The 28th Annual Asian American Showcase

Presented as an annual collaboration with the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media and now celebrating its 28th year, the Asian American Showcase (AAS) provides a platform for new work by established and emerging Asian American filmmakers. Synopses provided by AAS. Learn more at faaim.org. 

• Opening Night: Slanted (Friday, May 16 @ 7:00 p.m.): Slanted is a bold exploration of race, assimilation, and the complex path toward embracing who you truly are. Dialogue: Director Amy Wang in attendance.
  
• One City, Many Perspectives: AAPI Chicago Shorts (Saturday, May 17 @ 4:00 p.m.): Whether from Chicago or about Chicago, these shorts by AAPI filmmakers with a local connection display the range and quality the Windy City is known for. Dialogue: Select filmmakers in attendance.
  
• Choosing Ourselves: AAPI Queer Shorts (Tuesday, May 20 @ 8:30 p.m.): Choosing Ourselves celebrates the resiliency of the Asian American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ+ community, spanning across generations and borders to bring you stories of love, loss, courage, and realness. Dialogue: Select filmmakers in attendance.
  
• New Wave (Wednesday, May 21 @ 6:00 p.m.): Filmmaker Elizabeth Ai set out to document the rebellious punks of the 1980s Vietnamese New Wave, until she uncovered another story, and her excavation becomes an emotional journey of cultural identity, generational trauma, and the Vietnam War’s lasting impact on generations. Dialogue: Director Elizabeth Ai in attendance.
  
• Closing Night: The Wedding Banquet (Thursday, May 22 @ 7:00 p.m.): A joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family expectations—and a modern reimagining of Ang Lee’s 1993 classic, The Wedding Banquet, is a poignant and heartfelt reminder that being part of a family means learning to both accept and forgive. Dialogue: Director Andrew Ahn in attendance.