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The Dumpling Club

A Film Screening and Discussion

Join the People's Archive and the 1882 Foundation for a screening of "The Dumpling Club," a short film about community and reconnecting with one's culture.

Join us for a community movie night! We will be watching The Dumpling Club, followed by a panel discussion with director Zulian Tjuatja, other cast members, and more.

The Dumpling Club follows Siwei in the aftermath of his parents' death. While grieving his parents, Siwei takes an old family cookbook to a local Chinese class to assist with translations.

Event Schedule:

6:30 PM -- Check In and Mingle
7:00 PM -- Screening
7:30 PM -- Panel Discussion
8:10 PM -- Q&A Session

Meet the Speakers:

Zulian Tjuatja, Filmmaker

Born and raised in Texas to Chinese Indonesian parents, Zulian Tjuatja is an Arlington-based filmmaker focused on humanistic stories based on community, with particular emphasis on the Asian American condition. The Dumpling Club is his third narrative short and was filmed entirely in the DMV with an all-local cast and crew.

Siwei Kwok, Featured Actor

Siwei is a Maryland native, born in Baltimore to a Taiwanese mother and Teochew father. He obtained a PhD in economics from UCLA and subsequently worked in Los Angeles for several years before returning to the DC area, where he currently works as a data scientist in the tech industry. The Dumpling Club is his acting debut.

Jess An, Featured Actor

Jess was born and raised in Beijing. She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at NYU before moving to DC, which she considers as her second home. Jess's career includes experience in international nonprofits and language immersion programs. The Dumpling Club is her acting debut. 

Tim Ma, Chef

Tim Ma is a critically-acclaimed chef and food & beverage entrepreneur who comes from a long family of restauranteurs. After a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech, a master’s of science from Johns Hopkins, and an accomplished career in electrical engineering, he gave it all up to open a tiny nine-table restaurant called Maple Ave that kicked off nearly 2-decade career in restaurants. His many culinary projects include restaurant Lucky Danger (part of Tim Ma Hospitality group) as well as Laoban Dumplings. His restaurants include  He is a cofounder of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate (CSAH), nonprofit organization that brings together the culinary world to support AAPI and social justice in support of the AAPI community and social justice issues around the world.

About the Organizers

The 1882 Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring the history, experiences, and contributions of Chinese Americans are recognized, preserved, and included in the American story. Questions? Please contact us at info@1882foundation.org

The People's Archive at DC Public Library is home to the dynamic collections that preserve and share the stories, histories, and voices of Washington, D.C.’s diverse communities, as well as the Black experience in the Unites States. It features materials—such as photographs, oral histories, documents, and more—that highlight the vibrant local, national and international history of DMV residents, grassroots movements, and cultural milestones, making it a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and anyone interested in learning more about the city’s past and present.

Chameleon Productions is a grassroots film production company dedicated to a humanistic view of storytelling by filming diverse and emotionally poignant stories.

Accessibility

To request a reasonable accommodation for this program, please contact the Center for Accessibility by email at DCPLaccess@dc.gov or call (202) 727-2142.

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