Asian American Documentary Shorts: Chicago!

These 6 documentaries highlight the diversity of the fastest growing demographic in Chicago. Through these voices we showcase our history, our our political mobility, our love for food and cross generational soul-searching.

Monday, May 22th, 2023
XXX PM

Niesei Cubs Fan

Directed by Renee Tajima-Peña
https://www.reneetajimapena.com/

Cal Tajima has been a Chicago Cubs baseball fan since he was a boy. At 92 years old, he’s going to see them play in the World Series. Discover how his love for the Cubs is related to his time as a WWII veteran.

Producer: Renee Tajima-Peña, Janet Chen
Associate Produced by Gena Hamamoto
Edited by Tadashi Nakamura

The Things I Haven't Told You Yet

Directed by Maya Wanner
https://www.mayawanner.com/

The Things I Haven't Told You Yet is a collage-style, personal narrative composed of emotionally complex memories, questions, thoughts, and stories that meditate on identity, race, transnational adoption, grief, and intergenerational trauma. Filmmaker, Maya Wanner, pieces them together to create a mosaic of a mother-daughter relationship shaped by things left unsaid.

Sound Design by Jeanette Dominguez, Maya Wanner
Music Composed by Kate In

Our Chinatown: Ada Tong

Written and Directed by Curtis Chin
https://www.curtisfromdetroit.com/

Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in the Windy City. Accordingly, their political influence is on the rise. This documentary, part of a series of shorts on Chinatowns across the US, follows Ada Tong, one of the long-time residents of the city's Chinatown, as she conducts outreach to her fellow residents, in hopes of further empowering her community.

Cambodian Futures

Directed by Dustin Nakao-Haider
http://www.annehu.com/

Chicago-based chef Ethan Lim, drawing on his family’s culinary legacy, creates vibrant dishes inspired by the rich, complex history of Cambodia.

Produced by Thavary Krouch

寄托 - Jìtuo - Sustenance

Directed by Maya Wanner
https://www.mayawanner.com/

A small noodle factory on the south side of Chicago comes alive with one man’s memories, family history, and pride as he meditates on the tension between cultural preservation and assimilation.

Featured subject: Keith Lee

No Place Like Kasama

Directed by Kerri Pang [In-Person for Q&A]
http://www.kerripang.com/

No Place Like Kasama is a short documentary following chefs Genie Kwon and Tim Flores as they leave the Michelin-starred fine dining world to realize their lifelong dream — opening a neighborhood spot in Chicago.

Two weeks after they acquire the building, COVID-19 hits. Chicago is thrown into lockdown, destroying the restaurant industry. State regulations change daily, forcing them to adapt in real time. Handmade dinnerware shift to takeout containers. Dining chairs to patio heaters. Full staff to skeleton crew.

Produced by Kerri Pang
Cinematography by Kerri Pang, Dan Kang
Editor: Kerri Pang
Music by Alex Spiers