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​OPENING NIGHT FILM
A tale of three chinatowns

Wednesday, October 20, 7:30PM ET

Directed by Lisa Mao 
Documentary | 90 mins | USA | English 

Followed by a Q&A.

A TALE OF TWO CHINATOWNS explores the survival of urban ethnic neighborhoods. Specifically examining Chinatowns in three American cities, the film looks at the forces altering each community and the challenges that go with them. The film profiles Chinatowns in Washington D.C., Chicago, and Boston and features the voices of residents, community activists, developers, government officials, and others who have a connection to the ubiquitous neighborhood. Through these perspectives, the film presents the present day pressing topic of urban development and gentrification through the eyes of those on the frontlines. Chicago's Chinatown is a story of growth where the Asian-American population has increased and its borders have expended. In contrast, Washington D.C.'s Chinatown has dwindled to an estimated population of 300 residents of Chinese descent. The Chinatown neighborhood of Boston finds itself somewhere in between these two extremes as various groups fight for the land on which it sits.

​[Film Available in CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. One night only until tickets sell out.]​

Director's Bio - Lisa Mao
​
Lisa Mao is a documentary producer, writer and director. Her credits include the award-winning documentary “Through Chinatown’s Eyes: April 1968”, Travel Channel’s “Man Vs. Food Nation,” and “Ultimate Factories” on National Geographic Channel. In addition to her Executive Producer role at the Travel Channel and programming role at Discovery Channel International, Mao has headed program development for various production companies. She is responsible for the launch of over 500 hours of programming on channels including National Geographic Channel, HGTV, History Channel, Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, PBS, Smithsonian Channel, and Reelz. Throughout her work, Mao is committed to helping people share their stories to reveal the complex and unique fabric of the human condition. Penny Lee - Penny Lee is a documentary producer, director and film/video editor. Through more than 25 years in editing and creating original content, she has worked on documentaries, feature and short films, reality television series, promotional infomercials, and educational videos for cable networks, corporate organizations, and associations. Lee produced, directed and edited the award-winning documentary “Through Chinatown’s Eyes: April 1968”. In addition to her network projects, her passion for storytelling continues to drive her to create content highlighting the immigrant experience in the United States, with a primary focus on the Chinese-American voice.

Website: https://threechinatowns.com/​
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/threechinatowns​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigersistersproductions/​
Co-presented by:
Wang YMCA
Boston Asian American Film Festival
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