FAAIM First Thursday’s
AAPI Film Night:
Second Helpings

Food connects immigrants and younger generations to each other, evoking memories of family and community. Even as AAPI culinary practices evolve, traditional ingredients and techniques honor the struggles of our elders as they created a sense of “home” away from their homelands. Whether it’s running a multi-generational family business or building identity and community through familiar flavors, these 6 short films are about cooking, serving, and eating through the lenses of AAPI filmmakers and storytellers. With select filmmakers in-person for post film Q&A!

With Maa Maa Dei food pop-up on site selling their delicious creations! On the menu:

Matcha Puppy Chow
Toasted White Rabbit Rice Krispies
Furikake Chex Mix
Sichuan Peanut Snack
Togarashi Garlic Buttered Popcorn
Shiro Miso Funfetti Sugar Cookies

August 6th, 2026
6PM - Doors Open
6:30PM - Begin Program

Haibayo Cafe
1132 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640

SOLD OUT!
Get on our waitlist!

Maa Maa Dei pop-up open to all during the film screening! Access through the alleyway!

A Slice of Home

Directed & Produced by Pauline Tran
paulinetran.com
IG: @by.paulinetran

Between the hum of mixers and the scent of coconut, Brooklyn baker Stacey Mei Yan Fong prepares a pandan pie in memory of her Singaporean grandfather, blending Americana with Asian flavors and a touch of nostalgia. Each whisk and pour is paired with reflections on bicultural identity, family expectations, and the ways food encapsulates love across time and cultures.

I Pie (A Love Story)

Directed by Nobu Adilman
IG: @MisterNobu

A pie man discusses his love for baking pies... and only pies.

Benkyodo:
The Last Manju Shop in J-Town

Directed by Akira Boch, Tadashi Nakamura
akiraboch.com
tadashinakamura.com
IG: @tadashinakamurafilms

Ricky and Bobby Okamura wrestle with closing their beloved family-owned manju shop after serving the San Francisco Japantown community for 115 years.

MSG:
Mysterious Savory Grains

Directed by Kyle Finnegan
Produced by Yi Chen, Susann Shin & Kyle Finnegan
kylefinnegan.com
IG: @c35films

Tim Ma is on a mission to change that perception and use MSG as a way to share his culture through food. Through interviews with Ma and two MSG experts, the documentary explores the origin of MSG's stigma and how the ways we talk about food can be just as pervasive today.

IG: @MSG_Documentary
IG: @SnackNight.mov

Sameer and the Giant Samosa

Directed by Faroukh Virani
Written by Meenakshi Ramamurthy, Faroukh Virani
faroukh.com
linkedin: Meenakshi Ramamurthy

"Sameer and the Giant Samosa" is a dark comedy about a newlywed Indian couple and their diverging views on marriage and tradition. A surreal turn of events reveals the groom's true, hidden appetites.

What I Am Today:
Maa Maa Dei

Directed by Ian Szetho
ianszetho.com

Jessica "Jaye" Fong started her pop-up, Maa Maa Dei, to capture the experience of growing up as an Asian-American restaurant kid in the Midwest. From growing up as a Third Culture restaurant kid to pursuing a career in architecture/engineering in Chicago, this story ultimately showcases how our lineage can impact our trajectory in life and can shape what we aspire to do with the time we are given.

IG: @maa.maa.dei and @threetopproductions

FAAIM First Thursday’s AAPI Film Night:Second Helpings