ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA ADDS AN EASTER SURPRISE WITH TWO FREE CHINESE FILM SCREENINGS ON SATURDAY, APRIL 8 AT AMC NEWCITY 14
The festival continues the second half with South Korean streaming,
More virtual Movies You May Have Missed and
wraps with Taiwan Showcase
Chicago, IL (March 29, 2023)- Asian Pop-Up Cinema announces two Easter-egg surprise free screenings on April 8 at AMC NEWCITY 14 as Season 16 continues to run through April 16.
In partnership with Midnight Blur Films and Well Go USA Entertainment, Asian Pop-Up Cinema is proud to present two Chinese films including the Midwest premiere of IN THE PURSUIT OF LIGHT telling the story of Chinese filmmaking for the last 100 years through the famous 96-year-old Chinese American actress Lisa Lu (Crazy Rich Asians).
The sci-fi drama, THE WANDERING EARTH II, the much-anticipated prequel to the 2019 sci-fi blockbuster THE WANDERING EARTH was the fifth highest-grossing non-English film of all time in China. THE WANDERING EARTH II dazzled the audience with stunning visuals about the sun rapidly burning out and will obliterate Earth and how humans build enormous engines to propel the planet to a new solar system far out of reach of the sun’s fiery flares.
IN PURSUIT OF LIGHT - Documentary - Midwest premiere
Saturday, April 8, 1:30 PM showtime.
China | Documentary | 2022 | 86 minutes
In Mandarin and English w/English subtitles
DIRECTOR: Tongdao Zhang
STARRING: Lisa Lu
Over a hundred years of development, the Chinese film industry has been through a lot. Lisa Lu, a nearly hundred-year-old Chinese American actress, stands for a book on Chinese film history herself. In the film, Lisa Lu talks about her life, career, and her ongoing process of dream pursuing inside the movie world. During this journey, she'll also bring out a couple more memorable Chinese filmmakers. Including one of the first Asian actress who has her own "star" on Hollywood Boulevard, Anna May Wong; Minwei Li, who made a huge contribution to China by documenting the warfare; Chusheng Cai, one of the founders of the Chinese feature film; and the world-famous martial artist, Bruce Lee. All of them, including Lisa Lu, had gone through the toughest period for the nation and its people all around the world, and they decided to carry the national honor on their shoulders, with such a strong mentality and the purest pursuit of art.
For tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/apuc/885216
THE WANDERING EARTH II - Sci-Fi Action Drama - Showtime: 3:30 PM
China | Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi | 2023 | 173 minutes
In Mandarin w/English and Chinese subtitles
DIRECTOR: Frant Gwo
STARRING: Wu Jing, Li Xuejian, Ning Li, Andy Lau
Humans built huge engines on the surface of the earth to find a new home. But the road to the universe is perilous. To save the earth, young people once again must step forward to start a race against time for life and death.
For tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/apuc/884792
Season 16 continues with new South Korean films streaming online through March 31 on Eventive: PLEASE MAKE ME LOOK PRETTY, GOOD MORNING, A HOME FROM HOME, and ROLLING.
Other Movies You May Have Missed in the film streaming program from April 3- 9, are Vietnam’s SONG LANG; China’s OLD TOWN GIRLS, Japan/USA FAMILY ROMANCE LLC, and Japan’s anime film THE CASE OF HANA AND ALICE.
The festival’s final screenings at AMC New City 14 conclude with a Taiwan Cinema Showcase (April 15 -16) with DAY OFF, MARRY MY DEAD BODY, GAGA, and LOST IN FORREST.
DAY OFF Written by Fu Tein-Yu (My Egg Boy), is a family drama about a neighborhood hairdresser who ran a barbershop for forty years and decides to close the store one day to travel to cut the hair of a bedridden old man.
The North Premiere of MARRY MY DEAD BODY, Cheng Wei Hao’s supernatural comedy about the affections between a ghost and a human, was just released in Taiwan in February 2023.
GAGA, is a present-day story about an indigenous Taiwanese family dealing with a land dispute, an unexpected pregnancy from a young family member, and a political campaign mounted with financial problems while trying to maintain “gaga” (the community’s ancient spiritual guidance commandments).
The Season Finale film, LOST IN FOREST, is an action-gangster feature about two childhood friends that reconnect after one is released from prison. Taiwanese writer/director Johnny Chiang and award-winning actor Lee Kang Sheng are scheduled to attend this North American Premiere. (April 16, 5:30 pm AMC NEWCITY 14.)
Festival Sponsors and Partners
Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s semi-annual film festival is partially supported by the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events; Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York, MacArthur funds for Culture, Equity and the Arts at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, Chicago Film Office, Illinois Humanities, ADG Group, Choose Chicago, Office of Community Affairs at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Japan Airlines, Masuda Funai, Old National Bank, Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, Japanese American Citizens League - Chicago Chapter, Japanese American Service Committee, Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago, and Midwest Temple.
ABOUT SOPHIA’S CHOICE / ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA
Asian Pop-Up Cinema, a semi-annual Asian Film Festival, is the brainchild of Sophia Wong Boccio, founder of Sophia’s Choice, a Chicago-based 501 C (3) not-for-profit, incorporated in 2015 with the multi-pronged mission of cultivating an interest in and understanding of Asian cultures via a diverse offering of Asian films; connecting the Asian film industry with local Chicago film professionals, educators, and students; and promoting Chicago as a destination for international visitors.
Connect with Asian Pop-Up Cinema:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asianpopupcinema
Twitter: asianpopupcine
Instagram: @asianpopupcinema
Vimeo: vimeo.com/asianpopupcinema
ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA – SEASON 16
FILMS SCREENING FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE FESTIVAL
asianpopupcinema.org/16boxoffice
HONG KONG WEEK at AMC NEWCITY 14 (1500 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60610)
Friday, March 31, 7:00 PM
CENTERPIECE FILM
A GUILTY CONSCIENCE 毒舌大狀 (SOLD OUT)
(Jack Ng, 2023) Courtroom/Drama
Bright Star Award Recipient - Renci Yeung and the director Jack Ng Wai Lun are scheduled to attend the award ceremony and Q&A in person.
Saturday, April 1, 12:00 PM
THE SPARRING PARTNER - 正義迴廊
(Ho Cheuk Tin, 2022) Crime/Court Drama
Saturday, April 1, 5:30 PM
REMEMBER WHAT I FORGOT - 曾經擁有 - U.S. PREMIERE
(Chui Tze Yiu, 2022) Drama/Comedy
Saturday, April 1, 7:30 PM
PORT OF CALL 踏血尋梅 (SOLD OUT)
(Philip Yung, 2015) Crime/Thriller
Sunday, April 2, 2:30 PM
LOST LOVE - 流水落花 - NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
(Ka Sing Fung, 2022) Drama
April 3 - 9, 2023
MOVIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED STREAMING ON EVENTIVE
Streaming is available for U.S./Canada views at https://watch.eventive.org/apuc16
(Leon Le, 2018) Vietnam | Drama/LGBTQ Romance
OLD TOWN GIRLS - 兔子暴力
(Shen Yu, 2020) China | Drama |
April 3 – 9, 2023
MOVIES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED STREAMING ON MUBI.COM
2023 Streaming is available for U.S. and Canada views at MUBI.com
Registration is required first to access the free trial link.
(Werner Herzog, 2019) United States | Drama
THE CASE OF HANA AND ALICE - 花とアリス殺人事件 -
(Shunji Iwai, 2015) Japan | Anime/Comedy
TAWIAN WEEK at AMC NEWCITY 14 (1500 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60610)
Saturday, April 15, 2:30 PM
DAY OFF - 本日公休 - U.S. PREMIERE
(Fu Tien-Yu, 2023) Drama/Family
Saturday, April 15, 5:30 PM
MARRY MY DEAD BODY - 關於我和鬼變成家人的那件事
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
(Cheng Wei Hao, 2022) Supernatural/Comedy/Mystery
Sunday, April 16, 2:30 PM
GAGA - 哈勇家 - MIDWEST PREMIERE
(Laha Mebow, 2022) Family
Sunday, April 16, 5:30 PM
SEASON FINALE
LOST IN FOREST - 山中森林 - MIDWEST PREMIERE
(Johnny Chiang, 2022) Action/Feature/Gangster
Director Johnny Chiang and lead actor Lee Kang Sheng are scheduled to attend to introduce the film and have a Q&A afterward.
# # #
Media contact: Danielle Garnier 312-841-3500 danielle@garnierpr.com