Program 2: Mighty Asians & Funny Canadians

Fri. Nov. 6th, 5:00 PM

VAFF has proudly showcased Canadian up and coming filmmaking talent for years. Much of the talent comes from our annual Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon. This year’s 3rd place winner, MISPLACED, is a family’s emotional journey through a challenging time. 2nd place is VAGINA VACATION, a hilarious romp about…well, the title pretty much explains it. 1st place is BAMBOOZLE, a Chaplin-esque cat and mouse chase throughout the outskirts of Victoria. Programmed with these films are DANDY LIONS, a dark comedy by previous MAMM winners. CUT and CALL BACK are about how funny the industry can be. FATE SCORES follows a lonely guitarist and the quirky characters he runs into, while THE ANGEL OF THE SEA is a comedic tribute to film noir. HA’AKI is an animated tribute to our national sport. Filmmakers in attendance will be on hand after the films to answer questions about their work. A must for aspiring filmmakers who want to make their first film!

Ha’aki

Director/Writer: Iriz Pääbo | Producers: Michael Fukushima & National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
Animation | 35mm | Colour | 2008 | 5 min | Canada

Ha’aki is a lyrical and wonderfully unorthodox interpretation of hockey as played in the mind of a lyrical and wonderfully unorthodox animation artist.

I Want To Be A Desi 2

This hard-hitting six-minute documentary asks the perennial questions: “What does a non-Desi have to do to become a Desi?” and “What does the word DESI mean to you?” For anyone who’s ever danced Bhangra in his kurta while watching a Bollywood epic and devouring hot, spicy curry, this film is for you!

CANADIAN PREMIERE | PRODUCER IN ATTENDANCE

Dandy Lions

On a sunny morning in suburbia, a trio of Dandy Lion girl guides march door-to-door selling cookies. After awakening a grouchy suburbanite, the Dandy Lions enthusiastically recite a rousing sales pitch that leaves the suburbanite unimpressed as he waves them away. The girls then mischievously recount the deprived fate of the last person who rejected their cookies.

Cut

Director/Writer: Michael Stromenger | Producer: Kak Lee
Narrative | Beta SP | Colour | 2008 | 13 min | USA

An inept director dictates editing changes for a movie scene while an editor struggles to maintain
its integrity.

VANCOUVER PREMIERE

Previous Screenings/Awards: Fargo Film Festival, South Dakota Film Festival

Call Back

CALL BACK tells the story of two young actresseswho, after auditioning for the same hooker in a big American production, cross paths again at their respective appointments with a new gynecologist. The doctor, whose bedside manner is questionable at best, leaves the girls with two very different impressions, not that it makes them any less competitive.

VANCOUVER PREMIERE | DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE

Previous Screenings/Awards: 2008 ACTRA Montreal Shorts Festival, *Winner Audience Award, Best Film

Fate Scores

Two strangers, a guitarist and an introspective young woman, cross paths at an empty concrete bench. One by one, additional strangers join the pair. Despite their differing reactions to the activity at the bench, the guitarist and the young woman eventually discover they have something special in common.

CANADIAN PREMIERE | DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE

Previous Screenings/Awards: 2009 Asian American International Film Festival (NYC), 2009 Boston International Film Festival, 2009 Memphis International Film Festival, 2009 Wisconsin Film Festival, 2009 Southeast New England Film, Music & Art Festival

The Angel Of The Sea

Director: Michael Ward | Writers/Producers: Michael Ward, Clay Yen
Narrative | 35mm | Colour | 2009 | 8 min | Canada

Raigen Wright, a clean P.I. in a dirty town finds himself caught up in a web of mystery and danger when the business exploits of an old friend force Raigen to cross paths with the notorious ‘Man from Shanghai’; Tsing Tao!! And at the center of this sinister plot is the elusive ‘Angel of the Sea.’ Who can he trust? The clock is ticking and lives hang in
the balance…even his.

DIRECTOR & PRODUCER IN ATTENDANCE

Previous Screenings/Awards: Raincity 72 hour Film Noir Fest, Celluloid Social Club; 72 hour Noir Fest winner for BEST ACTING, BEST EDITING, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST PICTURE