The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation presents Eighth Annual Asian American Film Series

The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) is pleased to present theeighth annual Asian American Film Series, a four-part event held each Friday in July at the Alhecama Theatre (914 Santa Barbara Street, Santa Barbara). At the first three screenings, dinner will be available to purchase an hour before the screening, and a Q&A and reception will follow each film. At the fourth screening on July 28, a reception will be held an hour before the screening.

During the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries the area in and around the Santa Barbara Presidio included communities of Chinese and Japanese, residing in what was a unique and culturally rich neighborhood. SBTHP’s Asian American Film Series includes films with themes common to the experience of these communities in the effort to connect a modern audience with the history of the Asian American experience in Santa Barbara. Film selections address a broad range of historical and modern topics, such as the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, Chinese American adoptions, and the contributions of key Asian American figures. This film series is made possible by the generous support of the George H. Griffiths and Olive J. Griffiths Charitable Foundation. For more information, call (805) 965-0093 or visit www.sbthp.org/aafs.

This week’s viewing is the Santa Barbara premiere of George Takei’s Allegiance (2017, 2 hours 30 minutes, directed by Stafford Arima).

SBTHP is pleased to present the Santa Barbara premier of the filmed version of the new Broadway musical Allegiance. Inspired by the true life experience of its star George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes), Allegiance is the story of the Kimura family, whose lives are upended when they and 120,000 other Japanese-Americans are forced to leave their homes following the events of Pearl Harbor. Sam Kimura seeks to prove his patriotism by fighting for his country in the war, but his sister, Kei, fiercely protests the government’s treatment of her people. An uplifting testament to the power of the human spirit, Allegiance follows the Kimuras as they fight between duty and defiance, custom and change, family bonds and forbidden loves. Legendary performer George Takei, who was himself an internee as a child, stars alongside Tony® winner Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Mulan) in this enthralling and epic new musical.

2017 marks the 75th anniversary of FDR’s Executive Order 9066, which initiated the forced internment of an estimated 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry, most of whom were United States citizens. This special fourth screening highlights this important history.

Admission: $10 SBTHP members / $15 non-members; purchase in advance at www.sbthp.org/allegiance

Join SBTHP at reception one hour before the screening for complimentary appetizers and light refreshments.