17 Asian American Film Festivals

 

1. DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival - Focuses on promoting AANHPI artistic development, representation, and community building. The festival has been running for over 20 years and takes place in Washington, D.C. Visit the festival page

2. DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon - This festival celebrates independent films that offer authentic AANHPI voices and stories, highlighting social justice themes. It is held annually in Oregon. Learn more about DisOrient

3. CAAMFest - Formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, CAAMFest is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the US, showcasing Asian American and Asian film, music, and food. Explore CAAMFest

4. Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival - This festival presents films and media that reflect the lives and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Visit the festival site

5. Seattle Asian American Film Festival - Held annually in Seattle, this festival showcases films by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Check out Seattle AAF

6. Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival - Celebrates and elevates the Asian American experience through cinema, providing a cultural representation across a broad spectrum of media. More on PAAFF

7. San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival - Presents films from South Asia and its diaspora. Known for showcasing compelling and innovative narratives. Learn more

8. Vancouver Asian Film Festival - One of the oldest Asian film festivals in Canada, it promotes the appreciation of Asian cinema. Visit VAFF

9. Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival - This Canadian festival showcases a wide variety of Asian cinema, including East, South, and Southeast Asian films. Explore Reel Asian

10. Boston Asian American Film Festival - Empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston community. More on BAAFF

11. San Diego Asian Film Festival - One of the largest exhibitions of Asian cinema in North America. Hosted by Pacific Arts Movement, it features both Asian and Asian American films. Visit SDAFF

12. Viet Film Fest - Showcases the best in Vietnamese cinema and provides a platform for Vietnamese voices in film. Held in Orange County, home to the largest Vietnamese population outside Vietnam. Learn more

13. Korean American Film Festival New York (KAFFNY) - Dedicated to presenting stories by Korean and Korean American filmmakers. Explore KAFFNY

14. Asian American Showcase - Hosted by the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) in Chicago, focuses on celebrating Asian American artistic achievements. Check it out

15. Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival - Aims to foster understanding of the experiences of Asian Pacific Islanders through films curated from around the globe. More on SAPFF

16. Asian Film Festival of Dallas - Celebrates Asian and Asian American culture by screening films annually from Asia and the Asian diaspora. Visit AFFD

17. Hawaii International Film Festival - Known for its unique blend of Asian, Pacific, and Hawaiian cinema, HIFF offers a rich variety of films from around the world, held in Honolulu. Visit HIFF

It's Our Month + I Had AI Create Posters With Asian American Heritage Month

Hip Hip Hooray It's Our Month!

When I typed in "Asian American Heritage Month" to create a poster in Adobe Express the above was what it gave me. 

Hmmmmm....

Woohooo! It's Our Month!

Get Naked! Run around the block! Because it's our month!

David Mura x Guggenheim Fellow

https://twitter.com/MuraDavid/status/1619023097088344065/photo/1

A post and congratulations to David Mura who was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship earlier this month. David Mura has been at the center of so much in the Asian American community and it's great to see him continue to push new ideas and thoughts about race and culture into mainstream narratives, and to be recognized for that work.

For the fellowship here's what he said via an MPR news article:

[Mura said that he plans to create a new memoir inspired, in part, by his parents, who were interned during World War II.]

“Both my parents passed in the last two years, and all of their generation of second-generation Japanese Americans have passed in the last few years. So as the oldest in the extended family in the one writer, I feel like I'm a vessel and a voice for our whole family history.”

Read it in full here: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/04/11/three-minnesotans-announced-as-guggenheim-fellows

WWW @ https://davidmura.com/

Theater Mu + BLENDED 和(HARMONY): THE KIM LOO SISTERS

 

book & lyrics by JESSICA HUANG
music by JACINTH GREYWOODE
directed by LILY TUNG CRYSTAL

May 4 - 26, 2024
co-produced with HISTORY THEATRE

Get More Info At https://www.theatermu.org/blended-harmony

Justin Min, Lucy Boynton, Max, And The Greatest Hits

It has a great soundtrack. There's some great chemistry between Justin Min and Lucy Boynton. The story is original. Definitely sucked me in from the trailer to the Max to the end of the show.

And I'm gonna say that Justin Min, for the Asian American males out there--the character is what we know we are and have been and I'm glad to see them show this on screen--as well as the family and friends--which includes more BIPOC and Asian American awesomeness.

Also features, Andie Ju, Austin Crute, David Corenswet, and Retta.

Rest In Power: Roman Gabriel The First Filipino-American quarterback

From the Eagles site @ https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-mourn-the-passing-of-pro-bowl-quarterback-philanthropist-roman-gabriel 

The Eagles mourn the passing of former quarterback Roman Gabriel on Saturday, April 20, at the age of 83. Gabriel's son, Roman Gabriel III, announced his father's peaceful passing in a post on X. Selected with the second-overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, Gabriel became the first Filipino-American quarterback in league history. Before spending the last five years of his career with the Eagles (1973-77), Gabriel played his first 11 seasons with the Rams. 

During his time in Los Angeles, Gabriel was a three-time Pro Bowler, first-team All-Pro, and 1969 AP NFL MVP. Various injuries in his final few seasons with the Rams led to Gabriel becoming available in trade talks, and that's when the Eagles swooped in before the 1973 season. The Eagles dealt star receiver Harold Jackson and two first-round draft picks to the Rams to acquire the former MVP. 33 at the time, Gabriel's move to Philadelphia rejuvenated his stellar career. In 53 games with the Eagles, Gabriel threw for 7,221 yards and 47 touchdowns, made his fourth Pro Bowl, and won PFWA Comeback Player of the Year. During his Comeback Player of the Year season in 1973, Gabriel, standing at 6-5, threw to a trio of pass catchers known as the Fire High Gang that towered over defenders. Wide receiver and Pro Football Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael (6-8), tight end Charle Young (6-5), and wide receiver Don Zimmerman (6-4) helped Gabriel establish career highs in completions (270) and passing yards (3,219). 

While leading the league in those categories, Gabriel also led the league with 24 passing touchdowns. "That was a fun year," said Gabriel during a 2019 interview with Philadelphiaeagles.com. "I was pretty much written off after my last year with the Rams. But the Eagles took a chance on me, and I was so grateful. It was a young team that was trying to build something, and they wanted me to be a part of it. I loved Philadelphia. It's a great city with great fans. It's still a great memory.". Gabriel retired with the Eagles in 1977, his 16th and final season in the NFL. In Eagles history, Gabriel is currently ninth in completion percentage (55.8), 10th in passing attempts (1,185), and 13th in passing yards (7,221). In 1989, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. At North Carolina State, Gabriel was named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1960 and '61, became the first ACC quarterback to throw for over 1,000 yards in a season, and was a member of NC State's inaugural athletic Hall of Fame class in 2012. Off the field, Gabriel was heavily involved in local charities. In 1974, Gabriel's second season with the team, his teammate, tight end Fred Hill's daughter, Kim, was battling leukemia. The Hills and other parents were camping out at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia while their kids underwent treatment. This is when the Hills realized that there needed to be a housing solution for families that traveled long distances and couldn't afford hotels. 

The Eagles partnered with CHOP and McDonald's to start a promotion where all proceeds from Shamrock Shakes sold would go toward buying an old house near the hospital for families. Gabriel was one of the faces of the charitable promotion, and the house he helped raise funds for became the first Ronald McDonald House in the country, located at 3925 Chestnut Street. Inspired by the opening of the first-ever Ronald McDonald House, Gabriel later opened the first Ronald McDonald House in his home state, North Carolina.

On The Re-release of Chink: The Serial Killer Thriller

I was checking something out and came across this article down at Chopso. Loved this film and the team behind it and just thought it was amazing because it said so much about the Asian American and Asian American male experience.

To me, while the title I know is controversial--I think it's dead on. It speaks to harsh reality of the Asian American experience, self hate, and the way we can be looked at, and how we look at ourselves.

It embodies so much and great to hear some more information on the evolution and distribution.

A snippet from the article:

QL: In its original reincarnation, Eddie was a rapper and anarchist and MC Jin was attached to play the role. And of course we couldn’t raise the money and MC Jin moved to Hong Kong to launch his Asian career. Jason Tobin, whom I befriended from Better Luck Tomorrow days, visited me and said he wanted me to make a film with him playing a transgender character. I was like, “I don’t have that movie yet… but I have Chink which is about the first Asian American serial killer.” And Jason came on-board. Stanley pulled Eugenia Yuan and Tzi Ma into the project and we crowdfunded to raise the initial budget of Chink.

Read it in full here: https://www.chopso.org/the-evolution-of-chink-the-re-release-of-the-controversial-serial-killer-thriller/

Reviews Of HBO's The Sympathizer

I watched the premiere and I loved it. Can't wait for the next episode and I will write about it more. For now here are a few reviews from the interwebs...

• HBO's The Sympathizer Review: Grad School Is Never This Fun 
• HBO’s ‘The Sympathizer’ Effectively Uses a Shape-Shifting Robert Downey Jr. to Rewrite Hollywood History of the Vietnam War: TV Review
• 'The Sympathizer' Review: HBO Series from Park Chan-wook Shocks You
• 'The Sympathizer' Review: Robert Downey Jr. and Park Chan-wook's HBO Series Is TV at Its Best
• ‘The Sympathizer’ Review: Robert Downey Jr. Dazzles and Distracts in HBO’s Adaptation of the Pulitzer-Winning Novel
• 'The Sympathizer' Is Ambitious, Brilliant Television
• 'The Sympathizer' review: Park Chan-wook's Vietnam War spy thriller is TV magic

The Collab Made In Heaven: Mika x Ailee

What a fun collab with Mika Nakashima--queen Mika to you that is--and the indomitable Asian American Korean pop startastic Ailee.

Love it.

 

Potato Jet Goes For 1 Million

Nice to see that hard work pay off for Potato Jet - aka Gene Nagata - and getting to 1 million subscribers on his YouTube Channel where he talks about camera, video, and film.

 

Biden, Michigan, Arab Americans, And Yes---CEASEFIRE

From the interewbs that you should read, and yes--I'm right there with you, and while the least is not the option, it doesn't mean the other one can't improve because he's still an old White Man who didn't fulfil all of his promises or even try to.

https://apnews.com/article/arab-americans-reject-biden-election-michigan-palestinians-3c176d111286e767a48d51eef53d50e1

Over the next two hours, the leaders spoke about how they were personally affected by the war in Gaza and criticized President Joe Biden over the growing number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli offensive after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Khanna, a Biden campaign surrogate who organized the meeting independently, listened intently.

It was a rare unfiltered conversation between two sides that have grown further apart. And after a day of meetings, it seemed unlikely that the two sides could come back together unless the administration changes course on a ceasefire in Gaza, which both the White House and Israel oppose.

I Asked ChatGPT To Give Me 25 Ways Asian Americans Can Get More Representation. This Is What It Said...

Here was my prompt for ChatGPT:

Can you give me 25 ways that Asian Americans can get more representation in the United States where theres still racism and oppression--and doing it in different ways that have not been done before?

This is what it gave me (and I did not delve any deeper). Agree? Disagree? Same old same old?

====

Certainly! Increasing representation and countering racism and oppression for Asian Americans involves a blend of innovative strategies, community engagement, and policy advocacy. Here are 25 novel ideas:

1. Virtual Reality Experiences: Develop VR programs that allow users to experience the life and culture of Asian Americans, fostering empathy and understanding.
2. Interactive Web Series: Create a web series that invites audience participation in shaping storylines, highlighting Asian American experiences.
3. Asian American Innovation Hubs: Establish community centers focused on Asian American entrepreneurs and artists, showcasing their work and stories.
4. Cultural Exchange Programs: Set up exchange programs that pair Asian American professionals with counterparts in other communities to share experiences and foster mutual understanding.
5. Youth Ambassador Programs: Encourage Asian American youth to become ambassadors in their schools, promoting diversity and inclusion.
6. Collaborative Art Projects: Initiate large-scale art projects that require community involvement, highlighting Asian American themes and artists.
7. Asian American Story Podcasts: Produce podcasts that tell lesser-known stories of Asian American history and current issues.
8. Mobile Cultural Exhibits: Create traveling exhibits that visit schools and communities, offering interactive learning about Asian American culture and history.
9. Diversity Training Workshops: Offer workshops in workplaces and institutions that specifically address stereotypes and challenges faced by Asian Americans.
10. Community Dialogues: Organize town hall meetings focusing on issues affecting the Asian American community, encouraging participation from wider community members.
11. Social Media Campaigns: Utilize social media platforms for campaigns that spotlight Asian American achievements and challenges.
12. Mentorship Programs: Establish mentorship programs where Asian American professionals mentor young people in their community.
13. Inclusive Curriculum Development: Work with educational institutions to develop and integrate curriculum that accurately represents Asian American history and contributions.
14. Bilingual Public Services: Advocate for and implement bilingual options in public services to accommodate and represent Asian American communities with language barriers.
15. Cultural Festivals: Organize and promote festivals that celebrate the diverse cultures within the Asian American community, inviting broad public participation.
16. Political Leadership Incubators: Develop programs to train and support Asian Americans aspiring to enter politics or community leadership.
17. Asian American Film and Literature Festivals: Host festivals that exclusively feature Asian American filmmakers and authors.
18. Collaborations with Other Minorities: Form alliances with other minority groups to jointly address common issues of representation and discrimination.
19. Technology Access Initiatives: Increase access to technology for underrepresented Asian American communities to bridge the digital divide and amplify their voices.
20. Community-based Research Projects: Conduct and support research on the specific needs and challenges of the Asian American community.
21. Representation in Advertising: Advocate for and promote the inclusion of Asian Americans in mainstream media and advertising.
22. Educational Scholarships: Offer scholarships specifically for Asian American students pursuing studies in fields where they are underrepresented.
23. Cultural Competency Training for Officials: Provide training for government officials on cultural competency relating to Asian American communities.
24. Participatory Theater: Develop theater productions that involve audience participation, focusing on Asian American themes.
25. Heritage Language Classes: Promote and offer classes in Asian languages and cultural practices, preserving heritage and fostering pride in Asian American identities.

Implementing these ideas requires collaboration between community leaders, organizations, government entities, and the broader public. Each initiative offers a unique approach to enhancing representation and reducing racism and oppression against Asian Americans.

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