Last year, the San Diego Asian American Film Festival had a panel about Asian American actors in Hollywood. This year, during the 2011 San Diego Asian American Film Festival, they created one about Asian American women in Hollywood.

Since the days of Anna May Wong, Asian American actresses have had a continued presence in cinema, from icons of the Orient to Oscar-nominated actresses to directors and producers behind the camera. As technologies, demographics, and audiences transform, so too do representations and opportunities for Asian American actresses to hone and showcase their art. This panel brings together a legendary professor of Asian American Studies and two actresses who have become familiar faces in film and TV — and who will star together in next year’s Yes, We’re Open.

Panel:
Lynn Chen (Saving Face, Surrogate Valentine)
Sheetal Sheth (Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World, The Trouble with Romance)
Elaine H. Kim (Professor, Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley; Director/writer, Slaying the Dragon: Reloaded)
Moderated by Leeva Chung (Professor Communication Studies University of San Diego

Asian American Women in Hollywood and Beyond