“I Will Be There After My Wandering” (Documentary Film, 2025, Dir. Zhang Yang): Revisiting the Transpacific of Wan-go Weng (1918-2020)

Speakers:
Zhang Yang, filmmaker

Jane Gaines, Professor of Film in the Faculty of the Arts, School of the Arts, Columbia University

Ying Qian, Associate Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Department of East Asian Langs and Cultures, Columbia University

Jim Cheng, Director, C. V. Starr East Asian Library, Starr East Asian Library

Opening Remarks:

Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, Dorothy Borg Chair in the History of the United States and East Asia; Director of the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University

Chris Cronin, Associate University Librarian for Collections, Columbia University

Join us for the American premiere of the documentary I Will Be There After My Wandering (2025), directed by Zhang Yang and produced by Suzhou Broadcasting System. The film explores Chinese American filmmaker Wan-go Weng’s long, prolific and under-recognized filmmaking career, and is based on Weng’s original 16mm film reels, generously gifted by Weng, and carefully preserved and managed by the staff of the C.V. Starr East Asian Library and colleagues at Columbia University Libraries.

A panel discussion with director Zhang Yang, faculty members, and librarians will highlight the vital collaboration between faculty and libraries in using unique primary resources for teaching and research—and in keeping this part of Chinese American history alive. Reception following.

Speaker’s Bio:

Documentary director Zhang Yang’s work Born to Save You was selected as one of the Top 10 Outstanding Short Films at the China Television Documentary Academic Ceremony.

The Story of Wumen Qin won Best Film at the 1st China Musics Ethnographic Film Festival.

I Will Be There After My Wandering was nominated for Best Feature Documentary at the 15th China Documentary Academy Awards.

Schedule:

6:00-7:10 pm: Remarks and screening

7:10-8:00 pm: Panel Discussion, including Q&A

8:00-9:00 pm: Reception

This event is hosted by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and the C.V. Starr East Asian Library and co-sponsored by Film & Media Studies, School of the Arts, and the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures.