ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA ANNOUNCES FULL LINE UP FOR SEASON TEN

 12 GUESTS AND 16 NEW FILMS FROM HONG KONG, CHINA, TAIWAN, 

SOUTH KOREA AND JAPAN WILL SCREEN FOR CHICAGO AUDIENCES 

MARCH 10 – APRIL 9, 2020

 Asian Pop-Up Cinema is thrilled to announce the full line-up for its 10th Season by celebrating with 16 new films from Asia.  Many of these will feature the top actors and directors who are scheduled to visit our city as guests of the non-profit pan-Asian film organization, Sophia’s Choice. 

Season Ten runs for five-weeks from March 10 through April 9, 2020.  Each week will be dedicated to highlighting films from the same geographic location with one film shown on different days each week. A majority of the screenings will be presented at the festival’s primary venue, AMC River East 21.  Select titles are screened at collaborative partners’ premises: Chicago Filmmakers, Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Chinese American Museum. 

Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s Season Ten opens by honoring Hong Kong filmmaking with two North American Premieres starting with i’m livin it on March 10.  Nominated for 10 awards from the 39^th Hong Kong Film Awards, i’m livin it, tells the story of a man who was once a star in his finance firm (Aaron Kwok), but now spends his life in a 24-hour fast-food joint living with other homeless roommates striving to encourage each other. Best new director nominee Wong Hing Fan and actress Kathy Wu will attend the premiere.  The 2^nd North American Premiere on March 11, A Witness Out of The Blue, nominated for 6 Awards, is a classic whodunit where a detective relies on a not-so-human witness to catch the killer.  Actor Philip Keung, nominee for the Best Supporting Actor, will receive Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s Bright Star Award. Director Fung Chih-chiang will be receiving the award on his behalf.

Programming from Hong Kong continues with two comedies making their Chicago Premieres; First Night Nerves where Variety calls it “a homage to drama-queen actresses plays like a cross between ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and ‘Feud’”; directed by Stanley Kwan, one of the few directors in Asia renown for making films about gender roles and sexuality; followed by Men on the Dragon, portraying four middle-aged men each dealing with their personal crisis while training in a dragon boat race. 

Leading this season’s mainland Chinese production is helmed by 5th generation director Liu Miaomiao’s Red Flowers and Green Leaves on March 18, a tender love story that takes place in China’s northwestern region where Chinese Muslims live; followed by two indie films made by young filmmakers that have earned European film festivals’ nods:

3 Adventures of Brooke, a Venice Film Festival selection, and Vanishing Days, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival Forum.  Included in the mix is a cross-continental production of A Touch of Spring (Quebec/China), with Chinese-Canadian director He Xiaodan is scheduled to attend. 

 The Centerpiece film on March 25 is in honor of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi. We Are Champions from Taiwan, portrays two teenage brothers with nothing but each other, hope to change their fate through their love of basketball - yet they cross paths on their way to ultimate basketball glory — the HBL championship. Both actors Fandy Fan and Berant Zhu will receive the Bright Star Award from Asian Pop Up Cinema.  The second Taiwanese film, Detention is a psychological horror film set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law, “represents a significant milestone in Taiwan’s reckoning with its authoritarian past.” (Cinema Escapist 12/2/2019)

Season Ten then segues to honor South Korea, with a Chicago Premiere Vertigo on April 1 about a unique romance between a female graphic designer suffering from vertigo and a male skyscraper window cleaner; and U.S. Premiere of Paper Flower on April 2 about an old funeral director who helps the homeless set up a memorial service of a local noodle shop owner against City Hall’s rules.  Both Directors will be at their screenings.  One of the country's most respected actors, credited in more than 130 films during his career of over 60 years, Ahn Sung-Ki of Paper Flower will accept festival’s Career Achievement Award before the feature presentation. 

Next up is Japan' indie film, Life Finds A Way on April 4 at Chicago Filmmakers. A director struggles with every artist’s creative crisis: what should his next film be about? Chicago’s independent filmmaking community will hear first-hand from the director and screenwriter Hirobumi Watanabe about this relatable film.

The historical drama Samurai Marathon 1855, premieres in Chicago on April 8. Directed by Britain’s Bernard Rose (Immortal Beloved), with producer Jeremy Thomas and composer Philip Glass, the film takes place during the feudal era and is inspired by a historical race said to have been the origin of marathons in Japan.

Closing Night is April 9 and the U.S. Premiere of Shape of Red with director Yukiko Mishima in attendance. Based on the novel “Red” by female author Rio Shimamoto, a married woman has a love affair with an old boyfriend and has to make a difficult choice.  Japan Senior Film Critic at The Japan Times, Mark Schilling, returns this season to moderate the Q&A discussion with the directors for the last three movies at the festival.

“2020 is our first 5th anniversary.  Together with our peers around the world championing foreign language films, we are super excited with South Korea’s “Parasite”, first non-English film to ever win Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards,” said Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Sophia Wong Boccio. “We look forward to attracting wider American audiences to our specially curated program that promises to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.”

Film details, trailers and ticketing for each screening, plus information on special guests, are below and available at www.asianpopupcinema.org.

 Guests confirmed and scheduled to attend Season 10 are:

 Hong Kong

·      Wong Hing Fan (director) i’m livin’ it

·      Kathy Wu (actress) i’m livin’ it

·      Fung Chih-chiang (director) A Witness Out of the Blue

Canada

·      Xiaodan He (director) A Touch of Spring

Taiwan 

·      Rachel Chen (producer) We Are Champions

·      Berant Zhu (actor) We Are Champions and Recipient of Bright Star Award

·      Lee Yuan-yuan (Assistant to Zhu) We are Champions

South Korea

·      Gye-soo Jeon, (director) Vertigo

·      Koh Hoon, (director) Paper Flower

·      Ahn Sung Ki (actor) Paper Flower and Recipient of Career Achievement Award

Japan

·      Hirobumi Watanabe (writer/director/actor) Life Finds A Way

·      Yukiko Mishima (director) Shape of Red

All films are shown in their original language with English subtitles. Post-screenings discussion will be led by Ron Falzone, Associate Professor of Cinema and Television Arts at Columbia College Chicago or by Mark Schilling, senior film critic of Japan Times or Sophia Wong Boccio, Asian Pop-Up Cinema Founder and Executive Director.

Tickets for Asian Pop-Up Cinema - Season Ten are on sale now; individual tickets are $10.  A limited number of free tickets are available to students on a first-come, first-served basis.  All Season Passes are available at a discounted rate of $100 with reserved seating for the entire season.  All tickets and events info are available at www.asianpopupcinema.org/tickets

Select films are available for advance screening/review on a case-by-case basis; to request screenings links or interviews with Asian Pop-up Cinema founder Sophia Wong Boccio or filmmakers/cast of select films, contact Danielle Garnier, Garnier Public Relations, 312-841-3500 danielle@garnierpr.com

 ASIAN POP- UP CINEMA - SEASON TEN Full Schedule and Film Details

Opening Night film

Tuesday, March 10, 7:00PM @ AMC River East 21

i’m livin it – (麥路人) North American Premiere

Introduction and Q&A with Director Wong Hing Fan, and Actress Kathy Wu

Hong Kong | 2019 | Drama | 115 Minutes | In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English subtitles 

Director: Wong Hing Fan

Starring: Aaron Kwok, Miriam Yeung, Alex Man, Cheung Tat-Ming, Nina Paw, Cya Liu, Zeno Koo, Kathy Wu, Gaga Wong

Film Source: Entertaining Power Co. Limited

Once a star in his finance firm, Bowen (Aaron Kwok) now spends his nights in a 24-hour fast food joint, where he encounters other “roommates” who are in a similar predicament: a mother (Cya Liu) with her daughter who has taken out high-interest loans to cover her mother-in-law’s debt, an old man (Alex Man) who is too afraid to go home, a young runaway (Zeno Koo), and a singer (Miriam Yeung) living in a temporary shelter. Together these accidental roommates must strive to lift one another out of rock bottom.

 Wednesday, March 11, 7:00PM @ AMC River East 21

A WITNESS OUT OF THE BLUE – (犯罪現場) North American Premiere

Introduction and Q&A with Director Fung Chih-Chiang

 Hong Kong | 2019 | Crime/Thriller| 104 Minutes | In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English subtitles

Director: Fung Chih-Chiang

Starring: Louis Koo, Louis Cheung, Jessica Hsuan, Cherry Ngan, Philip Keung, Fiona Sit, Patrick Tam, Andy On  

Film Source: One Cool Pictures

A man is found dead inside an apartment with a strange noise, "Help! Help!" next to the body. Detective Larry Lam (Louis Cheung) arrives at the scene with Detective Charmaine (Cherry Ngan) and his commanding officer Yip Sau Ching (Philip Keung).  Yip Sau Ching is convinced the deceased, Homer Tsui (Deep Ng) is killed by his partner in crime, Sean Wong (Louis Koo) when they had a fight over how to divvy up the loot from an armed robbery three months ago. But Larry soon finds out the case is more complicated than they imagine, and not only Sean, but there are also other suspects.  Frank’s only hope in cracking the case lies in the not-so-human sole witness left at the scene of the crime – a parrot that can talk.

Thursday, March 12, 7:00 PM @ AMC River East 21

FIRST NIGHT NERVES (八個女人一台戲) | Chicago Premiere

Hong Kong | 2018 | Drama/Comedy | 100 Minutes | In Cantonese and Mandarin w/ English subtitles

Director: Stanley Kwan

Starring: Sammi Cheng, Gigi Leung, Bai Bai-He, Angie Chiu

Film Source: Golden Scene

“Two Sisters” is a new play, written and directed by the trans woman Ouyang An, and will have its first night in Hong Kong's venerable City Hall soon. In the last seven days of rehearsals, many hidden tensions rise to the surface, sparked by the longstanding rivalry between the two lead actresses Yuan Xiu-ling (a stage veteran making her comeback a year after the death of her faithless husband) and He Yu-wen (a smart movie actress making her stage debut). 

Saturday, March 14, 2:00 PM @ Chinese-American Museum  

MEN ON THE DRAGON (逆流大叔) | Chicago Premiere | Free and Open To the Public

Hong Kong | 2018 | Sport/Comedy | 92 Minutes | In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English subtitles

Director: Sunny Chan

Starring: Francis Ng, Poon Chan-Leung, Kenny Wong, Wu Tsz-Tung Tony, Nancy Wu, Jennifer Yu

Film source:  One Cool Pictures 

Lung, Tai, Suk-Yi and William are happy-go-lucky employees of a broadband network company who muddle their way through each day at work. When massive layoffs are expected, they pledge their loyalty to the company by signing up for the newly formed dragon boat team. When they embark on their rigid training, they’re inevitably forced to face the respective mid-life crises they have been dodging. As they rekindle their long-lost fighting spirit, they begin to welcome the challenges in life.

Monday, March 16, 6:30PM @ Alliance Francaise de Chicago 

A TOUCH OF SPRING (Un printemps d'ailleurs) (春色撩人) | Chicago Premiere 

Introduction and Q&A with Director He Xiaodan

Q&A Moderated by: Sophia Wong Boccio, Founder & Executive Director of Asian Pop-up Cinema

Canada/China | 2017 | Drama | 87 Minutes | In Mandarin and French w/ English subtitles

Director and Screenwriter: He Xiaodan 

Starring: Yan Wen-Si, Émile Proulx Cloutier, Zhao Xuan, Yan Cheng, Cui Ke-Fa

Film Source: Film Options International

Li Fang is a Chinese immigrant who has been living in Montreal for over 10 years. Her infertility and her violent separation from her Québécois husband, Eric, have pushed her to the brink of despair. Escaping the chaos in Montreal, Li Fang visits her grandfather in Dazu, her birthplace in south China. The support and inspiration provided by her family and an old lover helps her break the impasse in her life. 

Wednesday, March 18, 7:00 PM @ AMC River East 21

RED FLOWERS AND GREEN LEAVES (红花绿叶) | Chicago Premiere 

China | 2018 | Drama | 96 Minutes | In Mandarin w/ English subtitles 

Director: Liu Miao-Miao, Hu Wei-Jie

Starring: Luo Ke-Wang, Ma Si-Qi, Zhang Ling, Zhang Jing, Zhang Shou-Pan, Wu Hui-Jun

Film source: Parallax Films 

 Red Flowers and Green Leaves arranges its plot around a newlywed couple. Haunted by an unidentified and stubborn ailment since infancy, a young man, Gubo, reckons himself as unlikable and has no intent for marriage. Under family arrangement and beyond all expectations, he marries a capable and attractive woman, Asheeyen. Suddenly, two strangers are sharing the same bed. As time passes, they become aware of each other's past once concealed by the elders. Will they learn forgiveness and nourish true love? Will they savor the prospect of a happy family?

Thursday, March 19, 7:00 PM @ AMC River East 21

3 ADVENTURES OF BROOKE (星溪的三次奇遇) | U.S. Premiere

 China/Malaysia | 2018 | Drama | 100 Minutes | In Chinese and English w/ English subtitles

Director, Editor, and Screenwriter: Yuan Qing

Starring: Xu Fang-Yi, Pascal Greggory, Ribbon, Kam Kia-Kee, Allan Toh Wei-Lun, Lim Yi-Xin, Zhan Zi-Zhen, Andrew Lok

Film source: Parallax Films 

Brooke, a Chinese young woman, travels alone to Alor Setar, a small town in Northern Malaysia. As a consequence of a blown tire, she experiences three variant adventures. Brooke may be a traveler, an anthologist, or a disheartened divorcée. As she introduces herself to people using different identities, what mysterious secrets are hidden behind her? In return, what the journey brings her is thoroughly unexpected.

Saturday, March 21, 7:00 PM @ Chicago Filmmakers  
VANISHING DAYS (漫遊) | U.S. Premiere

 China | 2018 | Drama/Mystery | 94 minutes | In Mandarin w/ English subtitles

Director: Zhu Xin

Starring: Jiang Li, Huang Jing, Chen Yan, Li Xiao-Xing, Luo Hai-Qing, Lu Jia-He

Film source: Parallax Films 

Vanishing Days was made by 22-year-old director Zhu Xin. This debut feature focuses on the exploration of a little girl Li Sen-Lin during the summer holiday. Li Sen-Lin loses her turtle while her father is away on a business trip. There's another "Sen-Lin" that keeps on being mentioned by her parents. She faintly suspects that Auntie Qiu is actually her biological mother. The summer rain pours down as memory and reality interweave into one another. The poetic and mythic feeling distinguishes Vanishing Days from most of the films that boast a realist touch.

It premiered at the 23rd Busan International Film Festival and was nominated for "New Currents Award". It was also selected to the 69th Berlinale, Forum and nominated for "Golden Star" at the 16th Marrakech International Film Festival.

Centerpiece 

Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 PM @ AMC River East 21

WE ARE CHAMPIONS (下半場) | Chicago Premiere

Introduction and Q&A with Producer Rachel Chen, and Actor Berant Zhu 

Berant Zhu is the recipient of BRIGHT STAR AWARD.  Award ceremony before feature presentation.  

Taiwan | 2019 | Drama | 117 Minutes | In Mandarin w/ English & subtitles

Director: Chang Jung-Chi

Starring: Fandy Fan, Berant Zhu, Tuan Chun-Hao, David Wu

Film Source: We are Champions Film Limited

Born into the bottom rungs of society, two teenage brothers with nothing but each other hope to change their fate through their love of basketball. Little brother Tung-Hao joins an elite school and transforms into a dazzling superstar; big brother Hsiu-Yu ends up on a ragtag squad about to be disbanded, finding an unexpected new brotherhood in his never-say-die teammates. Eventually, the brothers cross paths on their way to ultimate basketball glory — the HBL championship —where they will discover that something is more important than winning.

This film screened at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival and the San Diego Asian Film Festival in 2019. Fandy Fan won the Best New Performer in Golden Horse Awards. 

Thursday, March 26, 7:00 PM @ AMC RIVER EAST 21 

DETENTION (返校) | Chicago Premiere

Taiwan | 2019 | Suspense/Thriller |103 Minutes | In Mandarin w/ English and Chinese subtitles

Director: John Hsu

Starring: Gingle Wang, Tseng Ching-Hua, Fu Meng-Po

Film Source: Mandarin Vision Co. Limited

In 1962, a sense of desolation and tension permeates society. Fang, a twelfth grader at Tsui-Hua Senior High School, falls in love with Zhang, a counseling teacher. Troubled by the problems at school and home, Fang feels that Zhang is the only person who understands her. Longing for freedom, Zhang forms a study group with his colleagues and students, including Yin and Wei. Reading the banned books allows them to be liberated for a brief moment but at the same time, they put their lives in great danger. One day, Zhang vanishes into thin air, and only Fang and Wei, an eleventh grader, remember him. Together, Fang and Wei start looking for the disappeared teacher but find the school gradually slipping out of the world they are familiar with. Then in a realm dominated by ghosts and spirits, the pair are forced to face the terrifying truth....

Detention is the winner of the 56th Golden Horse Awards for the Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects, Best Art Direction, and the Best Original Film Song with director John Hsu took away the Best New Director with Detention. This film is also nominated for the Best Narrative Feature, Best Action Choreography, Best Original Film Score, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Effects. The Taiwanese actress, Gingle Wang is nominated for Best Leading Actress.

Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 PM @ AMC RIVER EAST 21  

VERTIGO (버티고) | Chicago Premiere

Introduction and Q&A with Director Jeon Gye-Soo

 South Korea | 2019 | Romance/Drama | 114 Minutes | In Korean w/ English subtitles

Director: Jeon Gye-Soo

Starring: Chun Woo-Hee, Yoo Teo, Jeong Jae-Kwang

Film Source: FINECUT Co., Ltd.

A unique romance film about a woman who feels like she's falling from her office in skyscraper, and a rope climber who walks on a rope amidst the forest of buildings like Spiderman. They face each other on either side of a glass window until they finally meet on the rooftop of Machunru.

Director Jeon Gye-soo, who has shown a variety of genre skills ranging from fantasy musicals to romantic comedies, has been releasing his new film for the first time in a long time. “Vertigo takes no haste, takes a heavy step, reaches the pinnacle of emotion, then adds a blow to the final scene, leaving a long aftertaste.” – Excerpt from Korean Cinema Today. 

Vertigo was a selected film in the 24th Busan International Film Festival (2019) - Panorama. It was also the selected feature in the 23rd Hawaii International Film Festival (2019) - Spotlight on Korea.

Thursday, April 2, 7:00 PM @ AMC RIVER EAST 21  

PAPER FLOWER (종이꽃) | U.S. Premiere

Introduction and Q&A with Director Koh Hoon and Actor Ahn Sung-ki

Ah Sung-ki is the recipient of CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

Award ceremony will be held before the feature presentation.

South Korea | 2019 | Drama | 103 Minutes | In Korean w/ English subtitles

Director: Koh Hoon

Starring: Ahn Sung-Ki, Kim Eugene, Kim Hye-Seong, Jang Jae-Hee, Lee Suk, Moon Hee-Kyung, Cho Sun-Mook

Film Source: Mirovision/Studio Bonanza

Sung-gil, an old, poor funeral director, lives with his sick son and struggles to take care of him.  A new neighbor with a cherry personality who is a single mom shows up and becomes the caretaker for Sung-gil’s son.  Meanwhile, a local noodle shop owner, who has been feeding free noodles to the homeless passed way.  The homeless want a public funeral to be held in the town square but the city is against it.  At the end Sung-gil takes the benefactor’s portrait, and drives his van covered in paper flowers to the square.  

Saturday, April 4, 7:00 PM @ Chicago Filmmakers  

LIFE FINDS A WAY (普通は走り出す) | North American Premiere  

Introduction and Q&A with Director Hirobumi Watanabe 

Guest moderator: Mark Schilling

Japan | 2018 | Drama | 110 Minutes | In Japanese w/ English subtitles

Director and Scriptwriter: Hirobumi Watanabe

Starring: Hirobumi Watanabe, Minori Hagiwara, Marika Matsumoto, Yako Koga, Chihiro Nagai

Film Source: ARTicle Films

Born out of every artist's creative crisis, the search for the next topic, Hirobumi Watanabe presents his latest film, dealing with the question of what his film should be about. The director stages himself as he idles away his days, delivering endless monologs during car rides, sleeping on the floor at his grandma's house, or philosophizing over video games and the FIFA World Cup.

Wednesday, April 8, 7:00 PM @ AMC RIVER EAST 21  

SAMURAI MARATHON 1855 (サムライマラソン) | Chicago Premiere

Guest speaker: Mark Schilling 

 Japan | 2019 | 104 Minutes | Action/Adventure |In Japanese w/ English subtitles

Director: Bernard Rose

Starring: Takeru Satoh, Nana Komatsu, Mirai Moriyama, Shota Sometani, Munetaka Aoki, Ryu Kohata, Yuta Koseki, Danny Huston

Film Source: Well Go USA Entertainment

Inspired by a real-life race that is still held annually in Japan, Samurai Marathon 1855 is a live action pic with a samurai twist. In the late feudal era of Japan, a young ninja (Satoh) is operating undercover in the court of an aging Lord during a peaceful era of Japan that is on the brink of change. After the Lord challenges his lazy samurais to a punishing marathon to toughen them up, the ninja finds his loyalties put to the test. Facing impossible odds, this unusual band of characters is running a race to win or die.

Closing Night

Thursday, April 9, 7:00 PM @ AMC RIVER EAST 21  

SHAPE OF RED | North American Premiere

Introduction and Q&A with Director Yukiko Mishima

Guest moderator: Mark Schilling

 Japan | 2020 | Drama | 123 Minutes | In Japanese w/ English subtitles

Director: Yukiko Mishima

Starring: Kaho, Satoshi Tsumabuki, Tasuku Emoto, Shotaro Mamiya, Reiko Kataoka, Yoshi Sakou, Kazuyuki Asano, Kimiko Yo

Film Source: Pony Canyon

Toko Suguri is married and with a lovely daughter. She doesn't have any major problems in her life until one day, Tokyo Suguri meets her ex-lover Akihiko Kurata at a friend's wedding. They haven't seen each other in 10 years. The rekindled love is so intense that Toko needs to make serious choice!

 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.

ASIAN POP-UP CINEMA - SEASON TEN SPONSORS & PARTNERS

At press time, Season Ten is supported in part by Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, New York, the ADG Group, Choose Chicago, Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, Japan Foundation in New York and Japan Airlines. Our cultural partners are DCASE/Chicago Film Office, Chicago Filmmakers, the Gene Siskel Film Center, the Chinese-American Museum Chicago, the Japan American Society of Chicago, Japanese Culture Center and Chicago Chinese Cultural Institute.