West Coast’s Largest Asian Film Festival Rolls Out 15th Year

 

WEST COAST’S LARGEST ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL ROLLS OUT 15TH YEAR

WITH EXPANDED PROGRAMMING, WORLD PREMIERES

(San Diego)- Pacific Arts Movement celebrates its 15^th San Diego Asian Festival (SDAFF), the largest exhibition of Asian Cinema on the West Coast and San Diego’s largest film festival, November 6-15 with expanded programming and a record number of venues. This year, SDAFF will premiere more than 140 films from 21 countries, including the Martin Scorsese-produced gangster drama, REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS. This year’s programming will also include the world premiere of the pilot episode of ABC’s FRESH OFF THE BOAT, the first Asian American sitcom on network television in 20 years, and MOVEfest, SDAFF’s first live dance event celebrating Asian Americans in dance and cinematography.

The SDAFF will be at nine different venues in San Diego during the 10-day festival, including the Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15, UCSD, La Jolla’s Sherwood Auditorium, and the historic La Paloma in Encinitas, in addition to the Festival’s homebase at Ultrastar Mission Valley, where a majority of the films will screen.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

●      Opening Night Film: REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS

San Diego Premiere, Thursday, November 6, 7:00 PM

Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15

An action packed crime drama set in 1980’s New York following two brothers who are pulled into the world of organized crime with a Chinatown gang. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, co-directed by Andrew Lau Wai-Keung (INFERNAL AFFAIRS) and Andrew Loo. Starring Justin Chon (21 & OVER, TWILIGHT), Kevin Wu (Youtube star, Kevjumba), and Ray Liotta. Director Andrew Loo, and leads Justin Chon and Leon Wu scheduled to attend.

●      Centerpiece Event: FRESH OFF THE BOAT (ABC PILOT EPISODE)

World Premiere, Saturday, November 8, 1:30 PM

USD Shiley Theatre

Based on the memoir of celebrity chef and TV personality Eddie Huang, FRESH OFF THE BOAT is a sitcom about an Asian American family from Washington, DC that relocates to Orlando, Florida in the 1990’s. FRESH OFF THE BOAT is the first Asian American sitcom on network television since Margaret Cho’s ALL AMERICAN GIRL in 1994. Starring Randall Park (VEEP, THE MINDY PROJECT, LARRY CROWNE), Constance Wu, Ian Chen, and Hudson Yang.  Live Q&A with Executive Producers Nahnatchka Kahn and Melvin Mar.

●      Closing Night Film: MEET THE PATELS

Friday, November 14,   Museum of Contemporary Art, Sherwood Auditorium

This heartwarming documentary is a real life romantic comedy about Ravi Patel, an almost-30-year-old Indian-American man who enters a love triangle between the woman of his dreams … and his parents. Filmed by Ravi’s sister in what started as a family vacation video, this hilarious film reveals how love is a family affair. Directed by Geeta Patel and Ravi Patel. Director Geeta Patel, Ravi, and parents are expected to attend.

●      MOVEfest

      Sunday, November 9, 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM

San Diego School for Creative and Performing Arts

An inaugural dance program showcasing live hip hop and contemporary dance by API performers and dance cinematographers, presented in partnership with Outreach Through Dance and SCPA. Special performances by  Galen Hooks and Filharmonic (from NBC’s the Sing-Off).

●      EXPANDED LGBT PROGRAMMING AND LGBT DIGNITY PASS

This year’s festival includes expanded LGBT programming with 10 international films, our annual LGBT short film program (SHORTS: GAY OF THRONES), a landmark retrospective on queer images in Korean cinema at UC San Diego, and the LGBT DIGNITY PASS, which provides access to all LGBT programming. LGBT Dignity Pass is presented in partnership with the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation.

●      Remembering Queer Korea

November 13-15, UC San Diego Visual Arts Presentation Lab

A landmark retrospective on the history of queer images in Korean cinema – the first of its kind outside of South Korea. The retrospective is part of an international symposium, which includes an art exhibition and academic conference, all taking place at UCSD’s new Structural and Materials Engineering Building. In partnership with the UCSD Program in Transnational Korean Studies to present “Remembering Queer Korea,”

●      Gala Awards Dinner

Saturday, November 8, Town & Country Hotel in Mission Valley

More than 700 celebrities, community and business leaders will attend as the Festival announces film award winners. Proceeds will benefit Pac-Arts’ REEL VOICES, a documentary filmmaking program for high school students in the San Diego area and other year-round programs. Scheduled to emcee: actor, Leonardo Nam and CBS 8 anchor, Angie Lee.

●      West Coast Premieres

KINGDOM OF DREAMS AND MADNESS, a documentary following beloved animation director, Hayao Miyazaki as he completes his final Studio Ghibli film. (Nov. 8, 11)

YASMINE, the first feature film produced in Brunei, a sweet comedy about a high school student who brings her school’s ragtag team of misfits to a martial arts competition. (Nov. 11, 15)           

KANO and VANCOUVER ASAHI are inspiration baseball films based on true stories of overcoming adversity. KANO (Nov.7, 12) follows a Taiwanese baseball team Japanese rule, and VANCOUVER ASAHI (Nov. 7, 9) follows a WWII era Japanese Canadian team.

The latest films from acclaimed director Tsai Ming-liang include experimental film STRAY DOGS (Nov. 9, 13) and the latest in The Walker series, JOURNEY TO THE WEST (Nov. 10).

●      US PREMIERES

FROM WHAT IS BEFORE, a 5 hour and 38 minute long epic from prolific Filipino director, Lav Diaz about a coastal town at the dawn of martial law. (November 9, 11)

THE SONGS OF RICE, a beautiful documentary about the life and rituals of farmers in rural Thailand (November 7)

DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART 2, a Hong Kong romantic comedy of errors and the sequel to director Johnny To’s 2011 hit, Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. (Nov. 12)

●      WORLD PREMIERE

MY LIFE IN CHINA, a documentary about a man retracing his steps back to China after being disillusioned by the American Dream. (Nov. 9, 12)

Tickets are available online for all shows.  Tickets can also be purchased on-site at specific screenings one hour before show time. For all screenings at Ultrastar, tickets can be purchased at the Ultrastar Mission Valley box office (Member $9| General $12) starting October 31. Student/Military/Senior and Group discounts are available at the door.

For ticketing info, full film details, and schedule, please visit www.festival.sdaff.org or contact 619.400.5911 | info@pac-arts.org

Major sponsors of the San Diego Asian Film Festival include Barona, Wells Fargo, Harrah’s Resort, McGregor and Associates, Sharp Health Plan, PROVEN Staffing, and University of San Diego.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac-Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America that focuses on Pan Asian cinema. Pac-Arts programs include the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival, Spring Showcase, and Reel Voices, a documentary filmmaker program for local high school students.

For more information about Pacific Arts Movement, visit www.pac-arts.org.

Video Credit: SanDiegoAsianFilm