Jimmy Mirikitani

One of his paintings, "Mother and Baby Cat."

“Make art, not war” is Jimmy Mirikitani’s motto.

This 87-year-old Japanese American artist was born in Sacramento, raised in Hiroshima and imprisoned in the Tule Lake internment camp. In 2001, he was living on the streets of New York with the twin towers of the World Trade Center still ominously framing the horizon behind him.

What began as a simple verite portrait of one homeless man became a rare documentary of daily life in New York in the months leading up to and following 9/11, as well as an intimate exploration of the lingering wounds of war and the healing powers of friendship and art.

“The Cats of Mirikitani” won the Audience Award at its premiere in the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.

A film screening and discussion co-sponsored by the Center for Asian American Media, Japan Society of Northern California and Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California will be held on Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Asia Society Northern California Center, 500 Washington St., fifth floor, in San Francisco.

Registration starts at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m. and a sushi/wine reception at 7:30 p.m.

There will be a discussion with the filmmaker, Linda Hattendorf, moderated by Chi-hui Yang of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.

Hattendorf has worked in the New York documentary community for more than a decade. Her editing work has aired on PBS, A&E, and the Sundance Channel as well as in theatrical venues and many festivals. Among many other films, she edited Josh Pais’ award-winning documentary “7th Street”; Julia Pimsleur’s “Brother Born Again”; Christina Lundberg’s “On the Road Home: A Spiritual Journey Guided by Remarkable Women”; Nancy Recant’s “Jin Shin Jyutsu”; and Danny Schecters’ “In Debt We Trust.”

The price is $5 for JCCCNC members and students, $10 for non-members.

For more information, call (415) 421-8707 or go on-line to www.asiasociety.org.

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