The San Diego Asian Film Festival is excited to announce its ninth season, taking place at the Mission Valley UltraStar Cinema at Hazard Center, OCTOBER 9-16, 2008. As San Diego’s largest Pan Asian cultural event, more than 20,000 attendees will experience over 130 short and feature films from a record 17 countries including the Canada, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong , Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Peru, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S.

Highlights include:

·Opening night film on Thursday, October 9 with the theatrical premiere of Academy Award Winning director Jessica Yu’s first narrative feature, PING PONG PLAYA, a hilarious comedy about a young man trying to fight for his family’s ping pong dynasty

·Closing night film on Thursday, October 16 – ALWAYS 2: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET, directed by Yamazaki Takashi, sequel to a heartwarming post-war Japanese film that swept Japan’s version of the Academy Awards.

·West Coast premieres of Korean thriller hit PUBLIC ENEMY RETURNS directed by Woo-Suk Kang: and one of the most sought-after martial arts froms from Thailand, CHOCOLATE, directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who also directed “Ong Bak”

·Controversial documentary, DIRTY HANDS: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DAVID CHOE directed by Harry Kim

·Free Films at Four series, we are offering free films to public at 4PM October 13-16

·Twelve short film programs including our popular all-animation program ANIMATION: THE ILLUSION OF LIFE and REEL VOICES, a free short documentary showcase by local high school students

Film festival organizers will also encourage attendees to register to vote through a REEL IN THE VOTE campaign to address why Asian Pacific Islanders have the lowest voter turnout and lowest political participation. Along with screening PSAs encouraging voter participation, the festival will present a free REEL IN THE VOTE films program on Tuesday, October 14 at the Hazard Center UltraStar.

Patrons can also attend three panels including one with the directors and stars of Harold & Kumar 2: Escape From Guantanamo Bay, plus a panel with local comic book artist Jim Lee, discussing the trend of converting comics into movies. More than 100 filmmakers and actors are scheduled to attend including John Cho (Harold and Kumar, and the upcoming Star Trek prequel), Aaron Yoo (Disturbia, 21, The Wackness), Daniel Dae Kim (Lost), Smith Cho (Knight Rider, Ping Pong Playa), and James Kyson Lee (Heroes).

Buy 2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival Tickets here.

2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival Trailer