20th Anniversary Films At The Gate Film Festival
Each year, Films at the Gate—an event organized and run by ACDC youth—revives the tradition of the Chinatown movie house. The festival enlivens Chinatown, bringing together people of all backgrounds and ages, while also introducing kung fu films to a new generation and restoring a tradition of shared, public experience of Chinese-language films in Chinatown.
Photos by Lee-Daniel Tran.
Made possible by the work of youth, collaborators, and our sponsors, Films at the Gate has been a grassroots event attracting over 600 attendees annually to Chinatown’s underutilized spaces.
This Year’s Film Screenings
The 20th anniversary festival marks the last year of Jean Lukitsh’s involvement as Films at the Gate’s Film Curator. Lukitsh is a former resident of Chinatown, and was the projectionist for two of the three cinemas that existed in Boston’s Chinatown in the 70s and 80s. She helped cofound Films at the Gate in 2006.
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Featuring actress Michelle Yeoh — Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is set in the 18th century Qing dynasty. The film follows the intertwined lives of two women, a passionate female warrior and a young female aristocrat, who fight against their fates to find a prized sword, and of the two men whose love is denied to them: a legendary warrior and a bandit king.
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One of the first times that the critically acclaimed movie will be screened in the US — Dao Ma, a bounty hunter, takes a job to protect a man on the long road to the city of Chang'an. However, he discovers the person he is protecting is the empire's most wanted bounty, Zhi Shi Lang. Now, every greedy faction is after them.
Note: This movie is rated R. -
Screened at the first Films at the Gate and featuring Boston-raised actor Donnie Yen — In the sequel to the Tsui Hark classic, Wong Fei-Hung faces The White Lotus society, a fanatical cult seeking to drive the Europeans out of China through violence, even attacking Chinese who follow Western ways. Wong must also defend Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a revolutionary, from the military.
This year’s screening is dedicated to an iconic Hong Kong martial arts choreographer and filmmaker Yuen Woo Ping. The festival will screen films, which Yuen has directed or choreographed. Throughout his career, Yuen has directed over 30 films and choreographed for iconic films like The Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Kill Bill.
Get Involved!
Be a part of bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together to Chinatown to enjoy live performances, fun activities, and kung fu films!
Are you a performer looking for an opportunity to present your talent at our festival? We encourage you to apply!
Are you high school student (rising 9th - 12th grade) looking for an opportunity to get involved in Chinatown and engage with residents and visitors? We highly encourage you to apply! It is also highly recommended that you apply with a friend!
Performer and Volunteer Applications closes on July 27th at 11:59pm. For questions, please email Emma.Ishida[at]asiancdc.org
Support our Films at the Gate’s 20th Anniversary
Be a part of bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together to enjoy kung fu films!
Our annual Films at the Gate festival is planned and organized by youth. For 20 years, the event promotes community development for Chinatown residents and businesses by endorsing Chinatown as a vibrant site of cultural activity.
Every contribution counts, whether you are a kung fu film fan, love supporting the Chinatown community, or want to support the youth who run this annual event!
Sponsor Levels
Presenting - $10,000
Special opportunity to provide brief remarks on stage
Shoutout on ACDC’s social media channels that reach 2700+ followers
plus: a shoutout on e-newsletter that reaches an additional 3,000+ subscribers
Full page color program ad (5”W x 8”H)
Logo on movie screen all 3 nights
Logo on website plus logo on all publicity such as event flyers
Crane - $5,000
Shoutout on ACDC’s social media channels that reach 2,700+ followers
Full page color program ad (5”W x 8”H)
Logo on movie screen all 3 nights
Logo on website plus logo on all publicity such as event flyers
Mantis - $2,500
Half-page color program ad (5”W x 4”H)
Logo on movie screen all 3 nights
Logo on website
Tiger - $1000
Quarter-page color program ad (2.5”W x 4.5”H)
Logo on movie screen all 3 nights
Logo on website
Program Ad
Full-page Color Ad - $1,000 (5”W x 8”H)
1/2-page Color Ad- $750 (5”W x 4”H)
1/4-page Color Ad - $500(2.5”W x 4”H)
In-kind Donations
If you’re interested in supporting FATG or providing an in-kind donation, please contact Enzo.Nguyen[at]asiancdc.org.
In-kind donations will be gratefully recognized with a logo or person’s name on website.
FATG’s History of Anchoring Chinatown’s History Into the Neighborhood
Films at the Gate was founded by Leslie & Sam Davol of Boston Street Lab, Jean Lukitsh, and ACDC.
Films At The Gate revives the spirit of the Chinatown movie theaters that shut down due to the rise in video rental stores in the 1980s. Until the late 1980s, Chinatown had three movie theaters: The Pagoda on Washington St, the Star Cinema on Essex, and the China Cinema on Beach. In their heyday, the theaters showed double-features three times a day, often to packed houses from midday to midnight. Whole families would attend, and children would often play in the aisles. Facing pressure from the growing popularity of home video rentals, the Star cinema closed in 1986, and the others soon followed suit. By introducing this tradition to future generations, the festival anchors the shared experiences of Chinese-language films back into the fabric of Chinatown's community.
Check out the Instagram Reel on the history of the Chinatown movie theaters made by A-VOYCE Alumni and Communications Intern, Harrison Tran!
