ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA ANNOUNCES OPENING, CLOSING, CENTERPIECE SELECTIONS
U.S. Premiere of RU Opens, WE ARE FAMILY Closes 18th Season Featuring Centerpiece GOOD AUTUMN, MOMMY
Chicago, Illinois (February 20, 2024) – Today, Asian Pop-Up Cinema announced key highlights of its 18th edition, running March 20 - April 21, 2024. Each week throughout the festival is dedicated to works from a different region, with films screened in person weekends at AMC Newcity 14 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.) and available via streaming on weekdays. The full program for the 18th Asian Pop-Up Cinema film festival will be announced on March 4, 2024; tickets are on sale now at www.asianpopupcinema.org.
Opening the 18th season of the groundbreaking film festival is the Chicago Premiere of Charles-Olivier Michaud’s RU, which portrays the journey of Tinh, a young Vietnamese girl who, after a perilous journey and a refugee camp stay, adapts to a new life in Quebec with the help of a welcoming community while overcoming challenges to embrace a new culture and language. The film’s lead actor Jean Bui will participate in a post-screening discussion on Wednesday March 20, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Alliance Francaise de Chicago (810 N. Dearborn St.); tickets to Opening Night are free but require advance registration. This program is made possible in part by the Quebec Government Office in Chicago and Francophonie 2024 in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise de Chicago.
This season’s Centerpiece presents the Midwest Premiere of Chen Zhizhong’s GOOD AUTUMN, MOMMY, screening on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. at the AMC Newcity 14 starring award-winning actress Shu Qi. Set in a quiet southern cane village, Fong-tai’s family was waiting for the birth of a new family member. But, when their newborn daughter disappears without a trace, disrupting their peaceful existence, Fong-tai is forced to embark on a transformative journey of awakening to find her family and herself. The film was honored with the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award at the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2023.
Closing Night sees another Midwest Premiere, WE ARE FAMILY, director Benny Lau’s film about Carlos, the founder of a rent-a-family business navigating personal and professional conflicts, who ultimately discovers a deeper meaning of family and identity at a client’s wedding. The film’s star, Carlos Chan, will receive the festival’s Bright Star Award and participate in a post-screening discussion alongside director Lau on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 7 p.m. at AMC Newcity 14. "Hong Kong Cinema Showcase" is generously sponsored by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in New York.
“The selection of films that are being shown at this year’s 18th edition of Asian Pop-Up Cinema, including the Opening Night, Closing Night, and Centerpiece films, underscores our commitment to bridging cultures and fostering a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of Asian societies,” said Sophia Wong Boccio, Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pop-Up Cinema. “By showcasing these remarkable films, we not only celebrate the artistry of Asian cinema but also cultivate meaningful connections between Chicago’s film professionals, educators, students, and the international community, positioning Chicago as a vibrant hub for cultural exchange and tourism.”
The 18th Asian Pop-Up Cinema Festival will run from March 20 - April 21, 2024, with a new selection of films available via streaming each week, and in-person screenings each weekend. The full slate of films and special guests will be announced on March 4, 2024; for more information please visit www.asianpopupcinema.org.
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ABOUT ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA
Asian Pop-Up Cinema, an 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.