Escape the Ides of March! Get yourself to some heartwarming indie films, cool anti-kawaii art, or be your own Asian American idol and sing your heart out at Kollaboration Acoustic’s auditions.
San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
When: March 10-20
Where: Multiple venues, San Francisco, CA
How: caammedia.org.
Every year in March, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) holds the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF). The SFIAAFF is now the largest showcase for Asian American and Asian films in North America. The film festival is not just limited to SF but also in parts of San Jose and Berkeley.
The Opening Night film that will be shown is West Is West at 7 pm in the Castro Theatre. It is the sequel to East is East where Om Puri stars as a Pakistani father who, with his son, is caught between different cultures, trying to find their respective identities. Where the son is becoming a teenager, his father is dealing with similar struggles and issues even with the age gap. After the screening there will be an Opening Night Gala Reception at the Asian Art Museum.
The festival will also offer live performances from comedians as well as live music and dancing. Check out the scheduling on the website for more information.
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.
