The 2008 Austin Asian American Film Festival will be held on October 9-12th, 2008 at the Alamo Drafthouse. We are proud to screen over 40 films (all premiers) from all around the globe! Aside from screenings, we have a fantastic Opening Night Party at Arthouse Museum, a rowdy multimedia concert at Club de Ville, and a captivating discussion panel at the University of Texas. This year, with China being a huge force in world news, they are focusing on Chinese and Chinese American cinema. With over a dozen special guest appearances and lively events planned every night, this
year!s festival is going to be the best yet.

2008 Festival Highlights:

– Opening Night Film: Hollywood Chinese (Texas Premiere)

Hollywood Chinese, currently in New York theatres, traces and examines the last 100 years of Hollywood from a Chinese American point of view. Featuring interviews with over 25 Asian American cinematic icons, this film delves into hidden and overt racism in Hollywood but also celebrates the filmmakers and actors who have helped shape the industry. Acclaimed filmmaker, Arthur Dong will be in attendance!

– Closing Night Film: Still Life (Texas Premiere)

Winner of the prestigious Silver Lion!s award, Still Life, with legendary Chinese filmmaker, Jia Zhangke, is a masterpiece based on the famous incident of the destruction of the three gorge dam. As two strangers look for their lost loves in a mall village haunted by memories and happiness, the village prepares to be once again flooded. They are incredibly proud to bring this amazing film to Austin.

– Tribute to Vincent Chin

October 10th, 5:30pm

On June 19th, 1982, Vincent Chin, mistaken for being Japanese, was brutally murdered by two white auto-workers (who blamed Asians for stealing their jobs). This defining moment opened the eyes of the Asian American community to the injustice of racist attitudes and the importance of standing up for equal rights. Two films will be screened exploring the Vincent Chin incident and why it is imperative to keep the story alive. They are excited to bring the two filmmakers to Austin: Academy Award nominated Christine Choy (Who Killed Vincent
Chin?) and Curtis Chin (Vincent Who?)!


Buy ticket to the 2008 Austin Asian American Film Festival here.

2008 Austin Asian American Film Festival Trailer

Just like the soaring temperatures that hit the metroplex this time every year, moviegoers can once again look forward to screaming-hot movie options at the 7th Annual Asian Film Festival of Dallas, scheduled from August 14th – 21st, 2008 at Landmark’s Magnolia Theater. With more than 40 films to choose from, movie fans can beat the heat with 8 days of film from 10 countries, including Japan, China, Korea and the Philippines. The Asian Film Festival of Dallas is more than just a film festival – it’s a combination of cinema and cultural experiences that help spread the importance of diversity among Asian Internationals, Asian-Americans and other groups in our community. With entries that range from traditional and lyrical beauty to the bleeding edge of modern film expression, the AFFD is proud to once again offer a fiery palette of movie options to Dallas enthusiasts. Many of these films are currently making the festival circuit, and more still have been imported directly from other countries. Either way, this may be your only option to see many of these on the big screen, before they gain a US distributor!

This year’s festival will open with “PING PONG PLAYA,“ the latest film from JESSICA YU, Academy-Award winning director of BREATHING LESSONS and IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, who will be in attendance with lead actor JIMMY TSAI. The Centerpience Film is “The Assembly” based on a true story of one man’s journey in search of truth and honor in the aftermath of one of the bloodiest battles in the Chinese Civil War. The Closing Night Film is the much-anticipated satire “BE A MAN! SAMURAI SCHOOL,“ the directorial debut of Asian cult film hero TAK SAKAGUCHI (VERSUS, DEATH TRANCE), who will also be in attendance.

This should be an interesting documentary since the Olympics are taking place in Beijing.
Watch Boomtown Beijing trailer