July 15, 2010: Sneak preview of "Resilience" at The Korea Society
July 16-17, 2010: Asian American International Film Festival
August 3-8, 2010: IKAA Gathering - Seoul, Korea
September 2010: Mentorship Programs Begin!
Join Also-known-as, The Korea Society and FCCNY
for a Sneak Preview of the new documentary
RESILIENCE
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Korea Society
950 3rd Avenue
New York, NY 10022
$5 for members(TKS/AKA/FCCNY) $10 non members
For more information click here

Join us for a Sneak Preview of Tammy Chu's new film RESILIENCE and followup discussion / reception. At its heart, Resilience is a story about what it means to be a family and the challenges of building broken ties and coming to terms with the past. It is also a story about adoption—spanning 30 years of separation,two countries,and two families—and what happens after the reunion. Resilience tells a singular story that transcends to relay a greater, deeper story about the thousands of birth mothers, adoptees, and adoptive families in Korea, the U.S. and elsewhere.
Each year, thousands of children are sent to the West for adoption. South Korea has sent more children than any other country, an estimated 200,000 over the past 55 years. Despite being one of the world’s strongest economies, it continues to do so. With every new family created by adoption, another family gets torn apart.
Resilience is a character-driven documentary that takes a unique look at international adoption from the perspective of a Korean birth mother and her American son. A single story among the thousands of stories untold, the film follows the remarkable journey of Myungja as she reconnects with her son Brent (Sung-wook) after 30 years apart. Through their initial reunion on national television to subsequent meetings and departures, they attempt to build a relationship amidst family betrayal and the legacy of adoption. But with so many obstacles--language, culture, distance, and unspoken loss--can two strangers find a way to become mother and son?
Come Join Also-Known-As at the Asian American International Film Festival!

Please join us for the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF10), July 15-24, 2010.
As always, our festival features an exciting line-up of films from all across the nation and all corners of the world. The festival is especially excited to announce a special sidebar on New Taiwanese Cinema co-presented by Asian CineVision and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office. This year, our selection includes 71 short films divided into 10 programs and 23 feature length films. Screenings will take place at various venues including Chelsea Clearview Cinema, The Quad Cinema, and Museum of Chinese in America. In addition to these screenings, our festival will include special events including a music video showcase, after parties, workshops, and Q+A sessions. For more info please visit http://www.aaiff.org/2010/
Also-Known-As will be sponsoring two films this year,
"In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee" (July 17, 2010) and "I Love you Mommy" (July 16, 2010)
In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee
Deann Borshay Liem, Producer/Director
Her passport said she was Cha Jung Hee. She knew she was not. So began a 40-year deception for a Korean adoptee who came to the US in 1966. Told to keep her true identity a secret from her new American family, this eight-year-old girl quickly forgot she was ever anyone else. But why had her identity been switched? And who was the real Cha Jung Hee? In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee is the search to find the answers. It follows acclaimed filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem as she returns to her native Korea to find her “double,” the mysterious girl whose place she took in America. Traversing the landscapes of memory, amnesia and identity, while also uncovering layers of deception in her adoption, this moving and provocative film probes the ethics of international adoptions and reveals the cost of living a lie. Part mystery, part personal odyssey,it raises fundamental questions about who we are…and who we could be but for the hands of fate.
In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee is produced in association with the Katahdin Foundation and co-produced by Charlotte Lagarde, www.swellcinema.com.
I Love You Mommy
Stephanie Wang-Breal, Director/Producer
The opening screen titles let us know that since China began its international adoption program, over 70,000 children have been sent to live in American homes. In this bird’s eye documentary we follow one family, the Sadowskys, as they bring home a second orphan from Guangzhou, China to Long Island, New York. Fang Sui Yong, a precocious and head-strong eight year old is forced to acclimate quickly to her new life as Faith Sadowsky. As she is older and very attached to her foster parents and sister, the transition is unbearable at times and Faith openly ponders why a white family would want to take someone from China into their home—a hard question for everyone with no easy answers. There are also moments of levity and true connection as Faith moves further away from her former life, begins to show affection and makes new friends. Director Stephanie Wang-Breal follows the family for nearly two years and becomes an active participant in the unfolding story. She manages to broach a very sensitive topic with tenderness and an appreciation for the steep learning curve of both parents and children as a new family comes into being. http://woainimommy.com/
Also-Known-As, Inc. 2010-2011 Youth and Teen Mentorship Programs!!!
AKA’s Mentorship Programs are targeted at young intercountry adoptees ranging in age from 7 to 12 (Youth Program) and 13-17 years (Teen Program). The goals of our programs are three-fold:
(1) To foster personal relationships with people who have similar life experiences;
(2) To develop positive self perception through role modeling and companionship with adult international adoptees and members of the minority community; and
(3) To facilitate an appreciation of the diverse cultures and races and their contribution to the global family.
In order to accomplish these goals, Also-Known-As, Inc. provides a safe and exciting opportunity for younger intercountry adoptees to be in a community reflective of their life experiences; to have discussions of issues faced by the intercountry adoption community – race, cultural identity, adoption, and family; and to become active participants in the community through various cultural and voluntary activities.
Is Your Child Interested in Participating?
Also-Known-As, Inc. Youth Mentorship Program
Term of Program: September 2010 to May 2011
If your child is interested in joining the Youth Mentorship Program, please contact Annabel Schlossberg at aschlossberg@alsoknownas.org to receive an application. The application deadline is Friday, July 16, 2010. Space is limited.
Also-Known-As, Inc. Teen Mentorship Program
Term of Program: September 2010 to May 2011
If your child is interested in joining the Teen Mentorship Program, please contact Marissa Martin at mmartin@alsoknownas.org to receive an application. The application deadline is Friday, July 16, 2010. Space is limited.
Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
We are excited to be able to offer this program to adult intercountry adoptees and members of the minority community. We invite prospective mentors to seek this opportunity to become role models, to become a friend, and to be an enriching addition to a young person’s life.
Mentor Requirements:
- Be an Also-Known-As member;
- Be at least 21 years old;
- Be an international adoptee (Only required for the Teen Program)
- Comfortable and versed in the various issues around intercountry adoption;
- Be able to guarantee one year commitment to the program;
- Participate in all the monthly events (typically 3-4 hours on the second or third Saturday each month);
- Be willing to work in a group setting and be a team player; and
- Complete an application and personal interview.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Youth Mentorship Program, please contact Annabel Schlossberg at aschlossberg@alsoknownas.org to receive an application.
If you are interested in volunteering for the Teen Mentorship Program, please contact Marissa Martin at mmartin@alsoknownas.org to receive an application.
While you are welcome to volunteer for both programs, keep in mind this will be two weekends of each month and each program requires a separate application and necessary forms to be completed.
The mentor application deadline for both programs is Friday, July 16, 2010 and positions are filled on a first come, first serve basis. We look forward to hearing from you!
Top |