A hard-boiled crime drama that looks at the price of breakneck economic reform in China
MIDWEST PREMIERE
China | Drama | 2023 | 117 minutes
In Mandarin w/ English Subtitles
Director: Gao Peng
Screenwriters: Gao Peng, Wang Ang, Wang Wen, Fang Chang
Starring: Zu Feng, Qin Hailu, Zhou Zhengjie, Shao Bing, Feng Lei
Film Source: Parallax/Midnight Blurs Films
SYNOPSIS:
After losing his hearing, former sharpshooter Gu Xuebing takes a job as a security guard at a factory. When he catches his neighbor’s son stealing scrap metal, Xuebing takes the young man under his wing. However, as poverty rears its ugly head in the industrial town, it’s hard to resist turning to crime.
Capturing the desperation of those who were left behind by China’s rapid economic reforms, Gao Peng’s slick directorial debut brilliantly combines a hard-boiled crime drama with social commentary. The engrossing film shows a pressure cooker society that, like Xuebing’s homemade gun, can go off at any time.
Gao Peng, Director
Born on May 9, 1984, in Beijing, China. Graduated from Beijing Film Academy in 2007. After working as an assistant director for a period of time, he began his career as an advertising director. At the same time, he attempted scriptwriting. Afterwards, he completed several short films and a television series. A Long Shot is his directorial debut feature film.
Screening Date:
April 10, 2025
7:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
My Favorite Season (最想念的季節)
My Favorite Season (最想念的季節)
This classic romantic comedy was a groundbreaking feminist critique of Taiwan’s patriarchal status quo
CHEN KUN-HOU MINI-RETROSPECTIVE
Taiwan | Drama | 1985 | 99 minutes
In Mandarin w/ English Subtitles
Director: Chen Kun-hou
Screenwriter: Hou hsiao-hsien, Chu tien-wen, Ding yah-min, Hsu Shu-chen
Cast: Sylvia Chang, Lee Tsung-sheng, Wu nien-jen
Film Source: Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute
Admission Free. RSVP is required.
SYNOPSIS:
Mei is carrying a child from an extramarital affair and needs a “husband” to play the father. She sees the peculiar Liang, who has never been in a relationship, as an ideal partner and asks him to help her. Despite Liang’s initial reservations, they start living together.
Based on co-writer Chu Tien-wen’s novel, Chen’s offbeat urban romantic comedy was groundbreaking in its non-judgmental and progressive approach towards love and marriage, which went against prevalent patriarchal traditions. Chen’s evocative images of 1980s Taipei also served as a major influence on how later New Taiwan Cinema films captured the burgeoning metropolis.
Chen Kun-hou, Director
Chen Kun-hou (陳坤厚) is a veteran cinematographer, who started his career in the 1960s. He won his first best cinematography award at Golden Horse Awards in 1978 for He Never Gives Up (汪洋中的一條船), directed by Lee Hsing (李行). In the early 1980s he began to direct his own films in collaboration with Hou Hsiao-hsien (侯孝賢). After series of urban comedies, he made quite a few representative films of the Taiwan New Cinema, such as Growing Up (小畢的故事; 1983), which won him the best director award at the Golden Horse Awards, His Matramony (結婚; 1985), which won him the second best cinematography award at Golden Horse Awards, and My Favorite Season (最想念的季節; 1985), and Osmanthus Alley (桂花巷; 1987). He is awarded for his life achievement in Taiwan cinema at the 60th Golden Horse Awards in 2023.
Screening Date:
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Showtime:
2:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago
55 E 63rd St
Westmont, IL 60559
Silent City Driver (Чимээгүй хотын жолооч)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award
Special Guests: Director Sengedorj Janchivdorj, actor Tuvshinbayar Amartuvshin and cinematographer Enkhbayar Enkhtur are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Pat McDonald).
Silent City Driver
(Чимээгүй хотын жолооч)
An enigmatic hearse driver seeks revenge in a city plagued by corruption and hate
Mongolia | Drama | 2024 | 138 minutes
In Mongolian w/ English Subtitles
Director: Sengedorj Janchivdorj
Screenwriters: Sengedorj Janchivdorj, Nomuunzul Turmunkh
Starring: Tuvshinbayar Amartuvshin, Narantsetseg Ganbaatar, Bat-Erdene Munkhbat
Film Source: Nomadia Pictures
Director Sengedorj Janchivdorj, actor Tuvshinbayar Amartuvshin and cinematographer Enkhbayar Enkhtur are scheduled to appear in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
After surviving 14 brutal years in prison, Myagmar lives in isolation with only his stray dogs as his companions. His life is changed for the better when he finds a job as a hearse driver, but an incident forces him to revert to his violent ways.
Sengedorj Janchivdorj’s follow-up to his breakout film The Sales Girl is a unique vision of Ulaanbaatar’s underbelly. Compelling and deliberately paced, this study of an outcast pushed to the edge by his society’s plagues also features striking visuals that must be seen on the big screen. Grand Prix, 2024 Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Sengedorj Janchivdorj, Director
Tuvshinbayar Amartuvshin, Actor
Enkhbayar Enkhtur, Cinematographer
Screening Date:
Sunday, April 6, 2025
7:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Crosspoint
Special Guests: Director Donie Ordiales, actor Sho Ikushima and actress Kei Kurosawa are scheduled to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A moderated by Louella Cabalona.
Crosspoint
A washed-up actor and a man drowning in debt find a risky way to turn their lives around in this Philippines-Japan co-production
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
The Philippines, Japan | Thriller | 2024 | 100 minutes
In Filipino, Japanese and English w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Donie Ordiales
Cast: Carlo Aquino, Takehiro Hira, Sho Ikushima, Kei Kurosawa, Sarah Jane Abad
Film Source: Fire and Ice Media
Director Donie Ordiales, actor Sho Ikushima and actress Kei Kurosawa are scheduled to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
Manuel is a washed-up Filipino actor trying to make a living in Japan to support his family. Meanwhile, Shigeru is a construction manager who recently declared bankruptcy. When they catch a news report about a serial killer at large whom Manuel recognizes, they give chase for the reward money.
Two ordinary men are driven to extremes to stay afloat in Japan-based Filipino filmmaker Donie Ordiales’ chilling thriller. Anchored by superb performances by both Aquino and Hira (Shogun and Giri/Haji), this rare Philippines-Japan co-production effectively uses a genre film framework to explore the trials and tribulations of Japan’s foreigner community.
Donie Ordiales, Director
Donie Ordiales was born on February 11, 1984, In Las Pinas City, Metro Manila. In 2004, Donie moved to Japan and studied Film directing at the Tokyo Film Center School of Arts. After he graduated, he began working for a Tokyo-based production company specializing in corporate videos and events. But, narrative film directing is still his first love. Therefore Donie proceeds on making his short films and juggles the time between his projects and day job. He produced, wrote, and directed a few short films and won some awards at International Film Festivals which paved his way to finally having a feature-length directorial debut. Being a Filipino in Japan, Donie witnessed the coexisting community of Japanese and Filipinos and this became his inspiration for his stories.
Sho Ikushima, Actor
Sho Ikushima is an actor, dancer, and producer. He graduated from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
As an actor, he has starred in and performed action scenes for American films such as Darc and End of Loyalty. In Japan, he has appeared in numerous films and TV series, including Sekigahara, where he played a shogun in a samurai film, and Tramps Like Us, where he portrayed a dance teacher in a live-action TV series based on a manga.
As a dancer, he was a soloist at the State Theater Kassel in Germany. Sho has received choreography awards for Trinity and has also choreographed performances for the Asian Games 2026 PV and Hyoen 2025, an ice skating show featuring Japanese Olympic medalists.
He has produced documentary series such as Perfect Sweat and the web series Sauna Channel, as well as various dance films and theater shows. His first feature film as a producer is the Japan-Philippines co-production, Crosspoint.
Kei Kurosawa, Actress
Samantha Jonielle Kurosawa (born November 8, 2001), also known as Kei Kurosawa, is a Filipino-Japanese actress, singer-songwriter, dancer, and content-creator signed under the Philippines' leading talent management agency, Star Magic. She is known for the Japanese indie horror film, The Red Dress (2023), Filipino youth-oriented series, Zoomers (2024), and international Japanese action-drama film, Crosspoint (2024). She has also made guest appearances in a number of hit television series in the Philippines. In 2024, she also made her singer- songwriter debut with This Time It's New, currently being used as the official soundtrack of Zoomers (2024), a series that has recently won an award for Best Asian Short Form Drama/Series during the Content Asia Awards 2024 in Taiwan.
Screening Date:
Sunday, April 6, 2025
Showtime:
5:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Concerning My Daughter (딸에 대하여)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for APUC’s Francis Kwong Memorial Award (for an emerging new director)
Director Lee Mi-rang and actress Oh Min-ae are scheduled in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Ron Falzone).
Concerning My Daughter
(딸에 대하여)
An honest and sincere drama about mothers, daughters, lovers and caregivers
U.S. PREMIERE
S. Korea | Drama | 2024 | 106 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Lee Mi-rang
Starring: Oh Min-ae, Heo jin, Lim Se-mi, Ha Yoon-kyung
Film Source: M-Line Distribution
Director Lee Mi-rang and actress Oh Min-ae are scheduled in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
After she is evicted from her apartment and fired from her job, lesbian professor Green is forced to move back in with her mother with her lover in tow. Meanwhile, Green’s mother devotes her energy into her elderly home caregiver job, helping a resident who has lost her savings.
While the disapproving parent has always played a significant role in LGBTQ stories, writer-director Lee Mi-rang takes a nuanced approach to the subject. Lee’s moving script and Oh Min-ae’s empathetic performance offer a possibility that understanding and compassion are possible in a society that lacks support for diversity and marginalized people.
Lee Mi-rang, Director
Lee Mi-rang studied creative writing and film at the Seoul Institute of the Arts and Yonsei University Graduate School of Communication & Arts. She worked as script supervisor on the feature films Poetry (Lee Changdong, 2010), and A Quiet Dream (Zhang Lu, 2016). She has directed several shorts, including Getting Married to a Vietnamese Girl (2005), The Bath (2007) and Chunjung (2013). Concerning My Daughter will be her first feature film.
Oh Min-ae, Actress
Oh Min-ae made her debut in 1999 with MEMENTO MORI and has since worked across various mediums, including film, drama, and theater. She received the Best Actor Award at the 23rd Jeonju International Film Festival for MISSING YOON and the Actor of the Year Award at the 28th Busan International Film Festival for CONCERNING MY DAUGHTER.
Screening Date:
Sunday, April 6, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Partially Supported By:
Yen & Ai-Lee
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award
Director/Writer Tom Lin Shu-Yu and actress Kimi Hsia are scheduled to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Pat McDonald).
Yen & Ai-Lee
A woman is caught between a traumatic past and an uncertain future in this enthralling mother-daughter drama
MIDWEST PREMIERE
Taiwan | Drama | 2024 | 107 minutes
In Mandarin w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Tom Lin Shu-Yu
Starring: Kimi Hsia, Yang Kuei-Mei, Sam Tseng, Kipin Ng
Film Source: Lights On Films
Director/Writer Tom Shu-Yu Lin and actress Kimi Hsia are scheduled to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
Yen returns to her village after serving eight years in prison for killing her abusive father. However, Yen learns that her mother is dating yet another abusive man. Will Yen finally take agency of her life, or will she forever be dragged down by the burdens of family?
Tom Shu-yu Lin navigates the love-and-hate nature of mother-daughter relationships with this compelling drama about the desire for reinvention and the trauma of abuse. Intricately constructed and beautifully shot in black-and-white, the film also features terrific performances by Lin’s wife and muse Kimi Hsia and screen legend Yang Kuei-mei.
Tom Lin Shu-Yu, Director
Tom Lin Shu-Yu blends his Taiwanese and American upbringing into a unique cinematic style, showcasing a rich tapestry of cultural influences in his work. His directorial journey began in 2008 with "Winds of September," which debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival. This was followed by "Starry Starry Night" (2011), a film adaptation of the beloved book by celebrated illustrator Jimmy Liao. In 2015, Lin's "Zinnia Flower" starring Karena Lam received critical acclaim at Busan International Film Festival and garnered a Taiwan Golden Horse Award for Best Actress. In 2019, Lin helmed "The Garden of Evening Mists," a collaboration between HBO Asia and Astro Shaw based on the renowned Malaysian novel of the same name. Premiering at the 24th Busan International Film Festival, the film was lauded with 9 Taiwan Golden Horse Awards nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Director.
Kimi Hsia, Actress
Kimi Hsia is a Taiwanese actress and television host.
Screening Date:
Sunday, April 6, 2025
2:00 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
A Samurai in Time (侍タイムスリッパー)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award
Special Guests: Director Junichi Yasuda and actress Yuno Sakura are scheduled to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Mark Schilling).
A Samurai in Time
(侍タイムスリッパー)
A time-traveling samurai finds his calling as an actor in the Japanese sleeper hit of 2024
MIDWEST PREMIERE
Japan | Fantasy Comedy | 2024 | 131 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Junichi Yasuda
Starring: Makiya Yamaguchi, Norimasa Fuke, Yuno Sakura, Rantaro Mine, Ken Shonozaki
Film Source: Third Window Films
Director Junichi Yasuda and actress Yuno Sakura are scheduled to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
SYNOPSIS:
In the Edo period, a samurai is struck by lightning and transported to the present day. Thanks to his “authentic” outfit and speaking style, the samurai ends up finding his calling as a “kiraeyaku,” a swordsman in the samurai genre whose job is to get killed on-screen.
A tribute to Seizo Fukumoto, the late samurai genre actor who died more than 50,000 times on-screen, Junichi Yasuda’s high-concept comedy is a refreshing twist on both the time-traveling and the samurai genres. The self-funded film opened on one screen and slowly grew in popularity on word-of-mouth, becoming the sleeper hit of 2024.
Junichi Yasuda, Director/Screenwriter
Born in Kyoto in 1967. After graduating from Osaka University of Economics, he worked at various jobs before starting his own videography business. His work ranges from kindergarten recitals to bridal photography, corporate videos, event video production, direction and design, multi-cam event recording and broadcasting, and production and distribution of low-budget films. He owns his own equipment, including six professional video cameras, five cine cameras, dozens of lenses, lighting equipment, dollies, cranes, switchers, and intercoms. In 2014, he founded Mirai Eigasha. In 2023, upon his father's passing, he took over his family's rice farming business. Farming rice fields that are too large takes up a lot of time, making it difficult to work on the video productions, and with rice prices so low that they are in the red, the situation continues to be uncertain due to tight household finances. “If Samurai in Time doesn't become a hit, I won't be able to continue growing rice.”
Yuno Sakura, Actress
When she graduated from elementary school, she dreamed of becoming an actress, but she did not study acting.She entered her current industry through a yukata contest, and her first acting experience was appearing in an opening video for an event filmed by Junichi Yasuda. Junichi Yasuda then cast her for her first film acting roles in his debut feature Kenju to Medamayaki (2014) and then to play the lead role in his follow-up film Gohan (2017). A Samurai in Time is her latest collaboration with director Junichi Yasuda.
Screening Date:
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Showtime:
2:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
The Last Dance: Extended Version (破·地獄:加長版)
Special Guests: Director Anselm Chan and actress Michelle Wai are scheduled to attend this screening in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A (moderated by Ron Falzone).
Centerpiece Film
The Last Dance: Extended Version
(破·地獄:加長版)
This record-breaking blockbuster is an emotional drama about the catharsis of death
CENTERPIECE FILM
Hong Kong | Drama | 2024 | 139 minutes
In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Anselm Chan
Screenwriters: Anselm Chan, Cheng Wai-kei
Starring: Dayo Wong, Michael Hui, Michelle Wai, Chu Pak-hong
Film Source: Emperor Motion Pictures
Director Anselm Chan and actress Michelle Wai are scheduled to attend this screening in-person to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
Wai is the honoree of the Extraordinary Actors Award in recognition of her exceptional performance in this film.
SYNOPSIS:
After losing his business during the pandemic, Dominic takes over a coffin shop to make ends meet. But to make it in the funeral business, he must earn the approval of his co-owner, stern and vehemently traditional Taoist priest Master Man, and learn about the true purpose of funerals.
Despite featuring two of Hong Kong’s biggest comedy legends, The Last Dance is a deeply emotional drama about catharsis after trauma that has moved Hong Kong audiences to tears. In addition to the two stars’ impressive dramatic turns, Michelle Wai also shines in a career-defining performance as Master Man’s long-suffering daughter.
Anselm Chan, Director
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Anselm Chan Mou Yin is a renowned screenwriter within the Hong Kong film and television industry, an up-and-coming director, and a member of the Hong Kong Screenwriters’ Guild. Debut film is Ready O/R Knot (2021) and the second is the sequel Ready O/R Rot (2023). The Last Dance is his third film.
Michelle Wai, Actress
Michelle Way was a Nominee for Best Actress at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards for Ready O/R Rot.
Date:
Friday, April 4, 2025
Showtime:
6:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Old Fox (老狐狸)
Old Fox (老狐狸)
A young boy is caught between empathy and selfishness in this timely award-winning drama
Taiwan | Drama | 2023 | 112 minutes
In Mandarin w/Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Hsiao Ya-chuan
Screenwriters: Hsiao Ya-chuan, Chan I-wen
Starring: Bai Run-yin, Liu Kuan-ting, Akio Chen, Eugenie Liu, Mugi Kadowaki, Tie-Hsian Ban
Film Source: Ablaze Image
SYNOPSIS:
In 1989, Taiwan saw rapid economic development following political reforms. Eleven-year-old Liao Jie’s dream is for his nice-guy father to own a home. When he befriends his landlord, a Machiavellian businessman nicknamed Old Fox, the boy learns lessons that will change his life’s trajectory.
Produced by legendary filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien, Old Fox is a thought-provoking morality tale about choosing between self-preservation and benevolence. This winner of four Golden Horse Awards — including Best Director and Best Supporting Actor (for Akio Chen) – also features a fantastic performance by Bai Run-yin, the best young actor currently working in the Taiwanese film industry.
Hsiao Ya-chuan, Director/Screenwriter
Born in 1967, Writer/Director Hsiao Ya-chuan graduated from National Institute of Arts, Taiwan. His first feature film, Mirror Image (2000), was selected for Directors Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival and won numerous awards, including Best First Feature at Torino Film Festival. His second feature, Taipei Exchanges (2010), won the Audience Choice Award and Best Music Award at Taipei Film Awards. His third feature, Father to Son (2018), won Big Screen Award Competition at International Film Festival Rotterdam. Old Fox (2023) is HSIAO's latest feature, which will be premiered at Tokyo International Film Festival and Golden Horse Awards
Screening Date:
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Showtime:
4:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
FAQ (막걸리가 알려줄거야)
FAQ
(막걸리가 알려줄거야)
A young girl under pressure makes an unlikely friend in this sci-fi fantasy tale
MIDWEST PREMIERE
S. Korea | Drama | 2023 | 92 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Kim Da-min
Starring: Park Na-eun, Park Hyo-ju, Kim Hee-won
Film Source: Finecut
SYNOPSIS:
Dong-chun is an elementary school student overwhelmed with tutoring and afterschool activities. When she stumbles upon a mysterious bottle of rice wine that emits strange sounds like Morse code, she sets out to unravel its identity and discovers the secrets of the world.
It’s no secret that excessive academic demands can take a toll on children’s mental health. Kim Da-min’s moving and whimsical coming-of-age tale criticizes the rise of predatory private education institutions with a unique sci-fi fantasy twist. Empathetic and charming, this offbeat crowd-pleaser about self-discovery and letting kids be kids will delight and inspire viewers of all ages.
Kim Da-min (Director/Screenwriter)
Born in 1993, Kim Da-min lives in Incheon. After spending her youth immersed in animation and cartoons, she has turned to directing films and writing screenplays. She majored in film at the Korea Animation High School, then went on to major in psychology and cultural anthropology at Yonsei University. After making the short film Youth in 2009, she has directed six short films in total. In 2019, her SF short film Ungbi and Non-human Friends, which captured the relationship between ‘humans’ and ‘non-human animals’, was invited to various domestic and international film festivals such as the 24th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and the 46th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival. In 2020, director KIM participated in the SF anthology collection “I’m a banana” (published by Arzak Livres) with FAQ, then developed a feature-length screenplay for it to complete the film in 2022. Currently, she wrote A Killer Paradox, a Netflix original series released in 2024.
Screening Date:
Sunday, March 30, 2025
3:00 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Partially Supported By:
The Glassworker (شیشہ گر)
The Glassworker (شیشہ گر)
Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated film is a Ghibli-inspired take on Romeo and Juliet
Pakistan, USA, S. Korea, Lithuania, Spain, Canada, The Philippines | Animation | 2024 | 98 minutes
In English
Director: Usman Riaz
Screenwriters: Usman Riaz, Moya O’Shea
Starring: Art Malik, Sacha Dhawan, Anjli Mohindra
Film Source: Charades
SYNOPSIS:
Vincent and his father Tomas run the finest glass workshop in the country, until an approaching war upends their lives. However, Vincent ends up falling in love with Alliz, an army colonel’s daughter. As their love blossoms, the young lovers must find courage to confront their respective fathers.
Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animated film is a vibrant and colorful star-crossed romance inspired by the visual style of Studio Ghibli. Like the Japanese animation studio’s films, the groundbreaking film — which took a decade to produce — takes a fantastical approach to a sobering question: Can love blossom amidst the chaos of war?
Usman Riaz, Director/Screenwriter
Usman Riaz is the Co-Founder of Mano Animation Studios, Pakistan’s first hand-drawn animation studio. A multifaceted talent, Usman has made significant strides in various creative fields. A recipient of a full scholarship at Berklee College of Music, Usman’s musical journey is marked by his albums Flashes & Sparks and Circus in the Sky, both released with EMI Pakistan.His prowess extends to filmmaking, having written, directed, and scored notable short films like RUCKUS and The Waves, with the latter being an Official Selection at the 2013 New York City Independent Film Festival. His ambitious project, The Glassworker, showcases his storytelling and animation skills, promising to be a significant addition to his portfolio. Under Usman’s leadership, Mano Animation Studios has become a beacon of cultural storytelling and artistic excellence. The release not only marks a significant moment in Pakistani cinema but also elevates traditional animation on the global stage, showcasing its enduring charm over transient CGI trends. Usman Riaz’s artistic contributions continue to inspire a new generation of creators and storytellers worldwide.
Screening Date:
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Showtime:
2:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
To Be Continued (尚未完場)
Special Guest: Producer Paul Chan will introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
To Be Continued (尚未完場)
Hong Kong| Documentary | 2023 | 80 minutes
In Cantonese and English w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Directors: Dora Choi, Haider Kikabhoy
Producer: Paul Chan
Film Source: Hong Kong Community Heritage Foundation
SYNOPSIS:
Directors Dora Choi and Haider Kikabhoy began this project as a conservation campaign to save the iconic State Theatre in Hong Kong. Along the way, their research into the legendary life of founder Harry Odell revealed an indomitable pioneer and a soul-searching journey of what defines Hong Kong.
This eye-opening documentary uncovers a forgotten chapter of modern Hong Kong history, tracing the life of a man whose impact on Hong Kong’s arts and culture scene is still felt today. Unfolding like a detective story in the film, Odell’s twist-filled life was so amazing that it could only be true.
Dora Choi, Co-Director
Born in Hong Kong, Choi is a documentary director with over a decade of experience in mainstream media, with a focus on politics and social issues. She co-founded cultural enterprise Walk in Hong Kong. A passionate traveler, Choi had extensive stays in India and Mexico but is increasingly drawn to hidden corners of her home city. She also finds inspiration in the worlds of anthropology and ukiyo-e. "To Be Continued" is her first documentary feature as co-director.
Haider Kikabhoy, Co-Director
Kikabhoy is a fourth-generation Hongkonger with family roots in Mumbai and Guangdong’s Kaiping. He co-founded cultural enterprise Walk in Hong Kong. Growing up with the tales his mother told him about lost theatres in Yau Ma Tei, he nurtured a fascination with the forgotten stories of old Hong Kong. Formerly an academic researcher on Hong Kong’s architectural history, he hopes to rediscover the spirit of this land through the legend of Harry Odell. To Be Continued is his first attempt at documentary filmmaking.
Paul Chan, Producer
Screening Date:
Sunday, March 30, 2025
Showtime:
12:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Hunter Brothers (獵人兄弟)
Hunter Brothers
(獵人兄弟)
A brotherhood is torn apart by the clash of modernity and tradition in this Taiwanese thriller
Taiwan | Drama | 2024 | 109 minutes
In Mandarin and Truku w/Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Su Hung-en
Screenwriters: Chen Ping, Su Hung-en
Starring: Bokeh Kosang, Umin Boya, Nolay Piho, Hsu Ling-yun
Film Source: Eric Chou
SYNOPSIS:
Yuci and Siring are brothers whose lives were turned upside down by a hunting accident that took their father’s life. Years later, Siring’s release from jail for the accident threatens Yuci’s peaceful life, especially when the fate of the family hunting ground is at stake.
The devastating aftermath of an unspeakable tragedy tears a family apart in this heartbreaking story of brotherhood. As much a tense thriller about familial discord as it is a fascinating exploration into the ways of the modern Taiwanese indigenous community, the film depicts a world pulled apart between the opposite pulls of modernity and tradition.
Su Hung-En, Director/Screenwriter
Su Hung-En received his MFA degree of Radio, Television, and Film in Shih Hsin University, Taiwan. He was born to mixed Indigenous people/Taiwanese parents. Constant switching between these two identities helps him see the world from different perspectives. His film works are issues about indigenous people and social problems, and this is his first feature.
Screening Date:
Saturday, March 29, 2025
8:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Stranger Eyes (默視錄)
APUC Competition - This film is in the running for the APUC Grand Jury Feature Film Award
Stranger Eyes (默視錄)
An award-nominated thriller that explores the terror of scopophilia in the digital age
Singapore, Taiwan, France, U.S.A. | Thriller | 2024 | 125 minutes
In Mandarin w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Yeo Siew Hua
Starring: Wu Chien-ho, Lee Kang-sheng, Anicca Panna, Vera Chen, Pete Teo
Film Source: Film Movement
SYNOPSIS:
After the mysterious disappearance of their baby daughter, a married couple begin to receive strange videos of their daily life. The police set up surveillance around their home to catch the voyeur, but the family start to crumble as secrets unravel under the scrutiny of eyes.
In the age of TikTok and YouTube, we’ve become used to looking at others through our screens, but we seldom think about what it feels like to be constantly seen. Yeo Siew Hua explores modern scopophilia in an age of constant surveillance with this Golden Horse-nominated thriller about paranoia and fetishism.
Yeo Siew Hua, Director
Yeo Siew Hua’s A Land Imagined (2018) won the Golden Leopard at the 71st Locarno Film Festival and was Singapore’s entry to the 92nd Academy Awards. The film also won him Best Original Screenplay at the 56th Golden Horse Film Awards in Taipei. He is also the head writer for series and the feature documentary, The Obs: A Singapore Story (2014). Yeo studied film at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and graduated in philosophy from the National University of Singapore.
Screening Date:
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Showtime:
7:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Welcome to the Village (嗤う蟲)
Welcome to the Village (嗤う蟲)
Rural traditions are pushed to the extreme in this creepy thriller
Japan | Thriller | 2024 | 99 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Hideo Jojo
Screenwriter: Eisuke Naito, Hideo Jojo
Starring: Mai Fukugawa, Ryuya Wakaba, Tomoworo Taguchi
Film Source: Pony Canyon
SYNOPSIS:
Anna and her husband Terumichi leave the city for a new life in Asamiya Village. While they find the residents too nosy and too devoted to their community leader, they do their best to fit in to avoid being ostracized from their neighbors. However, the psychological pressure eventually turns physical.
In Japan, many urbanites are moving to the countryside for cheap real estate, but affordable living comes at a price. Based on true cases of ostracization in Japanese rural communities, Hideo Jojo’s spellbinding thriller shows the sobering reality of what happens when forced assimilation turns into bullying.
Screening Date:
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Showtime:
7:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Partially Supported By:
Sunday Special (Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa)
Special Guests: M.R. Prahast, the music director of SUNDAY SPECIAL, is scheduled to attend this screening to introduce the film and participate in a post-film Q&A. The moderator will be Stephen Burns, the Founder and Artistic Director of the Fulcrum Point New Music Project in Chicago.
Sunday Special (Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa)
A young girl tries to defy traditions with chicken curry in this gentle satire
India | Comedy-Drama | 2024 | 91 minutes
In Kannada w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Abhilash Shetty
Starring: Prabhakar Kunder, Radha Ramachandra, Samrudhi Kundapura
Film Source: Plan A Films
SYNOPSIS:
On the day of Gandhi Jayanti, when meat sale is prohibited nationwide, an 11-year-old girl goes on a quirky adventure in pursuit of a forbidden chicken curry.
While Abhilash Shetty’s comedy-drama can charm audiences as a family-friendly film about a young girl’s quest for a seemingly simple dish, the film is also a subtle satire that gently exposes hypocrisy on issues surrounding tradition, law and commerce in contemporary India. More than simply questioning the need for tradition, it asks whether stubbornly sticking to old ways makes sense when they so often contradict with the realities of modern life.
Abhilash Shettyis, Director
Abhilash Shettyis a film director, screenwriter, and actor who was born and raised in Karnataka, India. He is a self-taught filmmaker who quit his corporate job to pursue his filmmaking dreams. He started his filmmaking career by making short films. Shetty gained international recognition when he wrote and directed his debut feature Koli Taal (2021) which won him rave reviews and nominated at the International film festivals. His latest film is Naale Rajaa Koli Majaa (2024). He did his schooling in a boarding school called Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Shimoga. After graduating, he worked as a financial analyst for two years at Capgemini in Bengaluru, and then he quits his job to pursue his filmmaking dreams.
M.R. Prahast, Music Director
M.R. Prahast is an accomplished music composer based in Tallahassee, Florida, with a primary focus on pop music and a passion for crafting background scores for films. His musical style is deeply inspired by 80s pop, which influences the sound and feel of his songs. He has collaborated with celebrated Indian and German singers, and his work can be found on Spotify under his name. Additionally, he has worked with film director Abhilash Shetty on his first film, Koli Taal, as well as Sunday Special. Prahast strives to bring a unique blend of nostalgia and modern vibes to every track he produces.
Stephen Burns, Guest Moderator for Post-Film Q&A
Conductor, composer and trumpeter Stephen Burns is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Fulcrum Point New Music Project in Chicago. He has been acclaimed on five continents for his virtuosity and interpretative depth in recitals, orchestral appearances, chamber music, and multi-media performances. He has worked closely with composers John Corigliano, Osvaldo Golijov, Gunther Schuller, Jacob TV, and La Monte Young. In 2003 he was a founder and the firstpresident of New Music Chicago for which he co-curated Sonic Impact 2008 and The Ear Taxi Festival 2016. Native to Wellesley, Massachusetts, Mr. Burns studied under Carmine Caruso, Armando Ghitalla, Arnold Jacobs, Vincent Penzarella, Gerard Schwarz, Pierre Thibaud, William Vacchiano, and Roger Voisin at the Tanglewood Music Center, the Julliard School, and post-graduate work in Paris and Chicago. He has won the Juilliard School Concerto Competition, the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the NEARecital Grant, the Naumburg Award, the Charles Colin Award, the Meier Arts Achievement Award, and the Maurice André Concours International de Paris. Mr. Burns is on faculty at DePaul University’s School of Music, The Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University, and the Center for Advanced Musical Training at Chosen Vale. A former tenured Professor of Music at Indiana University, a certified teacher in The Art of Practicing and Performing Beyond Fear, Prof. Burns is a Visiting Lecturer with Amici della Musica in Florence, Italy. CDs at Naxos, MHS, Dorian, Delos, Essay, Kleos, & Innova. Stephen Burns is a Yamaha performing artist.
Screening Date:
Sunday, March 29, 2025
Showtime:
5:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Shambhala (༄༅ཤམ་བྷ་ལ།)
Shambhala (༄༅ཤམ་བྷ་ལ།)
A woman endures a harrowing journey to find the love of her life in this epic tale
Nepal, France, Norway, Hong Kong, Turkey, Taiwan, USA | Drama | 2024 | 150 minutes
In Nepalese and Tibetan w/ English Subtitles
Director: Min Bahadur Bham
Screenwriters: Min Bahadur Bham, Abinash Bikram Shah
Starring: Thinley Lhamo, Sonam Topden, Tenzin Dalha, Karma Wangyal Gurung
Film Source: Best Friends Forever
SYNOPSIS:
In the Nepalese Himalayas, Pema is in a polyandrous marriage with Tashi and his two younger brothers. When Tashi fails to return from a trading trip, the legitimacy of Pema’s unborn child is questioned. To prove her love and purity, she sets out to find Tashi.
The first Nepali film selected for the competition of the Berlin Film Festival, this harrowing adventure depicts a woman’s physical and spiritual liberation with rich cultural details and breathtaking visuals. Shot on location in the Upper Dolpo region of the Himalayas, the film is a remarkable achievement for Nepal’s growing film industry.
Min Bahadur Bham, Director
Nepalese filmmaker Min Bahadur Bham holds master's degrees in Buddhist philosophy and Political Science while pursuing a PhD in Anthropology. His short, Bansulli (2012), Nepal’s first entry to the Venice IFF, followed his debut feature Kalo Pothi (2015), which won the FEDEORA Best Film Award at Venice Critics Week and became Nepal’s official Oscar entry. Acknowledged for nurturing emerging talent, his productions have graced the festivals like -Venice, Berlinale, Rotterdam, and Busan. His second feature, Shambhala, made history as Nepal’s first film in the Berlinale Competition section.
Screening Date:
Saturday, March 29, 2025
Showtime:
3:00 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
If Only I Could Hibernate (Баавгай болохсон)
If Only I Could Hibernate
(Баавгай болохсон)
A young physics genius must balance family and ambition in this multi-layered character study
Mongolia | Drama | 2023 | 99 minutes
In Mongolian w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Zoljargal Purevdash
Starring: Nominjiguur Tsend, Tuguldur Batsaikhan, Battsooj Uurtsaikh, Batmandakh Batchuluun
Film Source: Urban Factory
SYNOPSIS:
Teenager Ulzii is a physics genius and is determined to win a science competition to earn a scholarship. When his mother finds a job in the countryside, she leaves him and his younger siblings to face a harsh winter by themselves.
The first Mongolian film to screen at Cannes Film Festival, Zoljargal Purevdash’s feature directorial debut is an intriguing study of a young man who must overcome almost impossible obstacles to achieve excellence. It may be an honest look at a harsh reality faced by Mongolian youths, but it’s also a hopeful film in its depiction of resilience.
Zoljargal Purevdash, Director
Zoljargal Purevdash is a Mongolian filmmaker who studied filmmaking at the University of Obirin, in Japan. Her short films were screened at Tampere Film Festival, Short Shorts Film Festival Asia, Open Doors Locarno Film Festival, etc. In 2021, her short film Stairs won the first prize at the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival and entered the 94th Oscars Award. She is an an alumnus of Talents Tokyo, Asian Film Academy, Locarno Open Doors, Torino Film Lab, and Berlinale Talents. Her first feature film If Only I Could Hibernate was officially selected for the UnCertain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival.
Screening Date:
Saturday, March 29, 2025
2:00PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Indera
Indera
A father and daughter are haunted by malevolent visions in rural Malaysia
Malaysia | Horror | 2024 | 104 minutes
In Malay w/ English Subtitles
Director: Woo Ming Jin
Screenwriters: Deo Mahameru, Muzzamer Rahman, Woo Ming Jin
Starring: Shaheizy Sam, Azira Shafinaz, Samara Kenzo, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Ruminah Sidek
Film Source: Parallax/Midnight Blurs Films
SYNOPSIS:
During the aftermath of the 1985 standoff between villagers and the government's police forces, a father takes his daughter to a house in the countryside in hopes of curing her illness. However, they end up encountering sinister spirits that push their sanity to the edge.
Rich with cultural and political background, Indera shows a world where real-life horrors are just as terrifying as supernatural forces hiding in darkness. A prolific filmmaker in the arthouse scene, Woo Ming Jin proves his talent in genre filmmaking with a skillfully crafted thrill ride that emphasizes atmosphere and dread over typical jump scares.
Woo Ming Jin, Director
Woo Ming Jin has the distinction of being the only Malaysian director to have his films screened in Cannes, Berlin, and Venice film festivals. His first film Monday Morning Glory (2005) screened at the Berlin and Locarno Film Festivals, while his second, Elephant and the Sea (2007), won awards in Torino, Cinema Digital Seoul, Portugal, and Spain film festivals. Woman on Fire Looks for Water (2009) premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, and has played in Pusan, Rotterdam, Los Angeles, and the Pompidou Center in Paris, among many others. The Tiger Factory (2010), only the third film in Malaysian history to be selected to the Cannes Film Festival, premiered at the Director’s Fortnight and won the Special Jury Mention at the Tokyo Film Festival in2010. He has also directed commercial hits such as KL Zombie, and Zombitopia, which was launched as a Disney+ original film in South East Asia. His most recent film, Stone Turtle, was selected in the main competition at Locarno International Film Festival, winning the coveted Fipresci Prize. The film is hailed by Variety as Stunning Mystery That Puts a Supernatural Twiston Real-World Trauma..." (Peter Debruge, Variety). Stone Turtle is one of the most successful South East Asian films of 2022, having been sold worldwide and bought exclusively by Amazon Prime in South East Asia.
Screening Date:
Friday, March 28, 2025
8:00PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
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True Love, For Once In My Life (淺淺歲月)
True Love, For Once In My Life (淺淺歲月)
A stylistically radical telling of a timeless love story
Hong Kong | Drama | 2024 | 109 minutes
In Cantonese and Mandarin w/Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Siu Koon-ho
Screenwriters: Lou Shiu-wa, Tse Shuk-fun
Starring: Cecilia Yip, Tse Kwan-ho, Hui Yuet-sheung, Himmy Wong
Film Source: Golden Scene
SYNOPSIS:
Sabrina believes that her love with childhood sweetheart Andrew is eternal, but their marriage crumbles when Andrew has an affair. When Andrew is diagnosed with cancer years later, Sabrina returns to care for him because she believes that true love comes only once in a lifetime.
Produced by indie pioneer Fruit Chan, this insightful exploration into true love and traditional marriage employs a radical visual style reminiscent of the groundbreaking avant-garde Dogme 95 movement. By shooting on iPhones, the cast is given ample room to perform without the distraction of large cameras, resulting in remarkable performances by the stars.
Screening Date:
Friday, March 28, 2025
Showtime:
7:30 PM
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
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Harbin (하얼빈)
Harbin (하얼빈)
Superstar Hyun Bin stars as a legendary independence fighter in this gripping spy thriller
S. Korea | Spy Thriller | 2024 | 108 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director: Woo Min-ho
Screenwriter: Kim Kyoung-chan, Woo Min-ho
Starring: Hyun Bin, Park Jeong-min, Jeon Yeo-been, Jo Woo-jin, Lee Dong-wook
Film Source: Well Go USA
SYNOPSIS:
In 1909, several years after Korea is forced into becoming a Japanese colony, freedom fighters — led by the heroic Ahn Jung-geun — plot the daring assassination of Japan’s prime minister in the Chinese city of Harbin during their quest for independence.
Woo Min-ho, the director of blockbusters Inside Men and The Man Standing Next, turns one of the most important events in modern Korean history into a masterfully taut and handsomely mounted spy thriller. Most importantly, it’s a stark reminder that the fight for freedom is a long and difficult road that can only be completed in solidarity.
Woo Min-ho, Director
Director Woo Min-ho, known for his insightful observation into the times, has helmed films such as Inside Men, The Drug King, and The Man Standing Next, earning praise as a visionary filmmaker who interprets the future through the lens of the past. In particular,his unique critical yet realistic storytelling ability and keen insight have captured the raw face of South Korea on screen through the most cinematic expression. This time, he turns his attention to the year 1909. Although many movies have covered this era, his earnest desire to tell the story of Ahn Jung-geun and the independence fighters as authentically as possible is evident in the painstakingly crafted film. “We couldn’t film the story of independence fighters in front of a green screen. I wanted to fully immerse in their spirit and struggles on real locations,”he explained, highlighting the dedication to recreating 1909 faithfully in Harbin. Through Woo Min-ho's perspective, Harbin will shine a light on diverse characters and offer a chance to reflect on the present era.
Screening Date:
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Showtime:
8:00 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
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Partially Supported By:
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (หลานม่า)
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
(หลานม่า)
This Oscar-shortlisted Thai blockbuster is an affecting look at modern family dynamics and generation gaps
Thailand | Comedy-Drama | 2024 | 125 minutes
In Thai w/ English Subtitles
Director: Pat Boonnitipat
Screenwriters: Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn, Pat Boonnitipat
Starring: Putthipong “Billkin” Assaratanakul, Usha Seamkhum, Sanya Kunakorn, Sarinrat Thomas
Film Source: Well Go USA
SYNOPSIS:
M is a lazy college dropout. When he hears that his grandmother has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, he becomes her career in hopes of inheriting her fortune. However, M’s grandmother isn’t an easy one to please.
Despite its seemingly cynical setup, this brilliantly insightful drama finds plenty of laughs and tears while exposing everything that families don’t talk about when they talk about family. Not only was the film a critical and commercial hit across Asia, it is also the first Thai film to be shortlisted in the final 15 of the Academy Awards’ Best International Film race.
Pat Boonnitipat, Director
Pat Boonnitipat is a Thai film director who has worked primarily in television and documentary series, specializing in teenage stories in particular. After graduating from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Communication Arts, he began working as a behind-the-scenes photographer/cameraman for hit television series such as Hormones Season 2 (2014) and Hormones Season 3: The Final Season (2015). After wrapping the final season of Hormones, he was chosen by director Piyachart Thong-Uam to assist on the production of his then-next project, Diary of Tootsies Season 1 (2016). After being impressed by Pat’s directorial instinct, Piyachart would later allow him to co-direct the series, earning Pat his first directorial credit. At the same time, Pat also worked on Let Me Grow (2016), a documentary series exploring the lives of teenagers who are addicted to video games. In 2017, he wrote and directed the SOS Skate segment of Project S The Series. His breakthrough came in 2020, when producers Jira Maligool and Vanridee Pongsittisak approached him about the possibility of remaking and adapting the global hit Thai film, Bad Genius (2017) into television series, which became Bad Genius The Series. The series won Best TV Drama/Series, Best Screenplay, and Best Director at the 17th Komchadluek Awards and Creative Beyond Border Award at the 2021 Asia Contents Awards. Noticing his sensitive approach to directing actors, the producers of Bad Genius The Series teamed up with him once again on How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024), a personal project developed from the original idea of screenwriter Thodsapon Thiptinnakorn. He will be making his feature directorial debut with this film.
Screening Date:
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Showtime:
7:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before screening.
Location:
AMC NEWCITY14
1500 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60610
OFFICIAL TRAILER