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.
