forlove

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by vaff

Things We Do For Love: Monday Nov. 7th, 8:15 PM -10:15 PM

If someone you cared about were in a situation in which they needed your help and support, what would you do? These three Canadian films feature the extent that someone would go to for love. In MARNIE LOVE, after an sexy evening out with a woman, she brings the man home to an unexpected situation. LOVE RECIPE is a story of a husband daring to break a Korean tradition in an attempt to do something special for his wife. In SAM AND JESSIE, a young struggling actor, who’s willing to do whatever it takes to further his career, has a best friend who in her own sweet way is also willing to do anything to help him realize his life long dream.

103 minutes

Sam and Jessie

Samuel So is an aspiring actor who runs a fortune-telling scam on the side. He dreams of becoming a famous and respected actor and decides that the only way to achieve that dream is to make a movie of his own. He asks his friends to help, including a couple of gangster ‘wannabes’ and a street hustler. Along the way, Sam co-opts his best friend and dutiful assistant Jessie into the action.

World Premiere | Director in Attendance

Preceded by

Marnie Love

A woman brings a man home to meet her husband. The open marriage collapses overnight.

BC Premiere | Director in Attendance

Love Recipe

A young Korean man tries to prepare a romantic dinner for his wife to celebrate her pregnancy. However, he has never cooked in his life, and he has to overcome the old Korean proverb that says: “If a man steps into the kitchen, he will lose his penis.”

BC Premiere | Director in Attendance

loveandmarriage

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

Love and Marriage: Monday Nov. 7th, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

The natural progression of love is in conflict in these two films. In LOVE/CENSORED/TRUTH, the filmmaker ruminates on the inner perceptions of this emotion. Then in WHY THEE WED? eight gay couples reveal their reasons for entering into this heterosexual institution.

56 minutes

Why Thee Wed?

In 2003, British Columbia became the second Canadian province to recognize same-sex marriage. Filmmaker Cal Garingan looks beyond the headlines and introduces the eight couples that challenged the law in court. Why did they plunge into a scorching debate that meant their lives would be publicly judged? What does it mean to them to exchange marriage vows?

Against the backdrop of playful weddings and heated protests, the couples ponder questions of love, family, faith and politics. The film also features acclaimed lesbian writer and activist Jane Rule – who disagrees with the focus on same-sex marriage rights – in a provocative conversation with some of the BC litigants. As controversy swirls around this issue worldwide, WHY THEE WED? offers surprising and diverse perspectives on what it means for gay and lesbian couples to walk down the aisle.

BC Premiere | Director in Attendance

Preceded by

Love/Censored/Truth

A video letter questions where the lines between actual facts and censored truth fall within a twisted romantic connection.

World Premiere

filipinocinema

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

Spotlight On Filipino Cinema: Sunday Nov. 6th, 7:45 PM -9:45 PM

Filipino cinema is alive and well, reinventing itself in the hands of new directors who are working on smaller productions and giving it new life. For many years, this industry in the Philippines languished in the shadow of its Asian cousins. Countries like Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong have gained much of Hollywood’s attention, now in a remake boom of Asian horror films. Filipino cinema is no longer standing in the sidelines, but is making a splash with its new, up-and-coming filmmakers.

The first film, although not from the Philippines, is in the horror genre, as innocent motorists experience the gruesome outcomes of being STRANDED. In SIGAW (THE ECHO), an innocent young man is sucked into the supernatural domestic affairs of his neighbours with eerie consequences.

121 minutes

Sigaw (the echo)

Marvin savors his independence in a newly acquired unit of an old apartment building. His girlfriend Pinky visits frequently. Except for the occasional noise from an apartment unit down the hallway, the place is almost perfect for Marvin – until he discovers the supernatural nature of the spooky sounds. So begins a terrifying experience, which threatens Marvin and Pinky wherever they go.

“Sigaw is a subtle, human ghost tale that will haunt you long after you’ve forgotten Dark Water or The Ring.” – FilmCritic.com

Screenings/Awards: Official Selection: Screamfest L.A.; Winner – Best Editing/Best Sound, Metro Manila Film Festival; Winner – Best Cinematography and Visual Design, Best Editing/Best Sound, Young Critics Circle

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

Preceded by

Stranded

Director/Producer/Writer: Jimmy Ren
Narrative | DVD | Colour | 2005 | 16 minutes | USA

Something horrible happened to an innocent girl on a deserted highway. Three friends are about to find out if the urban legends are true: if you park your car on the side of the road and turn on your emergency lights – you’ll see her coming!

Screenings/Awards: 2005 WorldFest Gold Remi Award

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

soyouwanna

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

So You Wanna Be In Movies: Sunday Nov. 6th, 5:00 PM -7:00 PM

The independent filmmaking scene is alive and well. In the hands of Asian Canadians and Americans, the results can be both fun and culturally revealing. This year, VAFF, along with co-sponsor Citytv, launched the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon – a unique filmmaking competition where teams of 10 crewmembers each vie for a share of a $5,000 in cash prizes. They each had to produce a 10-minute film within 7 days and had to incorporate 3 random creative elements into their stories: an object, a location, and a fortune-cookie saying. NIGHT & DAZE is a fast-paced short that rivals the slickest Hollywood action flick. ALL IN TIME is a story of a family of women trying too hard to help one sister find a husband, and BLUEBIRD OF HAPPINESS comments on non-Asian families adopting Asian children. Kevin Desmond’s feature, FILM 101 is a story for everyone who has ever dreamed about being in and making movies. Everyone will relate to this film-within-a-film and sympathize with an ambitious film student, as he works on his thesis project and learns that, in production, anything that could happen does happen.

126 minutes

Film 101

A hilarious take on what NOT do when taking your first steps into filmmaking, FILM 101 follows student filmmaker Kevin, as he gears up to shoot his thesis project, “X-Factor”, an action short filled with Mafia goons, sexy FBI agents, and ‘artistic’ shower scenes. Along the way, he deals with self and peer doubts, family disapproval, desire, and his own worst enemy – a huge ego. FILM 101 is about learning from your mistakes and killing your ego, but ultimately saving your vision.

Screenings/Awards: Best Indie Award – Seattle True Independent Film Festival

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

Preceded by

Night & Daze

Clouded with tainted memories of a new acquaintance Amy, Aden finds himself struggling with last night’s events and with the trouble he’s now in.

Screenings/Awards: 3rd place winner – Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2005

Director in Attendance

All in Time

Jenny still lives at home at the “ripe” age of 39. Between her sister Cat’s boasting about having many men at her fingertips, her other sister May’s complaining about her controlling husband, and her Mom’s nagging about having no grandchildren… the “ugly sister” has a surprise for them as the clock ticks down.

Screenings/Awards: 2nd place winner – Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2005

Bluebird of Happiness

A neighbourhood activist decides that a 7-year-old Asian girl being raised by white parents needs his help.

Screenings/Awards: 1st place winner – Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2005

growingupdiverse

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

Growing Up Diverse: Sunday Nov. 6th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Defining oneself while growing up in two cultures is the common thread through this collection of shorts. MY BREAK UPS INTO A MILLION PIECES provides an intimate look at one young woman’s disillusionment with American life, while ARNOLD MORENO = PI traces the brief life of a young man finding his voice through activism. In WE DON’T LIVE IN IGLOOS: INUVIK YOUTH SPEAK OUT, young Aboriginals speak candidly about the realities of their daily existence and their hopes for the future. Finally in GETTING MARRIED, a young Indo-Canadian woman struggles with her choice of a life partner. The panel discussion to follow will engage panelists and members of the audience to relate their experiences of growing up diverse and to explore how the future of Diversity can be shaped by the youth of today.

Panel discussion to Follow

120 minutes

MY BREAK UPS INTO A MILLION PIECES

With original music from Lilledeshan Bose and artwork from the Santa Ana underground, MY BREAK UPS INTO A MILLION PIECES follows a young woman’s migration from Manila to Los Angeles – a cinematic mediation on identity, personal relationships, and the myth of Americana.

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

ARNOLD MORENO = Pi

Directors/Producers: Huy Chheng, Anjali Nath, Trinh Le Vu Long, Ryan Masaaki Yokota
Documentary | DVD | Colour | 2005 | 17 minutes | USA

A former gang member turned artist and community activist, Arnold Morena lived in the Filipino community of Echo Park, Los Angeles until his untimely death in 2000. ARNOLD MORENA = π highlights the impact of his life, the tragedy of his passing, and the problems in L.A.‘s public health care system.

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

WE DON’T LIVE IN IGLOOS: INUVIK YOUTH SPEAK OUT

Through candid personal stories and photographs taken especially for this documentary, four up- and-coming Aboriginal youth from Inuvik, Northwest Territories provide insight into the real issues and concerns of young people in Canada’s Northern communities.

World Premiere | Director in Attendance

Getting Married

Amrit is a young Indo-Canadian woman struggling against her mother’s desire to get her married before her 25th birthday. She agrees to meet a suitor, only to have her plan backfire. Is Amrit’s only choice between a white boyfriend and an Indian suitor? Or is there some other way out, where she can keep her independence and her sanity?

World Premiere | Director in Attendance

Panel Discussion to Follow

The Living Diversity Series

Diversity – definition (n): The quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals

Diversity is the buzzword of our time. Public and private institutions are finally realizing that they don’t always reflect the diverse populations of Canada in their goals and their representations. How does diversity move from an idea to a living reality? What does it mean to live, work, and create in a diverse culture? Given this changing dynamic, we thought it would be a good idea to consider at greater length the concept and practice of diversity in Canada as it affects Asian-Canadians and the media. We explore these issues and debate their nuances in a series of two screenings followed by panel discussions with artists, activists, broadcasters, and audience members.

Part II: Growing Up Diverse

What is it like to live within and become a product of at least two disparate cultures? The struggle to define oneself spins out against a background of inter-generational, and inter-cultural tensions borne of conflicting socio-cultural values. Given the growing confluence of Asian youth culture and mainstream cultures, notions of identity and representation are also rapidly changing. How are Asian youth empowering themselves using their own culture? How does media representation affect this sense of our self within these cultures.

The Panelists

Rita Wong

RITA WONG is the author of a book of poems, monkeypuzzle, for which she received the Asian Canadian Writers’ Workshop Emerging Writer Award. She is currently teaching in Critical + Cultural Studies at the Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design in Vancouver.

Janet Ip

JANET IP is a Vancouver filmmaker and family physician who directed and produced the documentary WE DON’T LIVE IN IGLOOS: INUVIK YOUTH SPEAK OUT while providing medical care in the Western Arctic. Her first documentary, RURAL HOPE: THROUGH THE EYES OF A FUTURE DOCTOR, was screened at the 2003 Reelworld Film Festival in Toronto and the 2002 Vancouver Asian Film Festival.

Melinda Lau

MELINDA LAU is your average Greater Vancouver suburbanite. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a B.A. in Humanities and English, and a severe hangover. She has worked with highly-questionable individuals over the last three years to develop and operate Anime Evolution, an Asian popular entertainment convention largely attended by local youth. Melinda spent an enjoyable stint with the Laurier Institution, a national non-profit organization for the advancement and dissemination of knowledge of the implications of Canadian diversity, working on the launch of the diversity/Vancouver series, and is presently working at a respectable day job. She is the daughter of immigrants, and an unrepentant, if sometimes hyphenated, resident of Port Coquitlam.

Nilesh Patel

NILESH PATEL is a story-teller at heart who has blossomed in the film and television industry. He received acclaim for his mockumentary 7 TO 11, INDIAN which used humour to open a discussion about stereotypes of South Asians in Canada. Nilesh coordinated the National Film Board’s Reel Diversity documentary competition in 2004 and 2005 and worked with CBC Radio for the radio adaptation of Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance. Currently, Nilesh is an active producer with the Projections: Film for Street Youth program in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, along with being a full-time producer with Flourish Media Inc., a full service convergent media firm. He is also completing two short dramatic films for broadcast and his debut feature film BROCKET 99 ROCKIN’ THE COUNTRY.

Imtiaz Popat

(moderator)

IMTIAZ POPAT is a host on CO-OP Radio CFRO 102.7 FM where he hosts the Rational, Bulland Awaaz and Mirch Masala. He is also the General Coordinator of Salaam Vancouver, as well as an activist on immigrant and refugee issues.

Thanks to

Meghna Haldar

(VAFF 2005 Panel Coordinator)
MEGHNA HALDAR is an award-winning filmmaker and freelance writer. In her previous avatar, she taught filmmaking and worked at a film co-op, teaching workshops, arranging fancy film salons, and organizing quarterly film festivals. She is presently in development with the National Film Board on a feature documentary. Meghna participated in the WIDC Workshop 2005 at Banff and is a recipient of grants from the Canada Council, Telefilm, WIFVV, NFB, Texas Filmmakers Production Fund, TCA, Austin City Council, and the Skaaren Presidential Endowment. Meghna is on the board of DOXA, Vancouver’s documentary film festival.

This program is made possible by the generous support of the

animefantasy

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

Anime Fantasy: Saturday Nov. 5th, 9:45 PM – 12:00 AM

Anime (ann-ee-may) – Japanese for “animation”, a distinctive style of animated film that has its roots in manga or Japanese comic books, immediately recognizable and characterized by heavily stylized backgrounds, sci-fi and fantasy themes, highly exaggerated facial expressions with limited facial movement, simulation of motion through varying the background behind a static character or other foreground element, and frequently, big-headed characters with child-like, large eyes; originally called ‘Japanimation’. In ESC, a monster attacks in this 3-dimensional world while in SKY BLUE magnificent animated images depict a story set in a world of destruction.

90 minutes

Sky Blue

SKY BLUE is a love story set against the forces of destruction, a dystopian vision of Earth’s destiny, yet ultimately a reminder of hope for the future. In the 2140, mankind’s reckless exploitation of the environment has shielded the sun from view and all but ended human civilization on earth. Only a small number of elites possessing power and technology have been able to thrive, building a magnificent, organic city named Ecoban. Jay is a 19-year old female trooper of Ecoban. When she encounters her childhood sweetheart Shau leading a rebellion against the city, Jay must make the ultimate choice – whether to live for duty, or very possibly die for love.

“An ambitious mix of 2-D and 3-D animation, miniatures, and live action make this South Korean-U.S. feature a notable achievement” – Hollywood Reporter

London Film Festival; Singapore Int’l Film Festival; Sundance Film Festival; Leeds Int’l Film Festival; Raindance East Film Festival

Canadian Premiere

Preceded by

Esc

An unknown error in a 3-D computer program leads a mouse cursor to create a 3-dimensional character that comes to life.

World Premiere | Director in Attendance

lostintransition

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

Lost In Transition: Saturday Nov. 5th, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Women in motion, women in transition during various stages of life. This program traces the search for identity, belonging, the quest for companionship, and simply getting by in a complex modern world from a female point of view. In STATIONERY, a woman finds herself fixated with the quest for a paperclip. Then, in the international film 20:30:40, three women, each in a different decade of their lives, try to navigate the intricacies of living in transition.

118 minutes

20:30:40

Perhaps best known in the United States for her role in Ang Lee’s EAT DRINK MAN WOMAN, veteran actress Sylvia Chang has also garnered attention as the director of such acute chronicles of the modern Taiwanese woman as Siao Yu. With her delightful 10th feature, 20:30:40, she triples the pleasure with a cross-generational fictional portrait of three women in Taipei whose lives are in transition: 20-year-old Xiao Jie (Angelica Lee Sinje), an aspiring pop singer from Malaysia; 30-something flight attendant Xiang (Rene Liu), and middle-aged florist Lily (Chang herself). Chang elegantly weaves the tangentially connected stories into an unpretentious and exuberant tapestry of the women’s vigorous, often comical quest for identity, stability and companionship.

“A gorgeously lensed romantic comedy, flecked with moments of introspection” – Variety

Screenings/Awards: Berlin Int’l Film Festival; Calgary Int’l Film Festival; Edinburgh Int’l Film Festival; Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival; San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival

Preceded by

Stationery

This lively, witty animated film explores the complexities and paradoxes of modern life through the story of a woman who must find paperclips for a report due in the morning. Voice talent includes Christine Amber Tang and Sandra Oh.

datinggame

Wednesday October 12, 2005 by

The Dating Game: Saturday Nov. 5th, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

One of few things in life that transcends all boundaries, including cultural and physical, is the pursuit of love and romance. In J.P. Chan’s short, TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT?, the humourous anticipation of a blind date plays out in a variety of scenarios in a young woman’s mind. We follow THE RED RIBBON as a young woman journeys to discover what the love gods have in store for her. And finally, the hilarious feature SIMPLY FOBULOUS, shows us that no matter how badly our parents want us to get married, sometimes they go about it the right way – and then again, sometimes they get it all wrong.

111 minutes

SIMPLY FOBULOUS

SIMPLY FOBULOUS is a romantic comedy about a rebellious daughter, Thuy Nguyen (Chau Luu), who succumbs to her mother’s lifelong wish for her to marry Dung (Steven Liu), a Vietnamese mail-order husband. Unwilling to marry him, Thuy loans him to Van (Kathie Pham) her sister, who uses him to hold her shopping bags and other important tasks. To them, Dung is a F.O.B., or Fresh Off the Boat. A family’s perceptions of their guest from Vietnam are forever altered by his humanity – and by his selflessness.

World Premiere | Director in Attendance

Preceded by

TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT?

Director/Producer/Writer: J.P. Chan
Narrative | DVD | Colour and Black & White | 2005 | 4 minutes | USA

A young woman prepares for a blind date – and all its possibilities.

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

The Red Ribbon

According to an old Chinese fairytale, the god of love and marriage unites lovers by tying their feet together with a red ribbon. This is the story of a young woman who, early one morning, wakes up to find a red ribbon tied to her foot, and follows it to see what she’ll find at the other end.

Screenings/Awards: Location Michel Trudel Award – Concordia University; Reel Asian Int’l Film Festival

World Premiere

shortnsweet

Tuesday October 11, 2005 by

Short and Sweet & Sour: Saturday Nov. 5th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Who loves short shorts? We love short shorts! This year, we continue our tradition of showcasing the art of the short film. Among these eight films are some of the Canadian entries in competition for VAFF’s 2005 Best Canadian Short award. In fact, Canadian films comprise seven of the eight films listed. Some of them end happily – others do not. Without a common thread other than their lengths tying them together, we proudly present a film assortment of the short, sweet and sour.

114 minutes

Remember One

Jacob has one hour and thirty minutes to choose one memory from his life. He has been estranged from his father for thirteen years. Will he chose to remember him or not?

World Premiere | Director in Attendance

Residue

Three years after the death of their son, a family continues to deal with their loss. Has time healed all wounds?

Screenings/Awards: VIDFEST – Vancouver International Digital Festival

Director in Attendance

NO. 1: THE HELEN FONG DARE STORY

Director/Producer: Nancy Thom | Writer: Jamie Dare
Documentary | DVD | Colour | 2005 | 25 minutes | USA

Helen Fong Dare, an unconventional immigrant and intrepid restaurateur, defied gender and racial discrimination years before the rise of feminism and affirmative action in the U.S. This is her story, narrated by her daughter, Nancy Tom, who discovers herself in the process of making the film.

Director in Attendance

King of Sushi

His customers appreciate his food. His employees revere his skills. His friends enjoy his company, and his wife loves his heart. Does anybody really understand the legendary Vancouver chef of Tojo Restaurant?

World Premiere

The Hill

A contemporary, revisionist fable about Jack and Jill and what really happened on the hill.

Screenings/Awards: Canadian Film Centre Worldwide Shorts; Cinefest Sudbury; Montreal World Film Festival; NSI FilmExchange; Toronto Int’l Film Festival; Victoria Independent Film Festival

Focus Group Therapy

Jessica, a market researcher, begins to question her career choice as she conducts a misbehaving focus group in which naughty things happen in the observation room.

Screenings/Awards: Jim Jarmusch Best Narrative Short Award – Westcliffe Digital Film Festival; 25th Atlantic Film Festival, Silver Wave Film Festival

BC Premiere

Kata Practice

David, a six-year old junior green belt practises for his final fight… Sometimes not even the best of moves can block life’s challenges.

Screenings/Awards: Honorable Mention – 14th Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival; Cracow Int’l Film Festival; Montreal World Film Festival; Philadelphia Film Festival; Seattle Int’l Film Festival; Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival

Mr. Mergler’s Gift

Daniel Mergler has heard the Beethoven bagatelle countless times, but this is different. He listens with surprise, and delight lights up the old man’s eyes. The young pianist is Xin Ben, the 9-year-old daughter of Chinese immigrants. A fateful encounter in a Montreal park has delivered her into the hands of Mr. Mergler, a piano teacher nearing the end of his long career. She will be his last and most extraordinary pupil.

Screenings/Awards: Golden Sheaf Award – Short Film and Video Festival; DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival; Int’l Children’s Film Festival; Int’l Family Film Festival; Jewish Film Festival; Montreal World Film Festival

racism

Tuesday October 11, 2005 by

Racism & Representation: Saturday Nov. 5th, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

In the first part of the Living Diversity Series, we look at the myriad representations of racism through a collection of shorts. In the film SCREEN TEST, a Korean actress recounts her experience of working with a casting director with culturally insensitive expectations, while in the film DASTAAR: DEFENDING SIKH IDENTITY, the Sikh community bands together in the face of discrimination post 9/11. In WITH HONORS DENIED, a past wrong is finally addressed, while the film PAWNS OF THE KING explores the often “in your face” intra-cultural racism that exists. The screening of these films leads to our panel discussion in which activists, broadcasters and filmmakers wrestle with the ways and means by which diversity initiatives can help combat issues of racism and representation.

Panel discussion to follow

120 minutes

Screen Test

A day-in-the-life of a Korean-Canadian actor exposes the exotization of actors of colour from a performer’s point of view.

Screenings/Awards: 2nd Prize – Access Asie Video Competition, Montreal

BC Premiere

Pawns of the King

Director/Writer: Ming Lai | Producers: Ming Lai, Michael Blair, Linda Lee
Narrative | DVD | Colour | 2005 | 17 minutes | USA

When his wife dies and his daughter invites him to live with her in the U.S, Kazuo (Sab Shimono ROBOT STORIES), a World War II navy veteran from Japan finds himself in enemy territory. He is forced to confront his fears when he meets Charles (Michael Yama, STAND AND DELIVER), a Japanese-American army veteran, and his friends Richard (Jim Ishida, ARMAGEDDON) and George (Ken Takemoto, SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS) in a local park. They challenge him to a game of chess, and the outcome changes his life forever.

Screenings/Awards: Best Short Narrative – Asian Film Festival of Dallas; Boston Asian American Film Festival; Los Angeles Short Film Festival; New York Asian American Int’l Film Festival; Palm Springs Int’l Festival of Film; San Diego Asian Film Festival.

Canadian Premiere

DASTAAR: DEFENDING SIKH IDENTITY

After the September 11 attacks, Sikhs in New York City, including NYPD Traffic Officer Amric Singh Rathour and Metro Transit Authority subway conductor Kevin Harrington, were subjected to discrimination and violence as a result of ignorance and fear of an essential symbol of the Sikh faith – the dastaar, or turban. DASTAAR profiles the efforts of the Sikh community to counter racism through a combination of community activism, legal action, legislation, and education.

Screenings/Awards: Best Documentary – Dallas Asian Short Film Festival; Opening Film – Sikh American Film Festival of New York; AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Film Festival; Chicago Asian American Showcase; Long Island Int’l Film Expo; New York Asian American Int’l Film Festival; VC Los Angeles Asian American Int’l Film Festival.

Canadian Premiere

With Honors Denied

Yukiko Kubo Shiogi was a young Japanese-American girl when she was interned during World War II. She lost her freedom and a cherished right of passage, but not her faith in her nation or herself. Narrated by George Takei (Hikaru Sulu from STAR TREK), WITH HONORS DENIED follows Yuki’s 60-year journey from prosecution to redemption and a dream fulfilled.

Screenings/Awards: Jury Award Best Documentary Short – Newport Beach Film Festival, Audience Award Best Documentary – Palm Springs IFSF, Audience Award – NW Asian American Film Festival, DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, Maui Film Festival, Portland Int’l Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, VC Los Angeles Asian American Int’l Film Festival

Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance

Panel Discussion to Follow

The Living Diversity Series

Diversity – definition (n): The quality of being made of many different elements, forms, kinds, or individuals

Part I: Diversity Initiatives: Racism and Representation

Having diversity initiatives is like suddenly having an overly eager suitor appear and ready to serve us. Invariably, they have more questions for us than we’ve ever asked of ourselves. What is the role of these different initiatives? What do they mean to the filmmakers, broadcasters, stakeholders in the media? How can we create a complex, truthful portrait of this diversity? Whose stories are we telling? How are we doing so? Do these films capture what is authentic about the interaction between majority and minority communities? Are they even attempting to portray the often sticky issue of inter and intra-community racism?

The Panelists

Cal Garingan

CAL GARINGAN has just completed WHY THEE WED?, a National Film Board documentary on same-sex marriage featuring the couples who challenged the law in British Columbia. His award-winning shorts, THE ODYSSEY OF PENELOPE RHODES and OUT ON A HOLIDAY have screened in various festivals locally and around the world. In addition to holding a Master’s degree in Film and Television Production, Garingan also completed the Writing Program at the Vancouver Film School after receiving a full scholarship. Featured in The Los Angeles Times as a promising young talent, Garingan continues to develop short scripts, documentaries, and feature-length screenplays.

Prem Gill

PREM GILL is the Director of Multicultural Programming and Public Affairs for Citytv Vancouver. She directs all of Citytv’s multi-cultural production and oversees the stations public affairs, social policy and regulatory activities. Prem is also the host of Colourtv, Citytv’s weekly half-hour discussion program on current affairs, social issues and popular culture from a multi-cultural perspective.

Judy Lee

JUDY LEE was raised in a theatrical family (none of them were actually involved in the theatre – they were just dramatic and yelled a great deal) making her a natural actor. After an adolescence of youth theatre (which required her to sing embarrassing musical numbers and date sexually confused male actors), she moved onto many challenging single-line roles as wailing refugees, nameless office employees, and opium den tarts. After several years in L.A., she has returned to hopefully land a nameless prostitute role in a locally filmed cop show. She acted in SCREEN TEST, which was directed by her sister, Linda Lee.

Gurpreet Singh

GURPREET SINGH is a journalist based in Surrey, British Columbia. Currently, he is a broadcaster with Radio India, where he hosts two news-based call-in-shows. Vichar Manch and Ru-Baru. Born in Karnal, India, he immigrated to Canada in 2001. Before coming to Vancouver, he had worked with The Tribune as its staff reporter in Ferozepore (Punjab). Previously, he was a staff reporter with Indian Express from 1996 to 1999. He penned No Escape, a story about hate crimes. He has also authored Terrorism: The Punjab’s Recurring Nightmare, a book based on interviews with Sikh extremists.

Zool Suleman

(moderator)

ZOOL SULEMAN is an Immigration Lawyer who is also involved with a variety of migrant rights and civil liberties projects. He is the co-ordinator of www.stopracialprofiling.ca, a campaign to stop racial profiling in Canada. He was the Co-Founder and Editor of Rungh Magazine, a South Asian journal of culture, comment and criticism from 1991-1997. He is also the founder of MARU, a non-profit society that explores the issues of Migration, Art, Race and their unlimited intersections.

Thanks to

Meghna Haldar

This program is made possible by the generous support of the

Things We Do For Love: Monday Nov. 7th, 8:15 PM -10:15 PM

Love and Marriage: Monday Nov. 7th, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

Spotlight On Filipino Cinema: Sunday Nov. 6th, 7:45 PM -9:45 PM

So You Wanna Be In Movies: Sunday Nov. 6th, 5:00 PM -7:00 PM

Growing Up Diverse: Sunday Nov. 6th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Part II: Growing Up Diverse

Rita Wong

Janet Ip

Melinda Lau

Nilesh Patel

Imtiaz Popat

Meghna Haldar

Anime Fantasy: Saturday Nov. 5th, 9:45 PM – 12:00 AM

Lost In Transition: Saturday Nov. 5th, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

The Dating Game: Saturday Nov. 5th, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Short and Sweet & Sour: Saturday Nov. 5th, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Racism & Representation: Saturday Nov. 5th, 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Part I: Diversity Initiatives: Racism and Representation

Cal Garingan

Prem Gill

Judy Lee

Gurpreet Singh

Zool Suleman

Meghna Haldar

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