ArtsEmerson Announces Spring 2026 Film Series Exploring Global Stories and Cultural Connections

ArtsEmerson, Boston’s leading presenter of contemporary world theater and film and the professional producing organization of Emerson College, has announced its Spring 2026 film programming, a wide-ranging slate of documentaries and narrative works running from February through May.

The season is centered on the theme “Stories Across Borders. Voices Across Generations. Cinema That Brings Us Together,” and continues ArtsEmerson’s mission to use film as a catalyst for dialogue, cultural exchange, and community connection.

Programming includes the return of the Shared Stories series, the ongoing Projecting Connections: Chinese American Experiences series, and several Special Presentation events, including an offsite screening at the Museum of Science. Many screenings will feature post-film conversations with filmmakers, scholars, artists, and community leaders.

Shared Stories Series Returns

ArtsEmerson’s Shared Stories series spotlights films that explore identity, political truth, and cross-cultural understanding. Highlights include:

• “Diamond Diplomacy” (March 6), a documentary examining baseball as a cultural bridge between Japan and the United States
• “ORWELL: 2+2=5” (April 3), filmmaker Raoul Peck’s exploration of George Orwell’s enduring relevance
• “Beam Me Up, Sulu” (May 15), a portrait of actor and activist George Takei and the impact of representation in popular culture, presented offsite at the Museum of Science

The Shared Stories series is presented in partnership with the Boston Asian American Film Festival, CineFest Latino Boston, and the Roxbury International Film Festival.

Projecting Connections: Chinese American Experiences

The Projecting Connections series continues to examine the diverse lived experiences of Chinese Americans through film and conversation. Events include feature screenings, short films, and live discussions, often paired with community engagement opportunities.

Upcoming highlights include:

• “Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee & the Making of Asian America” with author Jeff Chang (Feb. 6), preceded by excerpts from “Be Water”
• “Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson” (March 7), a genre-bending performance interrogating race and representation
• “Family Matters” (April 4), a family drama exploring generational tension, co-presented by the Taiwan Film Festival of Boston
• “Love, Chinatown” and “Hong Far Low” (May 16), two short documentaries celebrating Boston’s Chinatown

The series is co-presented by the Boston Asian American Film Festival.

“These films ask us not just to watch, but to listen — to history, to one another, and to the voices that have too often gone unheard,” said Susan Chinsen, ArtsEmerson Creative Producer and Founding Director of the Boston Asian American Film Festival. “Spring 2026 is about creating space for shared reflection and meaningful conversation, using cinema as a bridge between communities and generations.”

Special Presentation Events

The season also includes special one-off screenings, such as:

• “Third Act” (Feb. 21), a personal documentary by Tadashi Nakamura honoring filmmaker Robert A. Nakamura, presented as part of a Day of Remembrance and co-presented by the New England Japanese American Citizens League.

Tickets and Information

Tickets for ArtsEmerson film events are available at ArtsEmerson.org, by phone at 617-824-8400 (Tuesday–Saturday, noon–6 p.m.), or in person at the Paramount Center Box Office (559 Washington St., Boston). Ticket prices vary by event, and most screenings include post-film Q&A sessions.

For full listings, schedules, and additional details, visit ArtsEmerson.org.