Asian CineVision Presents
the
36th Asian American International Film Festival
New York, NY, June 21, 2013 – Asian CineVision is pleased to present the full lineup for the 36th Asian American International Film Festival, which will run from July 24th to August 3rd. This year AAIFF is presenting 26 feature films and 44 short films, for, by and about Asians and Asian Americans, with works from or featuring characters from 18 countries including Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey, UK, and the USA. Of the feature films one will be making a World Premiere, one an International Premiere, six a U.S. Premiere, seven an East Coast Premiere, and eight a New York Premiere. With the themes of Asian American Achievements, Exploring Asian Filmscapes, LGBTQ spotlights, Taiwan Cinema Days and a tribute to Philippine filmmaker Marilou DIAZ-ABAYA (1955-2012) as well as other female filmmakers, the 36th Asian American International Film Festival aims at giving the audiences a comprehensive picture of the Asian and Asian American independent cinemas.
“Marking the 36th year, AAIFF’13 is proud to present the best most recent cinematic achievements by this class of emerging storytellers whose work will resonate for years to come,” says Asian CineVision Executive Director John C. Woo. “I have not witnessed this amount of arising new talent ever in my years. Special thanks to curators La Frances Hui and L. Somi Roy for their world vision, their patience and guidance of the staff in creating the 2013 program.”
“The wide range of genres, visual styles, and storytelling approaches speaks to the diversity and richness of Asian and Asian American cinemas. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to program this survey of cinema that reflects on Asia as well as on being Asian in America” states La Frances Hui and L. Somi Roy.
Screenings will be held at the Anthology Film Archives (32 Second Avenue), Asia Society (725 Park Avenue), Museum of Chinese in America (215 Centre Street), and New York Institute of Technology (1871 Broadway). An official press conference will be held on July 23rd, 2013, 5:00pm at the Museum of Chinese in America. Due to limited space, please RSVP to the press conference to Vivian at marketing@asiancinevision.org.
Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Presentations:
Opening Night Presentation: LINSANITY
In 2012, Jeremy LIN, the first Chinese American to play in the NBA, swept the NBA and basketball fans by storm and created the LINSANITY movement. LINSANITY brings back the unforgettable frenzy around the meteoric rise of Jeremy LIN with galvanizing game footage, juxtaposed with intimate interviews and home videos that showcase his faith, passion, and perseverance. As the Opening Night Presentation for AAIFF’13, LINSANITY marks the homecoming of the magical moment when a determined young man did what seemed impossible, and took everyone to the heights with him. Dir. Evan Jackson LEONG | 2013 | USA | 88 min | East Coast Premiere | Jul 24 7:30pm Asia Society
This screening will be preceded by a exclusive VIP reception to welcome Director Evan Jackson Leong and producers Chris Chen, Allen Lu, and Brian Yang, at the Asia Society (725 Park Avenue), and followed by a Gala reception featuring tasting tables generously contributed by restaurants such as JoJu, MasalaWala, Spice, Swine, Fatty Fish, and Yat Yat Sweet and special cocktails & liquor provided by Premier Sponsor Rémy Martin.
Centerpiece Presentation: SOONGAVA – DANCE OF THE ORCHIDS
Featuring two luminous performers, Deeya MASKEY, Nisha ADHIKARI, SOONGAVA – DANCE OF THE ORCHIDS is a tender and heartbreaking tale about two young women: Diya, who dreams of becoming a dancer, and her best girlfriend Kiran. When her feelings for Kiran deepen and develop into a love affair, she has to stand up against her family, and the traditions and morality of Nepali society. In a country where the “third gender” is legally recognized, same-sex relationships continue to be stigmatized. This debut feature by Subarna THAPA is the first Nepali film to spotlight LGBTQ issues. Dir. Subarna THAPA | 2012 | Nepal / France | 85 min | Nepali w/ES | New York Premiere | Jul 27 8:00 pm New York Institute of Technology
This presentation is at the New York Institute of Technology, followed by a reception sponsored by Grolsch Beer.
Closing Night Presentation: OUR HOMELAND
Sent decades ago as a child to North Korea under a repatriation program, Sungho returns to Japan for a temporary medical visit. A wrenching human drama unfolds as his family grapples with why he was ever let go. Under the constant surveillance by an accompanying North Korean official, Sungho and his family reunite again in this sensitive tale inspired by Korean-Japanese director YANG Yonghi’s true family story. Capturing the tender feelings of separation, memory, and belonging, the film also provides a rare glimpse into the life of ethnic Koreans in Japan. Dir. YANG Yonghi | 2012 | Japan | 100 min | Japanese and Korean w/ES | East Coast Premiere | Aug 3 7:00pm Asia Society
This screening will be followed by a Closing Night Award Ceremony and Gala Reception with director YANG Yonghi in attendance at the Asia Society, supported in part by The Korea Society and Asian Film and Media Initiative, Department of Cinema Studies, NYU, and presented by Premier Sponsor Rémy Martin, with tasting tables generously contributed by restaurants such as Arang, EN Japanese Brasserie, Hana Michi, and Betel and special cocktails & liquor provided by Premier Sponsor Rémy Martin.
SHOLAY 3D Special Preview Screening
If there is ever a Bollywood film that deserves a 3D treatment, it is SHOLAY, the celebrated ‘curry-western’ takes on a Sergio Leone film that itself plays off Hollywood’s Westerns and Kurosawa’s samurai dramas. Considered one of the greatest Hindi films of all time, SHOLAY is a vastly entertaining Indian action-musical-adventure melodrama about two small-time thieves on a reward hunt to capture the ruthless dacoit Gabbar. The 3D version of the 1975 landmark film will have its world premiere at The Museum of the Moving Image on Aug 15, 2013, to celebrate 100 Years of Indian Cinema on the country’s Independence Day. Asian CineVision will release the details later. Dir. Ramesh SIPPY | 1975, 2013 | India | 188 min | Hindi w/ES | World Premiere | Aug 15 Museum of the Moving Image
AAIFF’13 THEMES:
Triple A – Asian American Achievements: From the slasher, crime thriller, road film, buddy film, sports film, historical drama to documentary, AAIFF’13 showcases incredible Asian American achievements, creativities, and debates within or deviating from genre conventions, social expectations and personal stories. The films are all feature debuts of their respective creators with firm determination and passion for the medium and storytelling. This lineup includes the following films: BEST FRIENDS FOREVER; BEYOND THE MAT; CHINK; INNOCENT BLOOD; LINSANITY; SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW; STEVE CHONG FINDS OUT THAT SUICIDE IS A BAD IDEA; WHEN I WALK; INTO THE PENUMBRA (shorts program).
LGBTQ Features: AAIFF is once again putting a special focus on the Asian LGBTQ communities in the territories rarely represented on the big screen, shedding light onto not only visibility issues in certain countries, but also how the LGBTQ communities are situated within their respective cultures. This lineup includes the following films: NOOR; REQUIEME!; SOONGAVA – DANCE OF THE ORCHIDS; DAWN (short); HOW I LEARNT TO TELL A LIE (short); HOWARD (short).
Remembering the Forgotten War: This lineup showcases films that emphasize the need to remember the forgotten events of the world. The Korean War, the Pacific War and the Civil War of Sri Lanka all had a devastating impact on millions, and the wars’ aftermath, including the loss of trust, the trauma etched in personal histories, and the process of healing, is remembered and addressed, directly or indirectly, in the following films: GO GRANDRIDERS; HIM, HERE, AFTER; OUR HOMELAND; HONORABLE JOURNEY (short); KOREAN WAR REMEMBERED – A SPECIAL PROGRAM (including shorts A DAY IN 1951 and MEMORY OF FORGOTTEN WAR), which is accompanied by a special photo booth project throughout the Festival.
Exploring Asian Filmscapes: The independent film scenes in Asian countries are sampled in this comprehensive selection of international titles that survey rural landscapes, townships and urban neighborhoods, defining the lives of the people in them, with tropes of family, childhood, and traveling. The films that contribute prominently to this mapping are: FORGETTING TO KNOW YOU (China); HARANA (the Philippines); HIM, HERE, AFTER (Sri Lanka); INNOCENTS (Singapore); MUMBAI’S KING (India); NOOR (Pakistan); PECULIAR VACATION AND OTHER ILLNESSES (Indonesia); SOONGAVA (Nepal); TOGETHER (Taiwan); AN UNBOUNDED ROMANCE (shorts program).
Taiwan Cinema Days: This program features two critically-acclaimed narrative debut features of Taiwanese directors, the highest-grossing documentary of Taiwan in 2012, and a 1979 mandarin classic that borders on melodrama and musical (or singing film, ge chang pian). The program aims to sketch the connections between the different generations of Taiwanese films and filmmakers, who are otherwise characterized by drastic distinction and linear progression. This lineup includes GO GRANDRIDERS; TOGETHER; TOUCH OF THE LIGHT; GOOD MORNING, TAIPEI; TAIWAN CINEMA DAYS (shorts program). The series is sponsored by Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York.
Celebrating Female Filmmakers – In Memory of Marilou DIAZ-ABAYA: AAIFF’13 will be celebrating female filmmakers and honoring Marilou DIAZ-ABAYA (1955-2012), one of the most important female directors of our time. These female filmmakers work to tell stories based on either experiences or imagination, but all within the frameworks of the industry and the nation. AAIFF will host the documentary MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMMAKER AT VOYAGE (dir. Mona Lisa YUCHENGCO) at the Philippine Consulate, as well as one of her earlier works KARNAL (1983). Female directors of feature-length films this year include Brea GRANT (and producer Vera Miao) for BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, QUAN Ling for FORGETTING TO KNOW YOU; Megumi NISHIKURA and Lara PEREZ for HAFU: THE MIXED-RACE EXPERIENCE IN JAPAN, WONG Chen-hsi for INNOCENTS, YANG Yonghi for OUR HOMELAND, Nadine TRUONG for SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW. A special panel will be co-organized by Asian American Women Media Makers.
AAIFF’13 Feature Presentations, in alphabetical order:
BEST FRIENDS FOREVER: A droll mix of BFF bickering and road movie with an unusual nuclear apocalyptic setting, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER follows two gals, the unsuccessful optimist Harriet (Brea GRANT) and her devil-may-care best friend Reba (Vera MIAO), as they hit the road for Austin, TX for Harriet’s start-over. Along the way, strangers begin to act very strangely indeed. A Slamdance 2013 spotlight, Grant’s assured directorial debut film will charm and entertain with its fluid commentary on friendship and its darker shadings of panic and vigilantism. Dir. Brea GRANT | 2012 | USA | 82 min | East Coast Premiere | Aug 1 6:30pm Anthology Film Archives
BEYOND THE MAT: Aaron MILLER, a high school wrestling star who is well loved but sticks out as a Vietnamese adoptee in his white Middle America town, is facing a disintegrating friendship with his best friend Bo. They draw apart when a new Vietnamese American student Linh TRAN arrives and causes Aaron to question what he truly knows about himself. Van M. PHAM’s debut feature is a solidly told and well-paced classic sports movie synthesizing athletic excitement and a personal journey, set in the visually fresh field of high-school wrestling. Dir. Van M. PHAM | 2013 | USA | 106 min | New York Premiere | Aug 1 8:30pm Anthology Film Archives
CHINK: Incendiary from its very title, CHINK is a macabre portrait of the self-loathing Eddy TSAI (Jason TOBIN), a Ted BUNDY-admiring serial killer with a hatred of all Asians, that will disturb and divide–even as it holds you in its grip. But is it too late when a new woman comes into his office and into his life? The first Asian American serial killer movie, CHINK adds an ethnic twist to the slasher genre and will make you question stereotypical notions of the model minority. Dir. Stanley YUNG | 2013 | USA | 85 min | East Coast Premiere | Jul 25 9:00pm Anthology Film Archives
FORGETTING TO KNOW YOU: Life goes on for Xuesong at her corner store and her carpenter husband Weihang in a small town on the Yangzte River. Mundane chores, financial burden, and distrust gradually escalate the dormant tension underlying the marriage when Weihang’s feelings of inadequacy and simmering paranoia about his wife’s admirers erupt. Produced by acclaimed director JIA Zhangke, this debut feature of QUAN Ling depicts the seventh-year marital crisis and the woes of materialism. The film, acclaimed at Berlinale 2013, casts a subtle and unsentimental look at the alienation in an otherwise intimate relationship. Dir. QUAN Ling | 2013 | China | 87min | Mandarin w/ES | U.S. Premiere | July 28 1:00 pm Anthology Film Archives
GO GRANDRIDERS: Well, why not a motorcycle club for senior citizens? With an average age of 81, a group of 17 Taiwanese retirees leave behind their grandchildren and take along their aches and pains to embark on an unbelievable adventure: a thirteen-day motorcycle tour around the island of Taiwan. These Grandriders defied everyone’s expectations with their epic motorcycle trip of 2007. A joyous mélange of personal, uplifting and awe-inspiring stories, the film makes us reconsider what it means to be old and very much alive. Dir. HUA Tien-hau | 2012 | Taiwan | 75min | Mandarin and Taiwanese w/ES | New York Premiere | Jul 31 9:00 pm Anthology Film Archives. Preceded by Honorable Journey (Dir. Stephen MENICK).
GOOD MORNING, TAIPEI: YEH Tein-lin (Kenny Bee), a college dropout and a loose singer seems never to take his life seriously. But he gradually changes as he finds more about the life of his orphan friend’s girlfriend SU Chi (Joan LIN), a radio station broadcaster. The 1979 mandarin classic, directed by LEE Hsing, the master of “healthy realism” in the 60s and 70s, boasts some of the most popular mandarin pop and folk songs. Capitalizing on the pop culture and melodrama, HOU Hsiao-hsien’s screenplay nevertheless adopts a loose story line and heralds a transition to what is considered later the first New Wave in Taiwanese Cinema. Some elements have transformed; others have evolved and been absorbed by the following generations, resonating even today with the contemporary Taiwanese titles in this year’s lineup. The screening is made possible by the support of Richard Suchenski (Center for Moving Image Arts, Bard College). Print courtesy of the Center for Moving Image Arts, Bard College. Dir. LEE Hsing | 1979 | Taiwan | 102 min | Mandarin w/ES | Aug 1 9:00pm Anthology Film Archives
HAFU: THE MIXED-RACE EXPERIENCE IN JAPAN: With its plethora of cultural meanings, both positive and negative, Hafu is a term used to describe a Japanese of mixed heritage. Detailing the nuances of this hybridity, directors Megumi NISHIKURA and Lara Perez TAKAGI, both Hafu themselves, tell a compelling story of the voices and visibility of the Hafu identity with five stories of Hafu Japanese as they connect to their other roots in Australia, Korea, Venezuela, Mexico and Ghana to give us an absorbing look at ways of being Japanese. Dir. Megumi NISHIKURA and Lara Perez TAKAGI | 2013 | Japan | 81min | English, Japanese w/ES | East Coast Premiere | Jul 28 5:30 pm Anthology Film Archives
HARANA: Harana is a long-abandoned Filipino courtship serenade, which originated in the Spanish colonial period. In this award-winning documentary, guitarist Florante AGUILAR returns to the Philippines from the US for the first time in twelve years to discover three of the last remaining harana masters: a farmer, a fisherman, and a tricycle driver. HARANA emotively weaves their performances to exemplify the past and present, the here and there, and the rural and urban. Dir. Benito BAUTISTA | 2012 |Philippines/ USA | 103 min | English, Tagalog w/ES | East Coast Premiere | Jul 31 6:30 pm Anthology Film Archives
HIM, HERE, AFTER: A nameless former Tamil Tiger fighter returns to his small town to begin a new life. He is confronted by his neighbors’ resentment and his own haunting past. He becomes a security guard for a smuggler, while forming a strange bond with the wife of the previous holder of the job. Sinhalese director Asoka HANDAGAMA’s film is one of the rare Tamil-language films, and certainly the first of its kind, to compassionately depict a slowly healing country torn apart by a 26-year long civil war. Dir. Asoka HANDAGAMA | 2012 | Sri Lanka | 104 min | Tamil w/ES| U.S. Premiere | Aug 2 9:30pm Anthology Film Archives
INNOCENT BLOOD: In this tautly crisp indie suspense thriller, James PARK (Jun-seong KIM, WEST 32ND STREET, MAN-CHOO) is a retired undercover detective, facing his worst nightmare when his young son Cody is kidnapped by a mysterious criminal (C.S. LEE, DEXTER) in retribution for past transgressions. With a handful of past enemies, simultaneous murders, a wife who’s losing faith in him, and two detectives in hot pursuit, James must move fast to bring his son home safely. Dir. DJ HOLLOWAY and Sun W. KIM | 2013 | USA | 101 min | World Premiere | Jul 27 3:30pm Anthology Film Archives
INNOCENTS: A delicate story of the friendship between two tweens, each estranged at home. Transfer student Syafiqah, a Malay girl, befriends Ah Huat, a Chinese boy and half-wild prankster in their teachers’ eyes. The two little souls resort to the lush mountain, away from a dysfunctional adult world–driven by divorce, drunkenness, and darkness. But cruelties ensue, and the monsoon rain arrives. An exquisite feature debut by WONG Chen Hsi, INNOCENTS is marked with masterful atmospheric depiction of the worlds shared by the children that makes it a “tone-poem” film. Dir. WONG Chen-hsi | 2012 | Singapore | 88 min | English, Malay w/ES | U.S. Premiere | Jul 28 3:00 pm Anthology Film Archives
KARNAL: With the solemnity of a Greek tragedy, yet with an intimacy in storytelling, KARNAL follows a prodigal son Narcing’s return to his family’s isolated hacienda with his urban wife Puring. Shocked at her resemblance to his late wife, Narcing’s father lusts after his daughter-in-law. Passionate encounters – from parricide to infanticide and suicide – flare up against the continued feudal repression. Set in the 30s, the grisly story simultaneously alludes to the oppressive Marcos era and stands out as unique in DIAZ-ABAYA’s early collaborations with writer Ricky LEE. Dir. Marilou DIAZ-ABAYA | 1983 | Philippines | 123 min | Tagalog w/ES | Jul 31 6:30 pm Anthology Film Archives
MARILOU DIAZ-ABAYA: FILMAKER ON A VOYAGE: In this endearing documentary tribute to her friend, Mona Lisa YUCHENGCO recounts the achievements of Marilou DIAZ-ABAYA (1955-2012), the “first lady” of Philippine cinema. Marilou made unflinching efforts to make films for the underclass, who struggled to survive harsh societal and political conditions. It resulted in some of the most daring films that brought the Philippine cinema to the world’s attention such as BRUTAL (1980), KARNAL( 1983), BABY TSINA (1984), and later JOSE RIZAL (1998) and REEF HUNTERS (1999). Dir. Mona Lisa YUCHENGCO | 2012 | USA | 87 min | English, Tagalog w/ES | New York Premiere | Jul 26 7:00pm The Philippine Consulate General, New York
MUMBAI’S KING: As if “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE meets MEAN STREETS” (Hollywood Reporter), MUMBAI’S KING gives an inside look at the authentic festivity and cruelty in the streets of Mumbai. The neo-realistic feature debut of Manjeet SINGH captures the happiness and sorrow of the mischievous adolescent Rahul and his balloon-seller pal Arbaaz, following them as they roam the city, steal potatoes, stalk girls, and plot revenge on Rahul’s abusive father. Dir. Manjeet SINGH | 2012 | India | 78 min | Hindi w/ES | New York Premiere | Jul 28 5:00 pm Anthology Film Archives
NOOR: Noor plays himself in this stunning and poetic film inspired by his life. Once a member of the Khusras (Pakistan’s transgender community), Noor wants to be a real man. He now works at a truck depot and has a girlfriend. But his girlfriend’s brother objects to their relationship. An unexpected incident places him behind the wheel of a stolen truck. The disillusioned Noor embarks on a spiritual journey to alter this fate. This 2012 Cannes selection surveys a breathtaking Northern Pakistan landscape along a transformative road trip. Dir. Çağla ZENCIRCI & Guillaume GIOVANETTI | 2012 | France / Turkey / Pakistan | 78 min | Urdu and Panjabi w/ES | U.S. Premiere | Aug 2 6:30pm Anthology Film Archives
PECULIAR VACATION AND OTHER ILLNESSES: Ning, a young Catholic woman, takes up a better job with a furniture company, while her hapless husband -occasionally hawking gasoline – spends most of his time doing pretty much nothing. It is when Ning is required by her new job to go on a road trip with Mur, a male Muslim colleague, that the suffocation of her marriage gives way to an awakening of repressed desires. Set in Yogyakarta, this delicately observed mood piece and debut feature touches on unspoken issues of sexual repression and adultery in contemporary Indonesia. Dir. Yosep ANGGI NOEN | 2012 | Indonesia | 90 min | Indonesian w/ES | U.S. Premiere | Jul 28 7:00pm Anthology Film Archives. Preceded by As She Sleeps (Dir. Sheron DAYOC).
REQUIEME!: Loy ARCENAS’ adroitly layered REQUIEME! riffs off the Gianni VERSACE – Andrew CUNANAN case from, literally, the Other side. Ambitious local politician Swanie holds a wake for a distant relative who has become an instant celebrity after killing a famous American designer; all while her dressmaker-transgender son sacrifices her breast transplant money to help bury a neighbor. With its absurd veneer and colorful characters, ARCENAS paints a picaresque yet emotionally complex tale of a small Philippine town as it reacts to a faraway incident through its own haze of desire, ambition, and estrangement. Dir. Loy ARCENAS | 2012 | Philippines | 97 min | Tagalog w/ES | Jul 26 9:00pm Anthology Film Archives
SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW: After almost losing his girlfriend, his job and his life, suicidal Charlie heads to L.A. to reconnect with his best friends from high school: Luke, a now-famous actor, and Danny, a rich boy. They are joined by some others in the Hollywood Hills. The glittering city below reverberates with the thirty-somethings feeling around their past friendships as their lives have grown apart. Nuanced and incisive, this bitter-sweet feature debut of German-born Vietnamese filmmaker Nadine TRUONG plays out a series of revelations as the night wears on. Dir. Nadine TRUONG | 2013 | USA | 79 min | East Coast Premiere | Jul 27 6:00pm Anthology Film Archives
STEVE CHONG FINDS OUT THAT SUICIDE IS A BAD IDEA: Every time Steve CHONG screws up, he writes it down and pins up the note card on his wall. As the wall’s last bare patch is covered, he decides that it is time to die. But before he kills himself, Steve invites three friends to his family’s lake house for one final round of intoxication. A surprising passion project by a group of New Orleans cinephiles, STEVE CHONG FINDS OUT THAT SUICIDE IS A BAD IDEA proudly shows the real boom of Louisiana underground film scene through this intriguing story. Dir. Charlie LAVOY | 2013 | USA | 81 min | New York Premiere | Aug 2 7:00pm Anthology Film Archives. Preceded by Faux Depart (Dir. Shekhar BASSI).
TOGETHER: Xiao Yang patiently observes and quietly serves as a messenger for the love affairs in her neighborhood (the title references a play on words: to-get-her). Reminiscent of the urban tale with an ensemble cast like A ONE AND A TWO, this film patiently unfolds romantic stories on a street in contemporary Taipei, with a refreshingly original voice. TOGETHER presents brilliant performances from the great actors of different generations, such as LEE Lieh, Kenny Bee, Sonia SUI, HUANG Shao-yang, and MA Chih-hsiang, to weave together this romantic film. Dir. Rox Chao-jen HSU | 2012 | Taiwan | 114min | Mandarin and Taiwanese w/ES | New York Premiere | July 27 5:30 pm New York Institute of Technology
TOUCH OF THE LIGHT: Based on the life story of HUANG Yu-Siang, who stars as himself, TOUCH OF THE LIGHT tells HUANG’s story as a blind piano prodigy from rural Taiwan and his relationship with Xiao Jie (Sandrine PINNA), a young woman who dreams of becoming a dancer despite enormous challenges. Critically acclaimed and warmly received worldwide, TOUCH OF THE LIGHT is blessed with the most striking performance by HUANG Yu-Siang as it celebrates triumphs of those who dare to dream. Print Courtesy of Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S. Dir. CHANG Jung-chi | 2012 | Taiwan, Hong Kong | 110 min | Mandarin w/ES | New York Premiere | Aug 3 4:30pm Asia Society
WHEN I WALK: When Jason DASILVA was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease which leads to vision and muscle loss as well as a myriad of other problems, Jason picked up the camera, turned it on himself, and began filming the slow, difficult decline of his body and the miracles he encountered along the way. A Sundance 2013 selection, the documentary chronicles how a brave young man’s strong will to live and deep love for life have led to the most poignant, yet creative work of his life. Dir. Jason DASILVA | 2013 | USA, Canada | 85 min | Sneak Preview + Birthday Celebration | July 26 6:30pm Anthology Film Archives
AAIFF’13 Shorts Programs:
IN TIMES OF INNOCENCE: With a power and imagination uninhibited by their length, these five beautiful shorts capture the strength and pitfalls of familial bonds. The program explores the comedic, dysfunctional and inexplicable tensions that characterize those bonds, and illumines our weaknesses under unknown forces – whether it is power, economic uncertainty, loss of innocence, grief, or simply the unknown. Aug 3 3:30pm Anthology Film Archives . Featuring the following shorts: Little Mao (Dir. Allan TONG), Advantageous (Dir. Jennifer PHANG), Rainy Day for Earth Worms (Dir. Gary MEI), Three Light Bulbs (Dir. Min DING), Howard (Dir. Carolyn WONG).
AN UNBOUNDED ROMANCE: What is the incomprehensibility of love that seduces us to unravel it? Perhaps it is the pointed question that deters us from loving, as well as compels us to love. These five quirky shorts explore this idea as couples in the form of puppets, travelers, or couch-bound potatoes. They come together and fall apart along their unexpected journeys. July 26 7:30pm Anthology Film Archives. Featuring the following shorts: Sweetly Broken (Dir. Chung LAM), Crossings (Dir. Amos Ezra KATZ), Couch & Potatoes (Dir. Christopher LAM and Eunsoo JEONG), No Longer There (Dir. Nobuyuki MIYAKE), July 1st, An Unhappy Birthday (Dir. LI Miao).
ENDURING ENCOUNTERS: From racial tension in NYC to disillusioned Pakistani refugees in LA, then to Uyghur pickpockets roaming in the streets of Central China, these heart-wrenching stories provide insights on how the disfranchised are sent on a downward spiral to a limbo where everything could possibly go awry. Aug 1 7:00pm Anthology Film Archives . Featuring the following shorts: Hu’s Game (Dir. Shaun Seong-Young KIM), Dawn (Dir. Leon LE), Olive (Dir. Harriet Lane NGO), Shaya (Dir. Amir NOORANI), The Trail from Xinjiang (Dir. Dongnan CHEN).
INTO THE PENUMBRA: Asian American representation in mainstream media has always been a struggle. Only those who envisage a possible shattering of the status quo could pioneer change. Through persevering artistic expression, life-risking investigative journalism, or satirical potential of Youtube, these five stories exemplify the various ways by which Asian Americans have made inroads in our history and present. July 25 6:30pm Anthology Film Archives . Featuring the following shorts: Only Child (Dir. Christian GOSSET), Keye Luke (Dir. Timothy TAU), Or Die…(Dir. Gregory BONSIGNORE), More Than a Face in the Crowd (Dir. Samantha CHAN), Lil Tokyo Reporter (Dir. Jeffrey CHIN).
KOREAN WAR REMEMBERED: Special program KOREAN WAR REMEMBERED examines the history and human effects of the Korean War, a war that most Americans now remember little about. From the imprint warfare’s brutality etched upon the psyches of individual soldiers and civilians (A DAY IN 1951) to the continuing pain of separation and destruction of families torn apart by their country’s division (MEMORY OF FORGOTTEN WAR) — the two films are able to invoke the emotionally vivid memories of the war that broke out 50 years ago, but is still resounding today. Aug 3 1:30pm Anthology Film Archives. Featuring the following shorts: A Day in 1951 (Dir. Stuart HOWE), Memory of Forgotten War (Dir. Deann Borshay LIEM and Ramsay LIEM). Followed by a special performance by Nodutol for Korean Community Development. An interactive photo booth project is to be on display throughout the Festival as the call for a peace agreement to replace the armistice agreement grows louder and stronger.
TAIWAN CINEMA DAYS: The modern Taipei witnesses the reluctant parting of a Singaporean soldier; a boy framed for theft squats in a pineapple patch in the South; an aboriginal man ruminates on the tribe’s present severed from their tradition. The three cherry picked short films, interspersed with two refreshing animations, comprehensively present the various city- and landscapes of Taiwan, and briskly depart from the rich legacies of the Taiwanese masters like HOU and YANG. July 26 10:00pm Anthology Film Archives. Featuring the following shorts: When the Cold Wind Blows (Dir. CHIANG Wei Liang), The Box (Dir. YANG Yiu-Chen), How I Learned to Tell a Lie (Dir. GUO Shang-Sing), SeeD (Dir. TSENG Chien-chun and TSENG Yu-hsuan), Rain (Dir. HSU Chang-Hao).
ANIMAL STYLE REVISITED: SKATE SHORTS: Curated by Martin WONG of Asian American pop culture icon Giant Robot, the program combines skateboarding and cinema, two dynamic sources that inform his lifestyle and navigating the unknown. Surprisingly fresh and engaging, the program conveys “not only the rush of rolling on four wheels but also how the energy and creativity spill over into so many other facets of life.” Aug 2 8:30pm Anthology Film Archives. Featuring the following shorts: The Working Man (Dirs. Samrod SHENASSA, Randal KIRK II, and Wing KO), Perfect Time (Dir. Wing KO), The Brotherhood Chicago (Dir. Wing KO), Traveling Sounds (Ben CLARK, Langdon TAGUIPED), Wide Angle Sounds: Mario Rubalcaba (Dir. Ben CLARK, Langdon TAGUIPED), Willy Vs. Jo Koy (Dir. Angela CALERO), NY Revisited 3 Remix (Dir. RB UMALI).
FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH: Encompassing animation, narrative, and documentary shorts, FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH program celebrates works by media makers of Asian descent under the age of 21, articulating their perceptions of life and the world in the most original voice. Preceded by THE WELL WISHING TREE from the City University of New York Asian American Film Festival 2013, a brief glimpse into the daily life and philosophy of Vruksha Montessori School in Chennai, India. July 30 5:00pm Museum of Chinese in America. Featuring the following shorts: The Well Wishing Tree (Dir. Elizabeth MANLY), Skin (Dir. Kevin KIM), In Her Shoes (Dir. Barak COHEN), Lemon Drops (Dir. Kayla WONG), Malaysia, A Colorful Country (Dirs. CheeYang TAN, Yukee ONG, and MJ SOONG), Beginnings (Kathleen SILVERSTEIN), Trab Laus (Tania SAFI).
AAIFF’13 Workshops and Events:
AAIFF’13 Launch Party
Date and Time: Jun 21, 2013 at 7:00pm
Location: Fat Buddha Bar (212 Avenue A)
Come celebrate the beginning of the Festival as we announce our full lineup and show sneak film previews!
72 Hour Shootout
Date and Time: Jul 27 at 1:00pm
Location: Anthology Film Archives
AAIFF is proud to co-present with the Asian American Film Lab the 72 Hour Shootout screening and awards ceremony. Contestants are given 72 hours to write, shoot, and edit a 5-minute short film on a surprise theme. The top ten films of this year’s competition will be revealed.
Women Filmmakers Inside and Outside Hollywood
Date and Time: Jul 30 at 6:30pm
Location: Museum of Chinese in America
Co-sponsored by Asian American Women Media Maker, the panel focuses on the female working conditions inside and outside Hollywood.
Work-in-Progress Workshop
Date and Time: Jul 31 at 5:00pm
Location: Museum of Chinese in America
Each year, AAIFF selects one work-in-progress from the submissions for a dynamic workshop. This year we’ve chosen June INUZUKA’s Dharma Road: A Personal Journey, a documentary short about the filmmaker’s journey to Wyoming where her great uncle, a former mine worker, was buried, and where she discovers the buried history of what were once Wyoming’s “Jap Towns.”
Screenplay Competition
Date: Thursday, Aug 1 at 5:00pm
Location: Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University (8 Washington Mews, NY, NY 10003)
AAIFF’13 embraces the return of Asian American International Screenplay Competition to discover the next classic. The winner of AAISC’13 gets a reading by local NYC actors on Aug 1st. The event is co-presented by the Asian American Film Lab and co-sponsored by Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University.
Music Night Out
Date and Time: Aug 2 at 8:00pm
Location: Fat Buddha Bar
Featuring the best music videos from independent Asian and Asian American artists. Come dance the night away at AAIFF’13!
About Asian CineVision and AAIFF:
The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is produced by Asian CineVision (ACV), a nonprofit media arts organization devoted to the development, promotion and preservation of Asian and Asian American film and video. AAIFF is the nation’s longest-running festival of its kind and a leading showcase for the best in independent Asian and Asian American film and video.
Sponsors:
The 36th Asian American International Film Festival is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on The Arts, with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Special Support is provided by Rémy Martin, Ministry of Culture, Taipei Cultural Center of TECO in New York, AARP, Woo Creative, SAG-AFTRA, Wells Fargo, The Korea Society, Asian Film and Media Initiative, Department of Cinema Studies, NYU, and the many friends of ACV.
Contributing Sponsors:
Southwest Airlines: Official Airline Sponsor of AAIFF’13 Opening Night, Woo Creative, AARP, Anokha Skin Care, Zico, Ginger Ale by Bruce Cost, Ito En, Café Grumpy, Perfect Spa; and Hotel Sponsors include the Wyndham Garden in Chinatown and Holiday Inn at the Lower East Side.
Media Sponsors: MYX-TV, New York Times, Angry Asian Man, Asians On Film, Channel APA, NY Culture Beat, Schema Magazine, YUE Magazine.
For more information on the 36th Asian American International Film Festival, please visit asiancinevision.org.
FOR AWARD RECIPIENTS OF AAIFF’13, CLICK HERE
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