Asian American Pop Culture at UCLA

Catch Eric Nakamura at UCLA tonight at SubVerses 2008.

Thursday, April 10, 2008
7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M.
UCLA-MOORE HALL Room 100
405 Hilgard Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Asian Showcase in the OC

2008 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL TO SHOWCASE EXCLUSIVE SCREENINGS OF ASIAN CINEMA

On April 28, the Newport Beach Film Festival will dedicate a night to showcase Asian cinema and culture with a post screening celebration to pay homage to the Asian Film industry. This will be a unique opportunity to experience Asian Cinema at its finest and be exposed to premiere screenings.

The Asian Showcase will feature the North American Premiere of Japanese Film Always: Sunset On Third Street 2 (Always zoku san-chôme no yûhi), the North American Premiere of the hot new modern day romance Korean drama Hellcats (Ddeu-geo-woon Geot-i Jongh-a) directed by Kwon Chil-in and the West Coast Premiere of the award –winning documentary Up The Yangtze, the feature directorial debut from Chinese-Canadian filmmaker Yung Chang’s. Up The Yangtze won many awards including the prestigious World Cinema Documentary Competition Award at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. The film screening will take place at 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8 p. m. respectively at the Edwards Island Cinemas, located in Fashion Island at 999 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach.

The post-screening celebration will take place at the upscale Fury Ultra Lounge, located 4221 Dolphin Striker Way, Newport Beach. Fury’s Executive Chef Sevan Azarian creation of sushi and pan Asian cuisine, cocktails courtesy of Absolut Vodka will hold you captive while the DJ spins the hottest hits. With Orange County’s affluent Asian influence and prosperity, this year’s showcase is expected to attract more than 500 people.

Admission to the Asian Showcase and the post screening party is $35.00. For ticket information.

Chicago!

The Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) and the Gene Siskel Film Center present the 13th ANNUAL ASIAN AMERICAN SHOWCASE - April 11 through 24, 2008. This year's theme is "Lucky 13" as we celebrate film and video production by Asian American directors through 13 Chicago-premiere programs and a "Lucky 13"-themed exhibition by Asian American artists in the gallery/café.

Feature Highlights:

Ping Pong Playa, by Academy Award-winning director Jessica Yu. A fast-paced comedy featuring Roger Fan, Smith Cho, and screenwriter Jimmy Tsai, who will be in attendance. (Opening Night spotlight – Friday April 11)
Santa Mesa, by first time feature director Ron Morales. A poignant coming-of-age drama set against the chaotic milieu of Manila street life. (Closing Night spotlight – Thursday April 24)
West 32nd, by Michael Kang (The Motel). An edgy crime drama featuring John Cho and Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica).

Documentary highlights:

The Killing of a Chinese Cookie, a humorous but fact-filled history of the questionably Chinese treat.
Wings of Defeat, in which surviving WWII kamikaze pilots speak of their experiences for the first time. Director Risa Morimoto traces the story of her own uncle, who was forced to volunteer for death.
Never Perfect / Miss Chinatown, USA, these two documentaries examine the cultural pressures on today’s Asian American woman, one through the journey of Mei Ahn who is contemplating cosmetic eyelid surgery and the other follows Katie Au into the Miss Chinatown Pageants.
Against The Grain: An Artist Survival Guide To Peru / Vincent Who?, reinforces how art and activism impacts today’s society, whether it’s the statements made from Peruvian artists struggling during decades of corrupt and inept government leaders, or the shocking murder of Vincent Chin 25 years ago

Chicagoan Highlights:

Someplace Else - An engagingly informal profile of Chicago blues-soul-funk musician Vance Kelly and his Backstreet Blues Band weaves through director Kai-Duc Luong's film journal, extending from his first days in Chicago as a foreign student to his three-year struggle to find his voice as an artist through filmmaking. Extended performance sequences of Kelly and his Backstreet Blues Band at the Checkerboard pose a contrast to the personal and poetic quality of Luong's reflections on Chicago.
SAIC Student Shorts Showcase, a selection of narrative, animated, and experimental shorts by past and present students of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The WOW Factor:

Life, Love, and Everything in Between – Comedy, drama, music videos, and one honest-to-goodness all-singing all- dancing musical in this amazing collection of short films featuring Juli Kang’s stunningly charming, Damn the Past!

And not to be missed:

Kissing Cousins – first time feature director Aymn Kaderali’s surprising comedy in which a guy accustomed to terminating relationships gets an unwelcome lesson in love.
Option 3 – Independent Spirit Award-nominated Richard Wong (Colma: The Musical) takes off in a new direction with his avant-garde chase film.
Pretty To Think So – the filmmaking duo of Francis Hsueh & Steven Hahn presents a drama set in 2000, as the dot coms are crashing, sexual tension bonds three Manhattan singles in an uneasy triangle.

Also don’t forget:

Lucky 13
Visual Art Show
Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery

Triskaidekaphobia aside, “Lucky 13” features works by 13 Asian American artists who have interpreted and drawn inspiration from the number 13 in ostentatious celebration of the 13th anniversary of the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media’s Asian American Showcase. (Reception April Friday 11, 6:00 – 8:00pm)

For a complete list of all Showcase events, dates and times - please refer to our website

All film programs will be at The Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State (between Lake and Randolph Streets), Chicago, IL, Tickets $9/ $7 students Box Office #(312) 846-2800

Viet Film Wave Series

VAALA Collaborates with Bowers Museum to Present "Viet Film Wave" Series

Sunday, April 6 – 3:30PM
OWL AND THE SPARROW (Cú và Chim Se Sẻ)

Sunday, April 20 – 3:30PM
JOURNEY FROM THE FALL (Vượt Sóng)

Sunday, May 4 – 3:30PM
BUFFALO BOY (Mùa Len Trâu)

Friday, May 9
7:30 PM Reception
8:00 PM Symposium
VIET FILM WAVE: SYMPOSIUM

Admission for screenings is $10 general and $8 for Bowers Museum’s members; $5 for film symposium. The screenings and the symposium will be held in the gorgeous Norma Kershaw Auditorium at Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St, Santa Ana, CA 92706, Telephone: 714-567-3695. Tickets will be available at the door.

Bangkok Dangerous Starring Nicolas Cage

Bangkok Dangerous starring Nicholas Cage!? Yes, Oxide and Danny Pang (Pang Brothers) are directing this redo of this HK/Thai flick. It still takes place in Thailand, which is cool since they could have turned it into a midwest epic.

Check out the trailer.

Lisa Ling on Oxygen

Tune in this Sunday, March 30th at 9|8C on Oxygen Network

Catch Sex Workers or Victims hosted by Lisa Ling


The sex trafficking epidemic has inspired federal legislation to protect young women who are trafficked from other countries. But what about the thousands of young American girls who are coerced into the commercial sex industry each year? In the eyes of the law, these sexually exploited children are criminal sex workers. Lisa Ling investigates this issue, speaking with current and former child prostitutes, riding along with law enforcement officers, and exploring innovative programs that offer young prostitutes a chance at a better life.

Who Cares About Girls? is an ongoing original documentary series dedicated to developing a composite picture of how the world treats young women and inspiring our audience to stand up for girls. The first two installments of the series, Daughters Left Behind and Slave Girls of India, are hosted by award-winning journalist Lisa Ling and produced by National Geographic Television.

Celebrate Cinema in the Sun!

Celebrate Cinema in the Sun! The SAN DIEGO ASIAN Film Fest is now accepting submissions for its 9th annual film festival, which takes place October 9-16, 2008.

SUBMISSION DEADLINES: April 11 (Early); June 13 (Final).

PLUS... create a 30-second PSA encouraging Asian Americans to get out the vote for a chance at winning $1000 and a Sony HD Camcorder.

Get Entry Rules & Applications here.