Co-sponsored by the Northwestern University Asian American Studies Program and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Asian Hate, Identity, & Trauma in a Pandemic: Asian American Short Films
Through narrative and documentary, drama and horror, these six Asian American short films commemorate the intersection of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month by amplifying Asian American stories and filmmakers while highlighting mental health and social issues facing the Asian American community. With post film discussion.
Panelist:
Ji-Yeon Yuh, Director, Northwestern University Asian American Studies Program
Qianhui Zhang, PhD 张倩慧 博士 Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Huu T. Ly - Foundation for Asian American Independent Media
WARNING: Some films contain disturbing imagery.
Thursday, May 26th - 7 PM
Northwestern University
Helmerich Auditorium, Annie May Swift Hall
1920 Campus Drive, Evanston
FREE event - RSVP required:
Meet The Panelist
Huu Ly is a Film Programmer and Marketing Coordinator for The Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) and has been programming since 2009 for The Asian American Showcase at The Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. The Asian American Showcase has just completed its 25th iteration after a 2 year hiatus due to COVID and since its inception in 1995, has been the longest running film festival to exclusively showcase Asian American stories and filmmakers. He has also programmed for The Houston Asian American and Pacific Islander Film Festival (HAAPIFF) and The Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF). Huu has served as an Asian American community leader for the Chicago chapter of The National Association of Asian American Professionals as Vice President of Operations and as a board member of The Vietnamese Association of Illinois. Since FAAIM is an all-volunteer organization, Huu works full time as a Civil Engineer.
Stucco
Written and Directed by Janina Gavankar, Russo Schelling
Director of Photography Quyen Tran
Executive Producers Janina Gavankar, Snehal Patel
Co-Producers John Trefry, James Mitchell
WARNING: Contains disturbing imagery.
While hanging a piece of art in her new home, a woman knocks a hole in her wall revealing what might be in another room. Her mind races and uravels as she wonders what could be on the other side.
This left-of-center short is reminiscent of the slow-burn thrillers of the 70s, using practical effects to conjure the feelings we’re least proud of. This is a film about guilt, depression, and the feeling of stasis.
2019 | Narrative, Horror | USA | 18 mins | Engish | Digital
The Leaf
Directed by William J. Zang
COVID-19 changed and destroyed everything in daily life, including filmmaking. THE LEAF is a personal, poetic, documentary film about a filmmaker’s experience as both a filmmaker and a gay immigrant during this pandemic.
2021 | Documentary | USA | 4 mins | Engish, Mandarin w/ English Subtitles | Digital
From Here
Directed, Written and Starring Samantha Futertman
Korean American Jess is stricken with the news of an anti-Asian hate crime. Going about her day, she is forced to deal with micro-aggressions and a racist verbal assault. Jess turns to her loving mother for support, but learns that as a transracial adoptee in America, love isn’t always enough.
2022 | Narrative | USA | 7 mins | Engish | Digital
Crosswinds
Directed by Candace Ho
In her final days in Los Angeles, sarcastic, hard-headed Minnie learns about Qing Ming Festival. Through the course of the film, she follows tradition by flying a kite and says goodbye to her love, Los Angeles and a part of herself.
2021 | Narrative | USA | 7 mins | Engish, Mandarin w/ English Subtitles | Digital
F1-100
Directed by Emory Chao Johnson
Video, art, and animation are combined in this intimate portrait of an international art student studying abroad in the United States. Drawing on artists profile and gender journey films, F1-100 is a transnational meditation through time and space of a young artist carrying a heavy burden.
2020 | Documentary | USA | 13 mins | Engish | Digital
No Crying At The Dinner Table
Directed by Carol Nguyen
Filmmaker Carol Nguyen interviews her family to craft a portrait of love, grief and intergenerational trauma.
2019 | Documentary | Canada | 16 mins | Engish, Vietnamese w/ English Subs | Digital
Qianhui Zhang, Ph.D., (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist and staff psychologist at the Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) at the Northwestern University since 2016. At CAPS, she provides individual and group therapy, training, and community-based programming, and her work is grounded in trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive framework. Her clinical expertise includes varied forms of trauma, grief/loss, disordered eating and body image, depression/anxiety, and mental health stigma among college student population. She provides professional training and programming around the decolonization of mental health practices, race-related stress/trauma, intergenerational trauma, cross-cultural adjustment and immigration stress. Since joining CAPS, she serves as mental health liaison with the international student and Asian American student populations on the Evanston campus.