The 15th Annual ChinaFest is held during February 6-9, 2020
All film screenings are at Ukrop Auditorium, Queally Hall, The Robins School of Business, University of Richmond; in partnership with International Film Series (IFS).
Festival Events
 Thursday, FEBRUARY 6
The Irby B. Brown Lecture
China and the Wider World: Art and Material Cultures of the Qin and Han Dynasties
Co-Sponsored with UR Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Thursday, February 6, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. International Commons, Carole Weinstein International Center
 This presentation explores the seminal changes that took place during the Qin and Han dynasties (221 B.C.-A.D. 220), when China emerged as a unified country, laying political and intellectual foundations and reshaping art and culture for the following two millennia. It also examines the contact between China and other parts of the world, which resulted from the increased trade and exchange over the transcontinental Silk Road and maritime route across the Indian Ocean.
Jason Sun is Brooke Russell Astor Curator of Chinese Art in the Department of Asian Art of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. He received his doctoral degree in Chinese Art and Archaeology from Princeton University and was E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Curator of East Asian Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art before joining the Met in 1999.
He has curated many exhibitions, including the 2017 landmark show “Age of Empires: Chinese Art of the Qin and Dynasties (221 BC-AD 220), and lectured and published widely on a variety of subjects including Chinese jade carving, metalwork, calligraphy, archaeology, and museum studies.
Saturday, FEBRUARY 8
ChinaFest: Year of the Metal Rat
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Sat, Feb 8, 2020 | 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Free | No tickets required
Visit VMFA to celebrate the Lunar New Year and ChinaFest: Year of the Metal Rat! Explore Chinese art and culture through art-making activities, collaborative projects, films, demonstrations, and performances. Make a Zodiac Sumi-e Scroll celebrating the Year of the Rat, construct a Paper Lantern, build a 3D Paper Vessel, and so much more! Watch the dynamic Lion Dance, beautiful performances by Yu Dance Arts, and many other spectacular performances and artist demonstrations! 
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Photo by Sandra Sellars
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Sunday, FEBRUARY 9
Fantastical Creatures on Court Robes: Political Symbolism in Late Qing Dynasty Textiles
Collection Talk and Tea Reception, Lora Robins Gallery, University of Richmond Museums
Sunday, February 9, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Junru Zhou, ’21, art history
and mathematics double
major, 2019-2020 Curatorial
Assistant,University Museums
Rank Badge (Buzi) with Qilin (detail), China, Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), circa late nineteenth century - early twentieth century. Gift in memory of David June Carver, Jr. R1960.01.39 © Unive rs it y of Richmond Museums, photograph by Taylor Dabney
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Film Screening Schedules
The 15th Annual ChinaFest Film Program
Friday, Feb. 7, 3:00 p.m, presented by Rose Chen
 The Farewell
Dir. Pamela Tom ( will be at the screening ) , USA, 2015, 73 min.
A touching, comedic film— based on the real-life experiences of the director— follows a family trying to hide a terminal cancer diagnosis from their elderly matriarch. To spare Nai Nai from the stress of knowing her condition, the family reunites at her home in China and stages an elaborate fake wedding in order to say their final goodbyes.
 Friday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.
Born in China
Dir. Lu Chuan, 2017, US/China, 76 min.
From frigid mountains to the heart of the bamboo forest, this film follows the adventures of three animal families in China: the majestic panda, the savvy golden monkey and the elusive snow leopard. Featuring stunning imagery, and showcasing intimate family moments, never before captured.
 Saturday, Feb. 8, 3:00 pm, presented by UR faculty Gengsong Gao
Dying to Survive
Dir. Wen Muye, 2018, China, 117 min.
Torn from the headlines, this dark comedy portrays the real-life exploits of a leukemia patient who smuggled cheaper generic drugs from India to save himself and others. Laced with social commentary and sharp humor, this film examines the lengths ordinary people will go to survive.
 Sunday, Feb 9, 3:00 p.m, presented by UR student Junru Zhou
Long Day’s Journey into Night
Dir. Bi Gan, 2018, China, 140 min.
A dream-like film noir, follows Luo as he returns home for his estranged father’s funeral. Haunted by recollections of a former love who disappeared, and others he lost, Luo embarks on a hallucinatory journey through time and memory, seeking to unravel mysteries from his past in search of an elusive truth.
 Sunday, Feb 9, 7:30 p.m, presented by UR student Sean Foley
Shadow
Dir. Zhang Yimou, 2018, China, 116 min.
A classic Three Kingdoms epic reimagined as a sumptuous wuxia-drama. Facing the humiliation of defeat in battle, an ambitious ruler aims to win back his kingdom through an alliance with a political rival. His top general has other plans, employing a “shadow,” or doppelgänger who can infiltrate his enemies and fool the king— but at a cost.
ChinaFest 2020 Acknowledgements, with thanks to:
Our committee members for their devotion and hard work: Rose Nan-Ping Chen, Chair, Cheryl Clark, Cathy Hinton, Kathryn Gray, Mary Nelson, and Franklin Propert.
Dean Martha Merritt and her team at the Office of International Education, University of Richmond, for its generous support; Professor Gengsong Gao for his participation in our film selections; Molly Fair for help with obtaining the films, and Michael Warchol for his invaluable support. Dr. Richard Waller, Executive Director of University Museums, for staging China- related exhibition.
Our programming partners for their behind- the scenes coordination and support: staff members of Art and Education Division at VMFA: Celeste Fetta, Natalie Feister, Merenda Cecelia, Lulan Yu, and many volunteers. Peggy Watson of UR Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Our distinguished speakers for their outstanding scholarship and contributions. Our many presenters for sharing their time and talents.
Our deepest gratitude to all the contact persons, coordinators and volunteers who made ChinaFest truly a community effort.
The Fifteenth Annual ChinaFest is made possible by:The Rose Group for Cross-Cultural Understanding; County of Henrico, Virginia; Dominion Energy; The Anne Carter Robins & Walter R. Robins, Jr. Foundation; University of Richmond (UR); Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA); Virginia Film Office; Evergreen Enterprises; The Peachtree House Foundation; The Rock Foundation.
List of Supporters
Contributor: June H. Guthrie
In-kind donors: Universal Leaf. |
