Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, is pleased to inaugurate an ongoing series at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum. Select works ranging from politics to horror, from live-action to anime and everything else in between will be augmented with shoptalks and special guest appearances.

Nikkei Overseas (double-feature):

Overstay (1998) Director: Ann Kaneko
Overstay foregrounds the lives of foreign migrant workers in Japan. Four sets of young people from Iran, Pakistan, Peru, and the Philippines tell their unique stories—why they came to Japan, what struggles they have faced, and how they have adjusted to an unusually insular and traditional society.

Against the Grain: An Artist’s Survival Guide To Perú (2007) Director: Ann Kaneko
Spanning two decades of corrupt governments and inept leadership in Perú, Against the Grain tells the story of four inspiring artists—one displaced by rebel insurgents, another a Japanese Peruvian targeted by the regime, and others whose works comment on youth culture and religion—and their struggles to persevere and make art in Perú.

Presented in partnership with Visual Communications. For more information about Visual Communications, visit www.vconline.org/.