AEMS: Events

AsiaLENS
AEMS Documentary and Independent Film Series
at the Spurlock Museum

AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and lecture / discussion programs -- organized by AEMS in collaboration with Spurlock Museum -- presenting recent documentary and independent films on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia.

Local and visiting experts introduce the films and lead audiences in post-screening discussions.

All AsiaLENS screenings are FREE and open to the public.

Fall 2017, screenings will be presented on the second Tuesdays of September, October, and November at Spurlock Museum, located at 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL. **PLEASE NOTE** Screening times have changed to 3PM.

Full schedule for Spring 2018 is listed below.

Information on past screenings:Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017

AsiaLENS Upcoming Spring 2018 Calendar:

Paths Of The Soul
Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 3:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Guangzhou Dream Factory
Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 3:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana IL

Drawing The Tiger
Tuesday, Aprl 10, 2018 - 3:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Paths Of The Soul
Directed and produced by Zhang Yang. 2016. China. 115 minutes.
In Tibetan with English subtitles.

Introduction and post-screening discussion TBD.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 3pm
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Paths of the Soul

Description:

Filmmaker Zhang Yang blurs the border between fictional drama and documentary in following a group of Tibetan villagers who leave their families and homes in the small village of Nyima to make a Buddhist "bowing pilgrimage" - laying their bodies flat on the ground after every few steps - along the 1,200 mile road to Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet. Though united in their remarkable devotion, each of the travelers embarks on this near impossible journey for very personal reasons. Stunningly photographed over the course of an entire year, with non-professional actors and no script, Paths of the Soul is a mesmerizing study of faith.

Resources:
View a trailer of the film here.
Distributed by Icarus Films.

Reviews:
New York Times

Guangzhou Dream Factory
Directed by Christiane Badgley. Produced by Erica Marcus.
2016. Ghana / China. 65 minutes.

Online, post-screening discussion with Erica Marcus.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 -3:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Guangzhou Dream Factory

Description:

Immigration, globalization, Chinese factories and African dreams... Guangzhou Dream Factory weaves stories of Africans chasing alluring, yet elusive 'Made in China' dreams into a compelling critique of our 21st century global economy that offers fresh perspective on China and African development.

Resources:
View a trailer of the film here.
Guangzhou Dream Factory Facebook Page.

Interviews:
Center for Asian American Media

Reviews:
Africa Is A Country (blog)

Drawing The Tiger
Directed and produced by Amy Benson, Scott Squire and Ramyata Limbu.
2016. US / Nepal. 96 minutes.

Introduction and post-screening discussion TBD

Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 3:00 pm
Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL

Drawing The Tiger

Description:
Shot over seven years, "Drawing the Tiger" takes a sweeping view of one Nepalese family's daily struggle to survive off of subsistence farming. When their bright daughter receives a scholarship to study in Kathmandu, the family's prospects suddenly improve by leaps and bounds overnight, but will the weight of their expectations crush her?

Resources:
View a trailer of the film here.
Distributed by Women Make Movies.
Filmmakers website.

Last Updated January 10, 2018. Aug 2018.


	AsiaLENS AEMS Documentary and Independent Film Series at the Spurlock Museum AsiaLENS is a series of free public film screenings and lecture / discussion programs -- organized by AEMS in collaboration with Spurlock Museum -- presenting recent documentary and independent films on issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia. Local and visiting experts introduce the films and lead audiences in post-screening discussions. All AsiaLENS screenings are FREE and open to the public. Fall 2017, screenings will be presented on the second Tuesdays of September, October, and November at Spurlock Museum, located at 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL. PLEASE NOTE Screening times have changed to 3PM. Full schedule for Spring 2018 is listed below. Information on past screenings:Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Fall 2009, Spring 2010, Fall 2010, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016, Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017 AsiaLENS Upcoming Spring 2018 Calendar: Paths Of The Soul Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 3:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL *Guangzhou Dream Factory* Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 3:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana IL *Drawing The Tiger* Tuesday, Aprl 10, 2018 - 3:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Paths Of The Soul Directed and produced by Zhang Yang. 2016. China. 115 minutes. In Tibetan with English subtitles. Introduction and post-screening discussion TBD. Tuesday, February 13, 2018 - 3pm Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Description: Filmmaker Zhang Yang blurs the border between fictional drama and documentary in following a group of Tibetan villagers who leave their families and homes in the small village of Nyima to make a Buddhist "bowing pilgrimage" - laying their bodies flat on the ground after every few steps - along the 1,200 mile road to Lhasa, the holy capital of Tibet. Though united in their remarkable devotion, each of the travelers embarks on this near impossible journey for very personal reasons. Stunningly photographed over the course of an entire year, with non-professional actors and no script, Paths of the Soul is a mesmerizing study of faith. Resources: View a trailer of the film here. Distributed by Icarus Films. Reviews: New York Times *Guangzhou Dream Factory* Directed by Christiane Badgley. Produced by Erica Marcus. 2016. Ghana / China. 65 minutes. Online, post-screening discussion with Erica Marcus. Tuesday, March 13, 2018 -3:00 pm Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Description: Immigration, globalization, Chinese factories and African dreams... Guangzhou Dream Factory weaves stories of Africans chasing alluring, yet elusive 'Made in China' dreams into a compelling critique of our 21st century global economy that offers fresh perspective on China and African development. Resources: View a trailer of the film here. Guangzhou Dream Factory Facebook Page. Interviews: Center for Asian American Media Reviews: Africa Is A Country (blog) Drawing The Tiger Directed and produced by Amy Benson, Scott Squire and Ramyata Limbu. 2016. US / Nepal. 96 minutes. Introduction and post-screening discussion TBD Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 3:00 pm Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory Street, Urbana, IL Description: Shot over seven years, "Drawing the Tiger" takes a sweeping view of one Nepalese family's daily struggle to survive off of subsistence farming. When their bright daughter receives a scholarship to study in Kathmandu, the family's prospects suddenly improve by leaps and bounds overnight, but will the weight of their expectations crush her? Resources: View a trailer of the film here. Distributed by Women Make Movies. Filmmakers website. Last Updated January 10, 2018. Aug 2018.		In This Section: AsiaLENS Series AAS Film Expo AAS-in-Asia Film Expo ICAS Film Expo News Asian Film Festival Discussions with Filmmakers Educator Events Other AEMS Film Screenings AsiaLENS Screenings: Upcoming Spring 2021 __________________________ Edo Avant Garde Online viewing: Friday, Feb 19, 5p through Friday, Feb 26, 5p Online filmmaker discussion: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 4 pm (registration required) __________________________ Finding Yingying Online viewing: Friday, Apr 2, 5p through Friday, Apr 9, 5p Online filmmaker discussion: Tuesday, April 6, 2021 5 pm (registration required) __________________________ All AsiaLENS online screenings and discussion programs are FREE and open to the public. co-sponsored by: Spurlock Museum