News

We’re honored that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will safeguard the Hollywood Chinese collection for future generations of writers, scholars, researchers, filmmakers, and cinephiles. The recent Los Angeles fires are a reminder of how fragile the documentation of history can be, and more material will be transferred in the future, including production files, into the Academy Collection, the largest film-related collection in the world. Read the AsAm News article here.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the Berlinale’s Teddy Award, the festival has released a commemorative poster series featuring past award-winning films and filmmakers. Among those recognized is Arthur Dong’s Coming Out Under Fire, included alongside works by trailblazers such as Barbara Hammer and Cheryl Dunye. Coming Out Under Fire has since been preserved and restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive and IndieCollect, and is currently distributed by Kino Lorber. More information about the release here.

A standing ovation for the legendary LISA LU, who at 98 years young received her richly deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! From her debut in the 1958 film China Doll to unforgettable performances in The Last Emperor, The Joy Luck Club, and Crazy Rich Asians, Lisa Lu has graced the screen with elegance, depth, and undeniable presence. Ms. Lu is pictured here with filmmaker Arthur Dong — she narrated his mother’s voice in Sewing Woman, and worked with him again in Hollywood Chinese and Lotus. Thank you, Lisa, for inspiring generations. Your brilliance continues to shine!

On the latest episode of InfatuAsian, host Curtis Chin sits down with filmmaker and historian Arthur Dong for a conversation about growing up in Chinatown, navigating identity, and reflecting on five decades of work in film. Tune in free at the InfatuAsian Podcast website, where you can also explore past episodes featuring a lineup of Asian American creators—including journalist Connie Chung, Michelin-starred Chef Brandon Jew, playwright Lauren Yee, graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, celebrity chef Ming Tsai, and many more.

In this new series, SFist highlights the uplifting stories of Bay Area residents and the communities they support, featuring Arthur Dong, San Francisco native and gay Chinese American filmmaker; Hafeth “Omar” Mansouri and his canine colleague Major of “Corner Stories;” and trans barber Santana Vasquez. Read the full story here.

Thanks to Queerty and columnist Carson Mlnarik for including The Arthur Dong Collection as an object of obsession. Read their complete list here.

Bary Area Reporter: “The Arthur Dong Collection is a fitting tribute to a great filmmaker. His stories are our stories, and they need to be told… His queer-themed films in particular have told stories about some rough topics, yet he told them all with a meticulousness which makes each film riveting to watch. That’s not to say that his Asian films are less interesting. On the contrary, they are entertaining and fascinating and give a voice to a community that’s all too often been left in the background.” Read the full review here.

The Hollywood Chinese Collection is en route to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences to be integrated into the Academy Collection. Once catalogued, a wealth of materials—including posters, lobby cards, stills, promotional items, and other archival ephemera—will be accessible to scholars, writers, and cinephiles for research. Future additions will include files from all DeepFocus Productions films and the Arthur Dong papers. Pictured: Rachel Rosenfeld, right, and Connie Xuncax from the Academy Collection ensured a seamless transfer.