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The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media(FAAIM) present the 13th edition of “Asian American Showcase,” April 11 through 24. This year’s theme is “Lucky 13” as we celebratefilm and video production by Asian American directors through 13Chicago-premiere programs and a “Lucky 13”-themed exhibition by Asian American artists in our gallery/café.Our opening night film PING PONG PLAYA is the fast-paced and very funny first comedy by Academy Award-winning documentary director Jessica Yu (IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL). The film’s star/screenwriter Jimmy Tsai will be here in person. Our closing night film isSANTA MESA, a poignant coming-of-age drama set against the chaoticmilieu of Manila street life.Director appearances highlight a powerhouse selection of new features.Michael Kang (MOTEL) appears with WEST 32ND, an edgy crimedrama distinguished by superb acting. Amyn Kaderali presents hissurprising comedy KISSING COUSINS, in which a guy accustomedto terminating relationships gets an unwelcome lesson in love. First-time directors Francis Hsueh and Steven Hahn appear with PRETTY TO THINK SO, in which three Manhattan singles become entangledthrough money, love, and the past.Feature documentaries include THE KILLING OF A CHINESECOOKIE, a humorous but fact-filled history of that questionably Chinese treat, and WINGS OF DEFEAT, in which surviving WWIIkamikaze pilots speak of their experiences for the first time. Chicagodirector Kai-Duc Luong appears with acclaimed blues performer VanceKelly, one of the subjects of his journal film SOMEPLACE ELSE.Body-image dilemmas facing the Asian American woman are exploredin NEVER PERFECT.Our selection of shorts includes a program of films by students of theSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago. The 50s-themed musical DAMNTHE PAST! is a highlight of the shorts program “Life, Love, andEverything in Between.”Check our web site for additional listings of “Asian American Showcase”activities and events in the coming weeks.For their essential role in making Asian American Showcase possible,the Gene Siskel Film Center thanks FAAIM founding membersSooyoung Park, Ben Kim, and William Shin; festival director TimHugh; the Alphawood Foundation; American Airlines; the NationalEndowment for the Arts; the Illinois Arts Council, A State Agency;and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.—Barbara Scharres Wow, 13 years! It doesn’t feel like it’s been that long ago since we firststarted the Showcase, but, when you look back at some of our early years, we were just starting to discover the talents of people like Justin Lin, GregPak, Chris Chan Lee, and Michael Kang. From their student short filmsto their multiple features, it’s been exciting to see the growth of Asian American filmmaking. The Showcase was started and The Foundation For Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) was formed to promotefilm, video and other media by and about Asian Americans, and tosupport the artists who create them. FAAIM’s mission is to presents thesemedia in order to:
• Educate communities – Asian American and mainstream, local andnational – about Asian American history and issues.• Introduce Asian American perspectives into the ongoing self-definition of our multicultural society in Chicago, the Midwest,and the United States.• Foster understanding across lines of race, ethnicity, religion, age,and region.• Sustain growth and encourage excellence in Asian American culture,and elevate Chicago’s place within it.
I’d like to thank Ben Kim, Sooyoung Park, and William Shin, along with all the filmmakers and artists who have been a part of our festivals,all the volunteers and staff members who have helped us along the way,Barbara Scharres and the staff of the Gene Siskel Film Center who havegenerously helped us and supported our dream, and you, our audience who helps keep the dream alive. Hope you enjoy our “Lucky 13”!— Tim Hugh
The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the ArtInstitute, Chicago’s Premier Movie Theater, is located at164 N. State St.Tickets to each screening are $9/general admission, $7/students, and $5/Film Center members. All tickets may bepurchased at the Film Center Box Office; hours of operation:5:00-9:00 pm, Monday-Friday; 2:00-9:00 pm, Saturday;and 2:00-6:00 pm, Sunday. Only general admission ticketsare available through Ticketmaster, 312-575-8000, www.ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.Tickets to the Film/Lecture Series are $9/generaladmission, $7/students, and $4/Film Center members. A Film Center membership is a year-round ticket to greatmovies for only $5 per screening! Memberships are $45(Individual) and $75 (Dual). For more information, call312-846-2600 or visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org.Discounted parking is available for $14 for nine hours atthe InterPark SELF-PARK at 20 E. Randolph St. A rebateticket can be obtained from the Film Center Box Office.For more information about the Film Center, call 312-846-2800 (24-hour movie hotline) or 312-846-2600(general information, 9:00 am-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday),or visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org.Celebrating 36 years of excellent film programming,the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the ArtInstitute of Chicago is a world-class cinemathequededicated to showcasing emerging artists, world cinema,independent filmmakers and the classics. Presenting over1,500 screenings and more than 100 visiting filmmakerappearances annually, the Gene Siskel Film Center isChicago’s premier movie theater. A leader in educating artists and designers for 142 years, theSchool of the Art Institute of Chicago offers undergraduateand graduate programs to nearly 2,800 students fromaround the world. In addition to the time-honored study of painting, sculpture, printmaking, and design, SAIC’s studioprograms embrace film and new media, electronic andsound arts, and creative writing. To complement its studioprograms, SAIC offers academic degrees in disciplines fromart history to arts administration, visual and critical studiesto historic preservation. Located in the heart of Chicago,the School promotes contemporary discourse about art anddesign through venues such as the Gene Siskel Film Center,Video Data Bank, Betty Rymer Gallery, Gallery 2, theDivision of Continuing Studies, and in conjunction withthe Poetry Center.
www.siskelfilmcenter.com www.faaim.org
FRIDAY
11 8:30
OPENING
PING PONG PLAYA
(Feature)
SATURDAY
12 5:00
LIFE, LOVE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN
(Shorts Program)
8:00
KISSING COUSINS
(Feature)
SUNDAY
13 3:00
NEVER PERFECT
(Documentary)
MISS CHINATOWN, USA
(Documentary)
5:00
WINGS OF DEFEAT
(Documentary)
MONDAY
14 6:00
KISSING COUSINS
(Feature)
8:00
SOMEPLACE ELSE
(Documentary)
THURSDAY
17 8:15
OPTION 3
(Feature)
FRIDAY
18 6:30
OPTION 3
(Feature)
8:00
PRETTY TO THINK SO
(Feature)
SATURDAY
19 5:30
AGAINST THE GRAIN
(Documentary)
VINCENT WHO
(Documentary)
8:15
WEST 32ND
(Feature)
SUNDAY
20 5:15
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE
(Documentary)
MONDAY
21 6:00
SOMEPLACE ELSE
(Documentary)
7:45
SAIC STUDENT SHORTS SHOWCASE
(Shorts Program)
TUESDAY
22 6:15
THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE
(Documentary)
7:45
PRETTY TO THINK SO
(Feature)
THURSDAY
24 8:15
CLOSING
SANTA MESA
(Feature)
FESTIVAL DIRECTORTim HughVISUAL ARTS COORDINATORLarry LeeGRAPHIC DESIGNVincent ChungWEB TECHTony Kang, Sooyoung Park,Favorite Medium LLCEmily WangTHE GENE SISKEL FILM CENTERJean de St. Aubin, Barbara Scharres,Marty Rubin, Karen Cross DurhamJim Dempsey, Brandon DohertySPECIAL THANKS TOMr. Lee and Ivan (Aloha Eats)Juli KangChi-Hui Yang, Taro Goto (CAAM)George Lin (SDAFF)Laura Kina AronsonCatherine ParkApatcha ChongWalter and Carol HughSue Anne TaeEvan LeeSPONSORSAlphawood FoundationAmerican AirlinesThe National Endowments for the ArtsThe Illinois Arts Council, A State AgencyJohn D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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