San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009

10th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival
Home Info Films Events Tickets Sponsors Media Contact Archive
Notice! Registration is not required to browse the site, track audience buzz, and learn about the festival. If you choose to register, you can create a personal festival calendar, rate and review films, and receive updates about upcoming screenings. Close
    • highlights
    • films
    • schedule
    • buzz
    • my festival
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
  • You have been away for more than an hour, so we have automatically logged you out. We know that's a bit of a pain, but we do it to protect your personal information. If you were logged in, please log in again, and we won't bother you again (that is, until the next time you idle for an hour).
Average Rating:
Rated 4.042872763128348/5 Stars
My Rating:
My Beijing Birthday
Howie Snyder 2008
Categories: Children, Chinese, Comedy, Documentary, Family, Historical, Target
1 picture Pictures
Run time: 52 min. | China, USA | Language: Mandarin and English with English subtitles
Family Friendly

MY BEIJING BIRTHDAY is a heart-felt and humorous look at the rapidly changing lives of a group of children in Beijing through the eyes of an American, Howie Snyder. In 1996, Synder, a former New Yorker and skillful Mandarin-speaker, enrolled into a children’s school that teaches traditional Chinese stand-up comedy.

At 40, Snyder was the oldest (and only non-Chinese) student in the class of mostly 6-8 year olds. Synder documented his experience of breaking through the language and cultural barriers, showing him as just “one of the kids,” under the direction of the tough but passionate teacher, Mrs. Ma.

Twelve years later, in the Spring of 2008, Synder revisited his old classmates and teacher to see how they and China had changed over the last 12 years. The children, now young adults, had undergone the fastest economic and social transformation that the world has ever seen. MY BEIJING BIRTHDAY offers a light-hearted and realistic view of China in 1996 and 2008, and provides insight into the changes in China and what she will look like in the future.

Director Howie Snyder scheduled to attend Oct 21 and 23 screenings.

Oct 23 Free screening made possible by Target.

Co-presented by:
Barnard Elementary School - Chinese Magnet School
Screenings
time venue calendar tickets
6:00 PM     Wed, Oct 21
** Note: Director Howie Snyder in attendance
 Ultrastar Theater - Stella Artois + add to cal buy tickets
4:00 PM     Fri, Oct 23
** Note: Free screening; Director Howie Snyder to attend
 UltraStar Theater - Barona + add to cal
Recommendations
rating people who liked this also liked
Number of views 604
Number of calendar adds 14
Best of Times
Number of views 1426
Number of calendar adds 55
Children of Invention
share Like it? Share it with friends
Share
Your friend's email:

Your message:

Your name:

Your email:

Copy me too:
adds people who added this also added
Number of views 524
Number of calendar adds 24
The Love Market
Number of views 1798
Number of calendar adds 67
White on Rice
About the film
Cast & Crew
director
Howie Snyder
writer
Howie Snyder
 
producer
Alison Clark
Duncan Clark
Audience Buzz
Rated 4.042872763128348/5 Stars
4.0 | 4
views 390 people viewed this page
adds 21 people added it to their calendar (find out who)
Featured Review
Notice! The featured review is chosen at random and contributed by an audience member. Click the reviews tab above to read all the reviews for this film, or register to write your own review. Close
Rated 4.0/5 Stars
carmelfred
2:54 AM
 User Thumbnail
Very funny documentary about an American Jewish man that travels to Beijing, first in 1996, to take comedy classes with 5-8 year old children. Also enjoyed his 2008 reunion with the same kids, now young adults. Really eye-opening to see how much Beijing has changed during this period.