The 2011 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival celebrated the closing night of their 27th Anniversary edition last night with the screening of the Taiwanese romantic comedy “LOVE IN DISGUISE” by Leehom Wang and the announcement of this year’s jury prizes.
Filmmaker Ian Gamazon took home both the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction Film and Outstanding Director award for his film “LIVING IN SEDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES,” while actors Eric Mabius, Fernando Noriega, Will Yun Lee and Luke Brandon Field were singled out with a Best Ensemble Acting Award for their performances in “WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN” directed by Mun Chee Yong. Other narrative film awards given out included Outstanding Screenplay to writer/director Stephane Gauger for “SAIGON ELECTRIC;” Outstanding Cinematography to Gavin Kelly for “WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN;” and a Special Jury Award for Breakout Performance by a New Actor to Ryan Greene for his role in “ONE KINE DAY.” First time filmmaker Byron Q received the Best First Film Award for his dramatic “BANG BANG.” The winning audience favorite awards went to “RAKENROL” from Quark Henares for fave fiction film and to “AMONG B-BOYS” from Christopher Woon for favorite documentary.
In the documentary jury competition, “THE HOUSE OF SUH” from Iris K. Shim received both the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Non-Fiction Film and the Outstanding Director Award.
“ONE BIG HAPA FAMILY” directed by Jeff Chiba Stearns also took home two awards for Outstanding Cinematography to Jason Woodford and for Outstanding Editing to Chiba Stearns. The jury awarded a Special Jury Prize for Human Rights to “FINDING FACE” directed by Skye Fitzgerald and Patti Duncan which chronicles the details of the controversial case of rising star Tat Marina who was attacked with acid in Cambodia in 1999.
Short films this year were in abundance with 148 shorts being screened at the festival. The film “TEAMWORK” from Hong Seo Yun was the recipient of the Golden Reel Award, while Soham Mehta was honored with the Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions award for his film “FIRECRACKER.”
COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS
2011 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS
Documentary Feature:
Grand Jury Award, Documentary:
THE HOUSE OF SUH
Directed by IRIS K. SHIM and Produced by GERRY KIM
Special Jury Award, Documentary: Outstanding Director
IRIS K. SHIM
THE HOUSE OF SUH
Special Jury Award, Documentary: Outstanding Cinematography
JASON WOODFORD
ONE BIG HAPA FAMILY
Special Jury Award, Documentary: Outstanding Editing
JEFF CHIBA STEARNS
ONE BIG HAPA FAMILY
Special Jury Prize for Human Rights
FINDING FACE
Directed by Skye Fitzgerald and Patti Duncan
Narrative Feature:
Grand Jury Award, Narrative Feature
LIVING IN SEDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES
Directed by Ian Gamazon and Produced by Quynn Ton
Special Jury Award, Narrative: Outstanding Director
IAN GAMAZON
LIVING IN SEDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES
Special Jury Award, Narrative: Outstanding Screenplay
STEPHANE GAUGER
SAIGON ELECTRIC
Special Jury Award, Narrative: Outstanding Cinematography
GAVIN KELLY
WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN
Special Jury Award, Narrative: Best Ensemble Acting
ERIC MABIUS, FERNANDO NORIEGA, WILL YUN LEE and LUKE BRANDON FIELD
WHERE THE ROAD MEETS THE SUN
Special Jury Award, Narrative: Best First Feature
BANG BANG
Directed by BYRON Q
Special Jury Award – Breakout Performance for New Actor
RYAN GREENE
ONE KINE DAY – Directed by Chuck Mitsui
Short Film:
Festival Golden Reel Award
TEAMWORK
Directed by HONG SEO YUN
Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award
FIRECRACKER
Directed by SOHAM MEHTA
AUDIENCE AWARDS:
NARRATIVE FILM
RAKENROL
Directed by QUARK HENARES
DOCUMENTARY FILM
AMONG B-BOYS
Directed by Christopher Woon
The 2011 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival kicked off on April 28 with the Justin Lin action film “FAST FIVE” and has seen record-breaking attendance and multiple sold out shows throughout the past seven days. The Fest will conclude May 6 and May 7 with encore screenings of award winners along with the Los Angeles premiere of “BANGKOK KNOCKOUT” from Thailand and the Sundance/Berlin Film Festival favorite “BOY” from Taika Waititi at the CGV Cinemas in KoreaTown, Los Angeles. CGV Cinemas are located at 621 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90005.
2011 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Trailer
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 3400 films and videos by Asian international and Asian American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards.