The Audience Award for Best Documentary went to Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings.
Sadly, the 29th Edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be soon coming to a close (they finish out the festival this weekend in Long Beach), wrapping up with the Closing Night film Key of Life. Various awards were handed out before the closing night film in the narrative and documentary categories. Some big winners included Lee Issac Chung (for Abigail Harm), Kalyanee Mam (for A River Changes Course) and Tadashi Nakamura (for Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings). Click on for complete list of the winners!
Abraham Ferrer
Visual Communications/LAAPFF Staff
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
I was helping run the Film Festival.
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
There are way too many, but one that stands out was back in 1995, when director Wong Kar-wai arrived 45 minutes late to an overflow L.A. Premiere screening of CHUNGKING EXPRESS, leaving guest presenter Quentin Tarantino to cool his heels and sip a bottle of pinot noire with the Festival staff.
Can you recommend a film from this year’s festival?
I think people should watch all seven narrative features in Competition: ABIGIL HARM, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, CHINK, THE HAUMANA, SAKE-BOMB, THE PLAYBACK SINGER, and SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW. The schedule is set up so that if you were crazy enough, you can actually catch all seven!
Milton Liu
Visual Communications/LAAPFF Staff
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
I was a Senior Manager for an Intellectual Property Valuation company. Or, when my parents were proud of me.
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
My favorite memory is the 2012 screening of our Armed With a Camera fellows. It was my first year advising the fellows and it was so great to see their brilliant films on the big screen.
Can you recommend a film from this year’s festival?
My recommendation is to watch the Digital Posse shorts program, that include films from this year’s Armed With a Camera Fellows. It’s amazing to see the growth of these filmmakers from last fall. Also, stay for the “Special Screening” film that follows that program.
Ten years ago, Better Luck Tomorrow had in its theatrical release in 2003.
So did you know that Audrey Magazine is celebrating their 10th year anniversary this year? We’ve got so many ways that we could celebrate the last ten years of our publication – and we’ve decided to partner up with the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (the 29th Edition!) and ask some of the filmmakers and actors to reminisce about 2003 and their favorite memories of LAAPFF. Check it out below (you should also check out their films playing in the festival too)!
One of LA’s true gems is the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival – every year, the festival never fails to curate an amazing lineup films – and trust me, there’s something for everyone every year. Check out some of the highlights (yes, Linsanity is coming to the festival!) below!
CAAMfest Festival and Exhibition Director Masahi Niwano, filmmaker Nadine Truong, Producers of Linsanity, Brian Yang, Christopher Chen, Allen Lu, director Evan Jackson Leong, and Festival Managing Director Christine Kwon.
It was a beautiful night, and The Castro district was buzzing with Jeremy Lin fans and movie buffs. It was the opening night of CAAMfest, and my photographer Erilou and I couldn’t be any more excited for what was in store. We got dolled up, but on our cute dresses and drove out to SF. On our schedule was the premiere of Linsanity and a gala at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, Ca. We had such an amazing time and met so many amazing people. Check out our coverage on this year’s CAAMfest opening night!
Eem Byung-hak and Kim Naun of Goonam performs at the SF Music Matters Asia showcase at Broadway Studios in San Francisco on March 8 (photo credit: Karen Datangel).
Many indie musicians have already gathered at the world-famous SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, but before heading to the Lone Star State, some of these artists and a few others took their show to the City by the Bay for two nights of unforgettable music mayhem. From sentimental soul and slinky blues to pulsating electronic beats and fist-pumping dance-rock, the East met the West in a duo of shows, delivering something special for every music lover.
As a special preview to the newly branded CAAMFest (Formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival), the inaugural San Francisco Music Matters Asia showcase brought together some of the hottest musical acts from Korea, China, and Taiwan at Broadway Studios on March 7 and 8. This Bay Area stop served as an extension of Music Matters, Asia’s yearly premier music event in Singapore. Partnered with local music promoters from the bands’ countries (DFSB Collective of Korea, Maybe Mars of China, and The Wall of Taiwan), SF Music Matters Asia was not only a rare opportunity for fans to see so many critically-acclaimed Asian artists together, but opened doors for these artists to share their music with a wider international audience.
We’re giving away tickets to Music Matters Asia in San Francisco for March 7-8! To enter:
To enter:
1. Like Audrey on FB & follow us Twitter
2. Leave a comment on this post with your name and Twitter handle!
About:
As a special preview for CAAMFest (formerly the San Francisco International Asian-American Film Festival), Asia’s premier music industry event, Music Matters, has teamed up with an alliance of Asia’s leading indie music promoters (China : Maybe Mars / Korea : DFSB Kollective / Taiwan : The Wall) and Singapore’s Viki.com to proudly present the launch of San Francisco Music Matters Asia (March 7th-8th, 2013).
A brand new extension of the highly successful Music Matters Live festival in Singapore (http://AllThatMatters.Asia/LIVE), the two-day San Francisco showcase will spotlight Asia’s top indie music artists. According to Music Matters Founder and CEO Jasper Donat, “Asia is smoking hot for talent at the moment and we’re delighted to have some biggest and best live bands from the region sharing the same stage for the first time ever in America.”
Tthe inaugural showcase headliners include the following critically acclaimed, SXSW music acts from China, Korea, and Taiwan:
CHINA
Carsick Cars (2009 China MIDI Awards : Album of the Year – Nominee)
The Gar (2012 China MIDI Awards : Song of the Year – Winner)
White+ (2012 China Douban Awards: Electronic Music Album of the Year – Winner)
KOREA
3rd Line Butterfly (2013 Korean Music Awards : Musician of the Year – Nominee)
Galaxy Express (2011 Korean Music Awards : Musician of the Year – Winner)
Goonam (2012 Korean Music Awards : Modern Rock Album of the Year – Nominee)
Lowdown 30 (2013 Korean Music Awards : Album of the Year – Nominee)
No Brain (2007 Korean Music Awards : Band of the Year)
TAIWAN
The Chairman (2011 Taiwan Golden Melody Awards : Band of the Year – Nominee)
The 10th Annual Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Park City was held on January 22nd, 2013. The event is a reception which recognizes and celebrates all the Asian Pacific filmmakers with works in this year’s Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals.
Continue reading to see a list of all the celebrated filmmakers. Continue Reading »
The A3 Foundation (Asian American Artists Foundation) is one that provides resources to Asian American artists in an effort to aid their success in the Entertainment Industry. The project was founded in 2012 by three Facebook veterans Philip Fung, Julia Lam and Franklyn Chien. Upon realizing that they didn’t grow up with many Asian role models in the media, they decided to put their efforts into fostering the talents of young Asian Americans. Their Fellows program grants $10,000-$20,000 in funding and provides mentorship from established artists.
Now, the A3 foundation has partnered with the Sundance Institute to create an A3 Sundance Fellowship which sponsors a fellow in their Director or Screenwriting Lab Programs. A3 Sundance Fellows have to be passionate about telling stories centered around the Asian-American experience in the media. The Fellowship was announced on January 21st, 2013 at the Sundance Film Festival. This is truly a step for the Asian American community as its the very first Asian American fellowship established at Sundance.
For more information, click here
