As Southern California’s largest and most prestigious film festival of its kind, the 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) launches the celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month through this year’s slate of over 170 films and videos from both Asian Pacific American and Asian international directors from 20 countries. Over the past 26 years, the festival has presented over 3200 films and videos by Asian American and Asian international artists since 1983. This year, 36 feature films and 134 shorts and videos will be showcased throughout the 10-day fest.

Berlin Film Festival hit film AU REVOIR TAIPEI from LAAPFF alum/USC grad filmmaker Arvin Chen will open the festival on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at the DGA at 7PM with the filmmaker and cast scheduled to attend the Los Angeles premiere. The romantic comedy executive produced by German film director Wim Wenders and produced by LAAPFF alum In-Ah Lee (The Grace Lee Project, American Zombie) was an audience fave in Berlin.

AU REVOIR TAIPEI Trailer

Another LAAPFF alum, filmmaker Quentin Lee (Drift, Ethan Mao, Shopping for Fangs) brings his hit sex comedy THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH to the fest as the American Centerpiece film on Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the DGA at 7PM with director Lee, screenwriter Koji Sakai and film’s stars Karin Anna Cheung (Better Luck Tomorrow), Archie Kao (CSI, Desperate Housewives), and Wilson Cruz (He’s Just Not That Into You, My So Called Life, Noah’s Arc) in attendance.

THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH Trailer

Le Thanh Son’s action packed film CLASH – Vietnam’s current box office smash is slated for the LAAPFF International Centerpiece premiering on Sunday, May 2 at 7PM at the DGA. CLASH reunites the team behind the LAAPFF 2007 closing night film The Rebel and stars Johnny Tri Nguyen and Veronica Ngo in this hard-hitting thriller. Incorporating stylish action sequences and stunning cinematography, the film continues to propel the current Viet Wave Cinema. Cast members will join Director Le Thanh Son at the LA premiere.

CLASH Trailer

In a World Premiere slot, the 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is proud to present THE MIKADO PROJECT from Festival alum Chil Kong on Saturday, May 1 at 9:30 PM at the DGA. The comedy centers on an Asian American theater troupe – The Angry Buddha Theater Ensemble – as they try to mount the popular theater piece after they lose their leading male star. Director Kong and his all-star cast of actors including Tamlyn Tomita, Erin Quill, David McInnis, Allen Liu and Ryan Yu and others are slated to attend the gala event.

This year, the LAAPFF will present the North American premiere of the hit South Korean comedy THE ACTRESSES from director E. J-yong in the Special Sneak Preview slot on Saturday, May 8 at 7PM at the Downtown Independent Theater. Shot as a documentary, this comedy send-up is an inside look at the dramatics of six of the most famous actresses in Korean film who were gathered together by Vogue Korea for a photo shoot on Christmas Eve 2008. The multi-generational cast played themselves and worked without a script creating their dialogue, while playing up the varied facets of their respective private and public personas. With THE ACTRESSES, it’s always about the drama on and off screen for stars Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Mi-sook, Choi Ji-woo, Ko Hyun-jung, Kim Min-hee and Kim Ok-vin.

Closing out this year’s fest is the Southern California premiere of the current Hong Kong smash BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS from director Teddy Chen and featuring an all star cast including Tony Leung, Simon Yam, Donnie Yen and kickboxer/MMA fighter Cung Le. This blockbuster action film will be presented Thursday, May 6 at 7PM at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo in Downtown Los Angeles with actor Cung Le at the gala.

BODYGUARDS AND ASSASSINS Trailer

Something special this year at 2010 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be the celebration of Asian American icon Bruce Lee’s 70th birthday. Together with Bruce Lee Enterprises, the festival will highlight the life of this legend with special screenings including a free outdoor screening of the classic THE CHINESE CONNECTION on April 30 at Madang the Courtyard in Korea Town at Western and Wilshire Blvd. and a special screening ENTER THE DRAGON on May 1 at Noon at the Laemmle’s Sunset 5 and an outdoor free screening In addition, two special panel discussions are scheduled as follows:

· May 1 – 1:30 PM following ENTER THE DRAGON screening with filmmakers Reginald Hudlin and Brett Ratner, president of Bruce Lee Enterprises Shannon Lee, actor/martial artist Bob Wall and others to be announced. Guests will discuss the impact of Bruce Lee on world wide pop culture.

· May 2 – 4:00 PM at the DGA Atrium – a special panel with the Lee Family and friends including wife Linda Lee, daughter Shannon Lee, God-daughter/actress Diana Lee Inosanto and others to be announced. The guests will discuss Bruce Lee as the man, the father, the husband, and the friend.

This year marks a strong year for non-fiction works at the LAAPFF with submissions way up than other years. The 2010 documentary line-up includes award winners and premieres and a special spotlight on Academy Award® winner/LAAPFF alum Freida Lee Mock. Some of the films are:
· LAST TRAIN HOME – Lixin Fan
· ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE – Rob Lemkin and Thet Sambath
· ONE VOICE – Lisette Marie Flanary
· STATE OF ALOHA – Anne Misawa
· A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILES – S. Leo Chiang
· IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE – Deann Borshay Liem
· MAMACHAS DEL RING – Betty M. Park
· BEIJING TAXI – Miao Wang
· AOKI – Ben Wang and Mike Chang
· MACHO LIKE ME – Helie Lee
· MY TEHRAN FOR SALE – Granaz Moussavi
· LT. WATADA – Freida Lee Mock
· SING! CHINA – Freida Lee Mock

One of the ongoing objectives of the LAAPFF is to support and present the best of Asian American filmmakers. This year, these films include many filmmakers who are based in the US, but have gone to Asia to film, as well as those here at home:
· AU REVOIR TAIPEI – Arvin Chen
· GOD IS D_AD – Abraham L. Lim
· KTOWN COWBOYS– Daniel Park
· THE MIKADO PROJECT – Chil Kong
· RASPBERRY MAGIC – Leena Pendharkar
· SF STORIES – Raul Jocson
· STRANGERS – Michael Aki
· THE TAQWACORES – Eyad Zahra
· THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH – Quentin Lee
· CLASH – Le Thanh Son
· THE MOUNTAIN THIEF – Gerry Balasta

For ticket and program information and to purchase tickets, go here or contact Visual Communications at (213) 680-4462 x68. Tickets are on sale now online.