Press Release: January 15, 2002

Asian American Film Series to Show at UIC

by Pius Wong; contact: Natalie Garcia, ngarci8@uic.edu

UIC's Asian American Coalition Committee (AACC), in conjunction with other UIC Asian American student organizations, the Chancellors Committee on the Status of Asian Americans, and Campus Programs, will hold a dynamic film series throughout the Spring 2002 semester titled "Telling Out Stories," featuring eleven Asian American independent films. These organizations will present a film screening on at least one Monday of each month from January to April in the Montgomery Ward Gallery.

The selections address the unique challenges that Asian Americans face and have faced, offering historical, dramatic, or comedic perspectives. Each screening will be followed by either a guest speaker or an audience-centered discussion on issues raised by the films. All are encouraged to attend.

On January 28th Southeast Asian American experiences will be explored with the films Kelly Loves Tony (Laotian) at 3:00PM and A.K.A. Don Bonus (Cambodian) at 4:30PM.

On February 18th the film series will look at the Japanese American interment camps with Heart Mountain: Three Years in an Interment Camp at 3:00PM and Conscience and the Constitution at 3:30PM.

On March 4th Who Killed Vincent Chin? will address hate crimes.

On March 11th the portraits of Asian American Women will be explored with Slaying the Dragon at 3:00PM and Another Day in America (Japanese) at 4:30PM.

On March 25th the theme of rediscovering roots is addressed by First Person Plural (Korean) at 3:00PM and Chac (Vietnamese) at 4:30PM.

On April 1st American Born Confused Desi (Indian) at 3:00PM will address the topic of sex and love.

Lastly on April 15th My Son the Fanatic (Pakistani) at 3:00PM will look at religion and family issues.

The film series matches with UIC's theme of this year's Asian American Awareness Month in March: "Images of Asian America." In March, along with the film screening, AACC and the other Asian American student organizations will host performances, service trips, food sales, lectures, and community forums relating to the perceived images of Asian America.

The Asian American Coalition Committee is an umbrella organization of Asian American student organizations at UIC. It aims to unify Asian American students to strengthen their voice on campus, to educate the entire UIC community about issues concerning Asian Americans, and to empower Asian American students through their gaining visibility and representation.