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CHICAGO – One the brightest Chicago cultural lights continues to be the Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) Film Fest … founded by Sophia Wong Boccio … and on January 15th it was announced that a new format for the now once-a-year event will take place in 2025. For the first time APUC will be a competitive film festival, and will so honor the films and filmmakers.!—break—>

APUC’s 19th Season will take place March 20 – April 13, 2025 in Chicago, and will feature a jury for the first time since the fest began in 2015. Packages and individual tickets go on sale February 10th. Click AsianPopUpCinema.org for more information.

The Competitive APUC Season 19, March 20 – April 13, 2025
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.org

Specifically, for the first time in the organization’s history, competition selections will compete for the Grand Jury Feature Film Award in both narrative and documentary categories; the Best Short Film Award in narrative/animated and documentary categories; and the Francis Kwong Memorial Award, recognizing an emerging new director for their first or second feature film.

As in past years, the Festival will explore and celebrate cinema from countries across the Asian continent. This year’s program, set to be announced February 24, 2025, will feature work from India, Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and more, with the majority of presentations being held at the Festival’s hub theater, AMC NEWCITY 14 (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.) in Chicago.

Founder in Red: Sophia Wong Boccio Pictured with the Board of APUC
Photo credit: AsianPopUpCinema.org

APUC is the brainchild of Founder/Executive Director Sophia Wong Boccio of Sophia’s Choice, which was incorporated in 2015 with the multi-pronged mission of cultivating an interest in and understanding of Asian cultures via a diverse offering of Asian films while connecting the Asian film industry with local Chicago film professionals, educators, and students. Through her many filmmaking/acting attendees over the years, the goal also is to promote Chicago as a destination for internationalism.