Chicago Asian Pop-Up Cinema Festival

For the first time, our festival will feature a juried competition, with 16 films competing for the Grand Jury Feature Film Award, the Best Short Film Award, and the Francis Kwong Memorial Award recognizing an emerging director.

Schedule:

5:00 p.m - 8:30 p.m: Asian Pop-Up Cinema Shorts Series #1: Pan-Asian Perspectives
Discover the future of Asian cinema in this dynamic selection of short films from up-and-coming filmmakers! Featuring bold and thought-provoking works from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Iran, and South Korea, this program highlights fresh storytelling, innovative visual styles, and compelling perspectives.

Total program runtime: 121 minutes

Grandma Nai Who Played Favorites
Cambodia, Drama, Comedy, 2025, 19 minutes
In Khmer with English subtitles
Director: Chheangkea
During the Qingming festival, Grandma Nai's afterlife is disrupted by her bickering relatives’ grave-sweeping visit. When she overhears plans to pressure her grandson into an arranged marriage, she takes matters into her own ghostly hands. Following the family to a matchmaking karaoke dinner, she discovers his true affections lie not with his intended bride, but with her charming older brother.

A Summer's End Poem
China / Switzerland, Coming-of-age, Drama, 2024, 15 minutes
In Minnan with English subtitles
Director: Lam Can-zhao
In a small village near Chaozhou, a country boy dreams of a city hairstyle. As the last day of the summer holidays approaches, he finally gathers his savings and adventures to fulfill his goal… But reality falls short of his expectations, and his simple journey becomes a charming tale of growing up and embracing life's unpredictability.

Sunflower Shadows
Iran, Drama, Experimental, 2024, 13 minutes
In Persian with English subtitles
Director: Roya Zanbagh
Teenage Pooya, living alone with his mother, finds himself caught in a quiet struggle between her and Tala, the young painter next door. As tensions rise, he must navigate the complexities of family and independence in this stunning cinematic poem.

Wanna Die Wanna Kill
South Korea, Drama / Thriller, 2024, 22 minutes
In Korean with English subtitles
Director: Jaehee Jeong
After relentless bullying at school, a teenage girl named Chae-yeon checks into a hotel suite, planning a joint suicide with strangers she met online. As they debate their final moments, an unexpected suggestion shifts the night in a direction none of them saw coming.

Mount Davis: From Citadel to Campus
Hong Kong, Documentary, 2021, 52 minutes
In Cantonese with English subtitles
Director: Candy Chan
Once a military outpost, Mount Davis has been transformed into a vibrant learning center: the University of Chicago’s Hong Kong campus, designed to promote public education about cultural heritage. But beneath its modern facade lies a history of conflict and resilience. In this fascinating documentary, former detainees from the 1967 riots share haunting memories of their imprisonment, while historians and architects work to preserve the site's legacy.

8:00 p.m - 9:45 p.m: Yukiko a.k.a
An elementary school teacher finds her voice by turning to hip-hop

North American Premiere
Japan, Drama, 2024, 98 minutes
In Japanese w/ English Subtitles

Director: Naoya Kusaba
Screenwriter: Ayako Suzuki
Starring: Rio Yamashita, Hina Higuchi, Fusako Urabe, Daichi Watanabe
Yukiko, a timid 29-year-old elementary school teacher, struggles with student communication and personal insecurities. However, when she begins to dabble in hip-hop, she finds confidence and begins to discover the things that truly define her. It’s easy to pick up a hobby, but finding the things that define your life is another matter altogether. Rather than depicting another musical genius who miraculously achieves excellence, Naoya Kusaba’s indie drama follows a character who embraces her flaws and limitations in art while using it to find a voice of her own. The result is a heartwarming and grounded feel-good film.

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