Presented in partnership by UBC Connects at Robson Square and the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative, UBC Department of Asian Studies, SFU Institute for Transpacific Cultural Research, and Taiwan Docs.
Join us for the Vancouver premiere of Kissing the Ground You Walked On, an award-winning indie film from Macau and the opening of the 2nd annual Asian Independent Cinema Showcase. Explore themes of queer identity, diversity, and art and a post-screening conversation with director, Hong Heng-fai, the first Macanese director to be nominated for Best New Director at the 59th Golden Horse Awards.
Event Highlights
Thursday, February 6, 2025
7:00 PM – 9:15 PM (Doors open at 6:40 PM)
UBC Robson Square Theatre (C300)
Q&A with Kissing the Ground You Walked On director, Hong Heng-fai
Following the screening of the film, we will host a virtual Q&A session with the director, Hong Heng-fai.
Accessibility
The venue is wheelchair accessible for participants and presenters, and we will accommodate dietary accommodations specified via registration.
Asian Independent Cinema Showcase
The AICS is a UBC-based film festival that aims to foster a film appreciation community within and beyond the university; cultivate media literacy and cross-cultural understanding; and give voices to independent stories told by Asian filmmakers. Broadly speaking, an “independent film” is considered to be a creative work produced outside big or mainstream studios. Through the lens of independent cinemas, the AICS is committed to serve as a participatory platform for publication and dialogue between independent storytellers, underrepresented groups, cultural practitioners, emerging talents, academics, students, and members of the public.
AICS is supported by the UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative and co-curated by Dr. Helena Wu, Canada Research Chair and assistant professor in UBC Asian Studies and Jimmy Lo, filmmaker, film educator, and UBC alumni (MFA in Film Production).