Mayor Ed Lee

Mayor Ed Lee (2019) film poster. Illustration: John Mattos. Design: Studio Hinrichs.

On December 12, 2017, the City of San Francisco lost its beloved mayor, Ed Lee, unexpectedly and far too soon.

Documentary film by CHSA & Rick Quan

The Chinese Historical Society of America (CHSA) is proud to present the documentary film Mayor Ed Lee, which chronicles, documents, and preserves the memory of Ed Lee for future generations. Discover the life and character of this seemingly ordinary man, the son of working-class immigrants who grew up in Seattle’s public housing, became a San Francisco Chinatown lawyer, champion of civil rights and equal opportunity, and one of the first Chinese American mayors of a major U.S. city.

CHSA has partnered with Bay Area broadcaster and Emmy Award winner Rick Quan to produce the hour-long documentary. The project has the blessing and active support of Mayor Lee’s family, to whom he was very devoted. The film contains stories and reflections from Lee’s daughter’s, mother and other family members, childhood pals, former mayor Willie Brown, current mayor London Breed, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, former Washington governor and U.S. ambassador to China Gary Locke, colleagues from the Asian Law Caucus, Chinatown community and City Hall, among others.

This project was made possible thanks to the tremendous support of our GoFundMe donors and generous sponsors.

Please watch and share the latest trailer: https://youtu.be/3AzR9NCtxPg

Featured Screenings

OCA National Convention
June 28, 2019 | Houston, Texas
details

Check back soon for announcements of new screenings!

Past Screenings

Mayor Ed Lee Film Screening, Reception, Filmmakers Q&A Panel at Stanford
May 22, 2019, 6-9pm @ Stanford Graduate School of Business, CEMEX Auditorium | 655 Knight Way, Stanford, CA 94305
details & tickets >
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May, the Asian Alumni Chapter of the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) is proud to offer an on-campus Special Screening of a new documentary film about the late San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee – one of the first Asian-American mayor of a major U.S. city. This special event includes a pre-screening networking hour with hosted drinks and hot appetizers, and a unique post-screening fireside chat with the film’s director Rick Quan, an Emmy award winning TV journalist, and Alvin Lau, one of the executive producers and a Stanford GSB alumnus.

Mayor Ed Lee: Film Screening @ Delancey Street Screening Room
May 18, 2019, 1-3pm | 600 The Embarcadero, San Francisco | details & tickets >
The Chinese Historical Society of America is hosting a Special Screening of Rick Quan’s documentary film about Mayor Lee on May 18th in San Francisco. Screening includes NEW interview with Hillary Clinton reflecting on what Mayor Lee meant to her and the larger community. Event includes Reception and Post-Screening Q&A with Rick. Venue is the renown Delancey Street Screening Room – which Robert Redford designed & Francis Ford Coppola funded.

Screenings at CAAMFest 37
May 16, 2019, 6:30pm @ Piedmont Theatre
May 19, 2019, 5:25pm @ Roxie Theater
details & tickets >

Mayor Ed Lee: Film World Premiere | details >
February 11, 2019, 5-9pm @ Herbst Theatre