LACFF ‘The Race Epidemic’ Showcase
Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival (LACFF) is pleased to announce our upcoming screening of The Race Epidemic and live Q&A, featuring a conversation with producer Ronald W. Wong, director Tony Shyu, and former LA City Councilmember David Ryu, moderated by Amanda Walencewicz (Programmer, LACFF.)
Screening: Thursday, May 20 | Available for 48 hrs
Q&A: Saturday, May 22 | 2:00 pm PT
‘The Race Epidemic’ is a powerful account of microaggressions and explicit racist experiences in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. It metaphorically captures a major issue facing the country, the Anti-Asian-American racism, as “epidemic”, and investigates it within a broader sociopolitical context. This documentary also offers a commentary on the rampant violence against Asians and Asian Americans since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the most penetrating moments of ‘The Race Epidemic’ occurs when the director meditates on a juxtaposition between Vincent Chin’s death in 1982 and Donald Trump’s recent racist speech. The documentary ends up offering some optimism, “I am remarkably hopeful for the next generation, that they will embrace diversity, and they will be in a post-race world where they value each other simply for who they are.”
Click here to see the official trailer. Registration is now available on the Eventbrite.
About Speakers
Ronald W. Wong
Ronald W. Wong, founder of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation and President of Imprenta Communications Group, an award-wining public affairs, ethnic marketing, and advertising firm, serves as producer & writer and will oversee the fundraising and management of the entire project. Ron has been involved in politics and political campaigns for the past 30 years. The Race Epidemic is the culmination of Ron’s work in politics, social justice, and the political empowerment of diverse underrepresented communities for the last 35 years. Ron has been involved and committed to the civic and political engagement and empowerment of AAPIs for nearly 4 decades.
Tony Shyu
Tony Shyu is a noted director and award-winning screenwriter. Tony serves as director & producer of the project. Tony spent many years in Asia creating award-winning commercials for major brands such as Avon, Volvo, and Visa. He won the Taiwan Times award, which is Asia’s equivalent of a Clio award. The PSA he directed for API Vote starring George Takei, John Cho, and Constance Wu won the 2016 Videographer award. Tony received his B.A. and M.F.A. in film from the renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, which is known for creating visual story tellers.
David Ryu
Former Los Angeles City Councilmember. Ryu was the first Korean American to serve on the Los Angeles City Council and only the second Asian American elected to the City Council, representing the 4th Council District. Prior to being elected to the Council, Ryu served as Senior Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Burke, he also served as Director of Development and Public Affairs at one of Los Angeles’s largest non-profit health care providers: Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital and Community Health Center.
Moderator: Amanda Walencewicz
Amanda Walencewicz is a writer focused on Chinese film, with experience in media production and communications. She graduated from Tufts University, majoring in International Literary and Visual Studies and Chinese. She completed the graduate certificate program at Johns Hopkins’ Nanjing campus. Between her academic programs, Walencewicz worked as the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations’ Communications and Production Assistant, producing videos, podcasts, and graphics and launching the web series U.S.-China Insights.