2012 SFIAAFF + Become A Ukulele Star

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

You still have time damn it!

And yes - you can also get early bird tickets too.

Calling All Wannabe Ukulele Stars!

Eddie Vedder: “Jake is taking the instrument to a place that I can’t see anybody else catching up with him.”

Brian May: “Amazing uke playing to be relished.”

Calling all wannabe ukulele stars! Are you ready for a little YouTube fame that’ll get you onstage to open for ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro? Jake’s fans will compete in an online ukulele contest and the chance to open for him at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (2012 SFIAAFF) on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

Jake will be in town for the world premiere of a new documentary on his life and career, so the evening will be very special for all. The film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura, is a production of the Center for Asian American Media, who has presented SFIAAFF for 30 years.

Millions of fans around the world first discovered Jake through his now-famous YouTube clip performing George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”:

Now it’s your turn! Much like Jake’s rise to popularity, contestants will submit their own video playing one of Jake’s songs. The winner will take center stage for an once-in-a-lifetime moment and perform one song before Jake Shimabukuro.

Contest Rules:

1. Create your own audition song video and upload it to YouTube.
(tag it Ukulelestar and CAAM. If you’re on Twitter, #Ukulelestar)
2. The song must be originally written by Jake himself.
3. Email the link to jakecontest [at] caamedia [dot] org with your name and phone number. All entries must be submitted by midnight on February 20, 2012.

That’s it! Our panel of esteemed judges will then select five finalists for the final round of voting and that is when we turn to you, the YouTube community, on February 20-26, to help us choose the winner!

We’ll announce the winner on February 27, 2012.

Good luck and start practicing!