Journeys Abroad, Journeys Within: A Korean Adoption Film Festival

IMPORTANT: ONLINE REGISTRATION HAS NOW CLOSED! 

IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE TICKETS AT THE DOOR, PLEASE EMAIL BKAFILMFEST2010@GMAIL.COM

For more information, please go to www.bkadoptee.org/film

SCHEDULE

Friday, October 29th:

6:30 pm            Festival registration opens

7:00 pm            Screening of film FIRST PERSON PLURAL at UMass-Boston,

                          followed by Q&A with Deann Borshay Liem (Director)

8:30 pm            Drinks & socializing at a location TBD**

Saturday, October 30th:

9:00 am            Festival registration

10:00 am          Welcome and opening remarks

10:30 am         Screening of GOING HOME, followed by discussion panel

12:30 pm          Lunch — please purchase your Korean lunch box in advance**

2:00 pm            Screening of RESILIENCE, followed by Q&A with Tammy Chu (Director) and

                           Jessica Windt (Co-Producer)

4:00 pm            Screening of IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE, followed by Q&A with

                           Deann Borshay Liem (Director)

6:00 pm   Dinner at a Korean restaurant TBD**

Sunday, October 31st

NOON (Note that this time was previously 10 am)  Brunch at a location TBD**

Events marked ** are not included in the price of admission

DIRECTIONS/PARKING

Via public transportation: 

Take the Red Line on the "T"/subway to the JFK/UMass stop.  Shuttle buses from the subway stop to the UMass-Boston campus run approximately every 15 minutes.

For more information about directions, go to:
www.umb.edu/parking_transport/directions.html

Link to UMass-Boston campus map:
www.umb.edu/parking_transport/images/campus_map.pdf

Anyone requiring disability-related accommodations, including dietary accommodations, should visit www.ada.umb.edu before October 12

ABOUT THE FILMS

FIRST PERSON PLURAL – directed by Deann Borshay Liem:  In 1966, Deann was adopted by an American family and was sent from Korea to her new home. Growing up in California, the memory of her birth family was nearly obliterated until recurring dreams lead Deann to discover the truth: her Korean mother was very much alive. Bravely uniting her biological and adoptive families, Deann's heartfelt journey makes First Person Plural a poignant essay on family, loss, and the reconciling of two identities.


IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE – directed by Deann Borshay Liem:  Her passport said she was Cha Jung Hee. She knew she was not. So began a 40-year deception for a Korean adoptee who came to the U.S. in 1966. Told to keep her true identity secret from her new American family, this 8-year-old quickly forgot she was ever anyone else. But why had her identity been switched? And who was the real Cha Jung Hee? In this film, Deann returns to Korea to find the answers to these questions as well as her “double,” the mysterious girl whose place she took in America.


RESILIENCE – directed by Tammy Chu:  This film takes a unique look at international adoption from the perspective of a Korean birth mother and her American son. A single story among the thousands of stories untold, the film follows the remarkable journey of Myungja as she reconnects with her son Brent (Sung-wook) after 30 years apart. Through their initial reunion on national television to subsequent meetings and departures, they attempt to build a relationship amidst family betrayal and the legacy of adoption.


GOING HOME - directed by Jason Hoffmann:  Jason is a Korean adoptee who grew up in New York City with Jewish parents, and who always identified himself as being a true New Yorker.  He never expected to explore his complicated and concealed family history, but as he grew into adulthood, he became increasingly more curious about his mysterious roots.  In this film, Jason finally summons up the courage to initiate contact with his birth mother.  Filled with deeply human moments of joy and pain, GOING HOME shares Jason's intimate search in realizing what his life could have been had he not been adopted.  In the face of adversity and complete upheaval of buried insecurities about his identity, Jason will find a profound new meaning of familly.

Questions?  Email us at BKAfilmfest2010@gmail.com

or visit www.bkadoptee.org/film