Third Annual Asia-Europe Short Film Showcase
"Crossing Borders." June 2-13.
| Location |
Various locations |
| Date & time |
Friday, June 13 2008
| 6:30 PM
|
| Cost |
Free |
| Language | All films are subtitled in English |
|---|
Featuring four Asian and four European countries, this third annual showcase, focusing on the theme of “crossing borders”, is organized by l’Alliance Française, the Goethe-Institut, the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, the Japan Information and Culture Center, the Chinatown Community Cultural Center, the Korean Embassy’s KORUS House and the Spanish and Indian embassies.
Over the course of two weeks, pairings of Asian and European short feature films will screen on eight evenings, followed by a discussion addressing the films’ cultural contexts and topics. A final ninth evening will present a very short film from each country, followed by a discussion and international reception.
FILM SCREENINGS AND CLOSING PARTY:
Monday, June 2, 6:30 pm
Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh St. NW
GERMANY:
Mr. Wunderlich Private, 2006, 12’, D: Aline Chukwuedo
A man on welfare has a secret he hides from everyone. Additional film to be confirmed.
CHINA:
August 15, 2008, 22’, D: Xuan Jiang
Events on a bus ride force passengers to decide if they are willing to sacrifice their own safety. Mature content.
A Midnight Story, 2005, 6’, D: Antonio Wong Hoi-chung
A small pushcart and a big garbage truck face off.
Speakers: Sabine Muscat (Financial Times Germany) and Hsuan Ou (Chinatown Community Cultural Center).
RSVP to 202-289-1200 ext. 161 or rsvp@washington.goethe.org
Tuesday, June 3, 6:30 pm
KORUS House, 2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW
SPAIN:
For(r)est in the Des(s)ert, 2006, 12’, D: Luiso Berdejo
Forrest does not live here anymore.
Crash (Choque), 2005, 10’, D: Nacho Vigalondo
A couple discovers an underground drag-racing track.
KOREA:
Chocopie, 2007, 19’, D:Lee Eun-chun
A shopkeeper struggles to keep customers while competing with the massive E-Mart.
An Artistic Presentation of Metaphysical Butterfly Effect, 2005, 25’, D: Park Ki-wan
A young boy’s eccentric uncle visits the family and helps him find meaning in life.
Speakers: Galo Quintanilla (journalist) and to be determined.
RSVP to awoj@koreaembassy.org or 202-587-6168.
Wednesday, June 4, 6:30 pm
Alliance Francaise, 2142 Wyoming Ave. NW
FRANCE:
Pieces of My Wife (Des Morceaux de ma femme), 2000, 10’, D: Frédéric Pelle
A 60 year old widower wipes out his past.
My Mother, Story of an Immigration (Ma mère, histoire d’une immigration), 2005, 15’, D: Felipe Canales
The director's mother left Algeria in 1956 to reunite with her husband in Paris.
KOREA:
April Fool’s Day in a Small Temple, 2003, 18’, D: Lee min-kung
Orphaned boys, now young monks at a poor, rural temple, await a pleasant surprise on April Fool’s Day.
A Path of Tears, 2004, 5’, D: Jo, Su-jin
What a transformation a breakup can bring: a young man’s mind is thrown into turmoil.
Speakers: Joshua Forgotson for the Alliance Française and Jamie Henthorn for the KORUS House
RSVP to 202-234-7911.
Thursday, June 5, 6:30 pm
Japan Information and Culture Center, 1155 21st St. NW
JAPAN:
Road to the Away Game, 2006, 23’, D: Hideyuki Tokigawa
Hajime and his friends are looking for one more player to join their team in a futsal game. They pick up Baba at a street corner, but who really is Baba?
Back Mirror, 2006, 19’, D: Loic Sturani
In a story where reality meets fantasy, a hired driver discusses his life and dreams with his drunk passenger.
ITALY:
Guilty Unless Proven Otherwise (Colpevole fino a prova contraria), 2005, 11’, D: Hedy Krissane
The accused and his interpreter fail to understand one another.
Please Leave a Message, 2007, 6’, D: Elisa Fucksas
A young Japanese girl escapes to Rome.
Our Secret (Il nostro segreto), 2005, 13’, D: Mauro Mancini
A young boy evades his mother’s punishment.
Speakers Yuuki Shinomiya and to be determined.
RSVP to jiccrsvpspring08@embjapan.org w/name & affiliation.
Monday, June 9, 6:30 pm
Goethe-Institut, 812 Seventh St. NW
SPAIN:
In the Net (Sarean), 2006, 4’, D: Asier Altuna
A documentary about fishing in the northern seas.
European Union (Unión Europea), 2006, 20’, D: Andrés Koppel
In this European Union that we are part of we will need something more than just sharing the same currency to feel like brothers and sons of our common mother, Europe.
CHINA:
Smile, 2007, 19’, D: Julia Kwan
A Chinese immigrant family uses a Sears coupon to take a free family portrait.
The Drawer of Memory, 2006, 6’, D: Chi Po-chou
An old lady collects memories of her late husband.
Speakers: Alberto Álvarez (PhD student, education and immigration policies) and to be confirmed.
RSVP to 202-289-1200 ext. 162 or rsvp@washington.goethe.org.
Tuesday, June 10, 6:30 pm
KORUS House, 2370 Massachusetts Ave. NW
KOREA:
The Things She Can’t Avoid in the City, 2008, 13’, D: Park, Ji-youn
A young woman endures the dehumanization of being relocated by the city and objectified by her boyfriend.
Mango Tree Awaiting, 2005, 18’, D: Shim, Kyu-won
This documentary follows a young North Korean refugee’s experiences in South Korea and her search for friendship.
GERMANY:
Fair Trade, 2006, 15’, D: Michael Dreher
A German woman crosses the Straits of Gibraltar to complete a deal.
Coming Out (Rauskommen), 2006, 14’, D: Michael Dörfler
The stucco plasterer’s new employee has broken with his past.
Speakers to be determined.
RSVP to awoj@koreaembassy.org or 202-587-6168.
Wednesday, June 11, 6:30 pm
Italian Cultural Institute, 3000 Whitehaven St. NW
ITALY:
MONday – My Day, 2006, 10’, D: Simone Catania
A man and woman meet after many years apart and silently relive their history.
Miranda’s Journey (Il cuore all’improvviso), 2007, 15’, D: Catherine Mcgilvray
A girl at a playground finds a new playmate.
INDIA:
The Last Dance, 2005, 15’, D: Akshay Roy
An older woman loses and finds love.
Little Terrorist, 2004, 15’, D: Ashvin Kumar
A young Muslim boy mistakenly crosses the Pakistan-India border.
Speakers to be determined.
RSVP to 202-518-0998 ext. 1or iicwashington@esteri.it. Picture ID required.
Thursday, June 12, 6:30 pm
Japan Information and Culture Center, 1155 21st St. NW
JAPAN:
Surprise Brothers, 2006, 19’, D: Takuya Fukui
In a neighborhood where family-owned businesses are threatened with a franchise takeover, the son of the cake shop owner devises a plan to save the district and cheer up the residents.
Date Scout, 2006, 18 min., D: You Komaya
Megumi has been helping her friend Naoki practice for his dates by going on “date scouts.” But what happens when she gets tired of helping him?
FRANCE:
On the Other Side (De L’Autre côte), 2004, 26’, D: Nassim Amaouche
Law student Samir comes home for the baptism of his little brother.
Little Fish Killer (Tueurs de petits poissons), 1997, 15’, D: Alexandre Gavras
Scientist Jacques tries to become invisible to spy on her neighbor.
Speakers Reiko Hirai (Japan American Society) and Joshua Forgotson.
RSVP to jiccrsvpspring08@embjapan.org w/name & affiliation.
Friday, June 13, 6:30 pm
Italian Cultural Institute, 3000 Whitehaven St. NW
ITALY: Do You See Me?, 2006, 13’, D: Alessandro De Cristofaro
Gilberto the framer is satisfied with his creation.
SPAIN: Hezurbeltzak, Common Grave (Hezurbeltzak, una fosa común), 2007, 4’, D: Izibene Oñederra
The non-existent Basque word Hezurbeltzak describes socially invisible groups. Its literal translation would be “black bones.”
FRANCE: Géraldine, 2000, 9’, D: Arthur de Pins
Gerard wakes up one morning with a woman’s body and has to learn what this means.
GERMANY: The Day Winston Ngakambe Came to Kiel, 2002, 10’, D: Jasper Ahrens
African missionaries arrive at a beach in northern Germany.
KOREA: Where is My Friend?, 2007, 5’, D: Lee Young-hun
From across the stars, two lonely skywatchers make contact and arrange an uncanny meeting.
JAPAN: Platform, 2003, 3’, D: Jun Aoki, Edo Atsushi, Yusuke Koyanagi, and Kenji Hachiyama
The Tokyo subway platform during rush hour from the eyes of a mother and a child.
CHINA: Paper Child, 2004, 3’, D: Cheng Pui Sze
A paper cutting character is transformed.
INDIA: Film TBD.
Speakers to be determined.
RSVP to 202-518-0998 ext. 1 or iicwashington@esteri.it. Picture ID required.
Free. Reservations are required as seating is limited in some venues.