Contemporary China Reflected in Underground Films:

2003 UCSD Chinese Underground Film Festival

The UCSD Libraries, UCSD Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies (IR/PS), UCSD Chinese Studies Program (CSP), Hsiu Endowment, 99 Ranch Market, and UCSD Council on East Asian Studies (CEAS), are hosting the world's first festival dedicated to Chinese underground films. This three-day event will be held in the Price Center Theatre at the University of California, San Diego, and will feature 13 films (with English subtitles) and 4 lectures delivered by distingushed film directors and scholars. The films have never been publicly distributed or exhibited in their home country. As such, they provide a unique, unofficial window to the study and understanding of contemporary China.

Admission is free of charge but subject to the theatre's viewing capacity (475). Panel discussion maximum room capacities are between 30 - 60. See below.

These films are not rated. Discretion is advised as some films are not appropriate for all viewers.

PROGRAM

Day 1 - October 8, (Wednesday), 2003

1:00 PM - Meetng with press and audience, film introduction.

  Introducer: Prof. Paul Pickowicz, UCSD faculty (10 minutes)
  Q & A: (30 minutes)
  Location: Price Center Gallery B (49 people)

2:00 PM - Film

   "Sons" 
   Director: Zhang, Yuan, 1995
   95 minutes
   Warning: Sexual content and nudity. Viewer discretion advised.
   Location: Price Center Theatre

3:30 PM - Panel discussion

    Zhang Yuan, Chinese film director (30 minutes in English translation)
    "The Chinese Underground Film Collection at UCSD" by Jim Cheng,  UCSD Libraries (20 minutes)
    Discussant: Prof. Yingjin Zhang, UCSD faculty (15 minutes)
    Q & A: 30 minutes
    Location:Price Center Davis/Riverside Room (40 people)

6:00 PM - Opening Reception (by invitation, only)

7:00 PM - Welcome

    Opening remarks by:
    Brian E.C. Schottlaender, UCSD University Librarian
    Peter F. Cowhey, IR/PS Dean
    Richard Madsen, Director of CEAS 
   Joseph Esherick, Director of CSP
    Location: Price Center Theatre

7:40 PM - Films:

    "Shanghai Dreams" (Documentary)
    Director: Chen Miao, 2001
    70 minutes

    "Unknown Pleasures" (Fiction)
    Director: Jia Zhangke, 2003 
    110 minutes
    Location: Price Center Theatre

Day 2 - October 9 (Thursday), 2003

9:30 AM - Panel discussion

    "Track of Freedom" by Prof. Tonglin Lu, Univ. of Montreal (30 minutes)
    Prof. Nick Browne, UCLA Film Studies (30 minutes)
    Discussant: Prof. Paul Pickowicz (30 minutes)
    Location: Price Center San Francisco/Santa Cruz Room (40 people)

1:00 PM - Films

    "Old Testament" (Fiction)
    Director: Cui Zi'en, 2001
    90 minutes
   Warning: Sexual content and nudity. Viewer discretion advised.

    "Box" (Documentary)
    Director: Ying Weiwei, 2001
    90 minutes
    Warning: Nudity. Viewer discretion advised.
    Location: Price Center Theatre

2:40 PM - Panel Discussion

    "Chinese Homosexual Films: From Social Care to Self-Realization" by Cui  Zi'en, Chinese film director (30 minutes in English translation)
    Discussant: Prof. Zhiwei Xiao, CSU San Marcos faculty (15 minutes)
    Q & A: (30 minutes)
    Location: Price Center Berkeley Room (30 people)

6:30 PM - Films

    "Fish and Elephant" (Fiction)
    Director: Li Yu, 2000
    90 minutes
    Warning: Sexual content and nudity. Viewer discretion advised.

    "Snake Boy"  (Documentary)
    Director: Chen Miao, 2002
    60 minutes
    Location: Price Center Theatre

Day 3 - Oct. 10 (Friday), 2003

9:30 AM - Panel discussion

    Prof. Barry Naughton, UCSD faculty (30 minutes)
    Prof. Richard Madsen, UCSD faculty (30 minutes)
    Discussant: Prof. Paul Pickowicz (15 minutes)
    Q & A: (30 minutes)
    Location: Price Center Santa Barbara/LA Room (60 people)

10:30 AM - Films

    "Where City and Country Meet" (Documentary)
    Director: Zhang Zhanqing, 2001
    50 minutes 

    "Leave Me Alone" (Documentary)
    Director: Hu Shu, 2001
    70 minutes
    Location: Price Center Theatre

2:30 PM - Films

    "Bumming in Beijing" (Documentary)
    Director: Wu Wenguang, 1995
    90 minutes

    "At Home in the World" (Documentary)
    Director: Wu Wenguang, 1998
    90 minutes
    Location: Price Center Theatre

6:30 PM - Films

    "Crying Woman" (Fiction)
    Director: Liu Bingjian, 2002
    90 minutes
    Warning: Nudity and sexual content. Viewer discretion advised.

   "Celestial Burial" (Documentary)
    Director: Wen Pulin, 2001
    Warning: Strong graphic content at the end. Viewer discretion advised.
    Location: Price Center Theatre

10:30 PM - End.

Cost : Free

Sponsor(s): UC San Diego