It has been awhile, but as I sit here on the morning of our 25th opening night, I think back to the beginning of March 2020, the year when we were supposed to have our 25th anniversary. Our schedule was locked, the Gene Siskel Film Center Gazettes were just printed and about to be mailed and distributed. I was super excited to be having Lynn Chen’s I WILL MAKE YOU MINE (the last part of the SURROGATE VALENTINE, DAYLIGHT SAVINGS trilogy) as the opening night film, and to be closing our showcase with one of our most important documentaries, Rennee Tajima-Pena & Christine Choy’s WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN?, two films that we have history with, that are meaningful to us.
Then the world changed.
We didn’t know then, but every single aspect of our lives would be different. At first we thought we still would be having our showcase, or at the very least, maybe later in the year, but as time slowly rolled on, we knew it wasn’t going to happen. As COVID played havoc, Anti-Asian hate and violence rose, and things were and felt bad, for everyone. But if you looked, there were some cool things happening around us as most of us were locked down. PBS aired the five-hour documentary series ASIAN AMERICANS, produced by Rene Tajima-Pena. ESPN aired the Bruce Lee documentary BE WATER, which was directed by Bao Nguyen, and scored by our friend Goh Nakamura. Ocean Vuong’s novel ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS started burning up the NEW YORK TIMES bestseller list. As things started to roll into 2021, A24 films released Lee Isaac Chung’s (a showcase alumni!) MINARI, which went on to earn 6 Academy Award nominations. Image Comics began printing Pornsak Pichetshote’s THE GOOD ASIAN, which Variety voted one of the best comics of the year. And let’s not forget the Marvel Studios release of the blockbuster SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS!
Besides being some of my favorite discoveries during these COVID days, they all tell stories of Asian American histories and experiences presented to us by mainstream media outlets! Think about that for a minute. Would have any of this happened 20 years ago? 10 years ago? 5 years ago…maybe? But it did happen, and in one of our most troubled and turbulent times in recent decades for us Asian Americans, our voices and stories are being heard, and people are listening!
Which brings me back to why the Asian American Showcase started in the first place. These types of stories and films were always being told, but nobody really knew about them. Our partner, The Gene Siskel Film Center believed just as strongly as we did that these films, our histories, and voices should be heard and seen and gave us the opportunity to amplify them through our little festival.
So much has changed since COVID, but change can be good too. There's a new law in Illinois–The Teaching Equitable Asian American History Act will now require state public schools to add an Asian American history curriculum. Chicago confirms its first female Asian American City Councilperson, Nicole Lee. While the Showcase might feel different too (masks are still required at The Gene Siskel Film Center, and no food or drink served or allowed) we’ll still be there with our films and docs this April 1st through 13th trying to get more stories and voices heard, so please stop by and help us celebrate our 25th year!
