The 24th Annual Asian Pacific Film Festival kicks off tomorrow with a VIP Reception and Gala Soiree to follow.The Festival runs - May 1st through May 8th - at a handful of accessible venues - the DGA, Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatres, ImaginAsian Center, The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, and the Aratani/Japan America Theatre. (Los Angeles)
The annual event - formerly known as the VC Film Fest - has been resurrected as the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
Known globally as Southern California's largest and most prestigious film festival of its kind - the fest launches the annual celebration of "Asian Pacific Heritage Month" through an exciting slate of 160 films and videos from both Asian Pacific American and Asian international directors.
A bumper crop of features by Asian American female directors will be prominently unveiled throughout the festival which kicks off - PING PONG PLAYA - directed by Oscar® winning Jessica Yu.
"THE HOME SONG STORIES" - a feature-length drama by Australian Director Tony Ayres starring Joan Chen - will screen at the closing night festivities.
Notes on the Highlighted films:
PING PONG PLAYA (May 1st)The premiere of PING PONG PLAYA marks filmmaker Jessica Yu's comedy feature debut starring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan, Elizabeth Sung, Smith Cho, and Andrew Vo.
KISSING COUSINS (May 4th)
Filmmaker Amyn Kaderali brings his debut film to this year's festival. It's an intriguing tale about an enterprising "relationship termination specialist" who provides "dumping services" for his lovelorn clients.
The much-anticipated feature stars Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazlewood, Gerry Bednob, Zack Ward, Jaleel White and David Alan Grier.
THE HOME SONG STORIES (May 8th)
Australian-based director Tony Ayres presents a captivating family story with a distinct twist. Joan Chen shines in one of her most powerful performances as a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer (and mother of two) who migrates to Australia in search of a better life for her family.
In addition to the centerpiece films noted above, the Festival staff have scheduled a dazzling array of shorts, documentaries, and features throughout the Festival Calendar.
In addition, there will be a handful of exciting seminars and panel discussions.
For example, at the "MEDIA MESSENGERS" forum, Eric Byler and Annabelle Park (along with a handful of other guests) will engage in a dialogue about how filmmakers and actors can activate the Asian-American voter bloc - by embracing innovative media tools and the Internet - with the ultimate aim of leveling the playing field.
A writing seminar - SUCCEEDING AT SCREENWRITING - is sure to be a big crowd-pleaser, as well.
In this informative session, two Chinese Professors who specialize in screenwriting, return for a second year to present a writer's boot camp where attendees will be guided through a 90-minute version of a 10-week workshop normally conducted in the scholarly environs at UCLA.
Included in the package: how to pitch, rustle up script ideas, fathom structure and outline, submit treatments to production companies, and so much more!
A third session - Art of Visual Storytelling - pertains to the actual "art of cinematography" and appeals to filmmakers in particular. Since cinematography has developed into a highly-developed aesthetic form, the focus here is on how to achieve that end - through the use of lenses, angles, lighting, color - you name it.
A guest Director of photography will share secrets on how he turns his visions into dynamic realities on the silver screen.
Personally, I am inclined to participate in what is sure to be a wild adventure:
"THE XIN LU BUS TOUR OF L.A."
The Bus Tour is a large-scale media project which explores the intersections between autobiography, travel, tourism, exile and displacement.
Ming-Yuen S. Ma - the brainchild of the Festival fave - will team up with the organizers to present his four-part series the way that it was intended to be shown: as a mobile bus tour of Los Angeles in which the similarities and differences between the media and real life are referenced, compared, and experienced.
On the trip, there will be screenings of four films:
MYTH(S) Of Creation (USA 1997); MOTHER/LAND (USA 2000); MOVEMENTS EAST-WEST (USA 2003), and (OSL)(USA 2008)
Tickets include a box lunch!
This year the National Spotlight is on the Philippines, therefore, six films from Filipino International artists (including 2 Filipino American directors) will be screened.
According to the organizers, these new filmmakers are fast becoming the "new wave of modern cinema" and the festival has cultivated some of the best from these new visionaries.
And finally, as a special treat, the curious may want to join the writers/directors of:HAROLD & KUMAR:
ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY
Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Scholossberg - along with actor John Cho - discuss the films and its franchise which has now achieved "classic" status amongst a new generation.
All in all, the 24th Annual Asian Pacific Film Festival appears to have widespread appeal - so I expect - there will be a large turnout to support the talented filmmakers and the Asian Pacific Community, as well.
No doubt the experience will be a rewarding, uplifting one.
As Ingrid Bergman once said,
"No form of art goes beyond ordinary consciousness as film does, straight to our emotions, deep into the twilight of the soul."