Editor

Non-profit pan-Asian film organization Sophia’s Choice today announces Asian Pop-Up Cinema - Season Nine, is the film series that cultivates American interest and understanding of Asian culture through movie storytelling while making Chicago a destination for international visitors.  

Films have been thoughtfully curated to represent authentic voices of Asia in artful narrations by filmmakers; a majority of which will be Chicago premieres, never before shown on the big screen. Season Nine presents 17 new films and 15 special guests to Chicago from September 10 through October 10, 2019.

The five-week schedule highlights films made from the same geographic location per 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: Gene Siskel Film Center, Harold Washington Library Center, Alliance Française de Chicago, Chinese-American Museum, Illinois Institute of Technology, School of the Art Institute, and Midwest Buddhist Temple.  

Among the highlights for Asian Pop-Up Cinema’s Season Nine include four films that are heavily influenced by Hollywood musicals: Japan’s Can’t Stop the Dancing, South Korea’s Swing Kids, Hong Kong’s Office and the Philippines’ Miss Granny. Special programming for Filipino American History Month in October includes two award-winning films Signal Rock and Miss Granny from the Philippines. Returning this season is the popular “Movie with Mooncakes” free screening showing with internationally known Zhang Yimou’s spectacular Shadow to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

Season Nine will honor one of Hong Kong’s legendary stars, Kenneth Tsang Kong (The Attorney) with the Lifetime Achievement Award; and the notable Philippines actor Christian Bables (Signal Rock) with the Bright Star Award.  Award ceremonies will take place on the same night of their screenings.   

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

Below is full list of special guests scheduled to attend with their films: 

https://www.asianpopupcinema.org/profiles

South Korea

·      Lee Min-Jae (director) – The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale

·      Hong Seung-Wan (director) – Juror 8

China

·      Huo Meng  (director) - Crossing the Border

·      Song Wen (director) - The Enigma of The Arrival

·      Gu Xuan (actress) - The Enigma of The Arrival

Japan 

·      Tanaka Seiji (director) - Melancholic

·      Minagawa Yoji (producer/actor) - Melancholic

Thailand 

·      Ping Lumpraploeng (director) - The Pool

Philippines

·      Christian Babies (actor) (Bright Star Recipient) – Signal Rock

Hong Kong

·      Christopher Sun (director) - Deception of the Novelist

·      Justin Cheung – (producer/actor) - Deception of the Novelist - The Attorney

·      Kenneth Tsang Kong (Lifetime Achievement Recipient) -The Attorney

·      Cherrie Lau (Executive Producer) – The Attorney

·      Frances To (scriptwriter) – The Attorney

     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 one of the following guest speakers/moderators: 

·      Darcy Paquet (South Korea) – Professor, Busan Asian Film School (AFiS), 

Artistic Director, Wildflower Film Awards Korea, and Programming Consultant, Udine Far East Film Festival

·      Jennifer Dorothy Lee, PhD (U.S.)  – Assistant Professor of Art History, Theory & Criticism at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

·      Lane Alexander (U.S.) – Co-founder & director of Chicago Human Rhythm Project

Tickets for Asian Pop-Up Cinema - Season Nine are on sale now; individual tickets range from $8-$15, with discounts available for seniors and students at AMC; other non-AMC screenings are either admissions free or donation at $10 basis.  A limited number of free tickets are available to students on a first-come, first-served basis. All tickets and events info are available at www.asianpopupcinema.org/tickets