Summer in the Richmond

I had such a wonderful time at our first Heart of the Richmond Night Market last month. We had more than 40 vendors and community partners, and I can’t wait for our next one on July 20!

We have so much to look forward to this summer in the Richmond, between our night markets, a ping pong tournament, Autumn Moon Festival and film festivals.

We are putting on the first of four Heart of the Richmond Film Festivals at the Balboa Theater, Friday, July 12 to Sunday, July 14. These festivals are funded, in part, by the Golden Gate Park Community Benefit Fund to reinvest in the Richmond and bring family-friendly activities to the neighborhood.

This first festival is a partnership with our office and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco and is a celebration of the cinematic genius of Hong Kong director Stephen Chow. We will have a selection of seven of his most iconic films shown over three days. All films will be presented in Cantonese with English subtitles. We will have complimentary tickets for the community available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can pick up your ticket at local merchants and community partners, visit heartoftherichmonddistrictnightmarket.com for more details. Or you can purchase individual tickets or a film fest pass at the Balboa Theater at balboamovies.com.

See below for the schedule for our first festival. I hope to see you out at the movies or in the neighborhood this summer!

Friday, July 12

Opening Reception: 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Featuring traditional Chinese dancing, hors d’oeuvres and Cantonese calligraphy.

“Shaolin Soccer” (2001): 8 p.m.

The film revolves around a former Shaolin monk who reunites his five brothers, years after their master’s death, to apply their superhuman martial arts skills to play soccer and bring Shaolin kung fu to the masses.

Saturday, July 13

“The God of Cookery” (1996): 1:30 p.m.

Chow is a corrupt celebrity chef who runs a successful business empire. Dubbed the “god of cookery,” he humiliates other chefs in a culinary competition where he appears as a judge, despite knowing very little about cooking himself.

“All’s Well, Ends Well” (1992): 4:30 p.m.

A romantic Chinese New Year comedy about the three Shang brothers. Eldest brother Shang Moon is a philandering businessman who treats his hideous yet hard-working wife like dirt. Middle brother Shang Foon is a disc jockey/playboy who tries to score with as many girls as possible.

“Kung Fu Hustle” (2004): 7:30 p.m.

In Shanghai, China, in the 1940s, a wannabe gangster aspires to join the notorious “axe gang” while residents of a housing complex exhibit extraordinary powers in defending their turf.

Sunday July 14

“The Chinese Odyssey, Part 1: Pandora’s Box” (1995): 1:30 p.m.

Forced to reincarnate as a goofy gangster as punishment, the once-powerful Monkey King unwittingly embarks on an adventure to rediscover his destiny.

“The Chinese Odyssey Part 2: Cinderella” (1995): 4:30 p.m.

The convoluted continuation of the adventures of the time traveling, now-human Monkey King, who attempts to fulfill his divine destiny.

“Flirting Scholar” (1993): 7:30 p.m.

A scholar in search of true love. Disguising himself as a houseboy, he indentures himself to a rich family in order to pursue the ravishing servant girl who has stolen his heart.

Connie Chan represents District 1 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. She can be reached at 415-554-7410 or chanstaff@sfgov.org.