LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL

Edward Hong’s Report of the LAAPFF

ung646 — Wed, 19 May 2010 22:28:52 +0000

I came to Los Angeles to pursue my passion of being an actor with a social justice activist core. For the past three months, I worked hard to accomplish this goal within the Asian Pacific American community and have met some truly wonderful people along the way. Throughout my time here, I encountered Visual Communications and knew right away that this was the type of organization that spoke directly to my dreams and ambitions. So it was a great honor to be chosen as one of the Online Reporters for the 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. It was a blast to partake in watching the many featured films and shorts as well as getting to know the people responsible for creating them.

I have never actually taken part in a film festival before and so it was an exciting and yet also terrifying prospect to watch so many movies, interview featured directors & actors, and attend many of the panels throughout the festival. But I am not here solely to discuss the actors, directors, producers, and industry folks that I met nor am I here to put up reviews on the movies that I have seen.

I am here because I want to put down in words the overwhelming feeling that I felt as I watched these films; stories that were unique, tragic, haunting, hilarious, and most of all, beautiful. I was in awe of the romance and love that could be felt throughout Arvin Chen’s Au Revoir Taipei. I witnessed the courageous bravado in expressing one’s inner ugliness and insecurities in Eyad Zahra’s The Taqwacores. I laughed my buttocks off in the hilarious yet down-to-earth portrayals of Asian Americans in Quentin Lee’s The People I Slept With and Daniel Park’s Ktown Cowboys. I watched in intense silence being part of Thet Sambath’s incredible personal journey in Enemies of the People and moved to tears when he showed forgiveness to the former Khmer Regime soldiers.

These are only a few of the many beautiful stories that I have had the pleasure of watching. During my interactions and interviews with many of these folks who made these films and shorts possible, I realized that I was in the presence of the future movers and shakers who will shape the cinema and media landscape. Their voices and their stories are all different yet in the end, they speak directly to the human condition and the joy of being alive with all its imperfections and glory.

My experience with this film festival has inspired me to create my own unique voice with resolve, determination, and passion, just like the filmmakers and actors did for their works. It is an experience that I know that I will never forget.

LAST TRAIN HOME and THE TAQWACORES Take Multiple Jury Honors at 2010 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL

anderson — Fri, 07 May 2010 05:20:11 +0000

IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE and A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES ALSO GARNER MULTIPLE AWARDS AT LARGEST ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

May 6, 2010 – LOS ANGELES The 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival celebrated the closing night of their 26^th Anniversary edition on Thursday night with the screening of the Hong Kong action flick BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS by Teddy Chan and the announcement of this year’s jury prizes. It was the night of THE TAQWACORES, as Eyad Zahra’s film about a Muslim punk band took home numerous awards including the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction Film, Best Director, Best Acting for an Ensemble Cast and the Audience Award for Favorite Film at the 10 day fest. Writer/Director Raul Jocson was honored with the Best Screenplay Award for SF STORIES, while first time filmmaker Daniel Park received the Best First Feature Award for his webisode project KTOWN COWBOYS which wowed the jury and sold out audiences. In the documentary jury competition, director Lixin Fan’s LAST TRAIN HOME received two awards including Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Documentary Feature and Best Cinematography. Docu filmmaker Deann Borshay Liem won Best Director for her personal film IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE and her editor Vivien Hillgrove received the Best Editing prize. Returning non-fiction filmmaker S. Leo Chiang’s film, A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, received the newly anointed CALL TO ACTION prize and the Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Short films this year were in abundance with 136 shorts being screened at the festival. The film BICYCLE from Dean Yamada was the recipient of the Golden Reel Award, while Prithi Gowda was honored with the Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions award for her film TELEVISNU. The Festival partnered with Toyota as the Official Vehicle Sponsor. Toyota once again brought their cutting edge style to the Festival in their car displays. In addition, Toyota hosted the music video showcase – Cinema Musica! – and rooftop after-party and sponsored the free outdoor screening of THE CHINESE CONNECTION. The Festival is also partnered with the Directors Guild of America as the main screening venue during the Festival’s Opening Weekend.

OFFICIAL VEHICLE SPONSOR – Toyota; PREMIERE – Directors Guild of America; GOLD – Wells Fargo; Time Warner Cable; OFFICIAL BEER SPONSOR – Stella Artois; Official Hotel Sponsor – Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown; Silver – Sony Pictures Entertainment; Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Metro; Minika Ko Marketing; Bronze – Bali Film Center; Harrah’s Rincon Casino & Resort; Fox Entertainment Group; Government Information Office, Republic of China (Taiwan); SAG Indie; Screen Actors Guild; Hollywood & Highland Center; Star – NBC Universal; CBS; Motion Picture Editors Guild; Union Bank; Verizon Wireless; Writers Guild of America, West; Flash Cuts; Eastman Kodak Company; Government Support – American Recovery & Reinvestment Act; National Endowment for the Arts; Los Angeles County Arts Commission; City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; Venue Sponsors – Directors Guild of America; Japanese American Cultural & Community Center; Japanese American National Museum; Downtown Independent; Laemmle’s Sunset 5; Madang the Courtyard; Festival Awards Sponsors – Movie Magic; Write Brothers, Inc.; Reception Sponsors – Kyochon Chicken; Jinro; Madang the Courtyard; Far Bar | Chop Suey; Creative Floral Designs; LA18 KSCI-TV; Kirin; Media Sponsors – 89.3 KPCC; LA18 KSCI-TV; LA Weekly; angryasianman.com; Giant Robot

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Visual Communications is the Southland’s premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema. Since 1983, the Film Festival has presented over 3200 films and videos by Asian international and Asian American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards.

ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS: Visual Communications (VC), the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, was established in 1970. The organization has established a lengthy track record of pioneering achievements in producing, presenting, and preserving more honest and accurate representations of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in America. Visual Communications is also recognized as an incubator of emerging Asian Pacific American cinematic talent. The organization’s works have been exhibited in numerous venues and broadcast outlets around the world. The mission of Visual Communications is to promote intercultural understanding through the creation, presentation, preservation and support of media works by and about Asian Pacific Americans.

2010 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS

Documentary Feature:

Grand Jury Award, Documentary LAST TRAIN HOME Directed by LIXIN FAN

Special Jury Award, Documentary: Best Director DEANN BORSHAY LIEM, IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE

Special Jury Award, Documentary: Cinematography LIXIN FAN, LAST TRAIN HOME

Special Jury Award, Documentary: Best Editing VIVIEN HILLGROVE, IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE

Call to Action Award A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES Directed by S. LEO CHIANG

Narrative Feature:

Grand Jury Award, Narrative THE TAQWACORES Directed by EYAD ZAHRA

Special Jury Award, Narrative: Best Director EYAD ZAHRA, THE TAQWACORES

Special Jury Award, Narrative: Best Screenplay RAUL JOCSON, SF STORIES

Special Jury Award, Narrative: Best Ensemble Acting NAV MANN, BOBBY NADERI, DOMINIC RAINS, NOUREEN DEWULF, THE TAQWACORES

Special Jury Award, Narrative: Best First Feature KTOWN COWBOYS Directed by DANIEL PARK

Short Film:

Festival Golden Reel Award BICYCLE (Jitensha) Directed by DEAN YAMADA

Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award TELEVISNU Directed by PRITHI GOWDA

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

NARRATIVE FILM – THE TAQWACORES, EYAD ZAHRA

DOCUMENTARY FILM — A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, S. LEO CHIANG

Finalized Closing Weekend Schedule

anderson — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:41:56 +0000

The TBAs have been filled with select Award Winners and here’s the final schedule for the Festival’s Closing Weekend:

Friday, May 7

4:30pm — LAST TRAIN HOME

7:00pm — MAO’S LAST DANCER

9:30pm — THE TAQWACORES

Saturday, May 8

1:30pm — KTOWN COWBOYS w/ TELEVISNU & BICYCLE

4:30pm — The New Buzz: The Rise of the New Asian American Star

7:00pm — THE ACTRESSES

Encore Screening of BIG ISLAND FILMS Short Program, Thursday, May 6

anderson — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:49:11 +0000

BIG ISLAND FILMS, the shorts program that consists of films straight from the 50th State, replays again on Thursday, May 6, at 6:30pm, Downtown Independent. Highlights include POI DOGS, an unlikely love story that take place on the Ewa side of Oahu and AJUMMA ARE YOU KRAZY?, a zany comedy about Korean drama loving housewives. Tickets on sale at the Downtown Independent Box-Office.

Closing Weekend at Downtown Independent!

anderson — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:40:58 +0000

The LAAPFF’s award jury winners will be announced at 5pm PST, Thursday, May 6 on this website. We will have encore screenings for the award winners at the Downtown Independent on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8. Plus, screenings of late addition MAO’S LAST DANCER and THE ACTRESSES, as well as our final panel, The New Buzz.

Friday, May 7

4:30pm — Award Winner TBA

7:00pm — MAO’S LAST DANCER

9:30pm — Award Winner TBA

Saturday, May 8

1:30pm — Award Winner TBA

4:30pm — The New Buzz: The Rise of the New Asian American Star

7:00pm — THE ACTRESSES

Deann Borshay Liem, History Detective

abe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:47:39 +0000

Ten years after directing her well-regarded FIRST PERSON PLURAL, Dean Borshay Liem delves deeper into her background as a Korean adoptee in IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE. This new documentary film provides a glimpse into the politics and pitfalls of overseas adoptions, and provides an update on Borshay Liem’s family, who were featured in her earlier film.

Eyad Zahra on Making THE TAQWACORES

abe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:32:47 +0000

Straight from the Sundance and SXSW film Festivals comes THE TAQWACORES, an electrifying debut feature by Eyad Zahra, another in a growing line of filmmakers from Florida State University to be showcased in the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Festival Seminar Coordinator Lori Lopez chats with Zahra, a Cleveland native and unabashed Cavaliers fanatic, and in this exclusive interview, learns more about Zahra’s inspiration for making the film as well as the challenges of adapting a classic underground novel for the big screen.

RASPBERRY MAGIC Director Interviewed

abe — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 06:12:04 +0000

Bay Area transplant Leena Pendharkar delivers an impressive narrative debut feature in RASPBERRY MAGIC, which has already been picking up steam on the film festival circuit. Learn more about Leena and her film in our exclusive interview.

Exciting Panel and Seminar Lineup Planned

Albert — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:04:49 +0000

So you know you love to watch films, but are you ready to take the next step and inform yourself on the filmmaking process? You’re in luck! In addition to showcasing the works of noteworthy, original, and engaging film pieces, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival offers a number of highly informative and insightful panels and seminars with experienced and acclaimed filmmakers and fellow cinephiles. Panel topics range from the step-by-step development of a script, to the management of balancing a schedule between filmmaking and other duties and responsibilities. Want to know more about our panels and seminars? Here’s a quick look at some of our panels we are particularly excited about:

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF SCREENWRITING
10:00 AM, MAY 1, DGA 3
Often, writers get lost in their ambitious stories, forgetting that there is so much more to screenwriting than just being a good storyteller or possessing an enticing writing style. Join Weiko Lin and Kris Young, from the Writers Guild of America/West, in an exclusive 90-minute screenwriter’s Bootcamp. Familiarize yourself with not only the logistical formatting of a screenplay, but also with the meticulous development of an idea, to the execution of interesting narrative structures, and even the nerve-wracking process of pitching your scripts in the most effective way.

THE ART OF EDITING: CRAFTING THE WORLD OF AVATAR
12:30 PM, MAY 1, DGA ATRIUM
The most commercially successful film of all time would not have been without the mastery of an ultra-precise editing style to shape the narrative structure and determine the pace of its now universal story. Join Award-winning editor Maysie Hoy (THE JOY LUCK CLUB, THE FAMILY THAT PREYS), alongside Steve Rifkin and Jon Refoua (AVATAR) as they share their insight, advice, and details on their vital contributions in determining how they wanted to present their films to their audiences.

J.P. CHAN: DON’T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB
2:30 PM, MAY 1, DGA ATRIUM
At the nexus of the hyper-development of social media technology, the availability of professional film editing suites, and growth of affordable filming equipment, there exists the infinite possibilities of coaxing any filmmakers’ ambitions into its fullest expression and potential. Join self-taught filmmaker J.P. Chan as he shares his experience in making artistically serious and no/low budget short films that have played for audiences around the world. Learn how filmmakers learned the craft and business with “no experience, no money, and no connections”, without even attending film school!

Click here to see the full list of panels and seminars, and to buy tickets online!

Bruce Lee, Cultural Icon: 70th Birthday Celebration

moriko — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 09:29:26 +0000

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is pleased to observe the 70th anniversay of Bruce Lee’s birthday with a slate of activities honoring the legendary actor and martial artist. Comprised of film screenings and panel discussions featuring celebrities and Bruce Lee’s own family members, our tributes will take place from April 30th to May 2 at the DGA, Madang the Courtyard, and Laemmle’s Sunset 5.

To legions of martial arts enthusiasts and pop culture aficionados alike, Bruce Lee is simply a hero. Bruce Lee’s infectious charisma on the big screen was and still remains captivating because as Tim Kwok, Visual Communications Board Member, puts it: “Bruce was not only an icon for many of us Asian Americans, but for everyone around the world. The celebration of his life and the discussion around him as a person, a friend, a family man, and a martial artist and actor will be moving”.

So if you count yourself as one of the many appreciative fans of the Bruce Lee canon, come respectfully and joyously celebrate his work and rediscover Bruce Lee with screenings of THE CHINESE CONNECTION and ENTER THE DRAGON, two films that defined Bruce Lee as an esteemed actor and artist, as well as with two panels entitled, “How Bruce Lee Influenced Pop Culture” and “Bruce Lee: The Family Man”.

Hosted by a collaborative effort between the Film Festival and Bruce Lee Enterprises, these programs will offer new and revelatory insight not only into Bruce Lee, Hollywood myth and mystery, but Bruce Lee, the man: the father, the husband, and the dear friend to many.

THE CHINESE CONNECTION, the movie that first gave a taste of Bruce Lee’s eclectic style to young urban and Asian American audiences, will have a FREE outdoor screening at Madang the Courtyard on Friday, April 30th. The screening will commence shortly after sundown and will be preceded by festivities and a performance by the local quartet LiLA at 7:00 PM.
621 S. Western Ave. (one block north of Wilshire Blvd.), Los Angeles Koreatown.

ENTER THE DRAGON, the last film Bruce Lee starred in before his untimely death, will be screened at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 on Saturday, May 1st at 12:00 PM. Following the screening will be “How Bruce Lee Influenced Pop Culture”, a comprehensive panel moderated by Phil Yu of AngryAsianMan.com and featuring daughter Shannon Lee, Linkin Park’s Joseph Hahn, actor/martial artist Bob Wall, and directors Reginald Hudlin and Brett Ratner.
8000 W. Sunset Blvd. (one block west of the DGA), West Hollywood.

“Bruce Lee: The Family Man”, a special, FREE panel discussing Bruce Lee as a person who was more than just an image on the screen, will take place at the Director’s Guild of America, Atrium on Sunday, May 2 at 4:00 PM. Guests will include Bruce Lee’s wife Linda Cadwell, daughter Shannon Lee, goddaughter and actress Diana Lee Inosanto, and more.
7920 Sunset Blvd. (one block west of Fairfax Ave.), West Hollywood.

For more info, see: Bruce Lee, Cultural Icon