April (丟包阿公到我家) (Encore)
APRIL was our festival’s Audience Choice Award winner and we are giving you a second chance to catch it!
April
(丟包阿公到我家)
A Filipino migrant worker and a Taiwanese ex-convict experience the complex emotions of homecoming in this offbeat comedy
Date: Sunday, April 19
Time: 3:00 PM (Doors open at 2:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Taiwan/The Philippines | Comedy | 2025 | 105 minutes
In Taiwanese Hakka, Filipino, Mandarin and English w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Freddy Tang
Starring: Liu Kuan-ting, Angel Aquino, Zhang Xiao-xiong, Kaiser Chuang, Esther Huang
Film Source: Hakka Public Communication Foundation
Filipino migrant worker April’s mother has become critically ill, but the only way she can make the trip home is by taking along the ailing Taiwanese old man whom she is looking after. When the old man’s son returns from prison to an empty house, his story intertwines with April’s in unexpected ways.
Former attorney Freddy Tang’s follow-up to his acclaimed series Port of Lies deftly juggles serious issues such as elderly care, migrant workers and criminal rehabilitation with warmth and humor. As the parallel storylines roll along, the film reveal its true nature as a profound exploration of roots, drifting and homecoming.
BIOS
Freddy Tang, Director & Screenwriter
Tang earned a Master of Laws degree in Taiwan and practiced law for five years before receiving a Ministry of Education scholarship to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Drawing on his legal training and litigation experience, his work is marked by a nuanced and realistic portrayal of human dilemmas within the legal system.
Angel Aquino, Actress
Angel Aquino is a celebrated Filipino actress whose distinguished career spans over three decades, making her one of the Philippines’ most respected and versatile performers. Known for her elegance, emotional depth, and compelling screen presence, she has consistently delivered powerful portrayals that resonate with audiences both locally and internationally.
She first rose to prominence with her breakthrough role in Laro sa Baga, earning critical acclaim for her nuanced and emotionally rich performance. She went on to solidify her reputation with standout roles in Crying Ladies and Donsol—films that were selected as Philippine submissions to the Academy Awards and screened on international stages.
Aquino is widely recognized for her ability to portray complex and multi-dimensional women, from vulnerable protagonists to morally intricate antagonists, with authenticity, grace, and strength. Her work spans independent cinema, mainstream films, and television dramas, demonstrating remarkable range and consistency.
Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including:
Gawad Urian Award – honoring excellence in Philippine cinema
PMPC Star Awards – multiple wins for both film and television performances
Golden Screen Awards – nominations and wins recognizing outstanding contributions to Philippine storytelling
At this year’s festival, Aquino stars in the highly anticipated film APRIL, where she delivers a deeply compelling and emotionally resonant performance that reflects her continued evolution as an artist. The film highlights her ability to bring authenticity and depth to characters, reinforcing her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary Philippine cinema.
Beyond her achievements on screen, Angel Aquino is admired for her professionalism, artistic integrity, and advocacy for meaningful storytelling. She continues to mentor younger actors and champion projects that elevate Filipino cinema on both local and international platforms.
With a career that seamlessly balances critical acclaim, commercial success, and artistic integrity, Angel Aquino remains an enduring inspiration for audiences and emerging talent alike, embodying the artistry, resilience, and elegance that define her remarkable journey in Philippine entertainment.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
The Specials (スペシャルズ)
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
The Specials (スペシャルズ)
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A group of assassins must transform into a pop dance group in this hilarious high-concept action comedy
SPECIAL GUESTS: Director Eiji Uchida will introduce the film.
Prior to the screening, APUC will present our Awards Ceremony to announce the winners of this season’s Film Competition for Best Feature, Best New Director, Best Animation and Best Short Film.
Date: Sunday, April 12
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Japan | Action Comedy | 2026 | 111 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Eiji Uchida
Starring: Daisuke Sakuma, Kippei Shiina, Yuta Nakamoto, Sho Aoyagi, Hitoshi Ozawa
Film Source: Shinji Sakoda
Former assassin Daiya has long left the criminal world, but he decides to take up a mission to kill a rival gang boss for a huge payday. The catch: To kill his target at a talent show, he must go undercover and perform in a pop dance group.
For his first lead role in a film, Daisuke Sakuma – member of popular idol group Snow Man – must show off both his dancing and action chops with this unusual and hilarious comedy. Blending pop dancing with thrilling action (sometimes in the same scene), the film is an ode to unexpected second chances and embracing the dancer within us all.
Eiji Uchida, Director & Screenwriter
Born in 1971 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Uchida is a film director and screenwriter. After working as a reporter for Weekly Playboy magazine, he made his screenwriting debut in 1999 with the TV drama Kyoshuujo Monogatari (Driving School Story). He later served as a screenwriter and director on the Netflix original drama series The Naked Director, released worldwide in 2019 and widely recognized as one of the platform’s most talked-about series. His 2021 feature Midnight Swan won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Picture and screened at film festivals around the world. His recent works include Offbeat Cops! (2022), Silent Love (2024), Matching (2024), and Night Flower (2025).
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Closing Night Film Screening + Season Finale Party
Cap off our 20th season with us this Sunday, April 12.
Awards Ceremony (2:30 PM - 2:45 PM)
APUC will announce the winners of this season’s Film Competition for Best Feature, Best New Director, Best Animation and Best Short Film.
THE SPECIALS Screening + Q&A with director Eiji Uchida (2:45 PM - 5:00 PM)
The North American premiere of THE SPECIALS, an action comedy about a group of assassins who must transform into a pop dance group to achieve their mission. Stay for the post-film Q&A with Eiji Uchida, the director of Japan Academy Award’s 2026 Best Picture MIDNIGHT SWAN.
Season Finale Party (5:00 PM - 6:30 PM) - MacGuffins Bar & Lounge
Special guests scheduled to attend include THE SPECIALS director Eiji Uchida, KY NAM INN director Leon Le and actor Lien Binh Phat, and jury members from this year's competition. A separate party ticket or combo ticket is required and includes food and one drink.
Tickets: $20 for the Awards Ceremony and Screening, $40 for the Season Finale Party, or $60 for both.
Net proceeds from this event support the festival's general operations.
Shorts Series #3: Diasporic Perspectives
Shorts Series #3: Diasporic Perspectives
This program highlights short films from Asian American and Asian Canadian filmmakers whose stories traverse borders, generations, and lived experiences. Through a variety of genres, they represent the evolving narratives of Asian diasporic communities across North America.
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 8:00 PM (Doors open at 7:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Shorts Series #3: Diasporic Perspectives
Total runtime: 89 minutes
Year of the Dragon
COMPETITION FILM
Canada | Drama | 2025 | 13 minutes
English and Mandarin with English subtitles
Director: Giran Findlay-Liu
A devoted immigrant mother sets out to deliver a birthday cake for her son, only to be confronted with the harsh realities of his current situation. This intimate drama is a moving love letter to mothers and the sacrifices of immigrant life.
We Were the Scenery
Canada, United States | Documentary | 2025 | 15 minutes
English and Vietnamese with English subtitles
Director: Christopher Radcliff
Powerfully reclaiming stories erased from the master narrative, this documentary tells the story of Hoa Thi Le and Hue Nguyen Che, Vietnamese refugees who were cast as extras in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now.
Mixed Feelings
Canada | Sci-Fi/Comedy | 2025 | 10 minutes
English
Director: Devin Lee
A mixed-race student meets the “full Asian” and “full white” versions of himself from parallel universes and hopes for acceptance… But can he even accept himself? This charming comedy explores identity and belonging through a sci-fi lens.
Loneliness Can Be Murder
United States | Sci-Fi/Comedy | 2025 | 23 minutes
English
Director: Vincent Xiaofei Zeng
An introverted young man struggles to survive after a mysterious global catastrophe causes lonely people to spontaneously explode in this surreal, darkly comedic tale of existential crisis and unexpected friendships.
Glodok ’98
United States | Drama | 2025 | 16 minutes
Indonesian with English subtitles
Director: Nicholas Tjen
During Jakarta’s 1998 crisis, convenience store owner Asiung struggles to protect his pregnant wife amid financial hardship and a destructive riot. As tragedy closes in, he discovers unexpected meaning in helping a young boy.
Tenderness
COMPETITION FILM
Canada | Drama | 2024 | 28 minutes
Korean with English subtitles
Director: Helen Lee
As 16-year-old Yumi braces for an awkward encounter with her father’s new girlfriend, the unfolding Sewol Ferry disaster transforms her personal story of youthful love into a powerful reflection on the enduring legacy of a national tragedy.
Ky Nam Inn
SPECIAL GUEST: Intro and Q&A with director Leon Le and actor Lien Binh Phat
Ky Nam Inn
U.S. PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A translator and an older widow develop a bond in Leon Le’s lush 1980s-set romance
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
USA/Vietnam | Romantic Drama | 2025 | 140 minutes
In Vietnamese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Leon Le
Screenwriters: Leon Le, Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc
Starring: Lien Binh Phat, Do Thi Hai Yen, Ngo Hong Ngoc
Film Source: Hay Films
In the 1980s, Vietnam is still picking up the pieces after a devastating war. Khang is a young translator who has come to Saigon to translate The Little Prince. At his new home, he meets Ky Nam, an older widow who lives downstairs. Over time, they form a connection that may even blossom into love.
Channeling the likes of Wong Kar-wai, Leon Le’s quietly lyrical romance follows two characters who find love in between everyday routines and old songs playing on vinyl records. Bathed in a nostalgic and lush yellow hue, and featuring Vietnam’s gorgeous classical architecture in the backdrop, this gentle romance smolders slowly but surely.
Leon Le, Director
Lien Binh Phat, Actor
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Someone Like Me (像我這樣的愛情)
An exclusive pre-recorded Q&A with director Tam Wai-ching will play immediately after the screening. Moderated by APUC’s Kevin Ma.
Someone Like Me
(像我這樣的愛情)
U.S. PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A woman with cerebral palsy searches for love in the unlikeliest of ways in Tam Wai-ching’s sensitive romance
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 5:00 PM (Doors open at 4:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Hong Kong | Drama | 2025 | 105 minutes
In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Tam Wai-ching
Starring: Fish Liew, Carlos Chan, Alice Lau, Kate Yeung
Film Source: Emperor Motion Pictures
Despite being afflicted with cerebral palsy, Mui tries to lead a normal life, hanging out with her friends and making paintings. When her friend recommends her to an organization that offers sexual services for the disabled, she goes on a journey of emotional and physical emancipation.
Hong Kong has been buzzing about the transformative performance by Fish Liew in Tam Wai-ching’s sensitive tale of bodily autonomy and unlikely romance. Liew injects strength and tenacity into her performance as a woman who refuses to be patronized with sympathy and control disguised as care. Carlos Chan also gives a career-best performance as a volunteer with a painful past.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
The Chatterboxes (みんな、おしゃべり!)
The Chatterboxes
(みんな、おしゃべり!)
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Two young people from different cultures are caught in an intercultural inter-family conflict in this comedy of errors
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 4:00 PM (Doors open at 3:30 PM)
Location: Michael Paul Galvin Tower, Schulz Auditorium at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Japan | Comedy | 2025 | 143 minutes
In Japanese, Japanese Sign Language, Kurdish, Turkish, Chinese, American Sign Language w/ English and Japanese Subtitles
Director: Ken Kawai
Screenwriter: Ken Kawai, Kyohei Otoguro, Haruka Takenami
Starring: Itsuki Nagasawa, Kazuyoshi Kezuka, Yildirm Firat, Murat Çiçek
Film Source: Nikkatsu
When a minor argument turns into a brawl between a deaf appliance storeowner and a newly arrived Kurdish family, their respective adult children must step in to act as interpreters and mediators. But even as the two interpreters become friends, the conflict continues to escalate.
A breakdown in communication escalating to an all-out brawl seems like the perfect way to characterize inter-cultural conflicts in contemporary Japanese society. Director Ken Kawai, a real-life CODA (child of deaf parents), shows with his crowd-pleaser what happens when we are so busy with arguing that we forget to listen to one another.
TRAILER
The Japan Cinema Showcase 2026 is supported by:
A Story About Fire (燃比娃)
A Story About Fire
(燃比娃)
U.S PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
Li Wenyu’s hand-drawn animation is a visually striking and elegantly realized story of friendship and survival
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
China | Animation | 2025 | 85 minutes
In Mandarin w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Li Wenyu
Starring: Yang Haoyu, Zhou Xun, Bei Yile, Kang Chunlei
Film Source: Midnight Blur /Parallax Films
In ancient time, a monkey sets out to recover the source of warmth on the holy mountain. When he finds a fire stone, he and his dog must overcome many dangers to bring warmth back to his family.
Produced at the renown Shanghai Animation Film Studio, Li Wenyu’s feature directorial debut turns traditional hand-drawn Chinese ink painting into a visually sumptuous animated adventure. Loosely based on a legend of the Qiang people, an ethnic minority living in the mountains of southwest China, the film is a moving tale of personal growth and the importance of companionship in trying times.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This film is presented with support from the Consulate General of The People's Republic of China in Chicago.
Lucky Lu (幸福之路)
Lucky Lu (幸福之路)
CHICAGO PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
Chang Chen gives a powerful award-winning performance as an immigrant down on his luck in this modern take on Bicycle Thieves
Date: Saturday, April 11
Time: 2:00 PM (Doors open at 1:30 PM)
Location: Michael Paul Galvin Tower, Schulz Auditorium at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT)
Canada/USA | Drama | 2025 | 103 minutes
In English and Mandarin w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Lloyd Lee Choi
Starring: Chang Chen, Fala Chen, Carebelle Manna Wei
Film Source: WMW Independent /The Festival Agency
Lu, a delivery rider in New York City, is about to have the unluckiest day of his life: his rent for an apartment and delivery bike are stolen just before his family are due to arrive in the US. With only one day to go, Lu goes on a desperate journey to recover his loss.
This somber immigrant story is a modern take on Italian classic Bicycle Thieves, proving that its messages about poverty and the brutality of capitalism are as relevant as ever. Chang Chen, who won Best Actor at the Golden Horse Awards for this performance, is heartbreaking as a man who is grasping for respite in a cruel world.
Lloyd Lee Choi, Director
TRAILER
A Useful Ghost (ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ)
A Useful Ghost
(ผีใช้ได้ค่ะ)
SPECIAL ENCORE
This Cannes Critics’ Week Grand Prix winner is a surreal genre-bender and darkly funny satire.
Date: Friday, April 10
Time: 9:30 PM (Doors open at 9:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Thailand, France, Singapore, Germany | Black Comedy | 2025 | 130 minutes
In Thai, English and Isan w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke
Starring: Davika Hoorne, Witsarut Himmarat, Apasiri Nitibhon, Wanlop Rungkumjud, Wisarut Homhuan
Film Source: Cineverse
After dying of dust pollution, Nat returns to her husband by possessing a vacuum cleaner, to the chagrin of her husband’s family. When other workers at her husband’s factory die from unsafe working conditions, Nat decides to prove herself useful by exorcising their displaced spirits.
The winner of the Grand Prix at Cannes Critics’ Week, Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke’s surreal dark comedy is both a haunting drama about loss and memory, and a powerful indictment of classism and working-class oppression in Thai society. The brilliantly conceived genre-bender cleverly defies expectations and conventions with ample humor and suspense.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Mag Mag (禍禍女)
Mag Mag
(禍禍女)
CHICAGO PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
Comedian Yuriyan Retriever turns her romantic history into a shocking horror comedy with her directorial debut
Date: Friday, April 10
Time: 8:30 PM (Doors open at 8:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Japan | Horror | 2025 | 112 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Yuriyan Retriever
Screenwriter: Eisuke Naito
Starring: Sara Minami, Maeda Oshiro, Aoi Yamada
Film Source: Third Window Films
After her crush is taken by a supernatural entity called the “Mag Mag,” Sanae attempts to get revenge. However, her journey will take more than a few weird turns before she discovers the truth behind the Mag Mag.
Stand-up comedian Yuriyan Retriever creates a genius fusion of horror, satire and romance with her audacious and genuinely twisted directorial debut. Unfolding in chapters, the film’s multi-perspective narrative keeps us guessing constantly as it finds new ways to shock and awe. This is a unique piece of genre cinema that rejects classification.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
A Foggy Tale (大濛)
A Foggy Tale
(大濛)
CHICAGO PREMIERE
This Golden Horse Awards Best Film winner is a powerfully emotional journey set during Taiwan’s White Terror period
Date: Friday, April 10
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Taiwan | Drama | 2025 | 134 minutes
In Mandarin and Taiwanese w/Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Chen Yu-hsun
Starring: Caitlin Fang, Will Orr, Tseng Jin-hua, Tang Yu-chi
Film Source: Mandarin Vision
During the 1950s, the Kuomintang, Taiwan’s ruling political party, persecuted political dissidents in the name of national security. Upon learning of her brother’s execution in custody, a young girl travels north to Taipei to retrieve his body. During her journey, she meets a rickshaw driver who becomes a friend in need.
The winner of four Golden Horse Awards – including Best Original Screenplay and Best Film – veteran director Chen Yu-hsun’s ambitious drama revisits one of Taiwan’s most painful historical traumas with gentle humor drawn from everyday life. More importantly, it’s a timely reminder about the importance of tenacity and resilience in the face of turmoil and authoritarianism.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Another World (世外)
Another World
(世外)
CHICAGO PREMIERE
The most successful animated film of all time in Hong Kong is a dark and fantastical adventure about death and reincarnation
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 6:00 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Hong Kong | Animation | 2025 | 111 minutes
In Cantonese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Tommy Ng
Screenwriter: Polly Yeung
Starring: Chung Suet-ying, Christy Choi Hiu-tong, Louis Cheung
Film Source: Gkids
Gudo is a spirit walker who transports souls to reincarnation in Another World. His latest assignment is Yuri, a little girl searching for her lost little brother. When Gudo learns about Yuri’s past lives, he realizes that her secret could put Another World in grave danger.
Seven years in the making, this adaptation of the Japanese novel Sennenki is dark and lavishly imaginative adventure that represents a new gold standard for Hong Kong animation. With eight nominations, including Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay, Tommy Ng’s thematically dense and stunning visual feast has also made history with the most nominations ever earned by an animated film at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
TOMMY NG KAI CHUNG, DIRECTOR
Tommy graduated from the School of Creative Media in Hong Kong City University (2003). He has directed several award-winning animation shorts such as Everywhere (2022), Another World (2019) and Tale of Rebellious Stone (2013). He is also active in creative work for commercials for major brands like Assassin’s Creed and Nike Air Max, and music videos such as Lie For You, which has garnered more than one million views on YouTube.
In 2017, he worked on an animation film project Implosion: ZERO DAY as executive director and a Hong Kong movie, Zombiology: Enjoy Yourself Tonight, drawing extensive discussions.
He is the founder of POINT FIVE CREATIONS, a company that provides full service Cel animation production from storyboard, character and set design to production and final delivery. Clients include NEC, Discovery Channel, Kao, etc. The company also produces original content like the animation feature film Another World.
Shorts Series #2: Pan-Asian Perspectives
SPECIAL GUESTS: Nic Ho (Director) and Ivana Lai (Producer) of BLACKY THE METAL ARM CAT are scheduled to introduce the short film and participate in a post-film Q&A.
Shorts Series #2:
Pan-Asian Perspectives
Discover the future of Asian cinema in this diverse selection of short films from up-and-coming filmmakers! Featuring titles from South Korea, Hong Kong, mainland China, and Malaysia, this program highlights innovative styles and compelling perspectives.
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 4:00 PM (Doors open at 3:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Blacky the Metal Arm Cat (鐵臂貓黑別)
Hong Kong | Animation | 2025 | 16 minutes
Cantonese with English subtitles
Director: Nic Ho
In a world where alien technology has rendered martial arts obsolete, a black cat with a mechanical arm sets out to avenge his slain master. Blending kinetic action with sly humor, this inventive animation illustrates fight to remain relevant in a rapidly changing era.
VISITING GUESTS FOR BLACKY THE METAL ARM CAT:
Nic Ho, Director
Nic Ho is an animation director from Hong Kong, known for his animated shorts Blacky the Metal Arm Cat, Ngau Chau Is Coming to Town, Mountains and Seas – Village of Muds and Behind the Schoolbag. His works have received the Animation Gold Award at ifva and the Silver Award at TBS DigiCon6 ASIA, and have been selected for festivals such as the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the USA Film Festival and the San Diego International Film Festival.
Ivana Lai, Producer
Ivana Lai is a Hong Kong–based animation producer and co-founder of Intoxic Studio. She has produced animated shorts including Blacky the Metal Arm Cat, Mountains and Seas and Behind the Schoolbag, which have received animation awards in Hong Kong and Asia and screened at international festivals such as the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival, the San Jose International Short Film Festival, the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) and Athens Animfest.
BLACKY THE METAL ARM CAT is part of the SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG CINEMA series supported by HKETO NY.
Memory (메모리)
South Korea | Sci-Fi/Drama | 2024 | 30 minutes
Korean with English subtitles
Director: Jang Ha-won
Against her mother’s wishes, Siwoo brings home a humanoid replica embedded with her late father’s memories. Featuring superstar actress Bae Doona, this intimate sci-fi drama explores the fragile boundaries between remembrance and letting go.
The Hanging Heart (心悬)
Mainland China | Drama | 2024 | 29 minutes
Mandarin with English subtitles
Directors: Jiaang Dong, Yi Zhao
Reuniting at a diner after graduation, a group of friends find their idle afternoon upended when they suspect a family of strangers may be involved in a kidnapping. What begins as a clumsy act of civic heroism spirals into a sobering reckoning about the dangerous ease of believing what we want to see.
Bleat! (கத்து!)
COMPETITION FILM
Malaysia, Philippines | Comedy/Queer | 2025 | 15 minutes
Tamil with English subtitles
Director: Ananth Subramaniam
Faith and tradition collide in unexpected ways when an elderly couple discovers that their male goat, destined for ritual sacrifice, is pregnant. Winner of the Cannes 2025 Queer Palm, this satirical comedy playfully challenges belief and gender norms.
Pavane For An Infant (搖籃凡世)
Pavane For An Infant
(搖籃凡世)
CHICAGO PREMIERE
Director Chong Keat Aun once again explores a taboo subject in his home country with this nuanced portrait of motherhood
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 3:00 PM (Doors open at 2:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Malaysia, Hong Kong | Drama | 2024 | 117 minutes
In Malay, Cantonese, English and Mandarin w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Chong Keat Aun
Starring: Fish Liew, Natalie Hsu, Ben Yuen, Pearlly Chua
Film Source: Midnight Blur /Parallax Films
In a conservative country like Malaysia, a “baby hatch” – a place where mothers can leave their unwanted children – naturally attracts controversy. Three employees of a baby hatch in Kuala Lumpur must stay true to their convictions and defend their work against a patriarchal society.
No stranger to tackling taboo issues in his home country, Chong Keat Aun now explores women’s hardships in a conservative male-dominated society with this nuanced portrayal of motherhood. Malaysia’s very own Fish Liew and Hong Kong’s Natalie Hsu give stunning performances as a social worker and a pregnant teen who develop a close bond as conservative forces close in on them.
TRAILER
Sisterhood (시스터후드)
SPECIAL GUEST: Intro and Q&A with producer Lee Yun-jin
Q&A will be moderated by Maja Memisevic
Sisterhood
(시스터후드)
MIDWEST PREMIERE
A mysterious houseguest turns the life of a mother and a daughter upside down in this creepy thriller
Date: Sunday, April 5
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
South Korea | Mystery Thriller | 2025 | 95 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Yoon Eun-kyoung
Starring: Han Ji-Hyun, Kim Joo-ryoung, Choi Myung-bin
Film Source: Hive Filmworks
Renowned novelist Yul-hee moves into a countryside house with her daughter. But their serene life takes a turn when an attractive stranger who claims to be Yul-hee’s fan appears and gradually grows a little too close to the family.
Director Yoon Eun-kyoung takes the creepy houseguest genre trope into uncanny and unfamiliar territory with this unsettling thriller. Featuring brilliant performances by all three of its female leads, Yoon’s cautionary tale explores how human vulnerability can become manipulated and exploited all too easily.
Yoon Eun-kyoung, Director
Yoon Eun-kyoung was born in Seoul and studied Educational Psychology and Film Production. She began her career working in various film productions as a script supervisor and assistant director before making her feature debut with Hotel Lake, marking her entry into genre filmmaking. Her feature The Tenants won the Best Director Award and the FIPRESCI Prize at the Singapore International Film Festival and was screened at numerous international film festivals. Her recent work Sisterhood, which was pitched at Cannes Fantastic 7 and screened at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, continues her consistent exploration of human psychological cracks and anxieties shaped by social influence, all layered within the pleasures of genre storytelling.
Lee Yun-jin, Producer
LEE Yun-jin, CEO and producer of INEW COMPANY, runs a content studio that believes in the power of storytelling, and plans and produces various genres such as movies, dramas, and AI-based next-generation content. Based on her unique genre imagination, she has collaborated with various creators to create unique works. Representative works include the horror film Warning: Do Not Play (2019), the omnibus film series Tastes of Horror (2023), and Sisterhood (2025), which was invited to the 2025 Cannes Film Festival's Fantastic 7. She will continue to communicate with audiences around the world through works containing unique colors.
TRAILER
This screening is supported by:
Good Game (觸電)
SPECIAL GUEST: Intro and Q&A with director Dickson Leung Kwok-fai
Good Game
(觸電)
U.S. PREMIERE
A ragtag group of gamers defy the odds in this immensely likable esport comedy from Hong Kong
Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Hong Kong | Comedy | 2025 | 93 minutes
In Cantonese w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Dickson Leung Kwok-fai
Screenwriters: Lily He, Zhong Sheng Lingxiu
Starring: Will Orr, Andrew Lam, Yanny Chan, Lo Meng, Alice Fung So-bor
Film Source: One Cool Picture Limited
To save his failing internet café business, Tai recruits his daughter, former action star Octo, and disgraced esports player Solo to take part in an esports tournament. But how will Solo lead a group of inexperienced gamers against the pros?
Teamwork is the name of the game in Dickson Leung’s crowd-pleasing underdog comedy, the first Hong Kong film to tackle the esports phenomenon. Rather than relying fully on computer graphics, action choreographer Ken Law brings the thrill of gaming alive by combining CGI and real action, creating a spectacular vision of what a multi-player shooter game might look like in real life.
Dickson Leung Kwok-fai, Director
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This screening is part of the SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG CINEMA series supported by HKETO NY.
Night King (夜王)
Night King
(夜王)
SPECIAL ENCORE
Jack Ng’s follow-up to his record-breaking blockbuster A GUILTY CONSCIENCE is an uproarious ensemble comedy about Hong Kong’s fading night club scene.
Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 4:30 PM (Doors open at 4:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Hong Kong | Comedy | 2026 | 130 minutes
In Cantonese, Japanese, Vietnamese and English w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Directors: Jack Ng
Screenwriter: Jack Ng, Ho Miu-ki, Jay Cheung
Starring: Dayo Wong, Sammi Cheng, Louise Wong
Film Source: Niu Vision Media
Jack Ng’s follow-up to his record-breaking blockbuster A Guilty Conscience is an uproarious ensemble comedy about Hong Kong’s fading nightclub scene. In the face of inevitable end, an embattled nightclub manager (comedy superstar Dayo Wong) teams up with his cutthroat ex-wife (pop star Sammi Cheng) to save their neon-lit empire.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
404 Still Remain (너와 나의 5분)
Special Guest: Intro and Q&A with director Uhm Ha-neul
404 Still Remain (너와 나의 5분)
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
A coming-of-age tale that explores the ache of first love and ostracization in Korean society at the turn of the 21st century
Date: Saturday, April 4
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
South Korea | Coming-of-age Drama | 2024 | 103 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Uhm Ha-neul
Starring: Sim Hyun-seo, Hyun Woo-seok
Film Source: CMnix Bridge
In 2001, transfer student Gyeong-hwan is obsessed with Japanese culture, a dangerous hobby when geopolitical tensions are rising between Japan and South Korea. However, when he discovers that his desk mate Jaemin also loves Japanese pop culture, they form a close bond – until Gyeong-hwan’s secret threatens it.
Uhm Ha-neul’s tender coming-of-age film, told from the perspective of a young queer man, reveals a culture of ostracization against social minorities in modern South Korea, even at a time when society appeared to be getting increasingly progressive. This story of adolescent bond and first love’s pain is at once moving and heartrending.
Uhm Ha-neul, Director/Screenwriter
Uhm Ha-neul was born on April 7, 1988. A graduate of the School of Film at Korea National University of Arts, he further honed his craft at the Korean Academy of Film Arts (KAFA), where he completed the 36th directing program between 2019 and 2020.
His feature film 404 Still Remain has received significant recognition on the festival circuit. In 2024, the film screened in the Korea Pride Section of the 14th Seoul International PRIDE Film Festival and was selected for the Festival Choice: Feature Showcase at the 50th Seoul Independent Film Festival. In 2025, it was featured in the Spotlight Section at the 20th Osaka Asian Film Festival, where it received the Jaiho Award.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This screening is supported by:
April (丟包阿公到我家)
SPECIAL GUESTS: Intro and Q&A with actress Angel Aquino
Angel Aquino will receive the PINNACLE CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD before feature presentation
CENTERPIECE FILM
April
(丟包阿公到我家)
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
A Filipino migrant worker and a Taiwanese ex-convict experience the complex emotions of homecoming in this offbeat comedy
Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Taiwan/The Philippines | Comedy | 2025 | 105 minutes
In Taiwanese Hakka, Filipino, Mandarin and English w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Freddy Tang
Starring: Liu Kuan-ting, Angel Aquino, Zhang Xiao-xiong, Kaiser Chuang, Esther Huang
Film Source: Hakka Public Communication Foundation
Filipino migrant worker April’s mother has become critically ill, but the only way she can make the trip home is by taking along the ailing Taiwanese old man whom she is looking after. When the old man’s son returns from prison to an empty house, his story intertwines with April’s in unexpected ways.
Former attorney Freddy Tang’s follow-up to his acclaimed series Port of Lies deftly juggles serious issues such as elderly care, migrant workers and criminal rehabilitation with warmth and humor. As the parallel storylines roll along, the film reveal its true nature as a profound exploration of roots, drifting and homecoming.
Freddy Tang, Director & Screenwriter
Tang earned a Master of Laws degree in Taiwan and practiced law for five years before receiving a Ministry of Education scholarship to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Film Directing at the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Drawing on his legal training and litigation experience, his work is marked by a nuanced and realistic portrayal of human dilemmas within the legal system.
Angel Aquino, Actress
Angel Aquino is a celebrated Filipino actress whose distinguished career spans over three decades, making her one of the Philippines’ most respected and versatile performers. Known for her elegance, emotional depth, and compelling screen presence, she has consistently delivered powerful portrayals that resonate with audiences both locally and internationally.
She first rose to prominence with her breakthrough role in Laro sa Baga, earning critical acclaim for her nuanced and emotionally rich performance. She went on to solidify her reputation with standout roles in Crying Ladies and Donsol—films that were selected as Philippine submissions to the Academy Awards and screened on international stages.
Aquino is widely recognized for her ability to portray complex and multi-dimensional women, from vulnerable protagonists to morally intricate antagonists, with authenticity, grace, and strength. Her work spans independent cinema, mainstream films, and television dramas, demonstrating remarkable range and consistency.
Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades, including:
Gawad Urian Award – honoring excellence in Philippine cinema
PMPC Star Awards – multiple wins for both film and television performances
Golden Screen Awards – nominations and wins recognizing outstanding contributions to Philippine storytelling
At this year’s festival, Aquino stars in the highly anticipated film APRIL, where she delivers a deeply compelling and emotionally resonant performance that reflects her continued evolution as an artist. The film highlights her ability to bring authenticity and depth to characters, reinforcing her reputation as a leading figure in contemporary Philippine cinema.
Beyond her achievements on screen, Angel Aquino is admired for her professionalism, artistic integrity, and advocacy for meaningful storytelling. She continues to mentor younger actors and champion projects that elevate Filipino cinema on both local and international platforms.
With a career that seamlessly balances critical acclaim, commercial success, and artistic integrity, Angel Aquino remains an enduring inspiration for audiences and emerging talent alike, embodying the artistry, resilience, and elegance that define her remarkable journey in Philippine entertainment.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Survival Family (サバイバルファミリー)
Survival Family
(サバイバルファミリー)
SPECIAL ENCORE
An urban family gets a crash course on survival in this humorous disaster dramedy
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 4:30 PM (Doors open at 4:00 PM)
Location: One Rotary Center
Japan | Comedy-drama | 2017 | 117 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Shinobu Yaguchi
Starring: Fumiyo Kohinata, Eri Fukatsu, Yuki Izumisawa, Wakana Aoi
Film Source: Pony Canyon
When a solar flare causes a global blackout, all of Japan goes into total panic. Believing they stand a better chance of surviving outside the crippled metropolis, the Suzuki family take off to the countryside, only to realize their survival instincts will take a lot of honing.
Despite living in one of the most natural disasters-prone countries on earth, are the Japanese really prepared for disaster as they become increasingly reliant on modern technology? Acclaimed comedy filmmaker Shinobu Yaguchi brilliantly dissects that question through the eyes of an ordinary Japanese family with a disaster film that deftly blends comedy, drama and adventure.
TRAILER
THIS SCREENING IS SUPPORTED BY:
I Am a Monk (ボクは坊さん)
I Am a Monk
(ボクは坊さん)
SPECIAL ENCORE
A young man realizes the burden of a spiritual leader when he becomes an abbot of a Buddhist temple
Date: Wednesday, April 1
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: One Rotary Center
Japan | Drama | 2015 | 99 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Yukinori Makabe
Screenwriter: Kenya Hirata
Starring: Atsushi Ito, Mizuki Yamamoto, Junpei Mizobata
Film Source: Phantom Film
After his grandfather’s death, 24-year-old Susumu inherits his grandfather’s position as head abbot of a local Buddhist temple. From the challenges he faces on the job, Susumu realizes that being a community’s spiritual leader takes much more than he imagined.
Based on Missei Shirakawa’s autobiographical essay, this enlightening drama highlights that religious leaders must often strike the difficult balance between human feelings (or desires) and spiritual obligations. Filmed in a hushed and unhurried style, Makabe immerses audiences in the serenity of a Buddhist temple while observing the inner emotional tempest of his protagonist.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
THIS SCREENING IS SUPPORTED BY:
Blades of the Guardians (鏢人: 風起大漠)
Blades of the Guardians
(鏢人: 風起大漠)
SPECIAL ENCORE
Dao Ma, the "second most wanted fugitive," who is entrusted by his benefactor, the chief of Mo family clan, to take on a mysterious mission escorting the "most wanted fugitive," to Chang'an.
Date: Sunday, March 29
Time: 5:30 PM (Doors open at 5:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Hong Kong / China | Action & Adventure, Martial Arts, Drama | 2026 | 130 minutes
In Mandarin w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Yuen Woo-Ping
Screenwriters: Tai-Lee Chan, Chao-Bin Su, Larry Yang
Starring: Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Yosh Yu, & Jet Li
Film Source: Well Go USA Entertainment
Dao Ma, the "second most wanted fugitive," who is entrusted by his benefactor, the chief of Mo family clan, to take on a mysterious escort mission-escorting the "most wanted fugitive," to Chang'an.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This screening is part of the SPOTLIGHT ON HONG KONG CINEMA series supported by HKETO NY.
Shorts Series #1: Iranian Perspectives
Shorts Series #1
Iranian Perspectives
Including two World Premieres, this new program reveals the quiet strength, nuance, and poetic humanism that have long defined Iranian cinema. In the face of ongoing political hardships, these short films reaffirm the enduring power of storytelling.
Date: Sunday, March 29
Time: 4:00 PM (Doors open at 3:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Iranian Perspectives
Total Runtime: 75 minutes
Glitter
Iran | Drama | 2025 | 13 minutes
Persian with English subtitles
Director: Farideh Shafiei
When a young director casts her boyfriend in a stage production, his refusal to wear make-up or step outside rigid gender norms exposes the invisible boundaries shaping their lives. A sharp reflection on the quiet courage required to challenge patriarchal expectations.
Health Center
COMPETITION FILM
Iran | Drama | 2025 | 15 minutes
Persian with English subtitles
Director: Yaser Barzegar
On the eve of a virginity examination, a young woman and her fiancé confront impossible expectations, forcing two clinical interns into an ethical dilemma. This gripping drama examines the weight of oppressive customs and the resilience of those caught in their path.
Holy Heaviness
Iran | Animation | 2025 | 10 minutes
No Dialogue
Directors: Farnoosh Abedi, Negah Khezre Fardyardad, Mohammad Ghaffari
A wordless meditation on grief, this haunting animation traces the unbearable heaviness left by departed loved ones and the fragile, necessary steps toward renewal, reminding us that letting go opens space for life to continue.
Summer Triangle
Iran | Drama | 2025 | 8 minutes
Persian with English subtitles
Directors: Maryam Esmaeili, Ali Babai
On a rooftop search for her missing cat, a girl encounters a boy about to attempt suicide and teaches him to harness his imagination. A tender and visually poetic story about courage, human connection, and the healing power of creativity.
The Tortoise
Iran | Drama | 2025 | 14 minutes
Persian with English subtitles
Director: Amirreza Jalalian
In a land of rigid rock, a stone-faced old man takes his own life. Returning home from the army, his son must confront his father’s death and the inherited burdens of a society bound by strict customs.
Warden
Iran | Drama | 2026 | 15 minutes
Persian with English subtitles
Director: Sabah Mohammadi
Zivar, supervisor of a girls’ dormitory, struggles to balance strict responsibility with empathy when a student returns late. This intimate drama examines the pressures and moral complexities of life under a patriarchal system.
How Dare You? (ふつうの子ども)
SPECIAL GUEST: Intro and Q&A with director Mipo O
Q&A moderated by Ron Falzone.
How Dare You?
(ふつうの子ども)
CHICAGO PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A trio of kids team up to stop climate change in this unconventional and keenly observed children’s film
Date: Sunday, March 29
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Japan | Comedy | 2025 | 97 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Mipo O
Screenwriter: Ryo Takeda
Starring: Tetta Shimada, Yu Aoi, Shunsuke Kazama, Ruri, Youta Mimoto, Kumi Takiuchi
Film Source: Nagoya Broadcasting Network
After hearing an impassioned speech about climate change by his classmate, Kokoa, 10-year-old Yuishi tries to impress her by taking up her cause. But when their actions in the name of the environment go a little too far, the adults are forced to get involved.
A modern Mark Twain-esque tale of childhood mischief in the name of a noble cause, Mipo O’s lighthearted comedy is a spirited film that shows how hot-button issues and love are seen from children’s perspective. By filming her young actors at a child’s height, O literally puts herself in her young protagonists’ shoes rather than looking down as an adult.
Mipo O, Director
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Halo (후광)
SPECIAL GUESTS: Intro and Q&A with director Roh Young-wan and actor Choi Gang-hyun
Choi Gang-hyun will receive the BRIGHT STAR AWARD before feature presentation
Q&A moderated by Ron Falzone
Halo (후광)
U.S. PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A delivery courier is driven to the edge of sanity by his demanding schedule and messy family dynamics in this harrowing drama
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
South Korea | Drama | 2025 | 106 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director: Roh Young-wan
Screenwriters: Roh Young-wan, Kim Eun-na
Starring: Choi Gang-hyun, Lee Jae-yong, Kim Han
Film Source: Helicon Studio Co., Ltd.
While dreaming of becoming a filmmaker, Min-joon divides his time between delivering packages and picking up after his dysfunctional family’s mess. When an astrologer advises him to “follow his halo,” Min-joon pushes himself with extra shifts until he reaches a breaking point.
In the age of internet shopping, we demand convenience at all costs without considering the lives of those who deliver it to us. Roh Young-wan’s empathetic but harrowing drama – winner of the Asian Future award at the Tokyo International Film Festival - imagines the life of one such courier. Shot in claustrophobic tight shots, Roh puts viewers as close to reality – and star Choi Gang-hyun’s engrossing performance - as possible.
BIOS
Roh Young-wan, Director
Roh is a filmmaker who has consistently turned his gaze toward the structural contradictions of Korean society and the inner lives of those left behind. Since 2015, he has been deeply involved in projects that confront historical trauma—most notably as head of planning and production on Spirits’ Homecoming and A long way around, both dealing with the unresolved legacy of the Japanese military sexual slavery system. Spirits’ Homecoming remains one of the most successful crowdfunded films in Korean cinema, embodying the power of collective memory and solidarity. Roh later participated in The Singer, an ambitious attempt at North-South Korean co-production. Though the collaboration remained incomplete, the effort itself raised essential questions about the role of art in cultural reconciliation and healing on a divided peninsula. In 2025, Roh made his directorial debut with the feature film Halo, which won the Best Film Award in the Asian Future section at the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival. Guided by the philosophy that “technique should remain simple, while story and emotion must run deep,” he embraces a minimalist, raw realism in both style and spirit. Halo tells the story of a young man burdened by a forgotten family legacy, navigating a broken household and an indifferent society in search of faint light. Through this quiet journey, Roh offers a sharp yet tender lens on how the shadows of history continue to fracture the present.
Choi Gang-hyun, Actor
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This screening is supported by:
The Girl Who Stole Time (時間之子)
The Girl Who Stole Time
(時間之子)
MIDWEST PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A young woman with the power to control time wreaks havoc in the big city in this richly imaginative animated fantasy
Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
China | Animation | 2025 | 107 minutes
In Mandarin w/ Chinese and English subtitles
Director/Screenwriters: Yu Ao, Zhou Tienan
Starring: Karry Wang, Liu Xiaoyu, Zhou Shen, Huang Bo
Film Source: Fortissimo
Qian Xiao, a girl living in a fishing village, dreams of going to the big city. When she suddenly discovers a pendant that allows her to control time, she goes to the metropolis and crosses path with Seventeen, an assassin who is tasked with stealing the pendant from her.
Yu Ao and Zhou Tienan’s ambitious animated adventure is a rich blend of fantasy, classical Hollywood slapstick humor and over-the-top action. Not only is the film brimming with cinematic magic, the filmmakers also inject a touching love story that lends the film its emotional core.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This film is presented with support from the Consulate General of The People's Republic of China in Chicago.
The Last Woman on Earth (지구 최후의 여자)
SPECIAL GUESTS: Intro and Q&A with directors & actors Yeum Moon-kyoung and Lee Jong-min
Q&A moderated by Ron Falzone
The Last Woman on Earth
(지구 최후의 여자)
MIDWEST PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
A fiercely feminist film student teams up with a classmate in this playful satire on gender politics in the film industry
Date: Friday, March 27
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
South Korea | Comedy | 2024 | 85 minutes
In Korean w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Yeum Moon-kyoung, Lee Jong-min
Starring: Yeum Moon-kyoung and Lee Jong-min
Film Source: M-line
Hana has a screenplay that she admits is full of hatred towards men. Meanwhile, her classmate Cheol-man believes that he isn’t getting film grants because his films don’t have enough feminine elements. They decide to enter an unlikely partnership to help each other’s films get made.
Made with a scrappy b-movie energy, Yeum Moon-kyoung and Lee Jong-min’s indie comedy is a clever satire of gender politics in the modern film industry. Throwing in a wild array of cinematic styles, from sci-fi to musicals, the co-directors/co-stars create a love letter to cinema that only a couple of cinephiles can dream up.
YEUM Moon-kyoung, Co-Director/Co-Screenwriter/Actress
Lee Jong-min, Co-Director/Co-Screenwriter/Actor
OFFICIAL TRAILER
This screening is supported by:
Blue Boy Trial (ブルーボーイ事件)
Blue Boy Trial
(ブルーボーイ事件)
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
COMPETITION FILM
Three transgender women ignite a nationwide debate on identity and being queer in 1960s Japan in this fact-based drama
Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)
Location: AMC NEWCITY 14
Japan | Drama | 2025 | 106 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles
Director: Kasho Iizuka
Screenwriters: Kasho Iizuka, Tsuneo Miura, Yuiko Kato
Starring: Miyu Nakagawa, Kou Maehara, Ryo Nishikido, Ataru Nakamura, Sexy Izumi
Film Source: Nikkatsu
1965, Japan. The government passes a new anti-prostitution law that only applies to woman, thus creating a loophole for transgender female prostitutes, who are legally male and nicknamed “blue boys”. Out of frustration, the police arrest the doctor who performed gender-affirming surgeries on blue boys, resulting in a trial that sparks a national debate about authenticity and happiness.
Based on the incredible true court case, this empathetic fact-based drama reveals a key moment in history that shaped Japan’s attitude towards the LGBT community today. Made by a transgender director with a transgender cast, this powerfully acted film hopes that revisiting pains of the past can inspire people to change the future for the better.
TRAILER
Becoming Human (ជាតិជាមនុស្សា )
This screening is co-presented with Alliance Française de Chicago’s Festival de la Francophonie 2026 and the National Cambodian Heritage Museum’s Day of Remembrance series. Join us for a post-screening conversation, then stay for a social reception featuring complimentary Cambodian tea. This screening is free; RSVP required.
Becoming Human
(ជាតិជាមនុស្សា )
A journalist and the guardian spirit of a soon-to-be-demolished theater share a friendship in this compassionate film about heritage and modernity
Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 6:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
Location: Alliance Française de Chicago (Please enter via 54 W Chicago Ave.)
Cambodia | Fantasy Drama | 2025 | 99 minutes
In Khmer w/ English Subtitles
Director/Screenwriter: Polen Ly
Starring: Savorn Serak, Piseth Chhun
Film Source: Lights On
A journalist sneaks into an abandoned theater to say goodbye before its demolition. He encounters Thida, the guardian spirit of the theater. Though they forge a bond over conversations, Thida must choose between rebirth or remain a wandering ghost.
Polen Ly dissects his country’s dilemma between preservation and modernity in this insightful fantasy drama. Contemplating the importance of compassion and resilience in an everchanging world, the film is a meditative examination of fragility, time and memory, as well as the role they play in shaping our identities.
POLEN LY, DIRECTOR
Polen Ly is a self-taught filmmaker born in 1989 in rural Kandal province, Cambodia.
Polen’s artistic practice is rooted in social issues and nature, while his storytelling style is often expressed through different means of visualization and metaphors. In 2015, he was selected for the International Writing Residency of the University of Iowa (USA), and in 2018, he joined the Asian Film Academy in Busan, Korea.
He has also joined the Asiadoc program and the Story Lab at Docs by the Sea, both held in Indonesia.
He was a participant in the 2024 Locarno Filmmakers Academy. His recent short fiction, Further And Further Away, held its world premiere in Berlinale Shorts in 2022, and it went on to receive awards at Palm Springs, Singapore, and Toronto Reel Asian, among others.
His short documentary, Side by Side, won the Youth Jury Prize at Locarno Film Festival's Open Doors Screenings in 2021.
His full-length documentary film entitled Until The Orchid Blooms
premiered at IDFA and Singapore in 2024.
His debut feature film, Becoming Human, received support through the Biennale College Cinema program and premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival. He also received the 2024 CAREC Fellowship from the Prince Claus Fund as he develops a new docufiction project, and he has served as a mentor for youth-focused film institutions in Cambodia like PSE School of Media and Sunflower Film Organization.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
PRESENTED WITH
Guardians of Our Planet (守護我們的星球)
SPECIAL GUEST: Q&A with June Scott – an intrepid traveler, who has visited the Antarctic three times and seen all 17 different species of penguins in their natural habitat.
Guardians of Our Planet
(守護我們的星球 )
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Taiwan’s first documentary about the polar regions is an eye-opening cautionary tale
Date: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00 PM)
Location: Culture Center of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Chicago
Taiwan | Documentary | 2025 | 112 minutes
In Mandarin and English w/ Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Shu Meng-Lan
Film Source: Eastern Broadcasting Co. Ltd.
Journalist Shu Meng-Lan takes her award-winning documentary series to the big screen. Filmed across 115 locations around the world over 15 years, Shu and her team have captured amazing footage of melting glaciers at the poles as well as the plight of helpless creatures living in those regions. Aiming to advocate for greater ecological awareness from a Taiwan perspective, the film is an important cautionary tale, reminding us that the fate of the polar regions is closely linked to our own.
GUEST SPEAKER
June Scott, Intrepid Traveler
June Scott, intrepid traveler, has visited all 50 states, the 7 continents, and 106 countries. She is known as the Penguin Lady having visited the Antarctic three times and seen all 17 different species of penguins in their natural habitat. She has seen the magnificent Polar Bears of the north as well.
To June, travel is more than the destination, it is a new way of looking at our amazing world, its people and animals. As she continues to explore and learn more about our wonderful world she has come to realize no matter where you travel from Africa to India, Iran to Jordon, Thailand to Turkey, human beings are more alike than different. We must all work together to preserve our incredible planet for future generations.
DIRECTOR BIO
Shu Meng-Lan
Shu Meng-Lan, a former news anchor turned producer and director, spent 15 years filming across seven continents. Through her lens, she reveals both the beauty and fragility of the natural world. Guardians of Our Planet is her first ecological feature film, and she is widely regarded as Taiwan’s voice for nature.
OFFICIAL TRAILER
THIS SCREENING IS SUPPORTED BY
