Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

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Centerpiece Documentary—Ulam: Main Dish

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Philadelphia Premiere Director: Alexandra Cuerdo 79 mins | Documentary | USA | English In this delicious new documentary, Filipino-American filmmaker Alexandra Cuerdo follows the rise of Filipino food via the award-winning chefs who are crossing over to the center of the American table. Ulam: Main Dish stages this new culinary movement as not only a remarkable achievement for American restaurateurs but also as a validation of Filipino culture. The film confronts issues inherent in representing both Filipino and American identity as well as challenges from both the Filipino community and the world at large. Ultimately, Ulam is a celebration—and confirmation—that Filipino food and Filipinos are here to stay. Director Alexandra Cuerdo expected in attendance for a post film Q&A followed by a catered reception featuring Filipino food. Centerpiece RECEPTION 8-9:00pm | Lightbox Film Center

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Centerpiece Narrative: Fiction and Other Realities

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Philadelphia Premiere Director: Bobby Choy and Steve Lee 85 mins | Drama | South Korea, USA | Korean, English Fiction and Other Realities is the story of Bobby Choy, a 20-something Korean American residing in New York City who feels like a stranger in the country in which he was born. After his father’s death, he starts writing sad songs but does not perform them very often. Mostly, he sings softly in his bathtub. Because of the thin walls of his apartment, his friend Billy—lead singer of the band Paper Kings—hears him and offers him a job as a roadie for the band’s upcoming tour, which includes a stop in Seoul. At first Bobby is hesitant, as he would be away from the only society he truly knows. But after mulling over the pros and cons, he decides to seize the opportunity to learn about his parents’ homeland. There he meets Ina, a young graduate student who performs for fun. Bobby Choy is expected in attendance for a post-film Q&A and will be performing during the Musical Showcase to follow.

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Centerpiece Film Tyrus

Synopsis: Tyrus tells the unlikely story of 105-year old Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong, how he overcame poverty and racism to become a celebrated modernist painter, Hollywood sketch artist, and “Disney Legend” for his groundbreaking work on the animated film, Bambi. Guangzhou-born, LA-based the film examines Tyrus” breathtaking scope of work across multiple artistic mediums and his personal and professional journey navigating racial bigotry in 20th century America. Making meticulous use of Tyrus Wong”s exquisite art, archival footage, interviews and commentary from Wong himself, the film documents how his unique style that combines Chinese calligraphic and landscape influences with contemporary Western art helped define the stylistic look of Disney”s animated film, Bambi. Tyrus, makes a critical contribution to the documentary tradition and Asian American history by spotlighting this seminal, but heretofore unknown figure. Facebook Event Page 

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