“In its clear-eyed and naturalistic way, SMOKING TIGERS takes on a surprising fullness.” Jesse Hassenger, Paste Magazine
“A tenderly-told story that will appeal to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider.” - Morgan Rojas, Cinemacy
Thursday, May 23, 6:00 p.m. | Set in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, SMOKING TIGERS follows Hayoung, played by Ji-young Yoo (EXPATS), a lonely 16-year-old Korean American girl who is taken under the wings of three wealthy students she meets at an elite academic boot-camp. As she falls deeper into their world, Hayoung works harder to hide her problematic family and lower-income background from her new friends, only to discover the bittersweet pains of adulthood that will shape her life.
Awards & Nominations
Winner - Best Performance (Ji-young Yoo), U.S. Narrative Feature, Tribeca Film Festival
Winner - Best Screenplay, U.S. Narrative Feature, Tribeca Film Festival
Winner - American Independent Award, Best Feature Film, Denver International Film Festival
Nominee - New Direction Competition, Cleveland International Film Festival
Asian American Showcase: Presented as an annual collaboration with the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media and now celebrating its 27th year, the Asian American Showcase (AAS) provides a platform for new work by established and emerging Asian American filmmakers. View full program.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu