When: Saturday, December 7, 2024
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 pm EST
Location: SVA – MFA DSI Auditorium
Guests will see the first rough cut of the film Meeting Memories and will be asked to provide feedback to filmmaker Emily Kao as she prepares her final cut.

Emily Kao’s 阿公阿嬤 (maternal grandparents) both died of cancer within 2 years of each other in the 1980s, long before she was born. Her desire to forge a connection with them manifested into what is now her ongoing documentary Meeting Memories.

Filmed across Taiwan (Taipei, Taichung, Tainan) and Japan (Tokyo), Emily interviewed 23 of her relatives, retraced places that were once of significance to her 阿公阿嬤, and immersed herself in using objects they’ve left behind—a 127 mm film camera, tailored coats, and a Go game set.

In the heart of it all, the making of this film has also been a homecoming to her family—an opportunity to gather with intention, an attempt to heal strain-endured relationships. Through her invitation to meet their past, we found solace in the present.

What participants will leave with

• A reflection on family history and how it is intertwined with our present
• A sense of community and belonging with design practitioners who have projects or dreams that they are trying to bring to life

About the Filmmaker: Emily Kao (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based cross-cultural Taiwanese designer and design strategist. Growing up immersed in multiple cultures shaped her as a researcher who never assumes and always seeks to understand. Her interdisciplinary approach fuels creative problem-solving, fusing ideas from diverse fields to design meaningful, impactful solutions. Emily’s work has supported clients like Google, J&J Med Tech, and the Tribeca Film Festival.

For more info/portfolio, visit: emilykao.com