The 2011 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is underway in New York and their short lineup is loaded up. You can expect over 50 short films that have been divided into 8 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.
Relive your childhood with NEVER STOP BELIEVING. Ride the ups and downs in love with LOVE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE. With all the talk about Tiger Moms, what about the TIGER DADS. Nothing is as is seems with A DAY LESS ORDINARY. A special youth program will also feature the works of filmmakers under the age of 21 with AGE AIN’T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER. NYC students from the City University of New York present their shocase of CUNY SHORTS. Hong Kong comes to New York with QUATTRO HONG KONG 2, while Canada invades with SUITE SUITE CHINATOWN.
The 2011 AAIFF will run August 10 through August 20, 2011 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 here.
Shorts Program: NEVER STOP BELIEVING
Fundamental to the magic of childhood are the hopes and dreams that everyone has for what could be or what’s to come. Eleven filmmakers reveal their interpretations of what childhood and growing up are all about.
DREAM GIVER – Dir. Tyler Carter | USA
HENRY’S GLASSES – dir. Brendan Uegama | Canada
SOSEFINA – Dir. Tresa Ponnor | Australia
SAENG-IL – Dir. Jennifer Suhr | USA
BALLET OF UNHATCHED CHICKS – Dir. Shaun Seong-Young Kim | USA
BOYS & GIRLS – Dir. Chris Tipton King | USA
HEART – Dir. Erick Oh | USA
LUNCHTIME – Dir. Keo Woolford | USA
PLAY – Dir. Johnny Ma | USA
TOP SPIN – Dirs. Sara Newens & Mina T. Son. | USA
Shorts Program: LOVE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
The only experience more intense than the joy of a new relationship is the explosive dissolution of one. This collection of short films deftly portray the heady exuberance and bitter end in the never-ending search for love.
PRESCOTT PLACE – Dir. Peilin Kuo | USA
TU & EU – Dir. Edward Shieh | USA
SCUMBAG, PERVERT AND THE GIRL IN BETWEEN – Dir. Bruce Hwang Chen | USA, Taiwan
HITOMI – Dir. Manu Du Smet | Netherlands
GRANT STREET SHAVING CO. – Dir. Payal Sethi | USA
HOTEL 66 – Dir. Antony Chen | UK
Shorts Program: TIGER DADS
This program of shorts features the often over-looked Tiger Dads: empowering, persevering, and transcendental souls who take on the important role of guiding the young. These dynamic relationships shape both parties as they grasp their dreams and futures.
CROSSING SALWEEN – Dir. Brian O’Malley | Ireland
A SCENE AT THE SEA – Dir. Jaehee Lee | South Korea
FATAKRA – Dir. Soham Mehta | USA
MASALA MAMA – Dir. Michael Kam | Singapore
GRANDPA’S WET DREAM – Dir. Chihiro Amemiya | Japan
GRAVEHEART – Dir. Yin Jill Lei | China
Shorts Program: A DAY LESS ORDINARY
What starts as an ordinary day, can change your life forever. Be it a natural catastrophe, a late night shootout, or meeting the love of your life, you never know what the day may bring.
ONLY MEAL OF THE DAY – Dir. Shang Sing Gou | Thailand, Taiwan
CANOPY CROSSINGS – Dir. Gary Young | Thailand
I WANT TO BE A DESI – Dir. Allan Tong | Canada
V SOMETHING – Dir. Asako Ushio | USA
CLOSED – Dirs. Christopher Zou & Alex Chin | USA
THE POTENTIAL WIVES OF NORMAN MAO – Dir. Derek Nguyen | USA
AFTERSHOCK – Dir. George Billard | USA
ROOM #11 – Dir. Mansee Kong | USA
Shorts Program: For Youth By Youth (FYBY) : AGE AIN’T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER
Talented youth aged 15-21 impress with their moving documentaries, fun animations, and suspenseful thrillers. Something for everyone, these shorts aim to entertain and address youth culture.
THE LAND IS STALE – Dir. Gabriel Ho | USA
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE GIRL I LOVE – Dir. Christopher Zou | USA
WHERE’S MY BROTHER – Dir. Chang Xin Ye | Taiwan
MEDIA – Dir. Woojin Kang | USA
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW – Dir. Brian Brennan | USA
MUSICAL WARRIOR – Dir. Angel Gatus | USA
BREAKING EXPECTATIONS – Dir. Kevin Tran | USA
A SUSHI LOVE STORY – Dir. Mike Blaney | USA
MY COUNTRY IS TIBET – Dir. Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari | USA
MY NORMAL FAMILY LIFE – Dir. Jonathan Cheng | USA
Shorts Program: CUNY Shorts
The best short films by NYC students from the City University of New York presented in partnership with the Asian American/Asian Research Institute.
COLORS, JOURNEY OF A DANCER – MASAMI ISHIBASHI – Dir. Yee K. Lam | USA
HOME – Dir. Seimi Kim | USA
TEACHING OUTSIDE THE BOX – Dir. Katharine Filardi | USA
CLUB FIZZ – Dir. Yosuke Hosoi | USA
PAPER CRANES – Dir. Solim Lee | USA
MY PIANO LIFE – Dir. Jiayi Wang | USA
Shorts Program: QUATTRO HONG KONG 2
Commissioned by the Hong Kong International Film Festival, four renowned filmmakers (Brillante Mendoza, Yuhang Ho, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Stanley Kwan) capture the vibrant island city in its many facets.
PURPLE – Dir. Brillante Mendoza | Hong Kong
OPEN VERDICT – Dir. Yuhang Ho | Hong Kong
M HOTEL – Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul | Hong Kong
13 MINUTES IN THE LIVES OF… – Dir. Stanley Kwan | Hong Kong
Shorts Program: SUITE SUITE CHINATOWN
Eight artistically diverse Chinese-Canadian filmmakers are invited to deliver their interpretations on the theme of Chinatown. What results is a collaboratively produced, multi-genre cinematic vision of Chinatown, where anything is possible.
OVERTURE – Dirs. Howie Shia & Lillian Chan | Canada
LIPSYNC – Dirs. Howie Shia & Lillian Chan | Canada
PRETTY LUCKY – Dir. Serena Lee | Canada
AUNTIE – Dir. Heather Keung | Canada
UNCLES – Dir. Heather Keung | Canada
ELIZABETH STREET – Dir. Lesley Loksi Chan | Canada
PLASTIC FUTURE – Dir. Aram Siu Wai Collier | Canada
HOW TO PARTY – Dir. Joyce Wong | Canada
THE WARRIORS OF QIUGANG – Dir. Ruby Yang | USA
Heart trailer by Erick Oh
Tu & Eu (You & Me) Trailer by Eddie Shieh
