The 33rd Asian American International Film Festival kicks off next week, starting July 15 in New York City, and will be running until July 24. The program consists of 23 feature films from filmmakers around the globe that span a wide variety of genres, from drama and horror to musical and comedy, so there is surely something for everyone.

“This year, the AAIFF10 looks especially forward to bringing several Southeast Asian films to our audience,” states Martha Tien, Program Manager of the AAIFF 2010. “Southeast Asia has such a dynamic cinematic community, but its movies still tend to be underrepresented in most film festivals.”

And now you can go to the festival to watch to your heart’s content ’cause we’re giving away a pair of tickets to the festival for our readers! Keep reading for details.

The July 15 opening night feature film presentation is Manila Skies directed by award-winning filmmaker Raymond Red, who was the first Filipino to have won the Palme d’Or in Cannes for his 2000 short film, Anino. In Manila Skies we follow Raul (Raul Arellano), a struggling day laborer who tries to cobble together some money for a trip back to his childhood home in Romblon, where he hopes to help his ailing father. The film was inspired by true events. Red, a pioneer of contemporary Filipino cinema, will be in attendance after the screening for a special Q+A session.

"Manila Skies," the opening film of AAIFF 2010.

Watch the trailer here:

Among other films to be screened are Au Revoir Taipei (to be screened as the Centerpiece Presentation on July 17) by second-generation filmmaker Arvin Chen, which was developed from his short film Mei. The Thai horror film Slice directed by Kongkiat Khomsiri is nothing short of frightening and will have horror film fans feeling very pleased. Director Freida Lee Mock will show her documentary Lt. Watada, which follows Lt. Ehren Watada who made headlines a few years back when he refused to deploy to Iraq, claiming it was an illegal war. And check out our review of the Malaysian film Woman on Fire Looks for Water here.

The horror film "Slice" from Thailand.

The film fest closing night presentation is the critically acclaimed The People I’ve Slept With directed by Quentin Lee. Angela (Karin Anna Cheung), is a woman with a heightened sexual appetite who suddenly finds herself pregnant with five possible candidates for the father. Check out our review here.

Archie Kao and Karin Anna Cheung in "The People I've Slept With."

Watch the sexy trailer here:

Aren’t you just dying to watch? You can, and Audrey Magazine is hooking you up with a pair of free tickets. Just comment below by Tuesday, July 13. (We’ll have two more pairs of tickets that you can only win by following our Facebook and Twitter pages, coming later in the week!)

The AAIFF is the first and longest running festival in the U.S. that is devoted to showcasing films created by filmmakers of Asian descent as well as films that explore new constructs of Asian and Asian American cinema. AAIFF 2010 includes selections from both a national and international pool of filmmakers, including works from Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Screenings will take place at various venues throughout New York including Chelsea Clearview Cinema, the Quad Cinema, and the Museum of Chinese America.

For tickets and a complete listing of films and screening dates, click here.

For all you lovers of celluloid, the film fest love continues. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, April 29, and goes till May 8.

Some films we’ll definitely be watching:

The Actresses, May 8

Six big-time, multi-generational South Korean actresses come together on Christmas Eve for a once-in-a-lifetime Vogue magazine cover shoot. But with big entourages — and even bigger egos — in tow, anything can happen in this pseudo-documentary. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Korean entertainment industry, touted as hallyu (or the Korean Wave), that is sweeping the world.

Starring Kim Ok-vin (Thirst), the ingénue du jour, and Choi Ji-woo (Winter Sonata), playing up her “ice queen” persona, The Actresses holds nothing back, from plastic surgery to alcoholism.

The Korean stars in "The Actresses," premiering at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Au Revoir Taipei, April 29

Arvin Chen’s Au Revoir Taipei, starring Jack Yao and Amber Kuo, is an adventure-romance-caper film. Taking place on the streets and back alleys of Taipei, a lovesick dumpling vendor gets caught up in the eccentric and dangerous world of the Taipei mob.

The opening night film "Au Revoir Taipei."

Also playing is Ktown Cowboys and Quentin Lee’s sexy film The People I’ve Slept With. Read our posts on each film here and here.

And it’s not just films. There will be plenty of panels for those looking to break into filmmaking (or just to gawk at all the Asian American talent!).

Filmmaker Justin Lin (SHOPPING FOR FANGS, BETTER LUCK TOMORROW, FAST & FURIOUS, NBC’s COMMUNITY), along with other industry professionals, will be discussing the qualities they look for in filmmakers in a special panel called YOMYOMF.com’s Interpretations: So You Really Want to Make Films. Taking place on Sunday May 2, the panel will also be the launch of You Offend Me You Offend My Family’s INTERPRETATIONS, a short film initiative designed to put this knowledge to practical use, support emerging talent from the Asian American creative community, and give filmmakers a chance to share their unique perspectives and have their work evaluated by seasoned professionals with a breadth of experience in studio and independent film/television. 

Get a complete schedule and ticket information here.

It’s that time again. The nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) kicks off tomorrow (March 11) until the 21st. And we’ve got free tickets for readers (keep reading for details). 

Opening the festival is Today’s Special, a heartwarming, comedic ode to food and family and New York City. Starring The Daily Show‘s Aasif Mandvi, and directed by David Kaplan, his second feature, the film takes place in the steaming kitchens of New York City, sprinkled with old Bollywood songs, just for good measure. Both the director and Mandvi will make appearances at the screening.

Veteran Bollywood actor Naseerrudin Shah and Aasif Mandvi in Today's Special.

The centerpiece film is Quentin Lee’s sexy romp of a film, The People I’ve Slept With. Lee, the film’s star Karin Anna Cheung and producer Stanley Yung are expected to make appearances. Check out our post on the film here.

Archie Kao and Karin Anna Cheung in The People I've Slept With.

The closing film is Bay Area native Arvin Chen’s Au Revoir Taipei, making its North American premiere. Starring Jack Yao and Amber Kuo, the adventure-romance-caper film takes place on the streets and back alleys of Taipei as a lovesick dumpling vendor gets caught up in the eccentric and dangerous world of the Taipei mob.

Au Revoir Taipei.

Other events you won’t want to miss include Directions in Sound, a multi-genre, multi-artist showcase of progressive, electro-clash sounds blowing up around the globe; a special outdoor screening of Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon, family-friendly festivals, and plenty of parties.

And now ten lucky winners get free tickets to The Message, playing on March 14. Comment here, and send an email with your mailing address to elizabeth@audreymagazine.com, subject line: Free Tickets.

The Center for Asian America Media presents the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) every March. The SFIAAFF, the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian American and Asian films, annually presents approximately 120 works in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose. Since 1982, the SFIAAFF has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema.

Get more info and buy tickets here.