2026 film Filipiñana in Pittsburgh for SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Fest, September 19.

The 2026 Filipino film Filipiñana will play in Pittsburgh on September 19, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Fest. A synopsis, from SCREENSHOT:

In Filipiñana, Isabel (Jorrybell Agoto) — a new “tee girl” at a luxury golf course – attempts to navigate the quiet luxury and ruthless hierarchical structure of Manila’s wealthy elite. Even as Isabel becomes increasingly entranced with the club’s president Dr. Palanca, she also seems to know secrets that point to Palanca’s dark history. The film’s highly artificial shots of composed pastel symmetries and minutely choreographed workers paint a portrait of Manila’s high society as simultaneously banal and terrifying. The luxurious facility echoes the country’s instabilities: its challenges from climate upheaval amid an increasingly wealthy elite, its history of violence, and its underlying class conflicts. First-time feature director Rafael Manual’s confident artisanship and darkly funny writing are remarkable, but Agoto is the standout star of the film, as a young woman who wants a different life than has been allocated to her. Her relationship with Dr. Palanca maps the Philippines’s past onto its present, showing how even the most elite can’t escape the realities in which they live.

It plays from 7:00 pm at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff can use promo code ASIAN2026 to get free tickets, but must show valid university ID at the door.

An Evening With the Incredible Ming-Na Wen, October 8 in Shadyside.

Riverstone Books will present "An Evening With the Incredible Ming-Na Wen" on October 8 at Third Presbyterian Church in Shadyside (map).

Join us for an unforgettable evening with beloved actress and Pittsburgh's own , Ming-Na Wen!

Join us on Thursday, October 8th to celebrate the release of Ming-Na Wen's cookbook, Have You Eaten Yet?

This cookbook is a heartfelt collection of stories and recipes from Ming-Na Wen, weaving together her childhood in her family’s Pittsburgh Chinese restaurant with the dishes she now cooks at home for loved ones and friends.

We are excited to announce that author Jim Rooney (A Different Way to Win: Dan Rooney’s Story from the Super Bowl to the Rooney Rule), member of the legendary Rooney family, will be our moderator for the evening!

See below for all details regarding the event and please reach out to us if you have any questions.

2025 Japanese film Two Seasons, Two Strangers (旅と日々), starring Shim Eun-kyung, in Pittsburgh on September 20, part of SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Fest.

The 2025 Japanese film Two Seasons, Two Strangers (旅と日々), starring Korean actress Shim Eun-kyung, will play in Pittsburgh on September 20, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Fest.

Inspired by two of Yoshiharu Tsuge’s manga short stories – A View of the Seaside and Mr. Ben and His Igloo – the film connects and contrasts two moments in time and space, exploring how lives and stories can be viewed, reviewed, and reimagined in cinema. In the first story, a damp, windswept summer by the sea provides the location where two young strangers exchange tentative glances and halting conversation. In the second, a screenwriter, Li, meets the enigmatic innkeeper Benzo at a remote snowy inn. In both, director Sho Mikaye (whose first film, Small, Slow but Steady screened at our 2023 festival) bridges connections between strangers to give us a beautiful, intimate, at times surreal, portrait of human connectivity.

It plays at the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland (map) and tickets are available online. Tickets are free for CMU students and for University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff.

2025 Chinese film Gloaming in Luomu (罗目的黄昏) in Pittsburgh, September 19, part of SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival.

The 2025 Chinese film Gloaming in Luomu (罗目的黄昏) will play in Pittsburgh on September 19, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival. A synopsis, from SCREENSHOT:

CONTENT WARNING: Addiction

When Bai (Bai Baihe) – a dancer with an alcohol problem – receives a postcard from her missing boyfriend that only says “Gloaming in Luomu,” she heads to the untouched, idyllic village to try to find out what happened to him. There, she connects with a host of interesting characters, all of whom help her as she feels increasingly more connected to her absent companion. In Gloaming in Luomu, Korean-Chinese filmmaker Zhang Lu offers a radical reworking vanished soulmate theme, with the Sichuan-set tale unfolding like a delirious dream, the mysteries of its complex characters and metaphysical conversations heightened by meticulous camerawork and imaginative sound design. The film captures the surreal disjuncture of searching while also lost and of looking for a shade of the past–someone who may or may not be a fever dream.

It plays in room 332 of the Cathedral of Learning (map) and tickets are available online. Tickets are free for students, faculty, and staff with a valid University of Pittsburgh ID card, and for Carnegie Mellon University students. 

Laurie Trok x Peel Open Session, debuting new menu, September 19 at Peel in Squirrel Hill.

Newish Squirrel Hill teahouse Peel is hosting an Open Session on September 19 where it will unveil its new menu.

Laurie Trok x Peel is a kinetic menu collaboration for play, translocal encounters, and rituals.

Laurie is a multidisciplinary artist whose work leans into our experience of the ephemeral and the ways time is made visible by entropy. Food is central to this practice and Laurie has sought to create menus that investigate our relationship to time.

Often sourcing directly from their own garden, Laurie’s and Peel’s practices are both particularly attuned to time and place-specificity. The collaboration approaches temporalities and inheritances as sites where play, locality and collaboration can generate speculative rituals for tasting, relating and gathering.

Your ticket gives you access to the space from 12-5pm, with unlimited menu offerings available throughout the session (menu below). Once the reservation is made, there are no additional charges at Peel.

Tickets are available online for $38. More information is on Peel's Instagram post. Peel opened in February at 5806 Forbes Ave., second floor, above Uncle Sam's (map). 

2026 Indonesian horror film Sleep No More (Monster Pabrik Rambut) in Pittsburgh, September 18, part of SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival.

The 2026 Indonesian horror film Sleep No More (Monster Pabrik Rambut) will play in Pittsburgh on September 18, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival. A synopsis, by SCREENSHOT:

CONTENT WARNING: Violence, Extreme Gore

Following the horrific death of their mother while on the job at a wig factory in Jakarta, sisters Putri (Rachel Amanda) and Ida (Lutesha) decide to visit the premises to investigate. Upon arriving at the gloomy, prison-like building, they meet the mysterious and intimidating Mrs. Maryati (Didik Nini Thowok), the owner of the Evergreen factory, who tells them they will have to work there to pay off the colossal debt their late mother had incurred to fund Ida’s education. There are great bonuses, but the workers live in an exhausted, zombie-like state. When more workplace accidents (and eventual deaths) occur, the sisters begin to investigate. This visceral, grotesque body horror underscores the relationship between violence and labor, and the ability of capitalism to both steal everything from the human body, even using magic as a labor-saving resource in the pursuit of global profit.

It plays from 8:00 pm at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff can use promo code ASIAN2026 to get free tickets, but must show valid university ID at the door.

2025 Taiwanese film Before the Bright Day (南方時光) in Pittsburgh, September 18, for SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival.

The 2025 Taiwanese film Before the Bright Day (南方時光) will play in Pittsburgh on September 18, part of this year's SCREENSHOT: ASIA Film Festival running from September 16 through 23. A synopsis, by SCREENSHOT:

Before the Bright Day, the poignant directorial debut of emerging Taiwanese filmmaker Shih-Han Tsao, captures a young man’s turbulent coming-of-age against the backdrop of the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis. Chou (Hsuan-Li Chen), labeled a “B-class loser” by his teacher, yearns for more than his uneventful adolescence—especially with Min, the girl he likes, placed in the elite A-class. Disillusioned by his bleak home life and drawn to rebellion, Chou idolizes a small-time gang leader named Button. But as political tensions rise and his family’s financial stability crumbles, Chou’s world begins to fall apart. Button leaves for the military, his high school crush’s family may emigrate from the threat of impending war, and Chou is caught smoking, which is cause for expulsion. Drifting without direction, he must navigate a society on edge, where youthful dreams and harsh realities collide. With raw emotion and historical resonance, Before the Bright Day explores identity, class, and disillusionment during a pivotal moment in Taiwan’s modern history.

It plays at 1:30 pm at Frick Fine Arts Auditorium in Oakland (map), and tickets are available online. Tickets are free for CMU students and for University of Pittsburgh students, faculty, and staff.

2026 Korean movie Hope (호프) stays in Pittsburgh through (at least) September 24.

The 2026 Korean movie Hope (호프), which opened in Pittsburgh on September 9, will remain here through (at least) September 24.

A police chief, a policewoman and a group of hunters try to track down and kill a mysterious creature that's laying waste to a Korean village.

It plays locally at many area theaters, including: Squirrel Hill Manor, AMC Loews Waterfront, AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14 + PTX, and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Singer-songwriter Lee Emi in Pittsburgh, November 7.

Singer-songwriter Lee Emi will perform in Pittsburgh on November 7.

Born in South Korea and raised in Michigan, singer-songwriter Lee Emi has performed her music for audiences across the country and overseas, using those experiences to add grit to her dark, thematic songwriting. Her indie-pop-rock music bears sharp teeth, leaning into the rawness of anger, grief, and self-doubt, weaving powerful melodies around potent lyrics that ask all of us: am I good enough?

Originally named Lee Sang-Eun and raised under the name Emilee Petersmark, Lee Emi began her career in 2010 as a primary songwriter and co-lead singer/guitarist in beloved West Michigan indie band, The Crane Wives. For the next 15 years, she would play bars, listening rooms, theatres, and concert venues across the continental US and release 5 studio records with the Crane Wives, all while quietly building a personal cache of songs that would eventually become her first solo record, DESTROY EVERYTHING, to be released in October 2026.

Doors open at 7:00 pm at the Thunderbird Cafe, show starts at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available online. The Thunderbird Cafe & Music Hall is located at 4023 Butler St. in Lawrenceville (map).

4K presentation of Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊) for film's 30th anniversary, in Pittsburgh area from September 17.

A 4K presentation of Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊) for the film's 30th anniversary will play in Pittsburgh from September 17. A synopsis, from the Anime News Network:

In the year 2029, the barriers of our world have been broken down by the net and by cybernetics, but this brings new vulnerability to humans in the form of brain-hacking. When a highly-wanted hacker known as "The Puppetmaster" begins involving them in politics, Section 9, a group of cybernetically enhanced cops, are called in to investigate and stop the Puppetmaster. The pursuit will call into question what makes a human and what is the Puppetmaster in a world where the distinction between human and machine is increasingly blurry.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Westmoreland in Greensburg, and---on the 20th and 23rd only, for now---at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson. Tickets are available online.

Concert film BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG' in Buenos Aires: Live Viewing in Pittsburgh, October 24 and 25.

The upcoming concert film BTS World Tour 'ARIRANG' in Buenos Aires: Live Viewing will play in Pittsburgh on October 24 and 25.

The first-ever BTS Live Viewing broadcast from South America. Experience the BTS WORLD TOUR 'ARIRANG' in cinemas worldwide, broadcasting from Buenos Aires, Argentina! Marking the first time the band has ever performed in Argentina, this monumental concert will bring the explosive energy of the packed stadium straight to the big screen.

It plays locally, so far, at the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monaca, Monroeville, and Robinson, and tickets are available online.

Pittsburgh Taiko Beginners Workshop, September 20.

Pittsburgh Taiko is holding its second introductory workshop of the fall on Sunday, September 20.

Try taiko drumming with Pittsburgh Taiko!

Pittsburgh Taiko's beginner workshops give you a taste of taiko in a one-day, 2-hour format. These workshops are  designed for people who just want to give taiko a try, or folks who might be interested in joining our performing group. 

No experience is necessary! 

Taiko combines energetic hits with calm focus, balances group unity with individual expression, and requires both power and subtlety.  

Each workshop is a 2-hour introduction to taiko, including some taiko history and culture and focusing on hands-on basics. You’ll learn how to stand, how to hit, and some simple patterns that come together to make a percussion melody.  

Workshops are from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at our studio in Bellevue. The workshops are designed for adults and older kids (high school or older). 

Note that our studio is a masked space, and unfortunately it is not accessible to folks who can't climb stairs.

Please read the information at pittsburghtaiko.com/classes before registering.

Classes are held at 2 N Balph Ave, Bellevue, PA 15202, Second Floor (map). The cost is $30 for Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania members and students, and $40 for the general public. Space is limited and as of this post there are six spots remaining. 

Hangul Day at University of Pittsburgh, October 2.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host Hangul Day: Play Korea on October 2 Hangul (한글) is the Korean phonetic alphabet and it is celebrated in South Korea on October 9. Hangul Day: Play Korea will be held from 12:00 to 3:00 pm in the William Pitt Union Plaza (map).

2001 Japanese film Ichi the Killer (殺し屋1) at Parkway Theater, September 18.

The 2001 Japanese film Ichi the Killer (殺し屋1) will play at the Parkway Theater on September 18, the third installment in a run of three Asian Movie Madness films.

Takashi Miike’s Ichi the Killer (2001) is typically considered one of the most disturbing films ever made because it pushes violence and psychology to grotesque extremes. It’s even banned in Norway, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, outright.

As sadomasochistic yakuza enforcer Kakihara searches for his missing boss he comes across Ichi, a repressed and psychotic killer who may be able to inflict levels of pain that Kakihara has only dreamed of.

Tickets are $10 at the door. The theater is located at 644 Broadway Ave. in McKees Rocks (map). 

New 4K restoration of 1964 Japanese horror film anthology Kwaidan (怪談) in Pittsburgh, from October 8.

The 1964 Japanese horror film anthology Kwaidan (怪談) will play in Pittsburgh from October 8 through 13, part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's International Art House series.

New 4K Restoration! Original Japanese Cut! 

Spirits in the drinking water, stolen ears, crabs with human faces: such are the endless wonders of Kwaidan. A haunting masterpiece of world cinema, Kwaidan remains one of the most visually astonishing horror films ever made. Directed by the legendary Japanese filmmaker Masaki Kobayashi (Harakiri) and based on the collected folklore Lafcadio Hearn, this anthology film presents four supernatural tales: a doomed samurai haunted by his past, a snow spirit's deadly bargain, a blind musician performing for the dead, and a mysterious encounter with a man who cannot stop smiling. 

Produced during the golden age of Japanese cinema, Kwaidan was an ambitious and extraordinarily expensive undertaking, with Kobayashi constructing elaborate expressionistic sets that transform traditional ghost stories into breathtaking cinematic nightmares. Eschewing realism in favor of stylized color palettes, theatrical staging, and an eerie, avant-garde soundscape by composer Toru Takemitsu (Akira Kurosawa’s Ran), the film created a visual language that continues to influence filmmakers more than sixty years later. This new restoration of Kwaidan reflects the full, original three-hour cut of the film as originally released in Japan. 

It plays at the Harris Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) and tickets are available online. 

11th Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival (相约第11届匹兹堡中华文化节), September 19 in Mellon Park.

The Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Center will present the 11th annual Pittsburgh Chinese Cultural Festival (相约第11届匹兹堡中华文化节) on September 19.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19 at Mellon Park! Bring your family and friends for a lively day filled with captivating performances, interactive art demonstrations, fun games, and delicious food. Early birds can enjoy warm-up performances starting at 10:30 AM, with the official festival kickoff at 11:00 AM (running through 5:00 PM). See you there!

9月19日（周六）Mellon Park 带上家人与朋友，一起享受精彩绝伦的舞台表演、丰富有趣的艺术互动展示、热闹的互动游戏以及地道的各色美食。上午10:30起将带来精彩的预热表演，文化节将于11:00正式拉开帷幕（持续至下午5点）。期待您的到来！我们不见不散！

The event runs from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm in the southern half of Mellon Park (map, not the half with the spray park and baseball fields).

Concert film SB19 Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale In Cinemas, with Filipino boy band SB19, in Pittsburgh October 8 and 11.

The upcoming concert film SB19 Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale In Cinemas, following Filipino boy band SB19, will play in Pittsburgh on October 8 and 11.

From the Philippines to the world, SB19’s historic Wakas at Simula: The Trilogy Concert Finale comes to cinemas worldwide. Captured before a record breaking crowd of nearly 100,000 fans, the film showcases the group’s biggest hits, spectacular production, and world class performances that have made SB19 one of Asia’s most influential acts. Presented in SCREENX and 4DX, audiences can experience the scale, sound, and energy of the concert like never before. Experience the power of GENTO, What?, and DAM as the Philippines’ biggest pop phenomenon takes over the big screen in an unforgettable celebration of music, fandom, and legacy. More than a concert film, it is the story of a movement– one built by five artists, millions of fans, and a dream that helped redefine Filipino music for a new generation.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2026 American film Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, starring Rinko Kikuchi, in Pittsburgh from September 25.

The 2026 American film Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!, starring Rinko Kikuchi among other Japanese and international actors, will play in Pittsburgh from September 25.

Haru and Luis love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene, but after tragedy strikes, Haru withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor. She must face what comes next as sparks fly.

It plays locally, so far, at the Manor Theatre in Squirrel Hill, and tickets are available online.

"2026 CMU Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival" at Carnegie Mellon University, September 25.

The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics’ Chinese Studies program at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh’s Organization of Chinese Americans will present the 2026 CMU Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25.

The Mid-Autumn Festival — Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节) in Chinese — is also called the Mooncake Festival or the Moon Festival, and is the second most important festival in China after Chinese New Year.

In Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reunion time for families, celebrated by gathering for dinners, worshiping the moon, lighting paper lanterns, eating moon cakes, etc.

Join LCAL and the Chinese studies program as we celebrate this special holiday with food and drink, arts and performances, and being together as a community!

The event runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Oakland (map), and is free and open to the public.

Mid-Autumn Festival with Pitt's Asian Studies Center, September 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will hold its annual Mid-Autumn Festival on September 14.

Join ASC for our Mid-Autumn Festival! We will play Pitch Pot and enjoy free snacks!!

It runs from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm in the Global Hub on the first floor of Posvar Hall (map), and is free and open to the public.