Past Event

May 17 | 7:00 pm

Liquor Store DreamsRepresentation | Resilience | Racial Reflections

Directed & Produced by So Yun Um

In partnership with

Co presented by

Two Korean American children of liquor store owners reconcile their own dreams with those of their immigrant parents. They confront the complex legacies of LA’s racial landscape, including the 1991 murder of Latasha Harlins and the 1992 uprisings sparked by the police beating of Rodney King, while engaged in current struggles for social and economic justice.

“Liquor Store Dreams” is one of those quietly powerful films that may appear on the surface to be little more than an extended home movie, but should prove to have a devastating and emotional impact on all who are lucky enough to see it.

— Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com

Info

Venue

Bright Family Screening Room (BFSR)
559 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111

Dates

May 17, 2024 | 7:00 pm

Reception

Join us for a reception featuring Asian inspired light fare and signature cocktails hosted by the Korean American Citizens League following screening.

Details

1 hour 30 min

At this time, the film screening of Liquor Store Dreams may appear as SOLD OUT, however, we recommend that you continue checking back as tickets may be in flux and seating may become available at a later time. Please note that for all sold out performances, our Box Office will begin a Wait List at the Paramount Theatre starting 1 hour prior to curtain. You must be physically present at the Box Office to be added to the Wait List and when your name is called to purchase tickets.
Tickets

Join the Discussion

Q&A with filmmaker and community leaders following the screening.

So Yun Um, Director/Producer, Liquor Store Dreams
Linda Champion, Senior Counsel, Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane LLP and President, Korean-American Citizens League of New England (KACL-NE)
Q.J. Shi, Director, Asian Business Empowerment Council
Susan Chinsen, Moderator; Creative Producer, ArtsEmerson and Founding Director, Boston Asian American Film Festival

Artists

So Yun Um (Director - Liquor Store Dreams)

So Yun Um, Director/Producer

So Yun Um is a Korean American Director and Producer born and based in Los Angeles. She explores intimate and challenging stories of marginalized people with piercing humanity and poignant editing style.

Her directorial debut documentary feature film, LIQUOR STORE DREAMS, which is about second generation Korean American children of Liquor Store owners in the LA area, which made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. Her work has screened at Tribeca Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, BFI London and more.

Linda Champion

Linda Champion is Senior Counsel at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane LLP. There she practices primarily in litigation, employee benefits law and fiduciary/trust/retirement law primarily representing government, municipal, and regulatory entities. Ms. Champion serves as co-chair of the firm’s public retirement board practice and supervises the firm’s extensive docket of G.L. c. 32 cases from disability retirement to survivor issues and related workers compensation issues. She is a member of the Massachusetts Association of Public Pension Attorneys and Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts.

Ms. Champion is an adjunct law professor at New England Law | Boston where she developed a specialized curriculum in the area of cannabis policy and law. Her professional affiliations include President (Korean-American Citizens League of New England, Inc.); Eastern Region Commissioner (Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and Girls); Board Secretary (Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts); Member (Town of Milton’s Equity and Justice for All Committee); Advisory Board Member (Navét 1804), Board Member (Champion Urban Edge (CUE) Realty), and Board Member (Boston Arts Academy). From 2021-2023, Commissioner (Boston Municipal Lobbying and Compliance Commission) and Advisory Board (WGBH).

Q.J. Shi

Qingjian Shi is a highly accomplished leader and advocate for the Asian American business community. Currently serving as the Director of the Asian Business Empowerment Council, she is dedicated to enhancing support and empowerment for AAPI entrepreneurs and small business owners. With a focus on economic growth and workforce development, Qingjian shapes and executes a compelling vision to address systemic disparities and foster economic success.

Qingjian’s commitment to community empowerment extends beyond her professional endeavors. She has actively contributed to various organizations and initiatives as a board member, mentor, and program chair. Her comprehensive skill set and unwavering dedication make her a highly effective advocate and leader, driving positive change in the communities she serves. Q.J. was named one of Boston’s 50 Most Influential Asian American Pacific Islanders in by Get Konnected, and Ten Outstanding Young Leaders by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce.

Susan Chinsen

Susan Chinsen is a Creative Producer at ArtsEmerson. She established the annual Boston Asian American Film Festival in 2008, where she continues as the Festival Director. Previously, she managed the Chinese Historical Society of New England, and was an engagement consultant for the PBS documentary “The Chinese Exclusion Act,” building upon her community work and past experience working at WGBH. She is on the Board of Directors at South Cove Community Health Center, MASS Creative and a Steering Committee member of the API Arts Network. Susan is also an alumna of the American Chinese Art Society’s traditional dance troupe and Tufts University.

Partners

Shared Stories is a spring film series that seeks to build community, shared conversation, and experiences through cinema. This series aspires to create a shared space to find commonality across experiences, and encourage the exchange of stories and ideas. Presented by ArtsEmerson in collaboration with the Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF), CineFest Latino Boston, and the Roxbury International Film Festival (RoxFilm).

New England’s Largest Asian American Film Festival
The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. BAAFF is a co-production of Asian American Resource Workshop and ArtsEmerson.

The Roxbury International Film Festival (ROXFILM) is the largest festival in New England celebrating people of color around the world. Over nine days, the festival presents narrative and documentary features, shorts, animation, experimental, and youth films. The festival holds workshops, panel discussions, discussions with filmmakers, and networking opportunities. ROXFILM is a competitive festival.

CineFest Latino Boston LLC is an annual film festival conducted in Boston, highlighting stories by and about Latinos. The festival is committed to using the power of film to break stereotypes, bring cultures and communities together and reveal the complex issues affecting the Latinx community in the United States, as well as communities in Latin America and Spain.

The Korean-American Citizens League of New England (KACL-NE) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization established on August 18, 1990 to provide a coherent political voice within the Korean-American community of New England.

The goals of the League are to encourage active Korean-American participation in civic engagement, to educate Korean-Americans about their rights, duties, and responsibilities as American citizens, to enhance relations between Korea and America, and to inspire and encourage future generations of Korean-Americans.

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May 17 | 7:00 pm

Liquor Store DreamsRepresentation | Resilience | Racial Reflections

“Liquor Store Dreams” is one of those quietly powerful films that may appear on the surface to be little more than an extended home movie, but should prove to have a devastating and emotional impact on all who are lucky enough to see it.

— Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com

Gallery

Info

Venue

Dates

May 17, 2024 | 7:00 pm

Reception

Details

1 hour 30 min

Join the Discussion

Artists

So Yun Um, Director/Producer

Linda Champion

Q.J. Shi

Susan Chinsen

Partners

Contact Us

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May 17 | 7:00 pm

Liquor Store DreamsRepresentation | Resilience | Racial Reflections

<img class="alignnone wp-image-14415" src="https://artsemerson.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SharedStories.jpg" alt="" width="50%" height="100" />

“Liquor Store Dreams” is one of those quietly powerful films that may appear on the surface to be little more than an extended home movie, but should prove to have a devastating and emotional impact on all who are lucky enough to see it.

— Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com

Gallery

Info

Venue

Dates

May 17, 2024 | 7:00 pm

Reception

Details

1 hour 30 min

Join the Discussion

Artists

So Yun Um, Director/Producer

Linda Champion

Q.J. Shi

Susan Chinsen

Partners