#AAIFF2015 Tribute to Arthur Dong- Screenings of THE KILLING FIELDS OF HAING S. NGOR and FORBIDDEN CITY, U.S.A., plus an on-stage conversation, July 25-26

The 38th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), presented by Asian CineVision, will run from July 23 – August 1, 2015 at various venues in Manhattan and Queens. As the nation’s first and longest running Asian American film festival, AAIFF 2015 celebrates the contributions of Asian and Asian Americans in media by showcasing new talent, highlighting local filmmakers and paying tribute to the trailblazers of the 21st century.

2015 Asian American International Film Festival Lineup, July 23-Aug. 1

Asian CineVision is presenting a tribute to Oscar®-nominated and three-time Sundance award-winning filmmaker Arthur Dong during the Festival. Highlights include an on-stage conversation with Dong, as well as screenings of  the new digitally remastered FORBIDDEN CITY, U.S.A. (1989), and his latest documentary THE KILLING FIELDS OF HAING S. NGOR. A film visionary who has earned a multitude of prestigious awards for not only his work in film, but also for his public service, Dong is known for his prowess in utilizing the art of film as a means to investigate social issues and examine undisclosed parts of Asian American and LGBT history and identity.

FORBIDDEN CITY, U.S.A. (1989)- Saturday, July 25th at Cinema Village East at 4:00 P.M.

Arthur Dong’s Forbidden City U.S.A.
Choreographer Walt Biggerstaff with the chorus of Andy Wong’s Chinese Skyroom, the first Chinatown nightclub in the world (San Francisco, 1937)! Photo courtesy of the Andy Wong Collection.

Arthur Dong takes a glimpse into the lives of the performers of the Forbidden City, an all-Chinese nightclub in San Francisco in the 1930s and 40s. The film blends song and dance with more serious themes of racism and identity to showcase a group of performers willing to challenge cultural stereotypes. Dong’s compilation of original video footage with interviews with the aging performers offers viewers the chance to meet the “Chinese Fred Astaire” and the “Chinese Sophie Tucker,” pioneering Chinese-American entertainers.

FORBIDDEN CITY, U.S.A. has been digitally remastered from original film elements by the UCLA Film & Television Archive, revealing beautiful and crisp details never before seen.

“Forbidden City, U.S.A.” book signing with Arthur Dong will take place after the screening of the film in the lobby of Village Cinema East at 5:15 p.m. Click here for tickets.

CONVERSATION WITH ARTHUR DONG- Saturday, July 25th at Cinema Village East at 5:15 P.M.

Filmmaker Arthur Dong and cinematographer Stephen Lighthill. Photo by Zand Gee

The on-stage conversation with filmmaker Arthur Dong will be punctuated with clips from Dong’s oeuvre of award-winning films spanning over thirty years. This illuminating talk will cover the personal challenges and emotional thrills of creating artistic and socially relevant independent media. Click here for tickets.
THE KILLING FIELDS OF DR. HAING S. NGOR – Saturday, July 25th at Village Cinema East at 6:30 P.M.

PHOTO: Dr. Haing S. Ngor on location for “The Killing Fields.” Courtesy the Dr. Haing S. Ngor Archive

Winner of the BEST DOCUMENTARY AUDIENCE AWARD at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor chronicles a journey of love, loss and reconciliation, set against the backdrop of Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge reign of terror. Survivor Haing Ngor drew upon his own experiences as a war slave for “The Killing Fields,” winning an Oscar® for his first acting job. But he played his greatest role as the worldwide ambassador for justice in his homeland, only to be murdered in Chinatown Los Angeles – a case still surrounded by conspiracy theories. Through an inspired blend of original animation and rare archival material – anchored by Ngor’s richly layered autobiography – the years encapsulating the Khmer Rouge’s tyrannical rule over Cambodia are experienced though a politically charged transnational journey of loss and reconciliation.

Join Oscar® nominated director Arthur Dong and subjects from the film, Sophia Demetri (Ngor’s niece), Wayne Ngor (Ngor’s nephew), and Jack Ong (executive director of Ngor’s foundation) for the New York premiere. Click here for tickets.

BOOK TALK WITH ARTHUR DONG AND RECEPTION- Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 6:00 P.M.

AAIFF and Museum of Chinese in America are presenting a book talk and signing with award-winning writer/filmmaker Arthur Dong, who will introduce his book, Forbidden City, U.S.A. on Sunday, July 26th at 6:00 P.M. at MoCA, 215 Centre St, New York, NY 10013. Admission is Pay What You Wish. Suggested Donation: $10

Forbidden City, U.S.A. captures the magic and glamour of the Chinese American nightclub scene, which peaked in San Francisco during World War II. Previously unpublished personal stories, along with over four hundred stunning images and rare artifacts, are presented in this sexy and insightful chronicle of Asian American performers who defied racial and cultural barriers to pursue their showbiz dreams.

It was the mid-1930s: Prohibition was repealed and the Great Depression was waning. With a global conflict on the rise, people were out to drink, dine, dance, and see a show to forget their woes—and what a surprise for the world to behold an emerging generation of Chinese American entertainers commanding the stage in their own nightclubs. Forbidden City, USA reveals the sassy, daring, and sometimes heartbreaking memories of the dancers, singers, and producers who lived this story, and it weaves in a fascinating collection of photos, postcards, menus, programs, and yes, even souvenir chopsticks. Together they recreate a forgotten era, treating readers to a dazzling night on the town.

Forbidden City, U.S.A. is the culmination of filmmaker and writer Arthur Dong’s nearly thirty-year devotion to the topic, originally inspired by the author’s research for his documentary of the same name.

Lia Chang Picks: Arthur Dong’s Forbidden City: Chinese-American Nightclubs, 1930-1970

Arthur Dong

Arthur Dong
As a film student at San Francisco State University, Arthur Dong produced Sewing Woman, his Academy Award nominated short documentary in 1984. The film focused on his mother’s immigration to America from China. Instead of finding an outside distributer for the film, Dong then started his own company, DeepFocus Productions, and serves as its producer, director and writer. Dong has produced, directed, written, edited, and filmed independent films on social issues such as gay rights and the Chinese American experience. A two-time Rockefeller Media Arts Fellow as well as a Guggenheim Fellow in Film, Dong has served on the boards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Film Independent, OutFest, and the National Film Preservation Board at the Library of Congress. In addition to the 1995 Peabody Award for  his highly praised film “Coming Out Under Fire,” the honors include three Sundance Film Festival awards, an Oscar nomination, the Berlin Film Festival’s Teddy Award, Taipei’s Golden Horse Award, a GLAAD Media Award, and five Emmy nominations. Dong has taught documentary film around the world and his impact on the film industry is undeniable.

To learn more about the full schedule of events, visit http://aaiff.org/2015.

Festival Ticket Information
Tickets for general admission are $14. Tickets for seniors (65+), students and handicapped (must present valid ID) are $12. Tickets for ACV members and Community Partners are $10.50. Tickets will be available for purchase on the AAIFF website on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. For Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night Events, please check website for ticket details.

General Festival Information
The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is a presentation of Asian CineVision. The festival is a celebration of inspiring Asian and Asian American works in film and video from innovative artists around the world. AAIFF 2015 takes place July 23-August 1, 2015 in Manhattan and Queens. Manhattan venues include: Cinema Village East (181-189 2nd Avenue); Asia Society (725 Park Avenue); Museum of Chinese in America (215 Centre Street); Queens venues include: Museum of the Moving Image (36-01 35th Ave, Astoria); Queens Botanical Garden (43-50 Main Street, Flushing); and Flushing Town Hall (13735 Northern Boulevard, Flushing).

About Asian CineVision:
Asian CineVision (ACV) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media arts organization devoted to the development, exhibition, promotion, and preservation of Asian and Asian American film and video.

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon and Taxman. She has guest starred on “One Life to Live,” “As the World Turns,” and “New York Undercover.” Lia is co-hosting AAFLTV’s “Focus on the Philippines“, Monday nights in June. She is profiled in Jade Magazine.

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