May 8, 2026 | Film,

Join Us For Profiles of Boston: Stories from the Heart of Chinatown

On May 16 at 3pm, join ArtsEmerson and the Boston Asian American Film Festival for a FREE special Projecting Connections film series: Profiles of Boston: Stories from the Heart of Chinatown. For just one day only, audiences will have the chance to see four short films that illuminate Boston’s historic Chinatown and will be able to experience Q&As with the film’s directors following each screening. Take a look at what is screening below!

Home Plate (world premiere): Directed by Lukas Dong

What does it mean to start over? That’s the question at the center of Home Plate, a deeply personal documentary that follows Andrew Chin, a former youth baseball standout whose dream of playing in the Major Leagues doesn’t pan out. In this 18-minute short, Chin sits down with his immigrant mother Carol to discuss her journey and sees how their two paths mirror each other.

Love, Chinatown: Directed by Lukas Dong

Chinatown resident Cynthia Yee embarks on an open-hearted walking tour of Boston’s Chinatown in all its vibrancy—extending a discerning welcome to neighborhood newcomers while boldly confronting the community’s past trauma with the help of an unexpected local compatriot: bright-eyed undergrad, Gwen

Building a Community: Creative Director Ben Eng, Project Director Nancy Lo

Building a Community is a sweeping portrait of Boston’s Chinatown, told through personal family stories that illuminate 150 years of perseverance, transformation, and belonging.

Hong Far Low: Directed by Aaron Wong

This short documentary is a reflection of the director’s family restaurant started by his great-grandfather as it connects to the history of both Chinatown’s history and his family.

This is a free event at the Bright Family Screening Room at the Emerson Paramount Center! Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. Reserving your tickets does not necessarily guarantee admission, but we rarely turn anyone away from our free events. Please plan to arrive early—ideally 20 to 30 minutes before showtime—to ensure entry. Reserve your free ticket here.