Wow, what a tremendous year it’s been for ACV! Over 10 days in July and August AAIFF’13 screened over 80 films—nearly 30 hours of cinema from all corners of the Asian Diaspora. From polished romantic comedies, to high wire procedurals, bromance road movies, to real stories of justice served, the Asian American cinema is alive and thriving. Some 2013 highlights:
- Opening Night Gala, the homecoming premiere of Evan Jackson Leong’s LINSANITY, the documentary following the rise of Jeremy Lin, the first Chinese American to play in the NBA and the media storm that ensued.
- AAIFF’13 Closing Night Presentation, the stunning North Korea-Japan family drama OUR HOMLAND written and directed by Yang Yonghi who traveled from Tokyo to present her film.
- ACV’s tribute to Philippine director, educator, and friend Marilou Diaz-Abaya.
- Taiwan Cinema Days – an overview of the Taiwanese cinema today.
- a rousing discussion with a panel of Asian American women filmmakers.
- the return of the Asian American International Screenplay Competition.
- the emergence of generation-next independent Asian and Asian American storytellers with a record number of first-time and second-time feature filmmaker (20 out of 26). Read the list of Award Recipients.
But, a fantastic festival was not enough:
ACV’s online media arts journal CineVue features news, interviews, updates, and original content from artists and filmmakers, examines the cultural and social influence of media in popular culture including exclusive sit downs with with Jia Zhangke, Khyentse Norbu, Zhao Wei, Wu Xiubo, and the launch of the ACV original series The Joy Dunk Club.
The National Festival Tour kicks off with screenings from Columbia University, The New York Times to Wesleyan College. It is your contributions that have done so much to support our work. Thank you.
We have also worked with our partners to bring the latest Hong Kong boxoffice hit The Way We Dance and the incredibly moving AAIFF’11 award-winner The Lulu Sessions to the New York Audience, with huge turn-outs and great feedbacks.
Finally, we have joined the incubator space Made in New York Media Center by IFP in DUMBO where we will be collaborating with filmmakers, technologists and other media artists on new projects, ideas, and resources. The Media Center membership provides not only work desk space but also meeting rooms, production spaces, an event space and a 72-seat digital theater. This is huge. I can’t wait for you to see it!
Your support of ACV today matters. ACV is going big with our goals for 2014: to find new, engaging ways to bring creative and important stories to our community; to share our stories locally and internationally; to support emerging filmmakers in an increasingly global, diverse world; to expand our ability to share and connect in meaningful ways.
In these difficult economic times we, more than ever, need your support to continue our work. Won’t you please include ACV in your year-end tax-deductible giving plans. Donate here and let’s continue this mission together.
Thank you and Happy New Year!
John C. Woo
Executive Director