Opening Night: Ping Pong Playa
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Opening Night
Thur. Nov. 6th, 7:00 PM
Sport and culture, charm and comedy open this 12th annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival. We are thrilled to welcome back director Jessica Yu, a VAFF alum from our very first Festival, with her hilarious feature film debut, PING PONG PLAYA. Jessica has been often and affectionately quoted for her 1997 Oscar acceptance speech for Best Short Subject Documentary: “What a thrill – you know you’ve entered new territory when your outfit cost more than your film.” And opening the program is Jason Karman’s fond reminder of Vancouver’s famous “yo-yo playa,” Harvey Lowe, in the short STATE OF YO.
Ping Pong Playa
Director: Jessica Yu | Producers: Anne Clements, Joan Huang | Writers: Jessica Yu, Jimmy Tsai
Narrative | 35mm | Colour | 2007 | 96 minutes | USA
Christopher “C-dub” Wong (Jimmy Tsai) is a suburban guy who sports an urban swagger, waxes political on all things Asian American, and clings to pipe dreams of a career as a pro basketball player. Blaming genetics for his failure to make the NBA, C-dub lives at home, works a dead-end job, and squirms in the shadow of his older brother, Michael (Roger Fan), a doctor – and a ping pong champion.
With a family-run ping pong equipment store and a mom who teaches it at the local Chinese Community Center, the Wang’s entire world revolves around the sport. But despite the family legacy, C-dub opts to spend his free time playing videogames and daydreaming about get-rich quick schemes with his best friend JP Money (Khary Payton).
A car accident in the family forces C-dub to take over his mom’s ping pong class of misfits. But he soon discovers the benefits of ping pong – earning some extra money on the side and happily befriends one of the kids – who happens to have a beautiful older sister.
But when the Wang family livelihood is threatened by a rival ping pong player’s attempt to lure away the young students, C-dub begins to focus seriously on the upcoming National Golden Cock Tournament and defend his family’s ping pong dynasty.
Previous Screenings: Toronto Int’l Film Festival 2007, San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival 2008
Western Canadian Premiere | Jessica Yu and Jimmy Tsai in Attendance
preceded by:
State Of Yo
Director/Writer/Producer: Jason Karman
Documentary | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 8 minutes | Canada
Harvey Lowe won the first yo-yo championship in 1932. In his life, he’s experienced the early loss of his father, political and economic unrest, and a brain tumour. The yo-yo, which made him famous, helped him regain his identity.
Previous Screenings: New Cineworks 2008 official selection, Los Angeles Asian Film Festival 2008
Director In Attendance
Opening Night Reception
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
OPENING NIGHT: Red Carpet Reception
Thursday Nov. 6th, 9:00PM – 1:00AM
- Red Carpet Reception Only: $25 advance/$30 door
Kentizen Fusion Lounge
88 West Pender Street | 2nd Floor, Tinseltown
Mix and mingle with visiting filmmakers, celebrities, and special guests as we celebrate the opening of the 12th VAFF. Enjoy the coolest hip hop beats with one of Vancity’s hottest DJ’s – DJ Relik.
The ability to incorporate scratching and mixing with a dynamic choice in music selection to keep parties hype and dance floors moving has made DJ Relik one of the busiest and most demanded club and party DJ’s. Relly has also played parties and opened for artists such as: the Black eyed peas, Ne-yo, Justin Timberlake, Boyz II Men, Jabbawokeez, De La Soul, Nas, Girlicious and many more.
Don’t miss VAFF’s Opening RED CARPET Reception!
OPENING NIGHT: Film + Reception Combo
Thursday Nov. 6th, 9:00PM – 1:00AM
- Opening Night Film: PING PONG PLAYA | 7:00PM – 9:00PM
- Red Carpet Reception: Kentizen Fusion Lounge | 2nd floor, Tinseltown
- Attend both events: $30.00 advance/$40.00 door
Kick off the 2008 Vancouver Asian Film Festival with the Western Canadian Premiere screening of Academy Award winning director Jessica Yu’s latest film, PING PONG PLAYA, followed by the Reception at Kentizen Fusion Lounge – with director Jessica Yu and with Ping Pong Playa writer and star Jimmy Tsai in attendance.
And afterwards, mix and mingle with visiting filmmakers, celebrities, and special guests as we celebrate the opening of the 12th VAFF. Indulge in tasty hors d’oeuvres, delicious cocktails, and get down with the coolest hip hop beats with one of Vancouver’s hottest DJ’s – DJ Relik.
Please note that there are a limited number of tickets available at the door – subject to venue capacity. We strongly recommend getting your tickets in advance!
Must be 19 years or older to attend VIP GALA – ID may be requested.
No refunds or exchanges on special event tickets or general admission tickets except in the event of program cancellation.
No refunds or exchanges on VIP Passes.
Special Presentation: Yellow Fellas
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Special Presentation: Yellow Fellas
Fri. Nov. 7th, 2:30 PM
Ever had a great idea for a feature length independent film but never had the time or money? Tetsuro Shigematsu, a filmmaker who has extensive experience in broadcasting, including hosting This Hour Has 22 Minutes, CBC Radio, and as pop culture critic for Newsworld in Los Angeles, will present the VAFF premiere of his film, YELLOW FELLAS, and then share his ideas of how he made this feature length film with a short film’s budget. A Q&A with the director will follow.
Yellow Fellas
Director/Writer: Tetsuro Shigematsu | Producers: Tetsuro Shigematsu, Bahareh Shigematsu, Bamboos Pourgol
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 75 minutes | USA/Canada
Howie Hiroshima is an angry young Asian man who leads a band of Oriental Brothers in a revolution against The White Man. He seeks to avenge the injustices that The Blue Eyed Devil has wreaked upon his people. But soon, the movement takes on a life of its own and comes after Howie himself.
Previous Screenings: Fantasia Film Festival, 2nd runner up Best Feature, Peoria Film Festival
Vancouver Premiere | Director in Attendance
Q & A to follow:
Join Tetsuro in a lively discussion on How to Make a Low Budget Indie Feature!
Love You Short Time
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Program 2: Love You Short Time
Fri. Nov. 7th, 5:00 PM
Making short films has always been one of the best ways to hone the craft of filmmaking. Whether it’s attempting to express a single idea or theme, or to explore different styles and genres, or to produce big results with very little money, filmmakers definitely get better with each film they produce. Several filmmakers in this program are returning here: Angela How, Frank Yeean Chan and Jeff Chan. And this program is where we showcase VAFF’s annual Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon competition winners.
Passage
Director/Writer: Angela How | Producer: Ben Harris
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 21 minutes | USA
A chance encounter between two strangers pushes both to come to terms with past decisions made.
Previous Screenings: Asian American Int’l Film Festival, Stockholm Int’l Film Festival, Austin Asian Film Festival
Popsicle Stick
Director/Producer: Zooey Park | Writer: Lisa Ferber
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 12 minutes | USA
Alex and Megan go out on a second date. What are they thinking?
Canadian Premiere
Since You’ve Been Ong
Director: Frank Yeean Chan | Producer: John Calvin Fong | Writers: Amy Y. Chan, Frank Yeean Chan, Dony Permedi, Jay Patumanoan
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 4 minutes | USA
When Elizabeth Ong fails to show up, her three friends rush to give their versions of the day’s shenanigans in the alleyways of Chinatown.
Previous Screenings: San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival 2008, Disorient 2008, San Francisco Int’l Film Festival 2008
Canadian Premiere | Director In Attendance
You’ve Got Male
Directors: Christopher Nguyen, Ryan Kim | Producers: Nadine Truong, Lee Buckley | Writers: Ryan Kim, Christopher Nguyen, Lee Buckley
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 5 minutes | USA
An attempt at romance goes horribly wrong as the mail-order bride is nothing as advertised. We repeat, NOTHING as advertised.
Previous Screenings: CineVision, AAFilmlab 72 Hour Shootout (winner)
Canadian Premiere
A Fistful Of Doll Hairs
Director: Nicholas Westbridge | Producers: Nicholas Westbridge, Josette Jorge, Ric Lee | Writer: Shay Wilson
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 7 minutes | Canada
After being pushed over the edge by her mildly annoying roommate, Jennifer flies into a homicidal rage. But her problems are far more persistent than she realizes. This was an entry in a 48-hour filmmaking contest incorporating various guidelines and creative elements. Grand prize judge and Hollywood director Joe Dante declared it “a triumph of wit over budget!”
Previous Screenings: Bloodshots 48-Hour Horror Filmmaking Festival 2007 (Grand Prize winner, Audience Choice for Best Film)
Director In Attendance
Memoirs Of The Last Samurai’s Geisha
Director: Chad Band | Producers: Suzi Nitta Petersen, Michele Nitta | Writer: Liz Nunoda
Narrative | Digital | Colour | 2008 | 9 minutes | Canada
Tracy Takahashi Torvaldsen works as a background performer (“movie extra”) where she is usually a blur in a crowd. But when a shoot calls for her to dress in a kimono, she is no longer anonymous. Strangers mistakenly think she is a geisha.
Previous Screenings: 3rd place Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2008
Director In Attendance
Sides
Director/Producer: Jeff Chan | Writer: Tony Vallone
Narrative | Digital | Colour | 2008 | 9 minutes | Canada
Two friends practice sides for an upcoming audition but unexpected feelings surface when the scene they are reading underlines the romantic tension between the two.
Previous Screenings: 2nd place Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2008
Director In Attendance
Curse Of The Jade Falcon
Director: Tracy D. Smith | Producer/Writer: Ian Tang
Narrative | Digital | Colour | 2008 | 8 minutes | Canada
A mysterious, desperate woman arrives unexpectedly with nowhere to turn. Detective Sam Spade agrees to help – but things are not what they seem. Slyly crafted on many levels and reinventing the first act of the film noir classic THE MALTESE FALCON, the film seamlessly blends an assault of Asian references while adhering to the original’s storyline. Acutely subversive with its Asian stereotypes, the urge to laugh is infectious but – does it cross the line?
Previous Screenings: 1st place Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon 2008
Director In Attendance
Child's Play
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Program 3: Child’s Play
Fri. Nov. 7th, 7:00 PM
When faced with harsh reality and brutality, children often adapt better than their grown up advisories. Innocence trumps experience in these films in which naiveté leads to a hope only a child can create. In SANTA MESA, a brave 12 year old boy must adjust to living in an unknown homeland and connects others in the process. A young son protects himself and his mother with his imagination in IN CONTROL.
Presented by Shaw Multicultural Channel
Santa Mesa
Director/Writer: Ron Morales | Producers: Louise Lovegrove, Karin Chien
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 82 minutes | USA
SANTA MESA is a story that portrays the courage of a young boy who is forced to come to terms with the death of his mother. At 12 years old, Hector must move to Manila to live with his grandmother Lita, a woman whom he has never met.
Shortly after arriving, Hector meets Sel, a neighborhood teenage girl, and Miguel, along with Miguel’s Barkada (street gang). Hector longing to find a connection to his new environment joins this group of petty hustlers in the hopes of getting closer to Sel, until one night Hector’s initiation takes a wrong turn.
Hector’s clumsy actions get him caught while breaking into the home of Jose, a 59-year-old former photographer. Later, Hector finds himself having to work for Jose in order to compensate for his actions but he does not tell his friends and his grandmother about this. And haunted by memories of his mother, Hector photographs a woman named Rosa until their seemingly disconnected lives collide.
SANTA MESA is a warm tale about family values, love and friendship. It tackles life’s biggest challenge – growing up.
Previous Screenings: Special Jury Prize: San Francisco Int’l Asian American Film Festival, LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, DC Asian Pacific Film Festival, Singapore Int’l Film Festival, Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival Pittsburgh, 31st Asian American Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Cinema Rome Film Festival, Chicago Asian American Showcase, Shanghai Int’l Film Festival, Dallas Asian Film Festival, Hawaii Int’l Film Festival
Canadian Premiere
preceded by:
In Control
Director/Writer/Producer: Ana de Lara
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 5 minutes | Canada
An imaginative young boy resorts to his remote control to cope with the painful experience of domestic violence.
Previous Screenings: Best
Children’s Film Award at CommFest Film Festival
Vancouver Premiere | Director In Attendance
VIP Gala
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
VIP GALA
Friday Nov. 7th, 9:00PM – 1:00AM
- $30 advance/$40 door
Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino
750 Pacific Boulevard South (Plaza of Nations)
Hosted by explorASIAN
Special Kirin Beer and Gekkeikan Sake Tasting (Courtesy of Select Wine Merchants)
The VAFF VIP GALA offers Festival attendees a place to celebrate and appreciate the vibrant and diverse filmmaking community in Vancouver. Head over to Edgewater Casino after the Canadian Premiere of SANTA MESA and the Western Canada Premiere of FINDING MADISON and celebrate the night away at Edgewater Casino’s Stadium Club with plenty of room to network with filmmakers, celebrities and other special guests.
Featuring the amazing global beats of DJ’s Nils and Tarun from Beats Without Borders. The Beats Without Borders Collective is made up of 4 established Global Groove DJs, who spin the most diverse dance music on the planet… From funked out Afrobeat to sexy middle-eastern bellydance to the best of the Asian underground, they’ll rock the party guaranteed.
Your priority access to this spectacular gala is guaranteed with the VAFF VIP Pass.
Please note that there are a limited number of tickets available at the door – subject to venue capacity. We strongly recommend getting your tickets in advance!
Must be 19 years or older to attend VIP GALA – ID may be requested.
No refunds or exchanges on special event tickets or general admission tickets except in the event of program cancellation.
Lost In Love
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Program 4: Lost In Love
Fri. Nov. 7th, 9:30 PM
Those of us lucky enough to have been in or are in love know self doubt can often take over. Yet long awaited answers come with trusting our choices, and believing in both ourselves and our object of affection. PAN TIAN SHOU starts it off with beautiful animated imagery in tribute to a renowned Chinese artist. SHALL WE? is about two best friends just about to part ways forever. FINDING MADISON introduces Madison, a young woman striving to make her mark in the artistic world after having given up on love until her outlook is challenged.
Finding Madison
Director: Tuan Tran | Producers: Charlie Nguyen, Talun Hsu, Tuan Tran, Kelly Miyashiro | Writer: Kelly Miyashiro
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 81 minutes | USA
Finding Madison is a coming-of-age love story about a young artist on an exploration to understand love. After being dumped by her fiancé Holden (Eric Steinberg), Madison (Kelly Miyashiro) feels as if she has nowhere to turn. She works at a café owned by the parents of her best friend Cherish (Rachel Morihiro) and strives to be a painter but nothing has panned out except for an art competition to possibly exhibit her work alongside an established painter Jacob Grey (Don Most).
Fed up with men, Madison decides to give up on love and just have fun. Cherish takes her to a nightclub and sets her up with Ben (Derek Basco), a sexy singer, but Madison is overcome with jealousy when Holden arrives with Beth (Tamlyn Tomita).
She forms an unlikely bond with Rain (Roger Fan) a friend of her brother’s who is new in town and in a similar situation – but with a whole different outlook on life. But in order to move forward, Madison must make a decision about her work, her art and her relationships that will shape the rest of her life.
Previous Screenings: Moondance Film Festival
Canadian Premiere | Director in Attendance
preceded by:
Pan Tian Shou
Director/Writer/Producer: Joe Chang
Animation | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 6 minutes | China/Canada
Adapted from Chinese Master Painter Pan Tian Shou’s life and paintings, this animated short features a creative and unique combination of static & animated scenes.
Previous Screenings: Ottawa Int’l Animated Film Festival
Shall We?
Director/Writer/Producer: Raphael Choi
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 10 minutes | Canada
On the surface, there seems to be nothing out of ordinary between Anna and her gay best friend, Chris. Yet, their complex relationship starts revealing itself on the night of Anna’s going-away party.
World Premiere | Director In Attendance
A Moment In Time
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Program 5: A Moment In Time
Sat. Nov. 8th, 11:00 AM
Films can stretch the imagination as well as space and time. They transport us into new worlds not only geographically but also by leaping us back and forward to the past and future. YELLOW STICKY NOTES chronicles an animator’s life. FOOD FOR THE GODS and LIGHT YEARS take us to an apocalyptic future. WIANBU – COMFORT WOMAN, THE LETTER GOODBYE, and SERVANTS OF WAR remind us of the brutality of humanity’s past. While GRANGE AVENUE explores the recurrent theme of racism in a different time.
Yellow Sticky Notes
Director/Producer/Writer: Jeff Chiba Stearns
Animation | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 6 minutes | Canada
After realizing that yellow sticky note “to do” lists were consuming his life, animation fllmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns decided to visually self-reflect on his filmmaking journey by animating on the same sticky notes that caused him to ignore major world events for the last nine years.
Previous Screenings: 2008 Best Animated Short Subject: Canadian Awards for the Electronic & Animated Arts, 2007 Animasian Award for Best Animated Film: 11th Toronto ReelAsian Int’l Film Festival
Director In Attendance
Food For The Gods
Director: H. Scott Hughes | Writers: H. Scott Hughes & Phillip Matte, based on the short story by Patricia C. Hughes | Producer: Zhou “Joe” Fang
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 10 minutes | Canada
Light-years from Earth, Sheenyana is a beautiful mystic warrior from a lost Asian civilization. When an American astronaut lands on her world, cultures clash as passions ignite in a forbidden affair, forcing Sheenyana to choose between love and her people.
Director In Attendance
Wianbu – Comfort Woman
Director/Writer: James Bang | Producer: James Bang, Jessica Rotondi
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2008 | 20 minutes | USA
Sohee, a naive teenager girl is kidnapped and brought to a Japanese military station during WWII. She as the other 20,000 women in Asia during this period is violated and given the name of “Comfort Woman”. Sohee’s dramatic journey reflects the agony and pain most of these women had to carry and survive.
Previous Screenings: 2008 Student Academy Awards
Canadian Premiere
The Letter Goodbye
Director/Producer/Writer: Andrew Ming
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 21 minutes | Canada
A heartfelt letter expresses true longing despite horrific circumstances.
Previous Screenings: CineVision, AAFilmlab 72 Hour Shootout (winner)
World Premiere | Director In Attendance
Servants Of War
Director: Gillian MacLeod | Producer: James Brown | Writer: Janice Chow
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 9 minutes | Canada
1938. Guangzhou District, China. Japanese forces have swept the southwestern part of China and the small village of Pan Yu is quickly and effortlessly taken, with no one in the town able or willing to put up a fight. Jie and Mui, two orphaned sisters, do not manage to escape in time.
World Premiere | Director In Attendance
Grange Avenue
Directo/Writer: Allan Tong | Producers: Louis Mercier, Allan Tong, Randy Shek, Paul De Silva
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 14 minutes | Canada
Grange Avenue tells of a forbidden love affair between a male Chinese immigrant and a white woman set in 1954 Toronto. Julia falls for student Raymond after a racial attack outside his Grange Avenue rooming house and the lovers embark on a torrid affair until Julia’s pregnancy threatens to expose their interracial affair to a hostile society. Can their love survive?
Previous Screenings: Delray Beach, Okanagan
Vancouver Premiere
Light Years
Director: Richard N. Martin | Producer: Melissa Lee | Writer: Richard N. Martin, Josh Calvert
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 15 minutes | USA
Four relationships spanning the four corners of the globe are put to the ultimate test when they learn the world may end in eight minutes – the duration of time it takes light to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
Previous Screenings: San Francisco Black Film Festival, New York Asian American Int’l Film Festival, deadCENTER Film Festival, Boston Int’l Film Festival, Newport Int’l Film Festival, Seattle True Independent Film Festival, Cannes Short Film Corner, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Indianapolis Int’l Film Festival, Rincon Int’l Film Festival (Best Student Film), USA Film Festival (Finalist), Fresno Film Festival, Da Vinci Film Festival, Lake Arrowhead Film Festival, Palm Beach International Film Festival, Beverly Hills Shorts Film Festival
Masculine and Mysterious
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Program 6: The Masculine And Mysterious
Sat. Nov. 8th, 1:15 PM
SNAPSHOT is an intriguing, yet disturbing look at pop culture’s view of the Asian male. ASIAN TASK FORCE is a special police unit entering action packed and dangerous territory. S/HE follows a young girl exploring her masculine nature. IT STRIKES TWICE is an intense psychological standoff between two strangers. DELIVERY introduces a drug dealer who is forced to question his own morals. LONG DISTANCE has two beautiful strangers who communicate without words. 600 is an all night journey of a midlife crisis amidst a life of alcohol and parties. Ending the program is MACHINE WITH WISHBONE, a dreamlike sequence of living machines in an imaginary world, and EGG GHOST, a surreal trip though frightening territory.
Snapshot: Six Months Of The Korean American Male
Director/Producer/Writer: Valerie Soe
Experimental | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 4 minutes | USA
Several Korean American men—John Cho, James Kim, Yul Kwon and Seung-hui Cho—figured prominently in America’s pop culture. During six months, from the Virginia Tech shooter to the appearance of two Korean Americans on People Magazine’s list of Sexiest Men Alive, Korean American men appeared in news stories, magazines and television programs.
World Premiere
Asian Task Force
Director/Writer: William Lu | Producers: Jerome Lu, Teddy Chen Culver, Aaron Umetani, Mike Wilson
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2008 | 24 minutes | USA
An elite police force is assembled to deal with Asian crimes in Southern California. This mock pilot affectionately looks back at the television network landscape ten years ago, while offering a subtle social commentary on Asian American roles in mass media.
Previous Screenings: Best Action Short 2008 L.A. DV/HD Fest, 2008 L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival, Disorient Film Festival, Beverly Hills Hi-Def Film Festival
Canadian Premiere | Director In Attendance
S/He
Director/Producer/Writer: Gina Chen
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 12 minutes | Taiwan
A 12 year-old girl struggles to follow her expected gender and cultural roles while exploring an emerging masculine nature.
It Strikes Twice
Director/Writer: David H. Kim | Producer: John Chen
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 10 minutes | USA
A modern day parable set in urban limbo tests the trust between two strangers, one a touchy second generation Korean American youth, the other a hard-headed almost supernatural Korean immigrant claiming to have been hit by lightning.
Previous Screenings: 2008 Pusan International Film Festival, 2008 Korean American Film Festival New York
Canadian Premiere
Delivery
Director: Vishal Gurung | Producers: Jono Lee | Writer: Ryan Pears
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2008 | 14 minutes | Canada
DELIVERY is a story about a Chinese food delivery man, Roger, attempting to save his mother’s ailing restaurant business by working a drug route. It is within this route that Roger first meets Angela, a beautiful Internet model who is desperate to end her profession and because of a delivery mix up, enlists a reluctant Roger to help her.
World Premiere | Director In Attendance
Long Distance
Director/Producer/Writer: Nelson Kim
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 15 minutes | USA
Boy meets girl. He doesn’t speak Korean. She doesn’t speak English. It’s going to be a long night.
600
Director/Producer/Writer: James Z. Feng
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 7 minutes | China
After coming to Shanghai on a college-graduation trip with two college buddies, all the partying, beautiful girls, and good food convinces Terrence this is the place to be. We fast-forward seven years and Terrence is still an English teacher in Shanghai.
Previous Screenings: 5th Shanghai Short Film Festival
Canadian Premiere
Machine With Wishbone
Director/Writer: Randall Okita | Producers: Randall Okita, Amber Woodward, Tovah Paglaro, Elizabeth Levine
Experimental | DigiBeta | Colour | 2008 | 6 minutes | Canada
MACHINE WITH WISHBONE is a live action film using innovative camera choreography, photo sculpture, and kinetic sculpture to tell the tale of a stoic mechanical wishbone on its journey through a world of snoring beds, paper birds, and places you have to see to believe.
Previous Screenings: Best Experimental Film, Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival
Vancouver Premiere
Egg Ghost
Director/Producer/Writer: Dongkeun Lee
Animation | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 3 minutes | USA
Egg Ghost is a female ghost, who has no face, but she gets her face back after she kisses her victim.
Previous Screenings: San Diego Asian Film Festival, Disorient Asian Film Festival, Night of Horror Int’l Film Festival (Best Animation), Taiwan Int’l Asian Film Festival 2007, New York Horror Film Festival, Miami, Thriller, Chiller Film Festival, Queens Int’l Film Festival, 5th Oxford Film Festival
World Premiere
Families and Funny
Thursday October 16, 2008 by administrator
Program 7: Families And Funny
Sat. Nov. 8th, 3:30 PM
Comedies have always been a hit with audiences in film and TV. And some up and coming filmmakers pay tribute to family and the comedy within. Cultural misunderstandings are given humourous portrayals in both SMILE and SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA. A girl looks for love in the musical DAMN THE PAST! and ROCK GARDEN, A LOVE STORY is a comedic yet unconventional love story. COOKIES FOR SALE is a black comedy standoff between a grumpy neighbor and a very clever girl scout. In TOUCH, a lonely seamstress’ only companion is somebody lifeless. Finally, KU KLUX KORNEA mocks the “you all look alike” stereotype in a humorous office setting.
Rock Garden, A Love Story
Director/Producer/Writer: Gloria Kim
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 9 minutes | Canada
A farmer cultivates a rock garden and one day discovers a special rock that changes his rock garden and his life.
Damn The Past!
Director/Writer: Juli Kang | Producer: Julien Favre
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 29 minutes | USA
Music happens when a singing mute meets the girl of his dreams, but the path to true love isn’t easy when you can only express yourself in song.
Previous Screenings: UCLA Directors Spotlight, VC APA Film Festival, RIHL (Poitiers, France), Asian Hot Shots Berlin, Big Muddy, Wild Rose, San Francisco Int’l Asian Film Festival
Canadian Premiere
Touch
Director: Richard Cranor | Producer/Writer:* Nhien Nguyen
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 11 minutes | USA
A lonely immigrant woman spends her life sewing day after day, watching the world go by from the window of her small tailor shop. Longing for human interaction, she attempts to connect with the passersby, only to be met with rejection and humiliation. She looks to her wooden mannequin, who watches over her daily from the corner of the store, to fill the void in her heart.
Previous Screenings: Women’s Int’l Film Festival, DisOrient Film Festival
Canadian Premiere | Director In Attendance
Cookies For Sale
Director/Writer: Wes Kim | Producers: Elayne Wylie, Kristine Wong
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 4 minutes | USA
A little girl selling cookies door-to-door engages in a battle of wills with a very grumpy neighbor.
Previous Screenings: Local Sightings Film Festival (Seattle), Children’s Film Festival Seattle – Best NW Film Audience Award, REDCAT Int’l. Children’s Film Festival (LA), San Francisco Int’l Asian Film Festival
Canadian Premiere | Director In Attendance
Smile
Director/Writer: Julia Kwan | Producers: Judi Babcock, Julia Kwan, Yves J. Ma
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2007 | 18 minutes | Canada
Set in Vancouver in the 1980’s, SMILE explores the small, subtle fractures in a Chinese immigrant family on the day they use their cut-out Sears coupon for a free family portrait.
Previous Screenings: Toronto Int’l Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival
Souvenirs From Asia
Director/Producer/Writer: Joyce Wong
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 13 minutes | Canada
A witty and volatile family drama about cultural misunderstandings within cross-cultural adoption.
Previous Screenings: San Francisco International Asian Film Festival
Ku Klux Kornea
Director/Writer: Kiyong Kim | Producer: Joseph H. Shim
Narrative | DigiBeta | Colour | 2007 | 8 minutes | USA
A white mail clerk can’t tell his ethnic coworkers apart.
Previous Screenings: Austin Asian Film Festival, Show Off Your Shorts Film Festival, Newport Beach film Festival
Canadian Premiere
