Bold Asian
American Images
Saturday, September 26, 7PM
Curator Melissa Hung in Attendance
Filmmakers Faroukh Virani
and Tony Ngyuen in Attendance
Aurora Members Free with RSVP, Non-Members $10

After a 4-year hiatus, Bold Asian American Images is back at Aurora! The 12th installment of this program showcases an eclectic mix of short films curated by writer Melissa Hung, the founding editor of Hyphen magazine. This year’s program features narrative, experimental, video art, and documentary, including Tony Nguyen’s touching documentary, Giap’s Last Day at the Ironing Board Factory. In the film, Tony goes back to a small town in Indiana to document his mother’s refugee experience and her retirement after nearly 35 years working at the last ironing board factory in America. Please join us for the Texas premieres of this and other kick-ass films.

Behind the Screens Member Event 6PM
Members are invited to arrive early and have time to chat with Curator Melissa Hung and filmmakers Faroukh Virani and Tony Ngyuen. RSVP!

Comments from the Curator:
In 2001, the first screening of Bold Asian American Images took place at Aurora. In that year’s program, I wrote that although there were some Asian faces in cinema, these actors were from Asia, not America. “The view through an Asian American director’s eye is much different.”

Now, 14 years later, we are finally seeing the needle move. Asian Americans have even made it to the mainstream this spring with the ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat. But festivals and programs like ours still serve as a launching point for new voices, fresh perspectives, and brave artistic visions. This year’s eclectic program offers 7 works, 6 of them Texas premieres.

I am especially excited that 2 filmmakers, Tony Nguyen and Faroukh Virani will be joining us in person at the screening. Faroukh’s sci-fi film Vimana takes us on a journey to a distant planet. Tony’s award-winning documentary, Giap’s Last Day at the Ironing Board Factory tells the story of his mother, a Vietnamese refugee, and her family adapting to life in small town America. Though very different on the surface, these films both tell stories of loss and home.

Join us as we discuss these themes and more Saturday.

Melissa Hung
Curator, Bold Asian American Images