Spring Showcase 2023
April 21: Award-Winning Director Lau Kok-rui’s The Sunny Side of the Street Makes Its North American Premiere
April 13, 2023
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: CJ Mendoza (coza@sdaff.org)
April 21: Award-Winning Director Lau Kok-rui’s The Sunny Side of the Street Makes Its North American Premiere At SDAFF Spring Showcase
- This film highlights the variety of obstacles and struggles within refugee families placed in Hong Kong and the constant run from financial situations and most importantly, police.
WHAT: Pacific Arts Movement In a 15+ film collection, Pacific Art Movement’s 12th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) Spring Showcase returns to the Ultrastar Cinemas in Mission Valley, San Diego from April 20 through 27, 2022. Audiences will enjoy eight days of films from Japan, Hong Kong, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, UK, USA, and more including a four-film retrospective on legendary actors Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui. The showcase opens with the genre-bending documentary Starring Jerry as Himself on April 20 telling the true story of an immigrant father recruited by the Chinese police to be an undercover agent. Closing night features Director Justin Chon’s Jamojaya which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this January. Other programming includes live Q&As from filmmakers and musical performances.
The Sunny Side Of The Street, the debut feature by Hong Kong-based, Malaysian director Lau Kok Rui, makes its North American premiere at Spring Showcase. The film was nominated for 6 categories at the 2022 Golden Horse Awards (dubbed the Chinese Oscars) including Best Narrative Feature, Best New Director, Best New Performer, Best Cinematography and Best Original Screenplay categories. Veteran Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong won the award for Best Leading Actor, while Lau took home the awards for Best New Director and Best Original Screenplay.
WHY: The Sunny Side of the Street highlights the theme of family and how it can look biologically and within sudden surrogacy due to unseen circumstances. The story between two fathers trying their best with their son – being there either emotionally or physically. A tragic car collision between a taxi driver and a Pakistani refugee who is left by his 10-year-old son, Hassan, brings a heartwarming story of overlooking the society in Hong Kong wary and cautious of immigrants.
ABOUT THE FILM:
Director Lau Kok-rui
Date & Time: Friday, April 21 at 6:00 pm
Location: Ultrastar Cinemas in Mission Valley, San Diego
Link: https://sdaff.org/spring2023/movies/the-sunny-side-of-the-street
