The four-day Asian- and Asian American experience-centric Dragon Boat Film Festival returns for its ninth annual program at the Sie FilmCenter later this month.
This year's theme is "Connecting Through Cultures," one meant to honor individuals, organizations and films that highlight the rich cultures and experiences of AANHPI communities.
"We are honored to continue our partnership with Denver Film and the Sie FilmCenter to provide Colorado audiences with the only Asian and Asian American Film Festival," said Colorado Dragon Boat Executive Director Sara Moore. "Attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves with films from all over Asia and the USA, explore interesting topics at our free community conversations, shop til they drop at our Asian marketplace, and have their taste buds explode with flavor at our culinary event."
Here's what you need to know about attending the event
Full festival passes are $65 for Denver Film Members ($75 Non-Member) and individual film tickets are $12 for Denver Film Members ($15 Non-Member).
Individual tickets and full festival passes are available at denverfilm.org.
The Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival will open March 14 with an Opening Night presentation of "Happy Sandwich," an exploration of Okinawa cuisine and culture through a blend of documentary and fiction.
The event will also feature Q&As with filmmakers and rising screen stars like Ji-young Yoo. Born in Denver, Yoo won the Best Performance in a U.S. Narrative Feature at the 2023 Tribeca Festival for her role in "Smoking Tigers." Yoo is currently in the Amazon Prime series, "Expats," opposite Nicole Kidman, and also starred in "Freaky Tales," a film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.
Yoo will be part of a Q&A alongside director Shelly Yo and producer Guo Guo after a showing of their film, "Smoking Tigers," on March 15.
The Sie FilmCenter will host two community conversations on the multifaceted layers of Asian American adoptees and AANHPI cultures through the lens of cuisine, as well as an Asian Marketplace featuring gifts, artwork and crafts from local AANHPI-owned businesses.
The festival closes on March 17 with a presentation of the science fiction comedy "Moon Man," a Chinese box-office smash hit about an astronaut who finds himself stranded on the moon after an asteroid wipes out life on earth.
These are some of the films on this year's lineup:
"Happy Sandwich"
Date: Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m.
The documentary/fiction film hybrid focuses on the chef of a BBQ restaurant tasked with creating a special sandwich as an offering to the gods. In order to fulfill this request, Chef Shogo Manna travels around interviewing people involved in all aspects of food in Okinawa.
"You & Me & Me"
Date: Friday, March 15, 1:15 p.m.
In 1999, while the world was gripped by Y2K hysteria, identical twin sisters "You" and "Me" are also concerned for their future. The twins share a uniquely close bond together until a charming teenage boy enters their lives in this pleasant coming-of-age romantic tale.
"Smoking Tigers"
Date: Friday, March 15, 7 p.m.
Hayoung, played by Yoo, is a lonely 16-year-old Korean-American girl struggling with her identity at an elite summer boot camp. The film centers around her struggles between the demise of her parent's marriage and attempting to make new friends.
"Elegies"
Date: Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m.
Venice Career Golden Lion-winning auteur Ann Hui documents a topic she holds most dear - poetry. Through her personal encounters with some of Hong Kong's most notable poets, Hui shows the topography of contemporary poetry on and of the city.
"Old Fox"
Date: Saturday, March 16, 7:15 p.m.
In this '80s set family drama, 11-year-old Liao Jie and his father have been saving money to buy a home. Jie comes to realize the harsh reality of being poor and forms a relationship with "Old Fox", their landlord who mentors Jie to survive in a rapidly changing society.
Click to see the full schedule and purchase tickets and passes.
