The Sixteenth Annual ChinaFest
ChinaFest is an annual Richmond city and university tradition that offers discussion, film, and other cultural resources to promote better understanding between the peoples of China and the United States. The University of Richmond and the Virginia Museum of Fine Art (VMFA) partner with The Rose Group for Cross-Cultural Understanding on programming. This year’s programming includes the annual lecture, films (including discussion with one of the film directors), and two student/alumni programs.
STUDENT & ALUMNI PANEL
American Millennial Engagement with China
Current UR students and recent alumni discuss their studies, experience, and engagement with China in this panel, featuring:
Dr. Gengsong Gao (panel chair)
Assistant Professor of Chinese Studies, University of Richmond
Ifetayo Maloney, '22
UR Global Studies major, Chinese minor
Matthew McCooey, '19
Operations Manager, Ping An Cloud Accelerator
Alice Vo, '20
Graduate Student, Columbia University
STUDENT-CREATED MEDIA
The Hometowns Project
Five UR students offer video introductions to their hometowns in China: Shenzhen, Wenzhou, Hangzhou, Jining, and Chengdu. Come along and explore with these local UR tour guides!
Coordinated by the UR Chinese Students & Scholars Association: Jennifer Hantang Qin, President and Phoebe Yueyi Fan, Internal Affairs VP.
THE 2021 IRBY B. BROWN OPENING LECTURE:
"Journey Through A Changing China, The China I Know"
Named in honor of the late University of Richmond professor of English and stalwart ChinaFest partner with Rose Chen, the annual Irby B. Brown Lecture features thought leaders on China who serve as keynote speakers to launch each ChinaFest. This year's speaker is Yue-Sai Kan, current co-chair of the China Institute in New York City, journalist, author, and entrepreneur. She has been a pioneer in sharing Asia and China with the U.S. through the long-running television program "Looking East," and sharing the world with China via "One World", which reached 400 million viewers.
Ms. Kan’s lecture is followed by a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Martha Merritt (UR Dean of International Education), featuring Rose Nan-Ping Chen, President of The Rose Group, Alex Nyerges (Director, Virginia Museum of Fine Art) and Dr. Betty Neal Crutcher (Presidential Spouse and Cross-cultural Mentor), and will include a Q&A session.
Co-presented with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Beijing Bicycle
Dir. Wang Xiaoshuai, China, 2001, 113 min.
Guei, a boy from rural China, seeks to change his fortune by moving to the big city. In Beijing he becomes a courier using a bike he hopes to one day own. The bike gets stolen and eventually becomes the possession of Jian, a poor teenager who uses the bike to impress a girl. With both young men claiming ownership, numerous disputes arise over this symbol of mobility. Watch the trailer.
Streaming February 1-14!
Username: 49IS9I3A
Password: Kv>5a)$T1g
Only available in the U.S.
Finding Kukan
Dir. Robin Lung, USA, 2016, 75 min.
In the 1940s a feature documentary about World War II China -- "KUKAN" -- opens to great acclaim with segments even screened for President Roosevelt. Produced by Li Ling-Ai, "KUKAN" even receives an Academy Award in 1942. But why are we unaware of this talented filmmaker and why are there no available copies of such a successful film? A seven-year quest by director Robin Lung seeks to uncover these answers and more. Watch the trailer.
UR students, faculty, and staff can stream "Finding KUKAN" through library access to Kanopy.
Girls Always Happy
Dir. Yang Mingming, China, 2018, 117 min.
Wu and her mother live on top of each other in a cramped flat in a crowded section of Beijing. An aspiring screenwriter, she and her mother have a love-hate relationship that only becomes more tense as her mother also begins to engage in writing. Poignant and at times humorous, both women struggle with this bombastic relationship as they try to move forward. Watch the trailer.
Streaming February 1-14!
Password: GAHUR
ADDITIONAL CHINAFEST RESOURCES & PARTNERS:
The Rose Group for Cross-Cultural Understanding
Scrolling Down the Creative Paths: A collection of Chinese heritage arts and crafts, music, food and more
ChinaFest Poster & Full Program
&
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA)
ChinaFest Family Day
410 Westhampton Way
University of Richmond, VA 23173
(804) 289-8000
(800) 700-1662
Administration
General Info