Category Archives: filmfestival

2010 Asian Film Festival of Dallas

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2010 Asian Film Festival of Dallas

For our readers in the Dallas, TX area, drop by the 2010 Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) from July 23-29, 2010 for the latest in Asian and Asian American films. The schedule is slated to have 33 feature films and 21 shorts for its 9th Annual Film Festival taking place at Landmark’s Magnolia Theatre and Angelika Film Center Dallas.

With films from 10 countries, including China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, the 2010 Asian Film Festival of Dallas will include a variety of genres and film styles, from action epics and crime dramas to charming romantic comedies and eclectic ruminations on the meaning of life. This year’s festival contains something to please every interest: gangsters, ninja, geisha, aliens, monstrous wildlife, sexy ladies, math geniuses, taxi drivers, shipyard workers, farmers, sharks, young lovers, ghosts, pickpockets, zombies, ballet dancers, wolves…and a man stuck in a room with no doors. This year’s roster of films includes 6 North American Premieres, 3 U.S. Premieres and 16 Southwest Premieres. The festival offers a wide range of films from the family-friendly SUMMER WARS and A TALE OF ULULU’S WONDERFUL FOREST, to more mature titles like NIGHT & FOG and AT THE END OF DAYBREAK, and everything in between.

Here’s some of the festival highlights:
Opening Night Film: Au Revoir Taipei (FREE Pinkberry after the film)
Centerpiece Film: Ip Man 2
Closing Night Film: The People I’ve Slept With

Other films of note: 9500 Liberty, Empire of Silver, Clash, and Mao’s Last Dancer.

For the full schedule and ticket information, visit the 2010 Asian Film Festival of Dallas website here.

2010 Asian Film Festival of Dallas

2010 AAIFF short film lineup

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Asian CineVision (ACV) announced the short films selected to screen at the 2010 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF10). The lineup consists of a total of 71 short films that have been divided into 10 presentations. The short films admitted to this year’s festival showcase the latest works by filmmakers of Asian descent as well as films that explore themes and issues prevalent to the Asian community. The selection includes two International Premieres, one U.S. premiere, four East Coast premieres, and five New York premieres. Tani Ikeda’s Turn of Harvest, which will be making its World Premiere at the AAIFF10, is one of the seven short films up for the Excellence in Short Filmmaking Award.

“We have received an especially strong group of submissions this year that explore a range of genres including comedy, science fiction, and documentary,” says Martha Tien, the AAIFF10 Program Manager. “This year’s festival also consists of three unique short film programs which pay tribute to their respective countries in the manner of New York, I Love You and Paris J’Taime. Two of the programs are composed of films entirely from Taiwan and one is comprised of films from Malaysia.” The two short film programs from Taiwan, Eye on Taiwan and Taipei 24 H, are part of a special joint presentation on New Taiwanese Cinema between ACV and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO).

In addition to its international titles, the AAIFF10 short film programs also draws from a very strong pool of local filmmakers, including J.P. Chan’s Empire Corner and Greg Pak’s Mister Green. A special youth program will also feature the works of filmmakers under the age of 21. The AAIFF10 will run July 15 through July 24 in New York City. Short films will screen at various venues including Chelsea Clearview Cinema, the Quad Cinema, and the Museum of Chinese America. The full short film program line-up is as follows. More details can also be found on the festival website (aaiff.org/2010).

Oh Family, Where Art Thou? (7)
Films that remind us of the complex dynamics that make each family so singularly fascinating and unique.
Mochi directed by Chung Li (Taiwan)
In Space directed by Visra Vichit-Vadanka (Thailand)
Daughters directed by Chloe Zhao (USA)
Hide and Seek directed by Asako Ushio (USA)
Unrest directed by Christina Rubenstein (USA)
Puncture Wounds directed by Jason Ho (USA)
The Hirosaki Players directed by Jeff Sousa (USA)

It’s a little bit funny… (5)
Films that offers unexpectedly humorous takes on the lives of its characters.
Kilo directed by Kiel Murray and Phil Lorin (USA)
Father Sister directed by Soyeon Kim (South Korea)
Lychee Thieves directed by Kathleen Man (USA)
Empire Corner directed by JP Chan (USA)
Wu is Dead directed by Rich Wong (USA)

Back to the Future (6)
Films that dabble with the myriad ways time shapes the courses of our lives.
Fish in Barrel directed by Randall Okida (Canada)
Boond directed by Abhishek Pathak (India)
Once More directed by Hiroo Takoaka (USA)
Mr. Green directed by Greg Pak (USA)
Memento Mori directed by Yohko Shiraishi (USA)
Transparent Movement directed by Soyeon Kim (South Korea)

The First Kiss (6)
Films that explore one of the most prevalent themes in storytelling — one of the certainties in life besides death and taxes, love is never easy!
Lovers directed by Do-yeon Kim (South Korea)
The Queen directed by Christina Choe (USA)
Gareeb Nawaz’s Taxi directed by Ritesh Batra (USA)
Tall Enough directed by Berry Jekins (USA)
Works of Art directed by Andrew Pang (USA)
Poi Dogs directed by Joel Moffett (USA)

Eye on Taiwan (4)
Happy Ending directed by Wei Chen Chang (Taiwan)
Sleeping with Her directed by Chih Yi Wen (Taiwan)
Letting Off directed by Hung Ju Chang (Taiwan)
Ketchup directed by Wen Chung Lu (Taiwan)

Untold Stories (5)
Documentary films that cover a range of topics from all corners of the world.
Memory of Forgotten War directed by Deann Borshay Liem and Ramsay Liem (USA)
Born Sweet directed by Cynthia Wade (Cambodia)
Mr. Shanbag’s Shop directed by Asha Ghosh (USA/India)
Turn of the Harvest directed by Tani Ikeda (China)
Fine Threads directed by Adele Pham (USA)

CUNY Shorts (7)
AAIFF10 teams up with returning collaborator Asian American / Asian Research Institute of the City University of New York (CUNY) to showcase a range of narrative, documentary and experimental short films from students in CUNY system.
Antithesis directed by Jon-Carlos Evans (USA)
Behold the swelling scene directed by MunJong (Arckii) Kim (USA)
Boundary directed by Pyeunghun Baik (USA)
Ball directed by Jung Eun Kim (USA)
Nurturing the Hybrid Identity directed by Sudip Shakya (USA)
Struggle for Existence directed by Laurie Sumiye (Filiak) (USA)
Undocumented Hope directed by Tanvir Toy (USA)

Youth Shorts (8)
Young filmmakers under the age of 21 experiment with film to sound off on matters important to them
Beauty and the Box directed by Chrystian Rodriguez (USA)
I’m Not Even That directed by Asatha Vohra, Wendy Yuan Zhang, Michelle Kwong, Claudia von Nostitz (USA)
Not That Different directed by Junia Zhang (USA)
Skye directed by Yoomi Park (USA)
Chinese Antique directed by Anthony Ma (USA)
The Prodigy directed by Adam Lee (USA)
White Night directed by Teresa Lee (USA)
My New York directed by Derek Horton (USA)

Taipei 24 H (8)
Taipei 24H invites eight directors to employ their innovative styles and distinct perspectives to create a filmic essay of Taipei City.
Share the Morning directed by Cheng, Feng-feng (Taiwan)
Just A Little Run directed by Niu, Cheng-zer (Taiwan)
Summer Heat directed by Debbie Hsue (Taiwan)
Save the Lover directed by Cheng, Hsian-tse (Taiwan)
Somke directed by Lee, Chi-yuam (Taiwan)
Dream Walker directed by Chen, Ying-jung (Taiwan)
Owl Service directed by An, Je-yi (Taiwan)
Remembrance directed by Lee, Kang-sheng (Taiwan)

15 Malaysia
Uncensored and bold, the fifteen filmmakers featured in this collection speak out on the societal taboos of sex, race, religion and politics in Malaysia.
Potong Saga directed by Yuhang Ho (Malaysia)
Chocolate directed by Yasmin Ahmad (Malaysia)
The Tree directed by Auir Muhammad (Malaysia)
House directed by Linus Chung (Malaysia)
Halal directed by Liew Seng Tat (Malaysia)
The Son directed by Desmond Ng (Malaysia)
Lumpur directed by Kamal Sabran (Malaysia)
One Future directed by Chui Mui Tan (Malaysia)
Slovak Sling directed by Ming Jin Woo (Malaysia)
Gerhana directed by James Lee (Malaysia)
Meter directed by Benji and Bahir (Malaysia)
Duit Kecil directed by Johan John (Malaysia)
Healthy Paranoia directed by Khairil Bahar (Malaysia)
Lollipop directed by Nam Ron (Malaysia)
Rojak! directed by Suleiman Brothers (Malaysia)

Empire Corner Trailer

Lychee Thieves Trailer

2010 NY Asian American International Film Festival

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2010 NY Asian American International Film Festival

For those in New York, the Asian CineVision (ACV) has released the feature film line up selected to screen at the 2010 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF 2010). The program consists of a total of 23 feature films that showcase the latest works created by filmmakers of Asian descent in addition to films that explore new constructs of Asian and Asian-American cinema. The AAIFF 2010 includes selections from both a national and international pool of filmmakers, including works from Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Screenings will take place from July 15 through July 24, 2010 at various venues throughout New York City including Chelsea Clearview Cinema, the Quad Cinema, and the Museum of Chinese America.

Here’s some highlights:
Opening Night Film – Manila Skies
Centerpiece Presentation – Au Revoir Taipei
Closing Night Film – The People I’ve Slept With

“This year, the AAIFF10 looks especially forward to bringing several Southeast Asian films to our audience,” states Martha Tien, Program Manager of the AAIFF10. “Southeast Asia has such a dynamic cinematic community, but its movies still tend to be underrepresented in most film festivals.” Renowned Filipino director Raymond Red’s Manila Sky will screen as the Opening Night Presentation at the AAIFF10 on July 15, 2010. Red, a pioneer of contemporary Filipino cinema, will be in attendance after the screening for a special Q&A session. Other Southeast Asian selections include Malaysian filmmaker Yuhung Ho’s dramatic feature At the End of Daybreak and Thai director Kongkiat Khomsiri’s thriller Slice. Oscar-nominated Australian Director Bruce Beresford will also screen his latest narrative feature Mao’s Last Dancer at the AAIFF10.

In addition to the international titles, the AAIFF10’s programming also includes a strong list of features from Asian American filmmakers including Filipino-American Gerry Balasta’s Mountain Thief. Taiwanese-American filmmaker Arvin Chen’s Au Revoir Taipei will screen as the Centerpiece Presentation on July 17th at 9:30 p.m. while Quentin Lee’s romantic comedy The People I’ve Slept With will close the festival on July 21, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. All special presentations will screen at the Chelsea Clearview Cinema.

Manila Skies Trailer (Opening Night Film)

Au Revoir Taipei Trailer (Centerpiece Presentation)

The People I’ve Slept With Trailer (Closing Night Film)

2010 Houston APA Film Festival

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The 2010 Houston APA Film Festival kicks off today and runs through June 19, 2010. Through ‘edu-tainment’ of film and cultural performances, this annual event seeks to educate on issues, tell the stories of our communities, and to support Asian Pacific American artists and filmmakers. The emotional and visual impact of film, dance, poetry and music as an expression of the creativity of individuals, is the perfect medium to show the diversity and richness of the APA experience. Films to be screened include Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story, A Village Called Versailles, 9500 Liberty, Vincent Who?, and Wo Ai Ni Mommy. Get details on the film festival here. Film Screenings are free for anyone interested, but registration is required.

Transcending: the Wat Misaka Story Trailer

AAIFF Speed Dating Fundraiser

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AAIFF Speed Dating Fundraiser

Are you single and in NYC? The AAIFF Speed Dating Fundraiser could be the ticket to meet the person of your dreams. Meeting new people can make anyone a little nervous. Asian CineVision is here to help! They’re launching the 2010 Asian American International Film Festival and your new romance all in one event. Up for speed dating? Here is your chance to enjoy the happy hour specials at Forbidden City, meet your cinema soulmate (or a really good movie buddy) and win festival tickets for that first real date. Mix and Mingle.

If you happen to be a pair of film aficionados, then the sparks of romance will already be flying. Register if you’re seeking a fling with the ultimate lovers: film and culture. Pre-registration is required. Limited spaces available. Sign up today! http://aaiff.wufoo.com/forms/cinemamore-aaiff-speed-dating-fundraiser/

*Date*
Monday, June 14th, 2010 @ 6:00 PM (Ages 21-30)
Tuesday, June 15th, 2010 @ 6:00 PM (Ages 31-40)
*Please note if you are on the age cusp between the two age groups, feel free to choose your own adventure.

*Event Location*
Forbidden City
212 Avenue A (bet. 13th & 14th St)
New York, NY‎ 10009-3414

If you need a conversation starter, you might want to talk about the 2009 AAIFF. Here’s last year’s trailer:

2010 New York Asian Film Festival

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The 2010 New York Asian Film Festival runs from June 25th to July 8th, with 45+ titles from all over Asia! Three cinemas! Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center for the entire fest, Japan Society from July 1-4, and IFC Center Midnights on June 25-26 and July 2-3. Plus a special show at Anthology Film Archives on July 4th! Here’s some of the highlights:

Opening Night Film – IP MAN 2 (Sammo Hung slated to appear in person)
Centerpiece Film – CONFESSIONS (the most buzzed about movie at the 2010 Cannes Festival)
Closing Night Film – BLADES OF BLOOD (International Premiere)

Other highlights include Bodyguards and Assassins (New York Premiere), Gallants (North America Premiere), Echoes of Rainbow (North America Premiere), Actresses (New York Premiere), A Little Pond (International Premiere), Raging Phoenix (New York Premiere), Yatterman, and tons more.

Look for these celebs to roam around the festival : Sammo Hung, Simon Yam, and more.

Get more information on the full lineup, tickets, and more here. Tickets go on sale on June 10th.

2010 New York Asian Film Festival trailer