sfiaaff
SFIAAFF '10 Festival Trailer
Trailer for the 28th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival Presented by the Center for Asian American Media festival.asianamericanmedia.org
2007 SFIAAFF Trailer
The trailer for the 2007 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Directed by Richard Wong. Music by HP Mendoza. Produced by Taro Goto, Christopher Au, Paul Kolsanoff
SFIAAFF 30 Jake Shimabukuro Documentary Trailer
Don't miss the World Premiere of this captivating documentary -- PLAYING ONE NIGHT ONLY! And the icing on the cake? JAKE SHIMABUKURO WILL BE IN THE HOUSE to give a mind-blowing ukulele performance that's sure to knock your socks off! At the Castro Theatre on Wednesday, March 14th at 7:30pm. #jakemovie Those familiar with Jake Shimabukuro may know him as a ukulele virtuoso who has performed with artists as diverse as Bela Fleck, Cyndi Lauper and Yo Yo Ma, been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone and Time Magazine, and has earned comparisons to Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix. For those unfamiliar with his music, all it takes is to hear a few chords—or glimpse him in performance—and the appeal comes through instantly. Produced by CAAM & Pacific Islanders In Communications, this intimate documentary will give viewers a singular glimpse into not only Jake Shimabukuro, the performer and musician, but also Jake, the young boy who grew up in a modest apartment to a single mother and unsuspectingly rose to international stardom. Rising young filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura (whose acclaimed trilogy on the early Asian American cultural movement includes Yellow Brotherhood, Pilgrimage, and A Song For Ourselves) provides an insightful portrait of this first-class musician, backstage, at home, on the road, and into his early days. A quiet boy, Jake quickly took to the ukulele, largely to deal with the troubling divorce of his parents. From there, Jake's path would progress with ...
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: ABOUT ELLY Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21). filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Three high school students sing, strum, and sign their way into each others hearts while gearing up for a school-wide talent competition. With winsome melodies and touching family portraits, the late filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad (MUKHSIN) explores the complex social fabric of Malaysia.A group of old college pals (two married couples and a brother and sister, along with three young kids) decide to reunite for a weekend outing by the Caspian Sea. Sepideh has brought along Elly, her daughter's kindergarten teacher, in hopes of setting her up with recently divorced Ahmad. When Elly disappears in an accident, seemingly trivial lives unravel.
SFIAAFF 30 Trailer
The 30th annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF 30) takes place from March 8th - 18th. See our calendar of films and events here: festival.caamedia.org #SFIAAFF30 Creative Agency: Undeground Editorial Production: Kontent Music: Blackbird Blackbird
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: MUNDANE HISTORY Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21) filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Mundane History records the life of Ake, a young man confined to his bed after an accident leaves him paralyzed from the waist down. Ake is being cared for by Pun, a male nurse who is hired by Thanin, the stoic patriarch of the family. The main house in the family compound is a grand old edifice that has seen better days. The general house duties are attended to by a handful of servants who share a smaller separate house built into the same compound.
SFIAAFF 30 Jake Shimabukuro Documentary Trailer
Don't miss the World Premiere of this captivating documentary -- PLAYING ONE NIGHT ONLY! And the icing on the cake? JAKE SHIMABUKURO WILL BE IN THE HOUSE to give a mind-blowing ukulele performance that's sure to knock your socks off! At the Castro Theatre on Wednesday, March 14th at 7:30pm. #jakemovie Those familiar with Jake Shimabukuro may know him as a ukulele virtuoso who has performed with artists as diverse as Bela Fleck, Cyndi Lauper and Yo Yo Ma, been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone and Time Magazine, and has earned comparisons to Miles Davis and Jimi Hendrix. For those unfamiliar with his music, all it takes is to hear a few chords—or glimpse him in performance—and the appeal comes through instantly. Produced by CAAM & Pacific Islanders In Communications, this intimate documentary will give viewers a singular glimpse into not only Jake Shimabukuro, the performer and musician, but also Jake, the young boy who grew up in a modest apartment to a single mother and unsuspectingly rose to international stardom. Rising young filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura (whose acclaimed trilogy on the early Asian American cultural movement includes Yellow Brotherhood, Pilgrimage, and A Song For Ourselves) provides an insightful portrait of this first-class musician, backstage, at home, on the road, and into his early days. A quiet boy, Jake quickly took to the ukulele, largely to deal with the troubling divorce of his parents. From there, Jake's path would progress with ...
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: DEAR LEMON LIMA Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21) filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Half-Yupik Eskimo Vanessa is the new poster girl for diversity at a private high school in suburban Alaska, but her attempts to win a snooty upperclassmans heart only features in her dear, dear diary, in this sweet comedy about awkward adolescence and being true to your heritage.
SFIAAFF 30 Ninja Kids - Trailer
Recently remaking "serious" samurai films as 13 Assassins and Hara Kiri, the notorious Japanese iconoclast Takashi Miike undoubtedly realized the problems of such classics: not enough small children, LSD-inspired sets, musical numbers, and cross-dressing hairdressers. Seemingly filmed in an acid haze somewhere between ancient Japan and the Castro, Miike's freaked-out Ninja Kids fortunately brings all those missing ingredients together, presenting viewers with a Harry Potter-esque kids' film/samurai movie that's Sword of Doom by way of Willy Wonka. Eight years old and saddled with your chemistry teacher's old glasses, cute little Rantaro has just entered first grade in Ninja Academy, and is soon wandering around with his classmates in adorable blue ninja pajamas. His lessons in explosives, startossing, and mountain-climbing soon come in handy, however, when he and his mates band together to help protect the Saito clan, former ninjas turned cross-dressing hair stylists. Guided by teachers and their ancient master, as well as "your friendly ninja trivia commentator" and a ninja grandma in pink sweatpants, Rantaro and his friends fight to save the day—and the salon! Based on a popular manga, Ninja Kids explodes with a color palette and visual flair that makes the Teletubbies look neorealist, yet boasts a command of samurai genre archetypes familiar to any film buff. Filled with snot jokes, random gags, musical sequences, movie references, and even some helpful life lessons ...
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: RASPBERRY MAGIC Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21). filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Three high school students sing, strum, and sign their way into each others hearts while gearing up for a school-wide talent competition. With winsome melodies and touching family portraits, the late filmmaker Yasmin Ahmad (MUKHSIN) explores the complex social fabric of Malaysia. Little Monica Shah is a slightly awkward, totally precocious tween who spends her time preparing for the science fair. When her parents threaten to split up, and her experiments are sabotaged by a classmate, however, she might just have to pull a few magic tricks out of her sleeve. Quirky, charming, and filmed in Oakland!
SFIAAFF 30 Saving Face - Trailer
CAAM is proud to present this special reunion screening of the landmark Asian American romantic comedy Saving Face! Filmmakers and cast members will join us onstage to share their stories with the audience and reminisce! Exuberant, sexy and utterly charming, Saving Face marks a triumphant feature debut for San Jose-born-and-raised Alice Wu. Wilhelmina (Michelle Krusiec) is a successful young surgeon and dutiful daughter, but also—to the chagrin of her widowed Ma (Joan Chen)—still single. During weekly socials in the tightly knit Chinese community of Queens, Ma and her chatty cronies nudge eligible bachelors towards Wil, but her eyes are fixed instead on a gorgeous young woman, Vivian (Lynn Chen), who smiles back. One fortuitous encounter later, Wil finds herself in love with Vivian, yet unable to come out to her own mother. Things take an unexpected turn, however, when it's Ma who suddenly shows up pregnant at Wil's doorstep, unwilling to name the father and disowned by her own parents. Joan Chen's comedic performance is a revelation, baring just enough vulnerability to elicit both laughter and heartbreak. The film's deft blend of humor and uplifting humanity—not to mention its subject matter—recalls Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet, but here there's no wise father watching over Wil and her mother. Instead they watch over each other, and find an embracing warmth that makes this one of the most touching films of the year. -Taro Goto festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF '10: An Afternoon with Aasif Mandvi
This lively and humorous interview was conducted by former Festival Director, Chi-hui Yang, at the 2010 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Aasif Mandvi discusses his acting career, touching on everything from working with Jon Stewart to making an indie "food film," to his role in M. Night Shyamalan's THE LAST AIRBENDER. Best known to many as the hilariously straight-faced "Senior Foreign-Looking Correspondent" for Comedy Central's fake news program The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Mandvi is an established stage and screen actor whose credits range from Broadway to Hollywood. 2010 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival festival.asianamericanmedia.org Center for Asian American Media asianamericanmedia.org Aasif Mandvi http
30th SFIAAFF Announcement
I have four projects at this year's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival! Nice Girls Crew: festival.caamedia.org Yes We're Open: festival.caamedia.org Daylight Savings: festival.caamedia.org Saving Face: festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Haunted San Francisco with HP Mendoza
HP Mendoza, director of "I am a Ghost" (playing at SFIAAFF30) gives us a tour of haunted places in San Francisco, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Stow Lake. festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Knots - Trailer
Paradise isn't quite for lovers in Michael Kang's refreshing new Hawai'i-based, island-powered romantic comedy, which tracks three sisters and their oft-divorced mother whose success at running a wedding-planning business is matched only by the failure of their romantic affairs. Having escaped the family business—and, more to the point, the family—years ago by moving to Los Angeles, marriage-phobic Lily (Kimberly-Rose Wolter, who also wrote and produced) skulks back to Hawai'i when her own relationship breaks down, and suddenly finds herself back at work at "Tying the Knot." Lily's lucklessness at love is mirrored by her two half-sisters, the heavily pregnant Twinny (Mia Riverton), whose wayward husband has been "disappearing" a little too often, and the bubbly Hoku (Janel Parrish), who has got her eyes—and hopefully her hands—on mucholder local boy Kai (Sung Kang), who also happens to be Lily's ex-boyfriend. Meanwhile, the sisters' mother (the fabulous Illeana Douglas) is looking for love of her own—again, with anyone, right now. Director Michael Kang, well known for the coming-of-age comedy The Motel (SFIAAFF '05) and the NYC Koreatown noir West 32nd (SFIAAFF '08), further demonstrates his directorial range through this unexpected choice for his third feature, a sunny romantic comedy fueled by four excellent actresses. Hawai'ian-born-and-raised Wolter (who starred in and wrote Tre; Special Jury Prize, SFIAAFF '08), sets the comedic pace with an impish, Audrey Hepburn ...
SFIAAFF 30 I AM A GHOST - Trailer
I AM A GHOST, a film of unfastened expectations and uncanny surprises, is a supernatural ghost story in an experimental frame. It marks an unanticipated departure for HP Mendoza, the writer/director previously known for the much-loved musicals COLMA (Special Jury Prize SFIAAFF 2006) and FRUIT FLY (Audience Award SFIAAFF 2009). GHOST doesn't showcase the delightful song-and-dance numbers that made Mendoza's prior efforts instant favorites with cinemagoers, but its eerie, atmospheric soundtrack and visuals demonstrates that Mendoza is a musical talent without limitations and a filmmaker uninterested in simply resting on his laurels. GHOST centers on Emily (Anna Ishida), a ghost with a mysterious past, and Sylvia (Jeannie Barroga), the medium hired to help Emily to the other side (and out of the Victorian home in which she is a currently an unwelcomed resident). With frosty cinematography and a meticulous mise-en-scene, GHOST foregoes well-worn horror theatrics in favor of a thematic focus on the slippery significance of memory and the arresting terror of routine existence, eerily encapsulated by a series of visual repetitions. These repetitions, centered on Emily's everyday activities, offer one of the film's creepiest twists, demonstrating, in the deceptively quaint tradition of David Lynch, that what appears entirely normal can, on review, turn out to be quite terrifying indeed. To give away any more would be to ruin the fun, as well as the spine-tingling conclusion that ...
SFIAAFF 30 Community Matters
What is community to you? Answered by Phil Yu (Angry Asian Man), Lisa Lee (Thick Dumpling Skin), SF Supervisor Jane Kim and Masashi Niwano (SFIAAFF Festival Director) at the Asian Art Museum. Join us for the 30th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival from March 8th - 18th! festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Cook Salon with Celebrity Chefs Re-cap
Cook Salon - March 10, 2012 at SFIAAFF30 festival.caamedia.org Food is the next rock n' roll. From celebrity chefs to food trucks, our culinary culture is exploding with innovative new tastes and eating establishments, and many of the must-try offerings in the Bay Area are Asian American restaurants and pop-ups. In this salon, two of the hottest local chefs will discuss their experiences and food while they create a dish live with the audience. Consult your recipe box or app and come to share food ideas! Featuring: Preeti Mistry Chef, Juhu Beach Club, Top Chef Alum Beverly Kim, Chef De Cuisine, Aria Restaurant Chicago, Top Chef Alum Moderated by John Lee
SFIAAFF 30 My Wedding and Other Secrets - Trailer
Pride and Prejudice by way of Eagle Vs. Shark, My Wedding and Other Secrets explodes the East-West dichotomy in New Zealand. Basing the film on her 2005 documentary Banana in a Nutshell, Roseanne Liang upends the conventions of typical romantic comedy leads, sending a nerdy filmmaker (Michelle Ang) careening into love and marriage with an even unlikelier suitor, a Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast named James (Matt Whelan). The result is an engaging story of a young woman who finally grows up. Desperate to finance her "martial arts-cum-sexploitation" student film, the budding Tarantino Emily Chu convinces fencing partner and sometime bedfellow James (Matt Whelan) to marry her for love and money (though not necessarily in that order). Her strict Chinese parents (Pei-Pei Cheng and Kenneth Tsang), however, forbid their three daughters from even entertaining non-Chinese beaus, which forces the couple to separate every night before curfew. Convinced by a cineaste friend (Simon London) to focus on filming her real-life relationships instead of imaginary vampires, Emily must find a way to reconcile her dreams of love and film with the actuality of her family's demands. With an unreliable narrator in Emily and a Fellini-esque movie within a movie, My Wedding and Other Secrets isn't a typical indie film; it eats "quirky" for breakfast, along with Weet-Biskits and duck feet. Liang handles weighty concepts like identity and love with an unexpectedly deft touch, mining racial and family ...
SFIAAFF 30 Directions in Sound with DJ Neil Armstrong
DIRECTIONS IN SOUND March 9, 2012 9:00 pm Mighty festival.caamedia.org SPONSORED BY: SoundTracking soundtracking.com From electronic pop to new school hip-hop, Directions In Sound 2012 delivers a genre-bending showcase featuring emerging artists and established vets. Join us on a trip through the future-forward music scene that's blowing up the Asian American underground. Don't blink...You might miss the next big thing! DJ NEIL ARMSTRONG // www.djneilarmstrong.com Neil Armstrong has come a long way since his humble beginnings in New York's hiphop underground. A mere ten years into his career, Neil finds himself as the Global Music Ambassador for Adidas and as Jay-Z's tour DJ (from 2008 to 2009). Catapulted to the highest-regard in hip-hop, Neil is instantly becoming the most sought-after DJ in the world. BLACKBIRD BLACKBIRD // blackbirdblackbird.com Blackbird Blackbird is the moniker/musical outlet of San Francisco wunderkind Mikey Maramag, whose deep, textured, and hypnotic pop songs have captured the ears of Pitchfork, Transparent, Prefix Magazine, The Fader, and other musical taste-makers alike. HOPIE // hopiespitshard.com Rising Bay Area female emcee Hopie has powers on the mic and beyond, with a doctorate from UC Hastings and skills in everything from violin to spoken word to guitar. Her debut album, Diamond Dame, garnered national attention and a nomination for URB's Next 1000, immediately making Hopie an artist to watch. MICROPIXIE // micropixie.com Made in Bombay ...
SFIAAFF 30 11 Flowers - Trailer
Like his fellow Sixth Generation filmmaker Jia Zhangke, Wang Xiaoshuai (Beijing Bicycle, Shanghai Dreams) has learned much from Taiwanese master Edward Yang, whose work frequently places intimate family stories within a politically charged historical framework. Brimming with youthful energy and featuring lovingly detailed evocations of a specific time and place, 11 Flowers demonstrates Wang's deep engagement with mainland China's complex cultural history. Set in a riverside community in Southwest China in 1975, just before the tumultuous end of the Cultural Revolution, 11 Flowers follows 11-year-old Wang Han as he negotiates the onset of puberty while trying to decipher the anxious whispering of the surrounding adults—of Red Guards clashing with conservatives, and of a killer run loose in the woods. Han's concerns are typical for someone his age— playing street games with friends, spying on local girls and fussing over school clothes—but things turn more serious after a strange encounter near the river. Wang imbues each scenario with deep emotional resonance, leading us to understand the financial struggles and geographical displacement of the village's inhabitants, many of whom were sent away from their native Shanghai. Wang skillfully depicts a culture on the verge of chaos, but he leaves room for the subtler moments too, like a father teaching his son the intricacies of painting, moments that can have a profound impact, despite impending upheaval. -Jonathan L . Knapp ...
SFIAAFF 30 Among B-Boys - Trailer
A counterstory to fictional Hmong American narratives like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, Christopher Woon's first documentary feature explores the intersection of rugged urban b-boyin' (breakdancing) and the traditional roots of Hmong culture. But instead of the usual generational conflict, Among B-Boys unveils a story of the modern and the traditional actually affirming each other, visually weaving between the older generation's memory of ethnicity and war and the younger generation's toprocks, footwork, freezes and power-moves. Woon focuses on three breakers - Impact and Vlln of Underground Flow, and Sukie of Velocity/Soul Rivals Crew—who reveal the path towards b-boy cultural citizenship in America, but continually steer us back to their families, history and community.Produced as a short in 2004 and originally focused on the California Central Valley, the feature film follows the expansion of the Hmong community into the Midwest, with its main protagonists now in Tulsa, Oklahoma. - Roger C hung festival.caamedia.org
White Frog - SFIAAFF World Premiere
On the red carpet on March 8th, 2012 for the sold out screening of White Frog at the Castro Theater opening the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Much of the cast was in attendance including Booboo Stewart, Harry Shum Jr., BD Wong, Gregg Sulkin, Tyler Posey, and festival honoree Joan Chen. Be sure to stay up to date with everything White Frog: whitefrogthemovie.com http twitter.com
SFIAAFF 30 The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom - Trailer
The Japanese earthquake and tsunami last March 11 carries the dubious distinction of being the most visually documented disaster ever, with observers, survivors—and even victims—filming the events as they occurred. British filmmaker Lucy Walker (Waste Land) incorporates some of that astounding footage for her new work, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom, allowing audiences a chance to see for themselves the true power of nature, and the true resilience of humanity. Contrasting the devastation of the earthquake with the simple beauty of the Japanese cherry blossom, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom captures the resilience of people after disaster. When a middle-aged man states "nani mo nai" ("There is nothing left"), the proof is in front of your eyes, but so is the hope of interviewees, who remain philosophical about their situation. Whether in bloom or fall, "You see whatever you want to see reflected in the cherry blossom" says one, whose family has raised sakura (cherry blossoms) for sixteen generations. -Mordecai Stayton festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Touch - Trailer
Already the winner of several prizes on the film festival circuit, Minh Duc Nguyen's Touch chronicles the unexpected relationship that develops between Tam (Porter Lynn), a Vietnamese American manicurist, and Brendan (John Ruby), a mechanic. No matter how much he washes his hands, Brendan is constantly physically rejected by his wife for the dirt under his nails from work; in an attempt to save his marriage, he begins to visit a nail salon. Moved by his dedication, the salon-worker Tam begins to offer advice in addition to cleaning. Soon, Brendan's daily trips become more than a mere task to get his hands clean, and are instead fueled by a desire to see and be touched by Tam. Her world, however, is as complex as Brendan's; she also takes care of her embittered, disabled father, the same man who punished her as a child, and who rejects—yet needs—her touch. Minh Duc Nguyen, who attended UC Berkeley and is an acclaimed short-story writer, here creates a beautiful, compelling film on the complexities of human expression. For Nguyen, the nail-salon setting provides insights both culturally specific and utterly universal; it is "the perfect setting to tell a multicultural story, a place where the Vietnamese workers interact daily with their American customers that come from all walks of life. But the movie also touches on universal themes such as love, loss and the importance of human contact." -Clarisse Valera festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 ABU, SON OF ADAM - Trailer
India's official entry to the 84th Academy Awards and 2012 Golden Globes is a meditative story of the determination of an aging couple to perform the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. This becalmed, revelatory cinematic experience unpretentiously explores virtue, loyalty, and devotion against the picturesque simplicity of rural Kerala. A long-married couple, Abu and Aisu's heartrending adherence to their religious and moral virtues is recognized by the people in their lives, who assist in raising finances for the pilgrimage while ruminating on what it means to live an honest life. As Abu and Aisu, Salim Kumar (known more as a comic actor) and Zarina Wahab contribute restrained, yet rich performances that form the heart of this beautiful tale of friendship and hope. Noted cinematographer Madhu Ambat's extraordinary visuals capture Kerala's lush natural beauty and also the gloomier, claustrophobic surroundings of Abu and Aisu, all without resorting to either postcard stereotypes or the glamorizing of its characters' poverty. Quiet and contemplative, this directorial debut won theGold Lotus for Best Film at India's National Film Awards. Steeped in the ambience and beauty of Kerala, yet truthful to its contemporary struggles and issues, Abu, Son of Adam provides a fascinating window into Muslim life and culture in India's south. -Shwetika Baijal festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 The Crumbles - Trailer
Akira Boch's feature debut is a fun romp across LA with a group of friends who punctuate their monotonous days in the minimum-wage workforce by adopting stray Dobermans, playing horse races, producing groundbreaking vampire-alien films, and starting bands with their freeloading roommates. Boch's characters particularly protagonist Darla, are just a bit too sober for the sex-drugs-and-rock-and-roll lifestyle espoused by many biopics about the genesis of famous bands like the Runaways. But this is not a portrayal of a real rock group; the Crumbles are entirely fictional, yet still capture the very real awkwardness, frustration, and intermittent elation that come with being twenty-something and waiting for one's chance to rise out of obscurity. Whether 'everyday girl' Darla and her manic pixie dream roommate Elisa, whose main talents are the "keytar" and cutely bumming around Echo Park, can make it work long enough to keep the band itself from crumbling remains the central drama. Their crew is rounded out by "psychic" friends, brooding ex-boyfriends, and shirtless drummers who threaten to topple the delicate balance of their fledgling but promising rock outfit. SFIAAFF 2011 viewers who saw Boch's short documentary Barbara Kawakami: A Textured Life should expect a different side of this filmmaker, who has coaxed natural and likeable characters out of a multiracial cast of relative unknowns (save veteran Amy Hill, in a split-second role as a café manager). Be ready for fun ...
SFIAAFF '11: TALES OF THE WARIA Trailer
TALES OF THE WARIA is playing at the 29th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. More info: TALES OF THE WARIA caam.gala-engine.com
SFIAAFF 30 Give Up Tomorrow - Trailer
On a summer night in 1997, two young sisters went missing on Cebu. The next day a female body turned up at the bottom of a ravine, showing evidence of sexual assault but barely recognizable as one of the sisters—some say it didn't even match her description, but no precise forensic photos were ever taken. The other sister was never found. Burly teenager Paco Larrañaga, a Cebu native taking midterm exams at a Manila culinary school, and six other young men were arrested for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of the two sisters. Following the Larrañaga family's years-long struggle to clear Paco, Give Up Tomorrow is a harrowing and incredible journey through the Philippines criminal justice system. Although dozens of witnesses signed affidavits stating they were with Paco in Manila during the time of the crime in Cebu—hundreds of miles away—police chose not to interview a single one. The popular media went wild, casting suspicion on Paco (the scion of a wealthy political family) as the leader of a criminal gang, while portraying the victims' parents as saints despite their own underworld ties. In the tradition of documentaries like The Thin Blue Line and Presumed Guilty comes an Asian counterpart, as gripping as the best of crime fiction—yet all true. -Frako Loden festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Salad Days -Trailer
The advent of social media has undoubtedly changed the way we view not only our family and friends, but ourselves as well. Perhaps even more telling is the way today's youth has taken to the Internet as an avenue to reach out to others on a scale never seen before. With that being said, it comes as no surprise that the Internet plays a pivotal role in Salad Days, a quirky narrative focusing on the trials and tribulations of three twentysomethings living in the Bay Area. At its heart Salad Days is a film about love, but—like a well-curated Twitter feed—it touches upon several themes, including the uncertainty of youth, the intrinsically voyeuristic nature of social media, and (of course) the complexity of human relationships. Salad Days shamelessly bills itself as a comedy of tragic proportions, and the description is spot on. Without a doubt, there are several "laugh out loud" scenes scattered throughout the film, but each is not without an equally thought-provoking moment that highlights the complications of the increasing duality that the Internet is (almost) forcing us to live. With Salad Days, directors Hiram Chan, Jeff Mizushima and Emily Yoshida have created a work sure to inspire dialogue about the gap between our personal lives and our new Facebook'd, YouTube'd identities; they've also shown us that the spirit of indie filmmaking is alive and well in the Asian American community. -Joseph Albert festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Play Salon Spotlight with Jenova Chen
Join us for the Play Salon March 9, 2012 7:00 pm SuperFrog Gallery festival.caamedia.org Games are a passion for many, and can be a big part of our daily lives. When a game really moves us emotionally, intellectually, and artistically it can be a profound experience. In the spirit of the SFIAAFF'11 game panel, we bring together an esteemed group of innovative and artistic game designers to discuss their work and brainstorm game ideas with the audience. The featured artists will discuss their history with games, as well as give the audience a taste of their creative process by developing a game design/idea with the audience. Bring your game ideas to the salon because it is time to design and play! #playsalon Featuring: Jenova Chen Game Designer, Journey, thatgamecompany Michael Cheng Game Designer, The Last Sleeper, Triple Jump Suyin Looui Interactive Designer & Producer, Hey Baby Game Moderated by: Dino Ignacio, Designer & Artist, Electronic Arts
SFIAAFF '11: Breakout Female Comedians Panel - Part 1
Actor Leonardo Nam sits down for a Q&A session with some of comedy's rising stars: Thu Tran (Comedian, "Food Party") Anisha Nagarajan (Actress, "Outsourced") and Ali Wong (Comedian.) More info: LOOK WHO'S LAUGHING NOW: Breakout Female Comedians panel caam.gala-engine.com 29th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival caam.gala-engine.com Center for Asian American Media CAAMedia.org
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: MAKE YOURSELF AT HOME (aka FETISH) Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21) filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Montclair, the upper class suburbs of America in New Jersey. Peter(Rob Yang), a Korean American lawyer has returned from a trip to Korea with Sookhy(Hye-Kyo Song), his beautiful, but mysterious new wife. Strange and terrible things start to happen and rumor spreads that Sookhy is a Korean shaman. As they met through marriage broker one week ago, Peter and his beloved mother(June Kyoko Lu) know very little about her. Next door lives a happy couple, John(Arno Frisch) and Julie(Athena Currey). John is warm towards Sookhy who considers it a love and tries to seduce him. Ensues a big fight between Sookhy and Julie. Who is the victim, Julie or Sookhy?
SFIAAFF '11: ALMOST PERFECT Clip 1
ALMOST PERFECT will be playing at the 29th SF International Asian American Film Festival To buy tickets and more info: caam.gala-engine.com
ON THE CLOCK - SFIAAFF '10 Filmmaker Interview: Barry Jenkins
TALL ENOUGH, directed by Barry Jenkins screens at SFIAAFF 2010 in the Shorts Program, "WANDERING, WONDERING". filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org
SFIAAFF '11 Musician Interview: Jack Tung
Interview with Jack Tung, musician, who will perform alongside experimental film "Suite Suite Chinatown". "Suite Suite Chinatown" presents the theme of "Chinatown" to a group of artistically diverse, award-winning Chinese filmmakers who highlight nostalgic concern for Chinatown's past, present and future. filmmakers. caamedia.org caam.gala-engine.com
SFIAAFF '09 Filmmaker Interview - Kevin Barker
Kevin Barker, director of FIVE FINGERS, sits down for an interview at the 2009 San Francisco Asian-American Film Festival.
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: LIKE YOU KNOW IT ALL Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21) filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Hong Sang-soo, the master of unashamedly capturing the most awkward situations possible, returns with his latest dissection of the modern-day man-boy. Featuring a depraved arthouse filmmaker and the erratic characters he comes across, the film knits a tapestry of uncomfortable human interactions, central to it the evolution of the sometimes-thinking, always-drinking man.
CAAM Interactive at SFIAAFF 08
Here is a overview of the stories we collected at the Festival Forum this year. Check out what people have to say!
SFIAAFF 30 Groove Salon with HOTTUB and DJ Neil Armstrong Re-cap
Here's the final track produced with HOTTUB, Dj Neil Armstrong and the live audience! soundcloud.com Groove Salon - March 10, 2012 at SFIAAFF30 festival.caamedia.org SFIAAFF has long celebrated the contributions of Asian American artists to the fabric of musical life. In the Groove Salon, we bring together two Directions in Sound artists to go beyond performance to talk life and shop. Here DJ Neil Armstrong and HOTTUB meet up in conversation/collaboration to create a song with the audience. They are from different parts of a musical spectrum but both are innovative musicians that challenge the boundaries of hip-hop. During the salon, they will play samples of their work, speak about their experiences as musicians, and give the attendees a taste of the creative process. This is a participatory event, so come prepared to ask questions and contribute to the song! THIS EVENT IS 21 AND OVER. Featuring: Neil Armstrong, Tour DJ for Jay-Z, Mixtape Maker, Directions in Sound 2012 HOTTUB, Disco Rap Band, Directions in Sound 2009 Moderated by: Jeff Chang Writer, Executive Director of the Institute for Diversity in the Arts + Committee on Black Performing Arts at Stanford University.
SFIAAFF '11: BREAK UP CLUB Trailer
BREAK UP CLUB is playing at the 29th SF International Asian American Film Festival. More info: caam.gala-engine.com
Playing at SFIAAFF 2010: FOG Trailer
Playing at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (March 11- 21) filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org Wai, a young man whose memory has been wiped entirely clean from amnesia, tries to recall his past through the conflicting recollection of his family and friends. He discovers certain vital clues to his personal history that is being deliberately hidden from him, he decides to confront the consequence.
ON THE CLOCK - SFIAAFF '10 Filmmaker Interview: Valerie Soe
OAK PARK STORY directed by Valerie Soe plays in the SFIAAFF '10 (preceding MANILATOWN IS IN THE HEART). filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 RYANG-KANG-DO Merry Christmas North - Trailer
A misplaced Christmas gift winds up in a North Korean boy's hands in this unabashed satire of typical views of North Korea. Little Jong-soo lives in an isolated rural province, but dreams of visiting Pyongyang. He almost gets his wish when his fourth-grade class wins a trip to the capital, but school officials pull him off the bus because they are afraid that foreign media could see someone "so ugly." Devastated, he weeps in a forest. Suddenly, a balloon falls from the sky. And inside...is a toy robot, embodying a holiday that Jongsoo has never heard of. Ryang-Kang-Do is North Korean defector and writer Jung Sung-san's second script, after his 2006 political prison-themed musical, Yoduk Story. This latest work is more comedic, as it follows the hijinks of the snotnosed Jong-soo, whose "security guard" robot inspires awe and jealously among the other village children. The kids also learn about Christmas from a card found in the balloon, and from Jong-soo's grandfather, whose recollections of "Comrade Jesus Christ" harken to a time when Pyongyang was known as the "Jerusalem of the East." A "Christmas tale" unlike any you've seen before, complete with a North Korean Santa Claus, some not particularly wise men, and a hoped-for winter's journey to that promised land of glory (Pyongyang), Ryang- Kang-Do is a Korean, even more twisted version of A Christmas Story. -Terry K. Park festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful - Trailer
Standing less than five feet tall and weighing less than 100 pounds, Keiko Fukuda is one of only four Judo practitioners in the world (and the only woman) to currently hold 10th Dan, Judo's highest degree black belt; she is also 98 years old. The inspiring Mrs. Judo: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful chronicles Keiko Fukuda's seven-decadeslong Judo career, as well as her deep dedication to the practice, the sacrifices she made along the way, and her struggle with the Kudokan's long history of sexism. The inspiring story of this remarkable woman and Judo master is eloquently brought to life by director Yuriko Gamo Romer, who uses rare archival footage, intimate interviews, and plenty of on-the-mat action to tell the tale. At a time when women went from childhood home to wife and homemaker, Fukuda made an unpopular choice and took a different path, saying "This [Judo] was my marriage...this is when my life destiny was set." Mrs. Judo: Be Strong, Be Gentle, Be Beautiful beautifully showcases the life of Keiko Fukuda, presenting her as not only a pioneer for women, but an inspiration to us all. - Jenn Kolmel festival.caamedia.org
SFIAAFF 30 Play Salon with Game Designers Re-cap
Play Salon - March 9 2012 at SFIAAFF30 festival.caamedia.org Games are a passion for many, and can be a big part of our daily lives. When a game really moves us emotionally, intellectually, and artistically it can be a profound experience. In the spirit of the SFIAAFF'11 game panel, we bring together an esteemed group of innovative and artistic game designers to discuss their work and brainstorm game ideas with the audience. The featured artists will discuss their history with games, as well as give the audience a taste of their creative process by developing a game design/idea with the audience. Bring your game ideas to the salon because it is time to design and play! Featuring: Jenova Chen Game Designer, Journey, thatgamecompany Michael Cheng Game Designer, The Last Sleeper, Triple Jump Suyin Looui Interactive Designer & Producer, Hey Baby Game Moderated by: Dino Ignacio, Designer & Artist, Electronic Arts
SFIAAFF 30 Cook Salon Spotlight with Preeti Mistry
Join us for the Cook Salon March 10, 2012 2:00 pm Superfrog Gallery festival.caamedia.org Food is the next rock n' roll. From celebrity chefs to food trucks, our culinary culture is exploding with innovative new tastes and eating establishments, and many of the must-try offerings in the Bay Area are Asian American restaurants and pop-ups. In this salon, two of the hottest local chefs will discuss their experiences and food while they create a dish live with the audience. Consult your recipe box or app and come to share food ideas! Featuring: Preeti Mistry Chef, Juhu Beach Club, Top Chef Alum Beverly Kim, Chef De Cuisine, Aria Restaurant Chicago, Top Chef Alum Moderated by John Lee #cooksalon
SFIAAFF 30 In the Family - Trailer
In his remarkably assured directorial debut, Patrick Wang revitalizes independent American filmmaking with the penetrating, wholly original In the Family. Eschewing formula and stereotype, Wang delivers a heartfelt story woven around child custody, "two-Dad" families, parental loss, interracial relations, and the human side of the law. The project is galvanized by strong performances from a veteran ensemble and music by the legendary Chip Taylor ("Wild Thing;" "Angel of the Morning"). The film opens with the daily routines of an ordinary family in Tennessee, where Joey (Patrick Wang) and Cody (Trevor St. John) are raising their precocious son Chip. The narrative shifts into the extraordinary after tragedy forces Joey to raise his son alone. Joey's grief is compounded when he discovers that Cody's sister has been granted custody of Chip. This unforeseen legality unravels Joey's tenuous acceptance in Cody's family, which becomes further complicated by racial distrust. Wang allows the film's ambitious length to patiently interweave flashback sequences that reveal the complex nature of Cody's relationship with Joey, their relationship with Cody's family, and Joey's relationship to his orphaned past. Rarely has the nature of what it means to be in a family been examined with such rewarding nuance. Refusing to demonize any member of the family, Wang offers instead a transcendent narrative that embraces how light and shadow both shape the human heart. -Michael Guillen festival ...
SFIAAFF 30 Delhi In A Day - Trailer
Having risen from relative obscurity to obscene wealth through a series of nefarious import/export deals, the Ghambir family reside in a palatial mansion in South Delhi. Mukund (Kulbhushan Kharbanda), jovial patriarch of the family, struggles to balance the demands of a successful career with the continually expanding needs of his pampered family. Kalpana (Lillete Dubey), his boisterous and sharp-tongued wife of 30 odd years, commands an over-staffed and disorderly team of servants comprised of: Rohini, a nineteen-year-old girl who dreams of stardom in Mumbai; Udai-Singh, the semi-alcoholic cook eager to prove his talents in world cuisine; Chottu, an overexcitable and effeminate butler of sorts; Venkat and Nataraj, two meek South Indian drivers who are overwhelmed by life in Delhi; and Raghu, who has practically helped raise Jai and Madhu, Kalpana's teenage kids, over the last two decades. When Jasper (Lee Williams), the idealistic son of an important British business associate, arrives in Delhi to begin a tour of India he is quickly overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the city, as well as by the contradictions and nuances of the colorful manner in which his hosts, the Ghambirs, conduct their lives. As he is drawn into household dynamics, he slowly begins to find his presence has upset the natural order of things, and that his first day in Delhi might just prove to be more than he bargained for. Delhi in a Day is a comedic portrayal of upper-class Delhi society ...
ON THE CLOCK - SFIAAFF '10 Filmmaker Interview: Nina Reyes Rosenberg
ORGANISM directed by Nina Reyes Rosenberg plays in the SFIAAFF '10 short film program, TAKE ME ANYWHERE, I DON'T CARE. filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org
Page: 1 of 11
