Feature: Ten Memories from Sophia Wong Boccio Celebrates Season Ten of Asian Pop-Up Cinema

CHICAGO – Season Ten for Chicago’s Asian Pop-Up Cinema (APUC) will kick off on March 10th, 2020, and this cultural gift to the city has grown with each new Opening Night. The success of APUC is due to its founder – veteran film curator Sophia Wong Boccio – who coordinates her board of directors, vendors, Chicago communities and volunteers to present the screenings and events. For more information about the Opening Night film, the North American Premiere of Hong Kong’s “I’m Livin’ It,” click here. [21]

Sophia Wong Boccio for the Asian Pop-Up Cinema, Season Ten
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

Sophia Wong Boccio was born and raised in Hong Kong, to parents who were both in the film industry there. Her early business career was in in Hong Kong and Beijing, where she was the Asia Managing Director for a large multinational commodity firm. While in Beijing, she developed “Sophia’s Choice,” a film festival that highlighted Chinese subtitled films for expatriates and the diplomatic corp. She expanded her cinema interests when she moved to Chicago in 2000, working with the Chicago International Film Festival for seven years, and founding the Asian Pop-Up Cinema in 2015 (APUC presents two seasons per year, Spring and Fall).

To celebrate Season Ten, HollywoodChicago.com asked Ms. Wong Boccio to provide ten highlights of the Asian Pop-Up Cinema in its history …

First Asian Filmmaker Attends APUC

Yuichi Sato of ‘Poison Berry in My Brain’ in Chicago
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com



December 4th, 2015: After launching the first season in the fall of 2015, I was able to bring in the FIRST Asian filmmaker, Japanese director Yuichi Sato of “Poison Berry in My Brain.” This highlighted the Closing Night of our inaugural season.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [22]

First Significant APUC Tribute … Director Herman Yau Lai-to of Hong Kong

Hong Kong Filmmaker Herman Yau Lai-to at APUC Tribute in 2016
Photo credit: APUC



May 20th, 2016: Our Closing Night Gala for Season Two – at Venue SIX10 at Chicago’s Spertus Institute – honored Hong Kong filmmaker icon Herman Yau Lai-to, featuring one of the best of his “Ip Man” franchise, “The Final Fight” AND a North American premiere his latest film at the time, “The Mobfathers.”

First Printed Program Book

Cover Image of Program Book, APUC Season Seven
Photo credit: APUC



Season Three, 2016: Although it may not seem like a milestone, getting that first program book in print – thanks to ADG Group in Chicago – was a significant point of pride and way for us to market the Asian Pop-Up Cinema.

Hong Kong Pop Music Legend Teddy Robin Kwan

Rockers, LtoR: Steve Barclay, Sophia Wong Boccio, Teddy Robin Kwan & Rich Moskal
Photo credit: APUC



May 11th, 2017: In the 1960s, Teddy Robin Kwan & the Playboys hit the Asian music scene in the wake of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and afterward Teddy had a notable acting career in Hong Kong films. He came in for a Season Four tribute at the Chicago History Museum, on a celebratory and unforgettable night. The program featured Chicago’s Fulcrum Point New Music Project and local singers performing Teddy’s songs.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [23]

First Film from Thailand

Director Nattawut ‘Baz’ Poonpiriya of ‘Bad Genius’
Photo credit: APUC

November 15th, 2017: The Closing Night for Season Five featured our first film from Thailand, director Baz Poonpiriya’s “Bad Genius.” This film was a huge hit all over in Asian countries, and the director was in attendance.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [24]

Japanese Movie Star Yuki Furukawa

Japanese Actor Yuki Furukawa on APUC’s Season Six Opening Night
Photo credit: APUC

March 18th, 2018: One of the more memorable Opening Nights was for Season Six, which featured popular Japanese movie star Yuki Furukawa for his film “Colors of Wind.” With millions of fans all around the world, Yuki drew in many out-of-town guests for the first time to the film festival.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [25]

Midwest Premiere of ‘Best Foreign Language’ Selection ‘Village Rockstars’

'Village Rockstars,’ Directed by Rima Das
Photo credit: APUC

April 18th, 2018: “Village Rockstars,” a film that screened in Season Six, was another Asian Pop-Up Cinema first. Later that year, it became the official selection of India for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar consideration … although it didn’t make the final list of nominees. Director Rima Das appeared on behalf of the film that night.

Lee Jae-in, First ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD Honoree

ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD Recipient Lee Jae-in
Photo credit: APUC

September 12th, 2018: The South Korean film “Adulthood,” which opened Season Seven of Asian Pop-Up Cinema, had another distinction. We presented our first ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD to the film’s young co-star, Lee Jae-in. The actor was accompanied by director Kim In-Seon, and we celebrated with another sold-out crowd.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [26]

APUC on Tour

Director Akiyo Fujimura of ‘Ten Years Japan’ with Sophia Wong Boccio
Photo credit: Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

March, 2019: Right after the Chicago premiere of “Ten Years Japan” at Asian Pop-Up Cinema Season Eight, we took the film “on the road” to Toronto, Canada, to screen it there. One of the short film segments in the film was “The Air We Can’t See” by filmmaker Akiyo Fujimura, who represented the film during the tour. APUC was now international!

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [27]

ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD For Christian Bables

Awardee Christian Bables of ‘Signal Rock’ with Sophia Wong Boccio
Photo credit: APUC

October 3rd, 2019: Another ADG BRIGHT STAR AWARD was given in the recent Season Nine to Filipino actor Christian Bables for “Signal Rock,” and the film was part of a the Filipino American History Month celebration. May the next five years provide more memorable moments.

HollywoodChicago.com coverage: CLICK HERE [28]

BONUS: ‘One Cut of the Dead’

Sophia Wong Boccio and Takayuko Hamatsu
Photo credit: APUC

November 14, 2018: The Season Seven Closing Night featured the outrageous Japanese film ‘One Cut of the Dead,” director Shinichiro Ueda’s now cult classic. Actor Takayuki Hamatsu came to Chicago to represent the film, and made sure that I received a personally autographed copy of the iconic poster. In all the Seasons, that was the most rewarding moment for me.

[30]	By PATRICK McDONALD [31] Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [30]