Saturday, March 24, 3:00pm, UNC Charlotte main campus, Fretwell 100 (Campus map)
Introduction by UNC Charlotte students
Sponsored by the Charlotte Asian Film Festival, the UNC Charlotte Department of Philosophy, and the UNC Charlotte Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund
Soldier Saints, 3:15pm documentary in English, 30 min.
Followed by Q&A with Director and Community members
Sikhism is the 5th largest religion in the world, but still widely unknown or misunderstood. In the past 16 years, many hate crimes have been perpetrated against its followers, as they have been mistaken for muslims. This documentary delves into Sikhism’s core tenet of equality, and how this was put into action as the Sikh army of the Khalsa. The Khalsa was initiated by the last Sikh Guru and ordered to fight against oppression imposed on any group or religion. This message is still celebrated by modern Sikhs, as well as those who have chosen to adhere to the old ways of the Khalsa. This culminates in the celebration of Hola Mohalla in Punjab, India, a festival in honor of the founding of the army in 1701.
Songbird, 4:15pm, Indonesia, documentary, 25 min.
Tracking, catching and training exotic birds from deep in the Indonesian jungle is lucrative business for young Indonesian entrepreneurs. That is, if the birds’ new owners can make a good showing at local bird singing competitions and successfully sell them to the highest bidder. The birds are treated like royalty. They are their owners’ ticket to a better life. Agok (16 yrs old) is new to the business. He follows the lead of his mentor Edi, navigating the tricky process of procuring and training the right bird for this competitive and unusual sport. But training birds is not easy and takes considerable time. Edi takes Agok under his wing to enable him a better chance at fulfilling his dream.
Path of Dreams, 4:40pm, Japan, short feature, 25 min.
In poetic Japan, Ono no Komachi, a beautiful poetess, strikes a tantalizing bargain with Shosho, a charming and eager suitor. If he comes to write poetry with her for 99 nights, she says they will have the possibility of creating a love more beautiful than poetry. Only on the 99th night will she take him as her lover.
Age, Height, Education, 5:15pm, documentary in Chinese and English, 9 min.
Every Sunday, traditional Chinese parents gather in the People’s Square in Shanghai to find their children good blind dates. Matchmakers help them find their children potential partners with the right qualifications, which can include everything from skin tone to hometown.
