Pioneering Asian American Filmmaker Christine Choy Passes Away at 73
Christine Choy, a pioneering Asian American filmmaker, has passed away at the age of 73. Her death occurred on a Sunday, as confirmed by JT Takagi, the executive director of Third World Newsreel, a filmmaking collective she co-founded in the 1970s. No cause of death has been disclosed.
Legacy of Christine Choy
Choy was known for her groundbreaking work in independent film, particularly for her role in documenting social justice issues. She gained recognition for her Academy Award-nominated documentary on the murder of Vincent Chin, a case that became pivotal in Asian American activism.
Vincent Chin Case
- Incident Date: 1982
- Location: Detroit, Michigan
- Victim: Vincent Chin, a Chinese American
- Attackers: Two white auto workers
- Context: Chin was targeted amid anti-Japanese sentiment in America’s automotive industry.
Chin was celebrating his bachelor party when the attack occurred. The case highlighted the issue of anti-Asian hate and galvanized the Asian American community. The documentary on Chin’s story, titled “Who Killed Vincent Chin?”, was co-directed by Choy and Renee Tajima-Peña. Their collaboration began a year after Chin’s death due to the insufficient media coverage of the incident.
Choy’s Impact on Film and Education
Christine Choy was a full-time professor at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She was admired for her mentorship and support of young filmmakers. Dean Rubén Polendo praised her as “a triumphant force in documentary filmmaking,” noting that her influence would be felt long after her passing.
Choy’s formative years were spent in New York City, where she was deeply influenced by the Civil Rights Movement. She later earned a directing certificate from the American Film Institute and returned to New York to help establish Third World Newsreel. The organization focused on producing films that represented marginalized voices, especially those of people of color.
Notable Works
Throughout her career, Choy produced numerous documentaries that addressed critical issues such as:
- Race relations in Mississippi
- Life in New York City’s Chinatown
In addition to her influential documentaries, Choy received prestigious awards, including Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellowships. Her works have been recognized for their significant contributions to American film history.
Plans for her funeral services have yet to be publicly announced, but tributes continue to pour in, celebrating her remarkable life and legacy in filmmaking.
