Program Book 2008 Small

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Contents 5 About SDAFF 7 Special Events 8 Ticket Info 12 Festival Schedule 14 Member Information 15 Program Guide 82 Foundation & Festival Staff

Scene from ALIEN ABDUCTION, featured in this year’s Animation: The Illusion of Life program, (page 26)

Welcome Catch Them All! with director Jessica Yu noted ab bove, filmmaker mmaker Jennifer Phang will join jo us for her critically-acclaimed Sun Sundance film HALF-LIFE; LIFE; first-time first-tim director Hein Seok brings us an intimat intimate documentary on Korean “comfort K mff women” in HOUSE OF SHARING; O RING THE FISH FALL IN LOVE offers a delectable story about an n Irania Iranian woman who cooks her way into the heart of a former lover; and the beautiful actress Sheetal Sheth return ac returns to our festival for THE WORLD UNSEEN, as an Indian woman living ng in Sou South Africa during uring the he Apartheid. arthei Others inclu include clude SSHAME E, SHADOWS OWS WS IN THE PALA PALACE, LACE, FAMILY F Y INC.,YOURS URS TRULY MISS CHINATOW UR ATOWN, AGAINST THE GRAIN GRAIN, AIN, and WINGS GS OF DE DEFEAT.

Welcome to the ninth season of tthee San Diego Asian Film Festival! tival! We have come a long way since we began inn 2000, and tthiss year’s y programming iss a reflection of our maturityy and growth. We are thrilled d tto showcase ase film films fro rom 17 countries and expand d our festival into Riv Riverside de for the first time. Ther here is so om much to offer. From our openingg nnight film, the hilarious PING PON film PONG PLAYA, A directed ected byy Academy Award winnerr Jes Aca Jessica Yu, to our closing night film, the charming Japanese drama ALWAYS 2: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET, EET, more m than 140 short and feature atu films are packed into this festival. We hope you “Catch “Cat them all.” all ” I’m personally excited to see so many films lms made by or about women this season. Along

Between our documentaries, ntaries short rt film programs, and narrative ffeatures, th here are so many wonderful nderfu programs - each eac one with a speciall pur purpose rpose and behind-thebehindscenes sce es story ry to tell. Among them are MY FA FATHER, THE based ba ed on thee true story of Korean adoptee optee Aa Aaron Bates; MYSTIC Ba TIC BALL, a 20-y 20-year history ory of a m man’s journey rney to master masster Myan Myanmar’s anmar’s national sport; an and Harry Kim’s DIRTY D RTY HA HANDS, ANDS, profiling eight years yea of the life and crimess of thee borderline bord schizophre schizophrenic artistt David Choe. arti oe T bbeauty of our foundation The on is that at we have created ed a place where everyone eve e is welcome to share an and d discover stories that at cconnect nnect ect us as hum human n beings. eings. I want to o givee a special sh shout out to my hu husba band and love of my life, ife LLouis Song Song, for or sac sacrificing so much m muc uch to allow w me to continu continue nue growing the Foundation. n. And A d to ourr dear George ge Lin – this fest festival tival is dedicated ed tto o you!

— LEE AN ANN KIM SDAFF SDA DAFF exec executive i Director ctor *photo by Robert Dahey 4 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

About SDAFF The San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the Pan Asian experience through the media arts. We strive to present meaningful programs that culturally connect, inspire and empower the community.

photos by Daniel K. Lew

WHAT WE DO • Annual Film Festival in San Diego & Riverside • Year-long Philippine Cinema Showcase in Chula Vista • Quarterly Film screenings • Student scholarships, high school digital storytelling internship (Reel Voices), & film review competition • Special community film screenings & programs

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING “I’ve been to a lot of film festivals all around the world and SDAFF definitely ranks among the best!” – Director, Linda Hattendorf, “Cats of Mirikitani” (Grand Jury Winner SDAFF 07) “ The SDAFF is not just about the great films, but about the great community that embraces them .” – Jeffrey Wong, FilmThreat.com “The San Diego Asian Film Festival is a rich and enriching contribution to the cultural landscape of San Diego” – Actor, George Takei

HOW YOU CAN HELP • Buy a ticket, support our programs! • Become a Member or make a tax-deductible donation • Sign up for our eNewsletter on our website • Volunteer • Tell your friends and family about us! SDAFF is a 501 (c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible. For more info: call 858-565-1264, email: [email protected] or go to our website: www.SDAFF.org

Catch Them All! | 5

Macy’s is proud to support the shining stars at the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Special Events at a Glance VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE Oct 9-16, 6, Hazard Cente Center Ultrastar rastar ar lobby Reel in the Vote with us during ng this his importa importan important nt election yye year. If you care enoug enough to watc atch a film and support po t SDAFF, you shou should care are enough to be b registered ed to vvo vote!

OPENIING NIGHT PARTY Thursday, October 9, 9PM-1A 1AM Airport Lounge, L 2400 India Indi St (Little It Italy) Join thee cast c and crew of our opening p night film, PING PONG PLAY PLAYA , and nd celeb celebrate bra the launch of our urr 99th festival.. Free fo for members, mbers, pass holders, and anyone with a ticket et stub. 221& & up. Sponsored by Verizon erizon Wireless ss.

BLOWFISH: An Intersection of Sights and Sounds Friday, Octoberr 10 aat 9PM – 2AM M Canes Bar & Grill, 3105 Ocean Frontt Way (Mission Beach) Our popular Friday night party, featuring turing ring live musical m perf performan mances by The Blue Scholars, s, Far Fa East Movement, v Hip-Hop ip Hop violinist Paull Dateh, and A Ashley shley Robles. es. Plus Fresh Beats and DJ IC ICY IICE spinning the tunes tunes. $7 w/ ticke ticket stub/$10 0 at door. 21& up.

BLOWFISH: Unplugged Saturday, Octob October er 11, Noon oon – 6PM oo UltraStar Star Missi Mission Valley V Cinemas, Lobby Experience some of So-Cal’s -Cal’s mo most talented ed unplugged musicians usic

A Celebrity Panel: ASIAN AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD Saturday, Octob ober ber 11 at NO NOON UltraStar Mis Ultr ission Valley Cinemas att Hazard H Cente Center Asiaan Ameri rican ican actors talk about ut th the their heir breakthr breakthrough gh iinto big-time Hollywood. d. Scheduled to attend are re Aaronn Y Yoo (“21,” “Disturbia”), bia”), ”) Ja James Kyson Leee (Heroe (Heroes), Leonardo ard Nam (“Sisterhood of the Traveling Tr ing Pants 1&2”,, “Fast & Furious 3”), Smit Smith Cho (Knig (Knight Rider), ), Shee Sheetal Sheth (World Unseen), and d JiJimmyy T Tsai (Ping Pong Playa) P ya).

FROM COMICS TO FILM Sund October 12 Sunday, 2 at 2:30PM M UltraStar ar Mis Mission n Valley alley Cinemas at Hazard Center Popular ar comicc book ok artist Jim Le Lee and writer Greg Pak talk about the trend of turning comics to live action n film.

HAPPY SLIP: UNCENSORED Mon ay, O Monday, Oct 13 6PM UltraStar tar Mi Mission Vall Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center YouTube celebrity, l Christine Gambito, talks about her rise to fame through Happy Slip, based on her Filipino American family.

Catch Them All! | 7

Ticket Information Tickets for all shows Oct 9-16 can be purchased at Hazard Cen Center UltraStar ar Cinema box office. Tickets for all shows ows Oct 21-23 can be purchased at Riverside University ty Villa Village starting arting O Oct ct 14 14. To guarantee uarantee seating, sea patrons rons must show up at least 15 minutes utes before sho showtimee.

N0N-MEMBER PRICES (Oct 9-16) Opening & Closing Nig Nightt Film Films General Admission Blowfish lowfish Music Showcasee Panels els Festival 4-pack (while ilee availabl avai available)

$15 (PING (PI PONG PLAYA AYA & ALW ALWAYS 2)) $9.50 $7 with tticket stub, $10 without out $7 $30

MEMBER PRICES (Oct 9-16) Opening & Closing Night ht Films $10 (PING PONG NG PLAYA & ALWA ALWAYS 2) General Admission $6 Blowfish Music Showcas wc se Free Panels Free (must must ge get tick ticket from box office) Festival 4-packk (while available) ava vail $222 * some members bers receive free tickets ckets or passes asses depending on n thei their level. Membership prices are for listed member ONLY. Y. ** sign up p for membership ins inside Hazard Center nter UltraStarr lobby, nte l aand tak take advantage of discounts immediately.

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS (Oct 9-16) $2 discounts for the following groupss with w app ppropriate ID: • Student, Military, itar & Seniors (55+) • Harrah’s club b car card rd • Sempra Employees mploye

Riverside Prices ONLY (Oct 21-23) 4-packs & all-fest passes do not no apply in Riverside General Admission Student, Seniors, Military UCR Studen Stud dents

$8.50 $7 $5 (w// stu student ID)

FREE PROGRAMS: • Ni Hao, Kai Kai-Lan ai-Lan Lan – World premiere pre of Hallow Halloween oween episo episode. • Free Films at 4:0 4:00 0 (any program listed d at 4PM Oct 13 13-16 16 iis free to the public). blic) • Reel Voices (Oct 12, Noon). • Reel el in the Vote (Oct 14, 6 pm). • First FFilms at Riverside (first program each day O Oct 21-23 is free to UCR U Students). Stud

REFUND POLICY No refunds for unused tickets, 4-pack 4-packs, or all-festival -festival passes. es. Exchanges are only ava available when n a progra gram if oversold.

SOLD-OUT SCREENINGS / RUSH LINES When a program progra is sold pro old out, there is a very good oo chance seatss will be availab available ble th tthrough a “rus “rush line” att the theater. er. Ru Rush lines take place outside the the theater 30 minutes before re the show. how. We will offe offer alllll open seat seats ats 15 m minutes before showtime on a first-come st c ba basis to those waiting in the “rush line.”

FESTIVAL VENUES

BLOWFISH MUSIC SHOWCASE (Oct 11)

O 9-16, 2008 (San Diego Oct Diego) UltraStar aStar Mission Valleyy Ci Cinemas 75100 Ha Hazard Center Drive San Diego, CA 92108

Canes ane Bar & G Grille lle 3105 Ocean an Fro Front Walk San Diego, CA A 92 92109 (Mission (M on Beac ach)

PHILIPPINE CINEMA SHOWCASE Oct 21-23, 2008 (Riverside) University Village Cinemas 1201 University Ave Riverside, CA 92507

8 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FFilipino film, everyday, all year long! See page p 54 for sche schedule edule aand ticket info inffo. UltraStar Chula Vista 10 555 Broadway Chula Vista, CA 91910

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Sharp Health Plan is a proud sponsor of the

San Diego Asian Film Festival As the only San Diego-based commercial health plan, we not only serve the people of San Diego County — we are the people of San Diego County.

Advocate We believe our members deserve a trusted health care partner and advocate.

Family We believe our members are important, and health care should be personal.

SHP 47A © 2008SHC

Neighbor We believe it’s important to live, work and play in the same community as our members.

(619) 228-2300 or 1-800-359-2002 | www.sharphealthplan.com

Catch Them All! | 9

TIT TLE SPONSOR ONSO SOR

Toyota MAJOR MAJO OR GRAN G ANTS TS

SPOTLIGHT OTLIGHT SPONSORS OTL SP

LARGEE THEATER ER SPONSORS ONSORS

SMALL ALL THEATER SPONSOR SPONSORS

PRESENT RESENTING R NT GALA ALA SPO ONSO SORS RS

REELL IN THE REE TH VOTE V SCREENING NIN SPONSORS ON

Hom m Family F Foundation ion Katz & Asso Associates

COMMUNITY MM T SPO PO ONSORS

SD Chinese ese Women’s Assn.

Pinkerton Government Service

Wa awanes esa Insu surrance

OPENING G NIGHT N HT PARTY PA TY

SPECIAL AL EVENT NT SPONSORS NSOR RS Project roject ect Concer Co Concern Inte nternational

ULA ULAN

HG6SD G SD 0HG6SD 0

VPR RRWK__ JORZ J _DJHGHI\

REEL VOICES ES EDUCATIONAL DUC CATI C A AL SUPPORT S RT Bob Hoffman n Vid deo

OFFICIAL O C CIAL AIRLIN NES

OFFFICIAL C L HOTEL

OFFICIAL O NEWSPAPER

MEDIA DIA PARTNERS PART ARTN RS

IN-KIND IN KIN SPONSORS Chipotle Mission Valley Val Jasmine Bistro L&L Hawaiian Barbeque (Eastlake & Mira Mesa) Pepsi si B Bottling Paramount Pictures Saffron Sansai Sushi on a Roll Zion Market

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OCTOBER 9-16 & OCTOBER 21-23 THURSDAY, OCT 9 5:45PM PLEASE VOTE FOR ME Theate eater 1 - FUJ UJITSU 6:10PM 7:0 :00PM

7 7:45PM M 8:00PM 8:15PM 9:45PM 9:4

OH SAIGO GON Theater 2 - WEL WELLS FARGO PING G PONG PLAYA PLAY (Opening ng Nigh Night ght Film) Theater 7 - HARRA RAH’S RIN NCON

Theater 7 - HA HARRAH’S H’S RINCON RINCO CON 12:00PM Celebrity Pan Panel nel (panel) (paanel) Theater t 1 - FFUJITS UJITSU SU 12:15PM M Masala Bite tes Theater 2 - W WELLS FAR FARGO 12:25PM DRAWING WIN PAP AP PER Theater 7 - HAR RRAH’S RINCON

S Scene in San Di Diego Theater 6 - SHA HARP ARP

1:10PM M

PUBLIC ENEMY EMY RET RETURNSS Theater 1 - FUJITSU

2:10P PM

FOSTER OSTER CHILD (JOHN OHN JOHN) N) Thea eater 2 - WELLSS FARGO RGO

2:20PM

Project Showcase Theater 7 - H HARRAH’S RINCON N 12:15PM CRICKET IN COURT COU OF AKBAR Theater 2 - WEL WELLS FARGO 12:40PM HELLCAT ATS Theater 6 - SHARP 1:00 PM

THE WO WORLD UNSEEN Theat eater 1 - FUJITSU

FAMILLY INC. Theatter 6 - SHARP SHAR

2:00PM M

ASSEMBLY Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON

All in thee Fam Family Theater 2 - WELLSS FARGO

2:30PM

From Comics to Film (panel) Theater 2 - WELLS FARGO

3:20PM

MYSTIC BAL BALL Theater 6 - SHARP SH

3:30PM

YOU TRULY, YOURS MISS CHINATOWN Theater 1 - FUJITSU J

Animation: The Illusion of Life Theaater 1 - FUJITSU

ASSEMBLY

2:35PM 35PM

SAN AN NTA A MESA M Theat ater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON

FRIDAY, OCT T 10 1 5:00PM Around round d the World Theater 2 - WELLS FARGO Theate

2 2:50PM M

AN AME MERICAN IN CHINA Theater 6 - SHARP

4:30PM 4:

ACCU ACCURACY AC Y OF DEATH Theate eater 7 - HARRAH’S ARRAH’S RINCON

5:30PM

AGAINST THE GRAIN Theater 7 - HAR HARRAH’S RINCON

4: 4:40PM

KILLING OF A CHINESE NESE COOKIEE NE Thea eater 1 - FU UJITSU TSU

5:00PM

O OCEAN OF PEA PEARLS ARLS Thea eater 2 - WELLSS FA FARGO

HALF-LIFE Theater 6 - SHARP

4:50PM :50 M

KISSING NG COUS COUSINS CO OUSIN Theater 2 - WELL LLS FARG GO

5:20PM 5:2

STORY O OF SPIRITS RI Theater he 1 - FUJITSU FUJIT

H HOLLYWOOD CHINESE Th heater 1 - FUJITSU

5:05PM

M FATHEER MY Theater 7 - HARRAH’S Th AH RINCON R

5:30PM

UNSPOKE EN PASSION Theater eater 6 - SHARPP

I Hear Heart U Hea Theate 2 - WELLS FARGO Theater

5:20P 0PM

WHITE SILK WHI KD DRE DRESS Theate ter 6 - SHARP HARP

7:00 0PM

CHOCOLATE OL Theater er 7 - HA HARRAH’ H’S RINCON

CHOCOLATE Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON CON

7:00PM 7:

SECRET T Theater 1 - FUJITSU FUJITS I

7:10 0PM

Cinephile’s inephile’s Jo Journey Theater 1 - FUJITSU Th F

Manila and Beyond eyo Theater 1 - FUJITSU

7:20P 7: PM

Love Is Qu Queer Theater er 7 - HARRAH’S ARRAH’S RINC RINCON N

7:30PM

8:30PM

L: CHANGE THE WORLD ORL Theater 6 - SHARP Thea

7:45PM

BLACK K BELT BEL Theater er 2 - WEL W LLS FARGO

ALWAYS 1: SUNSET NSET ON THIRD STREET Theater hheater 2 - WELLS FARGO GO

7:4 :45PM 8:30PM

Blo Blowfish: Int Intersection of Sig ights and Sounds (Offsite ite)

8:05PM M

Figh ght Night Th Theater r 6 - SHARP

DOROR DOR ORO Theater 6 - SHARP

9:25PM PM 9:50PM

DIRTY HANDS Theater 7 - HA HARRAH’S RINCON

9:30PM

MAGAZINE ZINE GAP ROAD ROA Theater 1 - FUJITS ITSU

OPEN CITY Thea eater 7 - HARR RRAH’S RAH’S R RINCON

10:00PM 0PM BIG MAN JAPAN APA Theater 2 - WELLS LL FARGO

9:50PM M

VEXILLE XILLE LE Theater er 2 - WELLS LS FARGO RGO GO

10:15PM 200 POUNDS BEAUTY Theater 1 - FUJITSU

10:00PM 0:00P PUBLIC ENEMY RETURNS Theater 7 - HARRAH’S H’S RINC RINCON

SATURDAY, OCT 11 10:30AM Ni Hao, Kai Lan (free)

SUNDAY, OCT 12 12:00PM Reel Voices Teen Video (free)

Theater 7 - HARRAH’S H’S RINCON N

5:45PM PM 6:00PM M 7:20PM PM 7:30PM 8:15PM

12 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

MONDAY, O OCT 13 4:00PM :00P RED RACE (free) e) Theater 1 - FUJITSU U

5:30PM

RED RACEE Theat eater 7 - HAR HARRAH’S RINC NCON

7:00PM

PLANET BBOY

6:15 5 PM

SHAMEE Theaterr 2 - WE WELLS LS FAR FARGO

8:45PM M

PUBLIC ENE NEMY RETURNS

9:15PM

Manila and d Beyond B

77:0 00PM

Animattion: The Illusion Ill sion o off LLife Theate ater 1 - FU FUJITSU

WED WEDNESDAY, WEDNE OCT 22 (RIVERSID SIDE) 4:30PM HOUSE OF OF SHARING (FREE)

7:15PM

SECRET Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON ON

7:00PM

KISSING K NG COU COUSINS OUSINS

THOUSAND THOUS ND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS PRAYER Theater er 6 - SH HARP

8:00PM

WHITE SILK W K DRESS D DRE

9:20PM

DIRTY HANDS HAN ANDS

5:00PM

Masala Bites Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON

5:15PM

PASSING POSTO ON Theater 2 - WELLLS FARGO

5:30PM

MEANING OF TEA EA Theater 6 - SHARP

6:00PM

Happy Slip: Uncensored (panel)) Theater 1 - FUJITSU

7:00PM

PING PONG PLAYA Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON

8:35PM

Around the World Theater 2 - WELLS FARGO Theate

THURSDA AY, OC CT 23 (R (RIVERSI SIDE) 5:00PM M MYSTIC BALL ALL (FREE) (F

7:15PM

DANCE OF THE DRAGON Theater 2 - WEL WELLS FARGO

9:20PM

DIRTY HANDS Theater 6 - SHARP AR

6:00P 0PM

ALWAYSS 1: ALW SUNSET T ON THIRD HIRD STREET

7:35PM

GENGHIS KHAN Theater 6 - SHARP

9:30PM

L: C CHANGE THE HE WO ORLD Theater 1 - FUJITSU The

7:15PM 5PM

PING NG PONG PLAYA

8:00PM 0PM

SHADOWS OWS IN THE PALACE LACE Theater 1 - FUJITSU Theat U

9:55PM

SHADOWS IN THE HE PALACE Theater 7 - HARRAH’S Thea RAH’S RINCON N

99:20PM M

Animation: the Illusion no of Life

9:30PM 9:

MY FATHER

7:30PM PM

TUESDAY, SDAY, OCT 14 4:00P PM FOLLOW LLOW YOUR HEART T ((free) Theater ater 1 - FUJI UJITSU

TH THURSDAY, HURSDAY, OC OCT 16 4:00PM PLEA EASEE VOTE EAS VOTE FOR ME (free) Theater Th er 1 - FUJITSU

5:30PM

WINGS GS OF O DEFEEAT Theater 6 - SH SHAR ARP

5:15PM

HELLCAT H AT TS Thheater 6 - SHAR RP

5:40PM

FISH FALL IN LOVE Theater eate 2 - WELLS ELLS FARGO

5:45PM

CHI HIL ILDREN REN OF THE STA ARS Thheate terr 2 - W WELLS FARG GO

6:00PM M

REEL IN N THE VOTE VOT (free) Theate eater 1 - FFUJITSU T

6:00PM

BLA LACK ACK BELT BEL T ter 1 - FUJITSU Theate U

6:15PM

ALW ALWAYS 1: SUNSET ON N THIRD ST STREET Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON

7:00PM

ALWAYS YS 2 (CLOSING NIGHT NIGH HT FILM WITH POST RECEP PTION) Theater 7 - HARRAH Thea RRAH H’S RINCON N

7:30PM

HOUSE OF SHARING Theater 6 - SHARP Th

7:1 7:15PM

MY FATHER R Theater 2 - WELLS FFARGO

200 POUNDS BEAUT UTY Y Theater 2 - WELLS LLS FARGO ARG

7:40PM M

SLINGSHOT GSH SHOT HOT OT (TIRADOR (TIRADOR) (TIRAD Theater ter er 6 - SHA HARP

LOVERS Theater heater 1 - FUJITSU UJIT

8:10PM

ACCURACY CU OFF DE DEATH Theater eater 1 - FUJITS TSU

7:45PM 8:30PM 9:00PM 00PM

O OPEN CITY Theate T ter 7 - HARRAH’S RRAH’S RIN RINCON

WEDNESDAY, DNE Y, OCT 15 4 4:00PM FAMILY, AMILY, INC. I ((free) Theater heater 2 - WELLS FARGO RGO 5:00 5:00PM

UNDER THE SKIN N Theater 1 - FUJI Th Theate FUJITSU ITSU U

5:1 5:15PM

SLEEPWA EEEPWALKING IN THE H ME MEKONG Theater h 6 - SHARP

OCTOBER 21-23, 2008 (University Village Cinemas, Riverside) *firrst *first rst show s on each day FREE for UCR sstudents* TUESDAY, SD OCT 21 (RIVERSIDE) 5:30PM OH SAIGON* 6:15PM

HOLLYWOOD CHINESE Catch Them All! | 13

Members of SDAFF Join a community nity of supporters of Asian American cinema and cculture. As a M MEMBER, you receive discounts on film festival tickets and merchandise, invitations to member-only mber-only events, and access to sneak preview screenings ngs of films prior to the their theatrical hea release. Memberships berships aare year-long, ng, starting from the date of sign-up. Start today bby joining ning ng o online at H HYPERLINK YP RLINK www.sdaff.org orr se send your check made payable ayable to SDAFF tto: San Diego Asian Film FFoundation un c/o Memberships Members 7290 Engineer Road Ste A San n Diego, CA 92111 92 We thank our 2008 Members Memb for thheir generous support pport!

2008 Membership Roster PRODUCERS ($1000)

Gregg Penetrante

William Saung

Megan Lam m

Katherine Bowdish wdish and Domi Dominic

Sudarm ma Pokta

Susanna Thompson

Donna Leee

Tong Joon Han

Miyo yo and Mitchell Ref eff

Yen Tu

Yam Lee

Jim Wade Wad de

Kenneth Wade

Gerardo Leon Gerar

Dan Hom

Ryan Won Rya ong

Rainer Wagester

Matthew Long

Ed Lee

Kimberly rly Yang

Michael Wong

Pat Pepper

DONORS ($100)

FRIENDS ($55)

Bru ruce uce Ro Rowe

Elias Almazan

Absolute A olu e D Definition

Chris Rule C

Matthew Browne

Miike Alt Mike M Altshuler ler

G ce Shih Grace

Keith Calistro K

Stev teve ve Barlow w

Duke Tran D an

Henry Cheng Hen

Jeffrey ey Brossbe

Allan T Tsangg

Sandra ndra dra Chong Ch

Jessicaa Cha hang

Karen Watannabe Kare

Kathl thleen en Claveero

Micheellee Chheung

Niki Wells W

Thomass Dring

Jd d Lynn Lyn Chio Chhiong

Kurtis Wong

Michael Cheswick eswic

James Faupel

Randallll Chong Rand C ng

Johnny Chou

Erika Hiramat iramatsu su

Shirley irl y Chow

Mark ark Cumberland C

Shan an Huang

Nick c C Cichon

Ray Hom H

Tramy Huynh

John Dacapias D

Jaejung Kim

Sang Kang ng

Sophia ophia Dehof

Dan Lawton

JJinah Kim

Michael Dodge D

Chong Lee

Julie Kim

Gra race DuVall

Louis Song ngg an and Lee Ann Kim

Mija Kim

RB B Fr Francisco ran

Charles and LLinda Tu

Eric Lallana Er lana

Jerry erryy Fuu

Karen Lim K

Jim Gottlie ieb

SUPPORTERS ($250)

Lani Lutar

Punvipaa Gr Grice ce

Miguel Avila

Kyong ong Macek M

Myee Hoang

Stephen hen Chin

Tracy acy M Mitsunaga

Valerie Hongg Vale

Albert Lee

Laurel aurel Nishida N

John Hu Hunter nter

Benjamin Lee

Shirley Omori

Kenji Ima

Rich Lee

Jeremy Pizzola

Leslie Ima ma

Thomas Lee

Trent Reid

Matthew Ima

Joe Mendoza

Art Rivera

Dale Inahara hara

Joseph Ongsiapco

Wendy Urushima Simmons

Rebecca Johnson

Roberto Pelia

Mark Stabb

Hajime and Clare Kanoya

Peggy Pegg ggy Russell Ru

Diana Mar Jip-Chuh p-Ch Peter Park Steve Peacee Eddie Wan ang Rodriguez Ryun So ong Sarah Yang Yanng

PATRONS ($500) Sheilaa Abrenic Abrenica icaa K Kan Kanoya

Sam Kim 14 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Film & Program Guide Catch Them All! | 15

Ping Pong Playa opening night film

Opening Night Party Join the cast and crew of PING PONG PLAYA at AIRPORT LOUNGE (2400 India St.) 9PM - 1AM Sponsored by Verizon Wireless

THU Oct 9, 7PM (OPENING NIGHT) MON Oct 13, 7PM THU Oct 23, 7:15PM (Riverside) USA | 96 min. | Video | English & Chinese w/ English subtitles | 2007 DIRECTOR: Jessica Yu PRODUCERS: Anne Clements, Joan Huang WRITERS: Jessica Yu, Jimmy Tsai CAST: Jimmy Tsai, Smith Cho, Roger Fan, Andrew Vo *Director & cast scheduled to attend Oct 9 screening Christopher “C-Dub” Wang (Jimmy Tsai) dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. Unfortunately, he also constantly blames his inability to make the NBA on his genetics, struggles to hold down a low-paying job at the mall and spends most of his free time playing video games and daydreaming of easy money. In short, C-Dub is every Asian American parent’s worst nightmare. Thankfully for the Wang family, C-Dub’s older brother Michael (Roger Fan) is a doctor and national ping pong champion, who generates business for his family’s ping pong school and store. When Michael and Mrs. Wang are both hurt in a car accident,C-Dub is forced to step up and take over teaching duties at the ping pong school. The stakes are taken even higher when C-Dub must shake off his reputation as a chronic underachiever and defend his family’s honor by replacing his brother in the national ping pong tournament. Sharply directed by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu (“In the Realms of the Unreal”), making her narrative feature directing debut, PING PONG PLAYA is the rare sports comedy that will have you rolling with laughter, while effectively tackling important Asian American identity issues.

16 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

JESSICA YU’S PING PONG PLAYA: TORRID TABLE TENNIS HILARITY By Dr. Craig D. Reid PING PONG PLAYA combines romance, comedy and sports as director Jessica Yu tackles a rare Hollywood genre, an all Asian American comedy that is not in your face but is in your brain. It’s the kind of film that makes you think without thinking, where you laugh because it is subversively funny and the repartee spicily squawks like the progeny of a parrot and a phoenix on meth. “The film isn’t about making any points,” Yu contends. “We were going for humor and characters first and didn’t worry about how it would be perceived later on. We weren’t purposely trying to be politically correct, we did what made sense for the characters in this world. Many great films over the years tend to be heavy yet we wanted to dish up some superficial comedy to balance things out. If we had one goal, it was that we could see without feeling like we were being hit over the head with anything…except for some fairly juvenile humor bits. We wanted to make a fun Asian American movie.” The film centers on Christopher Wang (Jimmy Tsai) whose street moniker “C-Dub” elevates his stature from the reality of his Chinese American façade to cling to the pipe dream of one day becoming the first ChineseAmerican NBA pro basketball player.Yet when his mom and “perfect” brother Michael (Roger Fan) get into a car accident, then C-Dub must step up to the wacky paddle and fight for his family’s ping-pong dynasty. Yu enthusiastically shares, “I remember seeing Jimmy doing his C-Dub character in a series of mock commercials for an online clothing company and he bowled me over. He was so funny. There was something satiric and subversive about the humor…he was making fun of stereotyping and the way people take themselves too seriously when it comes to their own identity. I thought this would be a great character to put in a film.” When asked if Yu is obligated to make Asian American themed films, she assuredly comments, “I don’t feel pressured to tackle Asian American themes. Certainly PING PONG PLAYA came naturally and it was a pleasure to mind one’s own history for the little details and experiences that makes the characters more authentic. But certainly a big part of the humor was in poking fun at ourselves through C-Dub who sometimes took himself too seriously and when you do that, you then have license to poke fun at other things too.”

Catch Them All! | 17

Always 2: Sunset On Third Street

closing night film THU Oct 16, 7PM

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 147 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Takashi Yamazaki PRODUCERS: Shuji Abe and Seiji Okuda WRITERS: Takashi Yamazaki and Ryota Furusawa CAST: Maki Horikita, Hedetaka Yoshioka, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Kazuki Koshimizu, Tomokazu Miura

West Coast Premiere Fans who watched the first ALWAYS on closing night of SDAFF ’06 are still talking about how they walked out of the theater blubbering over the magical film that swept Japan’s version of the Academy Awards. This year, SDAFF is bringing back the endearing cast of characters in ALWAYS 2: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET, which takes place four months after the original ended. Tokyo Tower is now complete, though family patriarch Norifumi Suzuki (Shinichi Tsutsumi) is too scared to actually go up in it – and re-introduces audiences to all the major characters. There’s the car 18 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Closing Night Reception immediately following screening sponsored by Goldilocks, L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Jasmine Seafood & Sushi on a Roll

repair shop-owning Suzuki and his wife (Hiroko Yakushimaru); their lovelorn mechanic and de facto daughter Mutsuko (Maki Horikita); frustrated novelist neighbor Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka) and his adopted son Junnosuke (Kenta Suga); and sad, kept woman Hiromi (Koyuki). The 1964 Tokyo Olympics have been announced, and the entire country has begun an enthusiastic rush towards affluence and modernity. Will the Suzukis and their hardscrabble neighbors be left behind in Tokyo’s great rush forward into the second half of the 20th century? Will their traditional

values of friendship, hard work, sacrifice and family commitment be lost when the Japanese economy goes “boom?” And just how does Godzilla figure into all of this? You must watch to see. Programmer’s note: You don’t need to have watched the original ALWAYS: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET to follow this film. But just in case you want the full experience, we brought it back for a few screenings. Be sure to bring some tissue! Oct 12, 7:30pm; Oct 14, 6:30pm, Oct 23, 6PM (Riverside)

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Offical Airline of the 2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival ©2007, 2008 Southwest Airlines Co.

Catch Them All! | 19

FEATURES

200 Pounds Beauty

S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles | 116 min. | 35mm | 2006 DIRECTOR:Yong-hwa Kim CAST: Ah-Joong Kim, Jin-Mo Joo, Dong-il Seong, Hyeon-Sook Kim

FRI Oct 10, 10:15PM TUE Oct 14, 7:45PM *Mature content

Screening Sponsored by

One of the top-grossing romantic comedies in South Korean history, 200 POUNDS BEAUTY is based on a best-selling Japanese comic book series that centers on the life of Hanna, an extremely overweight singer with an unbelievable voice. Although she had dreamed of becoming a pop singer, her appearance always stood in the way. Instead, she is hired as a faceless singer, providing vocals for pop star Ami, who lip-syncs because she can’t carry a note to save her life.

Co-presented by: Korean American Coalition of San Diego

As Hanna is targeted with countless jokes about her full figure, she remains lighthearted and works hard to please Ami’s music producer, Sang-jun, with whom she has developed a secret crush. Ami sees that Sang-jun is being kind to Hanna, and in a fit of jealousy, humiliates Hanna in front of him, causing her to run away. Fed up of being ill-treated due to her weight, Hanna undergoes an extreme makeover which changes her life and her identity. While 200 POUNDS BEAUTY will make you laugh, it ultimately pokes fun at society’s obsession with plastic surgery, while challenging viewers to seek the meaning of one’s true beauty.

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 113 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Masaya Kakei CAST: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Manami Konishi, Sumiko Fuji, Ken Mitsuishi

SUN Oct 12, 4:30PM THU Oct 16, 8:10PM

Accuracy of Death Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana,

ACCURACY OF DEATH is a charming tale about the Grim Reaper and his talking dog that celebrates the idea that life is worth living. Taiwanese/Japanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro (“The Returner,” SDAFF ‘03) plays an angel of God who is assigned to spend a week with the unfortunate humans chosen for a sudden demise. His task is to decide whether the person deserves a second chance, or if he is to “proceed.” Stretched across 30 years, the charismatic but lonely Grim Reaper encounters three lost souls. In 1988, he considers the case of a young office lady who lives an unlucky life she hardly considers worth living. In 2008, he has to judge the worthiness of a yakuza trapped in the middle of a gang war. And in the future, he meets a feisty hair stylist who has managed to alienate her entire family. Kaneshiro, who has appeared in films by Wong Kar-Wai, Zhang Yimou, and John Woo, takes an unpromising part and turns in an amazing performance. By the time the movie ends, he has single-handedly sold the audience on the idea that death is an inevitable part of being alive and there’s never a need to fear the reaper. 20 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

San Diego Japanese Language & Culture Meet-up Group

Against the Grain: An Artist’s Guide to Surviving Peru

FEATURES Peru & USA | English, Japanese & Spanish w/ English subtitles| 64 min. | Video | 2008 Director/Writer/Producer: Ann Kaneko

FRI Oct 10, 5:30PM *Director Ann Kaneko scheduled to attend

Co-presented by: The House of Peru Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana, Media Arts Center San Diego, San Diego Latino Film Festival

In 1989, Peruvian artist Alfredo Marquez was sentenced to 20 years in prison for depicting a lipstick-wearing Chairman Mao in his artwork. The reason was that Mao has been the symbol for the guerilla organization the Shining Path, which has battled against the Peruvian government for decades. However, this specific instance of artistic repression soon became a symbol for the important role that artists have had as a leading force for political activism in Peru. For six years, filmmaker Ann Kaneko traveled throughout Peru during the aftermath of the regime of Alberto Fujimori, the Japanese Peruvian former President of Peru, whose brutal authoritarian rule did much to inspire brave acts of protest from Peruvian artists. AGAINST THE GRAIN highlights several of these Peruvian artists who have helped shape social consciousness in Peru, including Marquez and Japanese Peruvian artist Eduardo Tokeshi, who had suffered from the anti-Japanese backlash of the post-Fujimori era. Through the telling of their stories, AGAINST THE GRAIN helps us gain a greater appreciation for the freedom of expression and its role in facilitating change.

Catch Them All! | 21

SHORTS

All In The Family

Co-presented by: Asian Accountants of San Diego, UCSD Asian Pacific Islander

TRT: 104 min. n Together under one roof, a collection of short films aabout family mily qquirks,, dysfunction dysfunctions, tions, and tthe he tie ties that hat bind us us.

Student Alliance

SAT Oct 11, 2:10PM *Mature content *Castt & crew schedule scheduled to attend a at

MAMO’S WEEDS Director: Akiraa Bo Boch | 18 min. | Video | 200 007 A strange ge weed wee infestation and a series of mysterious phone calls lead ad an elderly Jap Japanese American rican gardener back to the toucchstones of his past. touch

THE OH MALLEY’S IN DADDY’S MY MERCEDES Director: or: Chilil Kongg | 9 min. | Video | 2008 V 008 Archie Bunke A ker meets Will Wil and Grace as old-fas ashioned siste ter rivalry comes to a head overr a new Mercedes. s.

SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA

EAT

Director: Joyce Wong | 11 min. | Video | 2007 007 A rebellious us Korean adoptee dopte stirs up comedic st omedic hell forr he o her ado doptive tive mother mo other and younger youn ng sister. ster.

Direct Directors: Daniel Jai ai Lee, Arvin Chen & Mitchel Mitc Dumlao umlao | 21 2 min. | Video Viideo | 2008 Three direct directors, threee stories s about uut food.

THE AGENT

MOON LADY

COOKIES FOR SALE

SMILE

Director: t David Kim | 8 min. | Video | 2008 Building the family of Je Jesus, one preacher at a time. preac

Director: Wendy Cheng | 15 min. | Video | 2007 A little boy forced d to ttake care are of his motherr uses use his imagination magina to find a way to heal eal her.

Director: r: W Wes es Kim m | 4 min. | 35mm mm | 2007 A little tle gir girl sellingg cookies engages gages in a battl battle battle of wills with wit a veryy gr grumpy py neig neighbor.

Di tor: JJuliaa Kw Director: Kwan | 18 8 min. | 35mm | 2007 200 A Chinese se im immigrant mmigrant fam family uses its Sears coupon for a freee family por portrait. ait.

22 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 132 min. | 35mm | 2005 DIRECTOR: Takashi Yamazaki WRITER: Ryouhei Saigan CAST: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shin’ichi Tsutsumi, Maki Horiki

Always: Sunset on Third Street

SUN Oct 12, 7:30PM TUE Oct 14, 6:15PM THU Oct 23, 6:00PM (RIVERSIDE)

Oct 14th screening co-presented by: Charles Schwab

Back by popular demand is one of the most charming and heartwarming films you will see. ALWAYS: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET played to sold-out audiences at SDAFF ‘06, and we brought it back as a companion to our closing night film, ALWAYS 2.

Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

Based on a popular manga and set in post-war Japan in the late 1950’s, rebuilding began in Tokyo where construction of the magnificent Tokyo Tower was underway and houses across the city were acquiring their first washing machines, refrigerators and the most holy of holies—televisions. The story centers on Mr. Chagawa, who dreams of writing the Great Japanese Novel. His dreams are no more deluded than those of Mutsuko, a countryside schoolgirl who thinks she’s taken a job with a thriving car manufacturer only to discover that she’s working in a one-garage mechanic’s shop. Then there’s Hiromi who opens a bar down the street and is saddled with the abandoned child of the nightspot’s previous owner. Winner of 13 of Japan’s 14 Academy Awards, ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET is a movie that guarantees you’ll cry at the end, so be prepared for this emotional and visually lavish journey.

USA & China | English & Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 90 min. | Video | 2008 DIRECTOR: Ron Berrett PRODUCERS: Steve Geiger,Maggie Yuan WRITER: Ron Berrett and Wenxin Yuan CAST: James Snyder, Sun Fei Fei, Anthony Montgomery, Michael Gross

SAT Oct 11, 2:50PM

An American in China

*Director scheduled to attend Co-presented by: San Diego Chinese Women’s Association, The House of

Twenty-two year old David Braddock is floundering - stuck in that lazy period between college and “what am I going to do with the rest of my life?” Even David’s best friend, Sha, is concerned with David’s aimless attitude. When David’s parents pressure him to either choose a career path or join the family business, he decides to follow his father’s urging to “Go East young man.”

China

Once in China, he finds that it is much different from what he imagined: full of bustling modern cities as well as charming little villages. He travels to a town that the modern world hasn’t yet altered and meets Mei, a beautiful, ambitious young girl who works two jobs in order to save enough money to follow her dream of going to the prestigious Beijing University. Despite their differences, a romance blossoms during the few short weeks that David is with Mei. This coming of age, fish out of water story takes us on a fascinating journey to a world full of strange customs and people. But cultural differences, politics or distance cannot change the fact that we all share the same basic desire: to love and be loved. Catch Them All! | 23

is proud to be a partner of the SDAFF's expansion to Riverside

October 21-23, 2008

A M TIO T

SHORTS

Animation: The Illusion of Life

Co-presented by Platt College

TRT: 86 min. How do you coaxx life out of thin air? Find out in this program pro dedicated icat entirely tirely to o the th Magical al Art of o Animatio on. SAT Oct 11, 2:20PM WED Oct 15, 7PM THU Oct 23, 9:20PM (RIVERSIDE) *Mature contentt / *Cast andd ccre crew scheduuled to attend

AGAINST THE GRAIN

NADAL VS. ALIEN

ALIEN ABDUCTION

MAGICICADA

Director: Kevin Kolodinsky I USA I 2 min. I V Video I 2008 A hapless karate rate fifighter ghte meets his biggest iggest and baddest opponent. medium: CGI 33D;; so software: Maya.

Dir Director: Tak Hoon Kim I Korea I 3 min. I Video deo I 2008 2 Internationa onal tennis nnis sup perstar Rafael Nadall bbattles es “N “Nad adaltron” in a bballs-to-the-w e-walls fight for fo global domination. glob medium: traditionall stopmotion. s n.

Director: David Han I USA I 2 min. I Video I 2008 What happens when a hungry W sppace alien attempts ttempts to cow-tip ow-tip a thre ree-eyed mutant bovine?? mediu dium: CGI GI 33D; software: Ma Maya.

Director: B Benett Kim I USA I 3 min. I V Video I 2007 A magical cicada attempts mpts to win the sympa mpathy athy of o a boyy who has captured d it. i medium:: traditional t al 22D.

SNOW DAY

AWKWARD

ABRIDGED

Director: r: Kim Hazell I U USA I 2 min. I Video ideo I 2008 Can a helpless helples T-rex dinosaur save himself from the iimpending doom of the he Ic Ice Age with h onl only one sock? medium: dium CGI 3D; software: a Maya.

Dir Director: : Ces Cesar Kuriyama yama I USA USSA I3m min. I Video d I 2004 4 Three friends enjoy a night Thr i of debauchery over some beverages rag until their humiliating m discovery. overy. medium: ium: C CGI 3D; software: Maya, ya AfterEffects. erEffec

Direct rector: ctor: Ar Arjun Rihan I USA I 4 min. n. I Vid Video I 22007 A rromantic come comedy set on the Golden Gate Bridg Bridge. B . medium: edium: m: CGI; ssoftwa software: are: Maya

APPLE/BIRD & THE BEE “AGAIN & AGAIN”

26 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Director: ctor: Dennis Liu I USA I 3 min. n. I V Vide deo o I 22008 08 Tons of cool ol ways to use a Mac, set to the song ongg of ‘Again & A Again’ by the Bird & th thee Bee. B medium:: CGI 2D 2D; software: oftware: OS OSX.

BATTLE OF THE ALBUM COVERS

HALLUCII

THE POSSUM

THE MOUSE TRAP

Director: Goo-Shun Wang Wan I USA I 4 min. I Video V I 2006 A drunkeen man is trapped ped and d attempts pts to escape out of an EEscher-esque scherh world of eendlesss stairs. tairs. medium: CGI 3D; software: Maya.

Director: Chris Ch C Choy I USA I 5 min. I Video I 2005 A story about an apple farmer and a clepto ppossum. medium: traditional trad na 2D.

Director: or:Wo : Woon Han I Korea ore I 6 min. I Video deo I 22007 A butterfly utterfly fly set sets off a chain reaction action of cchaos ch in a subway train in full of mic mice & men. medium: tra traditional raditio 2D.

SWIMMING MOON

SPORTS AND DIVERSION

KETCHUP

Director: tor: N Nahomi Maki I USA I 4 min. I Vide Video I 2008 08 A being is d driven to madne madness by the full fu moon, but theen discovers discover covers a sens sensitive, beaut utiful uti and d surreal wo world withi thin. medium: um: CGI 33D; software so e: Maya, AfterEffect AfterEf cts.

Director: Bum Lee I USA I 4 min. I Video deo I 2006 A series eries of short exp experimental animation mation that reinte mat reinterprets ter the he themes m of Erik Satie ie’s ’ pian piano compositionss “SPORTS “SPO TS ET DIVERTISSEMEN DIVERTISSEME ENTES (1914 914).” 4).”” medium: CGI 22D;; software s re: AfterEffects, ffects M Maya.

Director: rector: Wenchu Wenchung Lu I U W USA I 7 min. I Vide deo eo I 20 2008 A young ng boy and his is family resort rt to the darkk side in order er to grow gr bigger and better to omatoes. medium: trad aditional ona stopmotion.

Director: Rohitash Rao & Abraham Spear I USA I 3 min. I Video I 2006 Famous animated album covers fight to the death! medium: CGII 2D 2D; software: AfterEffects ects

PREKISSTORIC TIMES Director: cto Leonardo do oM Matsu Ma atsuda I USA I 5 min. I Video I 20 2008 A lovable caveman finally meets his dream cavewoman, only to find a more evolved and greedy edy adversary ry standing in his way. medium:: tr traditional 2D.

YELLOW STICKY NOTES

SHOOTING STAR

MEAT DAYS

JOSIE’S LALALAND

Director: Jeff Chiba SStearns I USA I 6 min. n. I Video I 22007 2,300 d drawings, awings, gs, 44x6 inc inch yyellow low sticky notes n and a blac black ink pen – an internal nternal reflect reflection ctio on one’s role as an artist manifests into a dis discussion iscussion ab about politic political and environmental environmenta onmen cris crises. medium: tradi medium traditional 2D.

Director: Ryan Chen I U USA SA I 3 min. I Video I 2008 A frustrated boy make akes a big mistake ke and se sear arches hes for a way to retturn hom me. medium: edium: CGI 3D; 3D software: M Maya,, Blender, After AfterEffects, rrEffects, Effect Vicon.

Direc ector:: Joe Hsieh I Taiwan Taiw I 122 min. I Video V eo I 22006 In a chaotic time of men eating men, Ah Orr is a prostitute who eexchangess meat m everyday to bring food brin d for her child and a s husband. sick medium: CGI 2D; software: Flas Flash.

Director:Yibi bi H Hu I UK KI4m min. I Video I 2007 An abstract piece depicting A icting a dying little girl’s last words based on a truee acc account. medium:: CG CGI 3D; software: e: AfterEffects.

Catch Them All! | 27

SHORTS

Around The World

Co-presented by: City College World Cultures Program, UCSD Cross-Cultural

TRT: 105 min n Whether rockin’ in a freer world or entering a wom woman’s domain, main, a revealing aling collect collection ection of sstories torie traversing raversing ac across time me and place. FRI Oct 10 5PM WED Oct 15 8:35PM *Mature ure content cont *Directors ectors scheduled to attend atten

A DROP OF LIFE

RESIDUE

THE STATE OF SUNSHINE

Direector Shalini Kantayya, 16 Director: 6 min.,Video, 2007 min.,Vide The story of two women omen - a villager in rural India and aan American executive e -whose lives intersectt when wh they are confronted with the he inhumane nh lack of clean drinking ng wat water. wa

Director: Nathaniel Nathanie N Nuon, 15 min, n,Video Video, o, 2008 Six years after ter a risky mis mission cond onducted by a secret gro group of CIA-t -trained Cambodian mbodian sol soldiers, ers, a countr ntry is left to o deal with th h the th chilling llin aftermath. aft

Director: Z. Eric Yang, 23 3 min., Video, 20 2007 Two youngg immigrant immigra mmig siblings, working as prostitutes prostit osti to pay off the enormous of us debt owed tto smuggle mugglers, ers, are torn by a glimp glimpse of hop ope pe that sudden suddenly enters thei eir lilives.

THE WOMEN’S KINGDOM

LIGHT MY FIRE

Director: Xiaoli Zhou, u, 22 min., Video, 2006 Keeperss of one o of the he last st matriarchal chal societies ies in the world, Mosuo women en in a remote ote area China enjoy joy great g freedoms dom and carry heavy responsibilities. pons

D rector: Dire r: Lee Le Jong -pil, 299 min., m Video, Vi o, 2007 2 A Norrth Koreaan boy in love with h rro ock music ic an and Jim Morriso orrison escapes to o South Korea with i a guitar. r

28 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Center

Assembly

China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 124 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Xiaogang Feng CAST: Wang Baoqiang, Liao Fan

THU Oct 9, 9:45PM SUN Oct 12, 2PM *Mature content

Co-presented by: Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, The House of China

Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man’s journey in search of truth and honor in the aftermath of one of the bloodiest battles in the Chinese Civil War. It is the winter of 1948 and Captain Guzidi is leading an infantry unit consisting of just 46 men on a sniping mission. Their orders are to fight until the retreat assembly call is sounded. But that call never comes. After many hours of defense and with ammunition running out, men are falling hard and fast. Guzidi realizes that the call might have been missed during the heat of battle, contributing to the deaths of his men. The first half of the film is mesmerizing and brutal, containing some of the most realistic warfare scenes many critics have compared to “Saving Private Ryan.” The second half of the film finds Guzidi as the only survivor on a mission to prove the heroism of his men and to honor their glorious deaths. Overall, ASSEMBLY’s unflinching look at war can be too much for viewers to digest, but that is also what makes it so rewarding.

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles |103 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Hitoshi Matsumoto CAST: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Riki Takeuchi, Ua, Ryunosuke Kamiki

FRI Oct 10, 10PM *Mature content

Big Man Japan Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and TijuanaSan Diego Japanese Language & Culture Meetup Group

A television camera crew follows around middle-aged loser Dai Sato (Hitoshi Matsumoto) as he goes through his daily routine. Details of his life appear far too mundane until he receives a call from the “Department of Baddie Prevention.” It is then that Dai Sato springs into action by heading over to a power station to receive the electrocution treatments that transform him into Dainipponjin (Big Man Japan), a 500foot tall superhero. As Dainipponjin, Dai Sato protects the people of Japan by battling against a vast array of bizarre giant monsters. However, life as a crime-fighting celebrity is not exactly glamorous. As a sixth-generation superhero, Dainipponjin is faced with modern day problems that none of his predecessors could have ever dreamt of. And things get even worse for him when a demonic beast from North Korea shows up to terrorize Japan. Featuring a brilliantly deadpan comedic performance by Matsumoto, Japan’s most popular comedian, BIG MAN JAPAN delivers big-time laughs mixed with sharp satire. Catch Them All! | 29

FEATURES

Black Belt

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 95 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Shunichi Nagasaki PRODUCERS: Kanjiro Sakura, Nobuniko Sakho WRITER: George Iida CAST: Akihito Yagi, Tatsuya Naka,Yuji Suzuki, Shinya Ohwada

SAT Oct 11 7:45PM THU Oct 16 6PM *Mature content Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

BLACK BELT is a well acted, deliberately nuanced drama about the moral dilemma of a young man forced to choose between his principles and his obligation to defend the helpless. Trouble develops in Japan’s late Showa dynasty (1932), in the wake of that country’s invasion of Manchuria, when a company of military police arrogantly disrupts the karate studies of three young men at the rural dojo of their old wise master. Convinced that their skills can help in battle, the army wants to acquire their services as fight instructors. The fact that actual karate masters portray the main characters guarantees a great martial arts flick—no wires, no stunts, and no elaborate special effects. It’s a no-frills fistacuffs that is all simply quick and brutal.

30 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Blowfish: An Intersection of Sights and Sounds Come kick off SDAFF 2008 with our third annual music and video showcase. A dynamic convergence of Asian American talent, Blowfish is an exploration of the intersection of beats, rhymes and film, through live performance and projected videos. Don’t miss this party, a deadly but delicious mix of West Coast party-rocking with San Diego flavor. Hosts for the evening: Dan aka Dan of afterschoolspecial and Hula from A.J.’s Playhouse 93.3

Friday October 10, 2008 9pm-2am Canes Bar & Grill 3105 Ocean Front Way San Diego, CA 92109 (858)488-1780

Tickets: $10 at the door $7 w/ festival ticket stub 21+ only

SPECIAL! $7 Discounted Guest List: please RSVP to blowfish@ sdaff.org by noon, 10/09.

Featured Performers:

THE BLUE SCHOLARS A Seattle hip-hop duo with a progressive underground style all their own.

FAR*EAST MOVEMENT Representing the Fresh Coast with their party rocking new school sound.

PAUL DATEH Paul Dateh and Inka One bring a whole new meaning to classical music.

Featuring Music Video Premieres By: Blue Scholars Loyalty Dir: Zia Mohajerjasbi

Far East Movement Dance Like Michael Jackson Dir: Wong Fu Productions

Daedelus Fair Weather Friend Dir: Jordan Kim

Lyrics Born I like it, I love it Dir: Neon

ASHLEY ROBLES Local singing sensation!

Spinning Fresh Beats Dj Icy Ice of the World Famous Beat Junkies

BLOWFISH UNPLUGGED Experience the Local-Motion of some of SoCal’s most talented unplugged musicians. Saturday, October 11, 2009 12pm-6pm FREE

Blowfish is proudly presented by: Raytheon Yellowspider Marketing Crunchy Sandwich

Where: Hazard Center UltraStar Cinemas Lobby ACTS TBA

Catch Them All! | 31

Celebrity Panel: Asian Americans in Hollywood SAT Oct 11, Noo on It’s an annual tradition tradittion on aat SDAFFF – we sit down the stars of our ffest and ask them candi candid questions about hhow they got their foott in the door, th their eir be best and d worst gigs, ig plus try to squeeze eze out a little insider Hollywood o gossip.

Aaron Yoo

Smith Cho

Sheetal Sheth

(21, Disturbia)

(Knight Rider, PING PONG PLAYA)

(The World Unseen, Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World)

Leonardo Nam

Jimmy Tsai

(The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, Fast and the Furious 3)

(PING PONG PLAYA)

Snacks sponsored by Southwest Airlines

32 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FEATURES China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 50 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR, WRITER, CINEMATOGRAPHER: Rob Aspey PRODUCER: Alex Haase

THU Oct 16, 5:45PM *Founder of Stars and Rain school, Tian Huiping, scheduled to attend

Children of the Stars

*Proceeds from this screening will benefit co-presenter, SD Autism Society Co-presented by: SD Autism Society

Hundreds of thousands of families in China are affected by autism. These families often face a desperate situation. With little to no knowledge of the developmental disorder, they do not know how to teach or cope with their children. They are also largely excluded by a society that does not understand or accept them. CHILDREN OF THE STARS is a very personal documentary on a group of families seeking help for their severely autistic children. Among them is the Wei family. Their five-year-old boy is violent, cannot speak, and does not seem to even recognize his parents. No schools would accept him, causing his family so much shame and despair, they even considered family suicide. But they regained hope, when accepted into a program at a little charity school in Beijing called “Stars and Rain.” Here, they would join other families to learn behavioral techniques that will enable them to teach and manage their son. A deeply moving journey, CHILDREN OF THE STARS follows the progress of the Wei family over three months, resulting in an extraordinary story of parental love.

Thailand | Thai w/ English subtitles | 110 min. | 35mm | 2008 DIRECTOR: Prachya Pinkaew WRITER: Chukiat Sakveerakul, Nepalee Sakweerakul CAST: Yanin Vismitananda, Ammara Siripong, Hiroshi Abe

FRI Oct 10 7:30PM SUN Oct 12 7PM

Chocolate

*U.S. Premiere *Mature content Co-presented by: San Diego Thai

When Zin, a collector/moll for a Thai kingpin, falls for a Japanese Yakuza, an illegitimate child named Zen is produced. Raised alone by her mother, Zen turns out to be an autistic girl with amazing acrobatic skills, quick reflexes – and a sweet tooth for chocolate candies. Watching old Tony Jaa and Bruce Lee movies nonstop, Zen is a martial arts master in training. Then when her mother becomes ill with cancer, it is up to her and her older cousin to use her skills to collect old debts in order to pay her mother’s medical bills.

Language and Culture Exchange Meetup Group

CHOCOLATE is a no-frills story about revenge brought to you by the makers of “Ong Bak” (SDAFF ’04). In similar vein to the Tony Jaa films, there are no tricks or special effects here. It’s a spectacular and jaw-dropping display of many years of Muay Thai training. Stay through the credits and see proof of the danger and the injuries the actors had to overcome. The fight scenes in CHOCOLATE will not disappoint and when you see newcomer Yanin “Jeeja” Vismitananda (only 14 years old), you’ll want to see it twice to believe it.

Catch Them All! | 33

SHORTS

Cinephile’s Journey TRT: T: 106 min A collection n of award-winning and challengin challenging short films for the he more-tha more-than-average -than-averaage m movie lover. SUN Oct 12, 7:10PM *Mature ccontent ten

PASSAGE Director: t r: Angela A How | 21 min. m | Video | 2007 2 A chance ce encounter betw between two strangers angers pushes both bo to co comee to terms with h past decis decisions made.

LIGHT YEARS

TRIPLE 8 PALACE

Direector Richard Martin | 15 Director: 5 min. | 35 35mm | 2008 Four relationships spanning Fou panning the four corners of the globe aare put to the ultimate u test when they learn thee world wo may end in eight minutes.

Director: Alexander Ku | 30 min min. | Video | 22007 07 A young Chinese nese girl gir in NYC owes a staggering ring smuggling debt de ebt to the Snakeheads Snakke and faces ces working in a sweatshop or prostit stit itution.

KNEES Dir Director: irector: r: M Minhyun Pa Park | 16 mi min. |V Vide deo | 2007 Afterr witnessing the death Af dea of the man an who saves hhis is life, a boy withdraw with ws to a life of isolation so and ssadneess.

DEAR HEIDI Director: Dire or: Joh John Ferrie | 24 m min. | Video V eo o | 2008 World Premiere re A young, ambitio bitious attorney rney is suddenlyy fired red from fro his job an nd finds himself examining ining his h lifee choices whenn he turnss to his ex-girlfriend for comfort.

34 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FEATURES India & USA | 88 min. | Video | 2008 DIRECTORS: Andrew Mendelson, Nadia Abji PRODUCERS: Negin Farsad

SUN Oct 12, 12:15PM *World Premiere

A Cricket in the Court of Akbar

*Director Andrew Mendelson scheduled to attend & perform

Co-presented by: Intuit Indian Network, Raag and Taal Academy, Qualcomm, Inc.

North Indian classical music, a centuries-old musical tradition of great depth and richness, has influenced generations of composers around the world. Although many of these musicians consider it the highest form of musical expression, North Indian classical music remains unfamiliar to most Western ears. Furthermore, the rapid influx of Western culture in today’s era of globalization now threatens this music with tragic obsolescence. In an unusual reversal of this cultural current, Andrew Mendelson, a 32-year-old native Texan, has dedicated his life to the study of the sitar under his guru. A CRICKET IN THE COURT OF AKBAR is a documentary that follows Mendelson as he travels to India to compete for the grand prize in the Tournament of Champions, the Sur Sadak gold medal. As he prepares to vie for the championship as the only American competitor, he struggles to reconcile his western identity with his embrace of the sitar. The film offers a variety of experts from India and the United States with insight into the timely issue of global cultural exchange and the timeless appeal of the musical tradition.

Singapore I English, Korean w/ English subtitles | 105 min. I Video I 2008 DIRECTOR: John Radel PRODUCER: Robin Leong WRITER: John Radel, Max Mannix CAST: Fann Wong, Jang Hyuk, Jason Scott Lee

MON Oct 13 7:15PM *Mature content

Dance of the Dragon Co-presented by: SingMa Club of San Diego, CSUSM Jam Control World Dance

Korean country boy Tae (Jang Hyuk), has dreamed of being a famous ballroom dancer since his first encounter with the beautiful art form when he was a young boy. Twenty years later, self taught with the aid of dance videos, Tae knows the only way to take the next step is to leave Korea for Singapore where he can be trained by Emi Lim (Fann Wong), a former ballroom dancing champion renowned for her ability to take dancers to great heights.

Org, San Diego Alliance for Asian Pacific Islander Americans

As the only student in the class without a partner, Tae sometimes partners with Emi in training. Before long it becomes apparent that he has developed feelings for her. Tae struggles with life in his new environment so far away from home, but none loom larger than Cheng (Jason Scott Lee) – Emi’s boyfriend and former martial arts champion. Threatened by the new student, Cheng warns Tae to stay away from ‘his girl.’ DANCE OF THE DRAGON is an enchanting tale of love, passion, courage, and hope, with the demanding and visually stunning disciplines of ballroom dancing and martial arts woven as backdrops into the plot. Catch Them All! | 35

FEATURES

Dirty Hands: The Life and Crimes of David Choe O

9: :2

Oct ERSIDE

Q&A with Harry Kim, director of DIRTY HANDS: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF DAVID CHOE by Gene Huh Q: How did you decide to make this film? It started off as a 10-minute doc that I did as a school project. As a thesis, I was going to do this 30-minute thing on David mixing my cinematographer, Johnny Granado’s footage and mine. But when he ended up going to jail and coming out sermoning for Jesus, I had to keep shooting and chasing to see where it would lead me.

Q:You worked on this film for over five years. What was it like to film David Choe’s life during this time period, especially when his career really took off? David was always hustling before and after his career took off. If anything, David was in a slump in the period right before he went to prison. So that really made things happen and actually turned out good for both of us. After the Los Angeles premiere, my mom told Dave’s mom that she was glad that Dave went to prison because it made my movie happen. Q: Did you encounter any unusual challenges in making this documentary? Like being in the Congo and marrying a 15-year old pygmy girl? Hitchhiking across the U.S. and rafting down the Mississippi in an inflatable Wal-Mart fun tube? Yeah, there was a chance I could have died. I would have also given one of my kidneys to have this film

finished two years ago. The money challenge is not so unusual, it sucks for every indie filmmaker to have to invest all your time, money, and energy into a film that 99% of the time would probably not pay you that back. But in the end, you made a movie. I’m just grateful that this one isn’t sitting in my closet gathering dust but that people are actually watching it and they like it. Q. What inspired you to become a filmmaker? There was this college film festival/ student screening held at Pitzer when I was back in college. As you can guess, they were pretty bad. At that point, I said hey...I could do better than this shit. So I just started doing it.

FEATURES Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 139 min | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Akihiko Shiota WRITERS: Masa Nakamura, Akihiko Shiota PRODUCERS: Takashi Hirano CAST: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Kou Shibasaki, Kiichi Nakai, Eita, Mieko Harada

SUN Oct 12, 7:45PM

Dororo

*Mature content Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana, UCSD Multi-Asian

Set during the turbulent Sengoku period of Japanese history, DORORO is the story of Hyakkimaru (Satoshi Tsumabuki), a young man who had 48 body parts sacrificed to 48 demons before birth by his powerhungry father, Kagemitsu Daigo (Kiichi Nakai). As a result of this demonic pact, Kagemitsu becomes the most powerful man in Japan and his limbless son is left to die. However, a doctor discovers Hyakkimaru and saves him. The doctor then raises Hyakkimaru as his adopted son, until one day Hyakkimaru comes to the realization that his destiny is to regain his humanity and reclaim his body parts by slaying the 48 demons. Thankfully for Hyakkimaru, has incorporated awesome weaponry into Hyakkimaru’s appendages, including arms that transform into swords. Hyakkimaru is soon joined by a tomboyish female orphan named Dororo (Kou Shibasaki), the self-proclaimed greatest thief in the world.

Student Association

A strong performance by dashing lead actor Tsumabuki (“Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish,” SDAFF ’04) is supported by a cast of Japanese stars. All of these elements come together to make DORORO a wonderful fantasy film that should not be missed.

Catch Them All! | 37

FEATURES S. Korea I Korean w/ English subtitles | 94 min. I Video I 2007 DIRECTOR: Sunhee Kim PRODUCER: Jae-joong Kim WRITER: Sunhee Kim CAST: Eun-bi Kang

SAT Oct 11 12:25PM *World Premiere *Director scheduled to attend

Drawing Paper Screening Sponsored by

Sang-won has the dream of being a professional singer, so she becomes a member of her vocational high school band, Magnolia. The members of Magnolia begin to practice with the band of a neighboring boy’s high school as recommended by their seniors. As they work together, feelings develop, and friends quickly become competitors for the affection of a boy. Through the relationships of Sang-won, Soi, and Su-ah, the three girls learn the need to make their own decisions. In the process of their growing pains, they discover their true love. Set in a vocational girls’ high school, this coming-of-age film interweaves the themes of friendships between schoolgirls, their lives, and their strong determination to hold onto their dreams of making music in spite of the harsh realities of growing up in Korea. Performing in traditional schoolgirl attire in the spirit of Oreskaband, DRAWING PAPER features the young cast actually doing a decent job creating their own music in the all-girl band. The unabashed hopefulness in the lyrics that Sang-won sings harkens back to the age of innocence, and what it was like to fall in love with music for the first time.

China & USA | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 47 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Emily Ting PRODUCER: Helen Jen, Emily Ting

SAT Oct 11, 1:10PM WED, Oct 15, 4PM (FREE) *Mature content

Family Inc.

* Producer Helen Jen & Director Emily Ting scheduled to attend Oct 11 screening *Oct 15 free screening sponsored by Burkett & Wong Engineers

When filmmaker Emily Ting was asked by her father to return to Asia and take over the family business, she didn’t exactly know how to say ‘no.’ Promising herself she would try it out for just one year, she traded in her friends, her filmmaking pursuits, and her love of New York for a grueling new life as CEO-in-training in one of Hong Kong’s most notorious toy companies. Two years later, she’s still there – with no end in sight. From picking up the slack left behind by a runaway brother to steering a sinking company on the brink of bankruptcy, Emily finds herself getting more and more stuck in a life she didn’t choose for herself. But her biggest challenge yet is in trying to reconnect with an absentee father whose passion for his business far outshines his relationship with his family. In an attempt to come to terms with her new life, Emily turns the camera on herself and her family and the result is an incredibly honest and at times bittersweet family portrait that examines the price we end up paying when business and family become one. 38 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Co-presented by: Burkett and Wong, Chinese School of San Diego, Harbor Presbyterian Church

SHORTS

Fight Night TRT 93 min. In this collection of films, young men confront ont moral dilem dilemmas and d seemingly impossible situations. Whether they are seeking vengeance, e eance, exploring the limits ts of loyal loyalt loyalty lty or even channeling the supernatural, it’s always ways tim timee for some actio action! SAT Oct 11, 8:05PM

*Mature content / *C Cast and crew scheduled to attend

BOOKIE Director: rector: Bao Tr Tran | 18 8m min.. | Video o | 2007 A bookie gam gambles everything rythingg onn an unluck unlucky waitress. waitr

AIM FOR THE HEART: A GUIDE TO VAMPIRE DEFENSE Director: or: FFernando Huerta Huer uert | 6 min | Video de | 2007 This humorous mock m instructional uctional teaches teachees the myths yths hs and nd realities of defe defendi ding again inst vampires.

BLOOD DEBTS

6TH AND SANTA FE

Director: Roland d Nguy Nguyen | 14 min. | Video | 22007 A young ma man must betr etray his past to prove p his loya yalty to a Vietnam amese gang.

Director: Mike Gunther unthher | 13 1 min. | Video Vide | 2007 Childhood Child hild friends fall out in the aftermath of a successful bu but violent heist. eist.

THE ASIAN ARROW

DEAD MAN’S HOUR

THE TRIDENT

Directors: ctors: Richard Quebra Quebral & R.C. Penque ue | 8 min. | Vide Vi Video | 2008 08 A disgraced g aced superh superhero o search searches for a new w city to defen defend.

Director: Nathan Kitada Kit da | 20 min. | Video eo | 20077 A hitman man returns from f om the grave seekinng vengeance ce.

Dir Director: Anurag Mehta | 14 min. | 35mm | 22007 m A myst mysteriouss shop shopkeeper reconnects reco onne a young Indian American man with his Am previous life as a war pre warrior. Featuring David Carra Carradine (“Kill Bill:Volume 2”).

Catch Them All! | 39

FEATURES

The Fish Fall In Love

Iran I Persian w/ English subtitles I 96 min. I VIDEO I 2006 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Ali Raffi PRODUCER: Hassan Kalami CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mahmoud Kalari CAST: Reza Kianian, Roya Nonahali, Golshifteh Farahani, Maryam Saadat, Maedeh Tahmasbi, Mehdi Pakdel, Sina Razani

TUE Oct 14 5:40PM Co-presented by: Persian Cultural Center of San Diego, Persian Institute at SDSU/LARC

Atieh’s singular passion is food, and her small but popular restaurant on the sleepy Caspian coast is her pride and joy. But when Aziz, her former fiancé, appears after being gone for 20 years, the women believe he has intentions of closing the restaurant. Atieh prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate effort to convince him otherwise. Loosely based on the Persian fable of Shahrazad and the “Thousand Myths (A Thousand and One Nights),” director Ali Raffi uses the language of food to paint a richly textured portrait of life and love on the northern coast of Iran.

Hong Kong | English, French & Cantonese w/ English subtitles | 91 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Duncan Jepson

TUE Oct 14, 4PM (FREE) *Mature content

Follow Your Heart: China’s New Youth Movement FOLLOW YOUR HEART is Duncan Jepson’s first venture in filmmaking. By day, Jepson is a corporate lawyer in Hong Kong. His daring documentary explores the life and ideals of a new generation of Chinese, focusing on the beliefs, work and family of a number of China’s successful independent hip hop artists. The group, spread across China, believes in Old School values: self-expression, freedom, and truth to oneself. The film investigates the dynamic between the inflexible political environment and a modernizing ancient culture, the issues that are affecting Chinese youth such as “Chinese-ness,” geography, freedom, family, information, consumerism, wealth, and individuality. Finally, the film sets out to describe the high optimism of this new generation and the future that they want to build.

40 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Free screening sponsored by Burkett & Wong Engineers

FEATURES Philippines | English & Tagalog w/ English subtitles| 35mm | 98 min. | 2007 DIRECTOR: Brillante Mendoza PRODUCER: Robbie Tan WRITER: Ralston Jover, Joel Jover CAST: Cherry Pie Picache, Eugene Domingo, Jiro Manio, Kier Alonzo, Kier Segundo

THU Oct 9, 8:15PM

Foster Child The emotional bonds between foster-parents-for-hire and the abandoned babies they care for are examined in the highly acclaimed drama FOSTER CHILD by prolific filmmaker Brillante Mendoza. Based on a true story, it’s a glimpse into the life of a poor foster family in Manila, comprised of mother Thelma (played by the multiaward winning actress Cherry Pie Picache), husband Dado, and sons Gerald and Yuri. The film sees Thelma on the day she’s forced to part with a precious three-year-old named John-John, who has just been adopted by an American family.

*Mature content FOSTER CHILD re-screens at the Philippine Cinema Showcase Oct 17-19 at the Chula Vista UltraStar Cinemas (555 Broadway). For info, go to www.philippinecinemashowcase. org

Mendoza gives viewers a rare glimpse into the slums of the Philippines. Like his fixed cameras lens, viewers are forced to take in and contemplate – if only for an hour and a half – on the Third World living conditions so many Filipino families must endure. What’s more, the film refers to the alarming number of foster homes interspersed throughout the island nation. The world premiere of FOSTER CHILD was held at the Cannes International Film Festival and culminated in a rousing standing ovation at the Directors’ Fortnight. -Adapted by Paul Ventura, HIFF

Catch Them All! | 41

From Comics to Film: A Panel SUN Oct 12, 2:30PM

Greg Pak

Jim Lee

In recent years, films adapted from comic books have dominated the global box offices - from gigantic blockbuster summer movies such as “The Dark Knight,” “300” and “Iron Man” to critically-acclaimed films such “Oldboy,” “A History of Violence” and “Road to Perdition.” Due to the strong representation of Asian Americans within the comic book industry, this trend will surely have an effect on the Asian American arts community. Join acclaimed artist Jim Lee (“X-Men,” “Batman: Hush”) and writer/filmmaker Greg Pak (“Planet Hulk”, “Robot Stories,” SDAFF ’03) for a lively discussion on the comic book creation process and the adaptation of comics for the big screen from an Asian American perspective. Martin Wong (co-editor of Giant Robot magazine) will moderate this panel. Book signing with Greg Pak immediately following program at Barnes & Noble (upstairs from theater)

42 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea

FEATURES Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 136 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Shinichiro Sawai PRODUCERS: Haruki Kadokawa, Ryuhei Chiba WRITERS: Takehiro Nakajima and Shoichi Maruyama CAST: Takashi Sorimachi, Rei Kikukawa, Mayumi Wakamura, Ken’ichi Matsuyama

MON Oct 13, 7:35PM *Mature content Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

Shinichiro Sawai’s GENGHIS KHAN is a Japanese-Mongolian production that topped the box office in Japan. This biopic tells the story of the vast ambitions of Genghis Khan using thousands of extras to recreate the spectacular battles and military feats of the great legend. Takashi Sorimachi stars as Temujin (aka Genghis) as the story covers his doubts over the secret of his birth, the betrayal of his sworn friend, and his mixed feelings for his son. Similar to the earlier released film “Mongol,” Sawai’s film offers a humanization of the infamous icon, a leader that is stoic patient stong, and emphatic. Beautifully shot on location in Mongolia, the film is an epic not to be missed on the big screen.

Half-Life

USA | 106 min. | Video | 2008 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Jennifer Phang PRODUCERS: Alan T. Chan, Reuben Lim, Robert Zimmer CINEMATOGRAPHER: Assulv Wolf Austad CAST: Alexander Agate, Sanoe Lake, Julia Nickson, Leonardo Nam, Ben Redgrave

FRI Oct 10, 5:45PM *Mature content * Director and cast scheduled to attend Set in a world where global warming is more than just a theory, HALF-LIFE tells the story of the Wu family, a suburban family reaching the breaking point. The Wu family - Saura (Julia Nickson), older sister Pam (Sanoe Lake), and eight-year-old Timothy (Alexander Agate) - have their lives shaken up by the arrival of Wendell (Ben Redgrave), an outwardly pleasant young man who has entered into a relationship with Saura. The directionless Pam responds to the problems at home by seeking solace in the company of a young gay man Scott (Leonardo Nam), whose religious parents remain in complete denial of their son’s open sexuality. In the meantime, young Timothy becomes aware of the supernatural powers he possesses. As the natural disasters escalate and the air quality deteriorates, the tension within the family continues to boil until it reaches the story reaches its surreal conclusion. Deftly blending CG animation with live action, HALF-LIFE is a bold and original debut feature film from director Jennifer Phang. A selection at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, HALF-LIFE stamps Phang as an aggressive filmmaker wiling to take risks and definitely an independent director to watch. Catch Them All! | 43

Happy Slip:

Uncensored

Moderated by Lee Ann Kim MON OCT 13 6PM A talented comedian, an YouTube’s most subscri better known by her on international following o in which she imperson American family.

rally went around ip,’ until friends at king if I had a ‘sad

SLIP, with Gambito sonal journey, how ollywood channels medic presentation sion.

Gambito’s video Mixed N YouTube Video Awards fo second place, and recent for Philippine tourism. No shoots, and edits her ske

Wednesday, October case, located at the For more information, go to: www.

So, where does HAPPY SLIP come from, you may ask?

Chula Vista Center UltraStar. philippinecinemashowcase.org

“As a child, my Filipino mom would always remind me to wear a half-slip with skirts. However, the way she would pronounce the phrase was misleading: “Your hap e-slip! Be sure to wear

Co-presented by: Miramar College Diversity/International Education Committee & Verizon Wireless

44 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FEATURES S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles | 114 min. | 35mm | 2008 DIRECTOR: Chil-in Kwon WRITERS: Hye-Ryeon Park, Hyeon-su Kim, Soo-ah Kim CAST: Min-hee Kim, Mi-sook Lee, So-hee An, Seong-su Kim, Heung-su Kim, Hui-seok Yun, Eun-ji Jo, Beom Kim, Hang-jun Jang

Hellcats

SUN Oct 12, 12:40PM THU Oct 16, 5:15PM *Mature content Screening Sponsored by

musician in an unsuccessful rock band, cheating on her. To drown her sorrows, Ah-mi begins to drink heavily and recklessly until she meets a kindhearted young accountant. Despite her desire for independence, Ah-mi lives with her older sister,Young-mi (Mi-sook Lee), and Young-mi’s teenaged daughter, Kang-ae (So-hee An). Young-mi, an attractive and successful 41-year-old interior designer, has just entered into an affair with a young actor, but must also deal with a piece of unwelcome news from her doctor. Kang-ae is busy getting love advice from an exotic female friend as she tries to gain attention from her apathetic boyfriend. Based on the comic book series “10, 20 and 30” and directed by Chil-in Kwon (SINGLES), HELLCATS is a sweet, romantic comedy that takes a realistic view of the modern Korean single woman. Terrifically acted and confidently directed, this is a film that transcends the “chick flick” genre to create an intelligent and entertaining film that will appeal to all audiences.

Co-presented by: San Diego Women’s Film Festival

USA | 90 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER: Arthur Dong

FRI Oct 10, 6PM TUE Oct 21, 6:15PM (RIVERSIDE) *Director scheduled to attend both screenings

Hollywood Chinese Co-presented by: New Americans Museum of San Diego

From 1916, when the first Asian American feature-length film was produced, to “Brokeback Mountain” 90 years later, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE comprehensively documents the contributions Chinese American have made to American cinema. Featuring interviews with notable artists such as Ang Lee, Wayne Wang, Joan Chen, David Henry Hwang, Nancy Kwan, Justin Lin, B.D. Wong, Lisa Lu, and James Hong, this fine documentary blends the first-person accounts of the earlier pioneers with interviews with some of today’s most influential stars. The film also contains rare footage, including clips from reels that director Arthur Dong re-discovered from the 1916 film, “Curse of Quon Gwon,” the earliest known Asian American film. All the important eras in Asian American film are covered, including the yellow-face era of exploitation films. With HOLLYWOOD CHINESE, Award-winning filmmaker Arthur Dong has succeeded in creating an entertaining and extraordinarily informative documentary film. Truly a landmark achievement in Asian American film, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE is a film that should seen by all persons with interest in American film. Catch Them All! | 45

FEATURES

House of Sharing TUE Oct 14, 7:30PM WED Oct 22, 4:30PM (RIVERSIDE) * Mature content * Director Hein Seok scheduled to attend Oct 14 screening

Preceded by

Screening Sponsored by

WIAMBU – COMFORT WOMAN Director: James Bang S. Korea & USA | Korean & Japanese w/ English subtitles | Video | 2008 A 17-year-old Korean girl is brought to a Japanese military camp during WWII, where her catastrophic future awaits.

Co-presented by: Thomas Jefferson School of Law - Center for Law and Social Justice, CSUSM Women’s Studies Program, Gabriella Network - San Diego, San Diego Women’s Film Festival, UCSD Kamalayan Kollective, USD Communication Studies

S. Korea & USA | Korean w/ English subtitles | 84 min | Video | 2008 | DIRECTOR: Hein Seok

West Coast Premiere During WWII, eight Korean girls survived kidnapping, torture, and sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army. They returned home, only to spend the next 60 years outcast by society. These eight women are among an estimated 200,000 victims. Now in their eighties, the women continue to fight for justice, even as their time is running out. In HOUSE OF SHARING, first-time director Hein Seok captured the candid lives of these eight survivors for over a year, as they shared their life stories through heartfelt words, paintings, and songs. During their seemingly hopeless ordeals before and after the war, the women find a collective strength in their outrage. Also revealed is a hidden side to these women, who are simply called halmoni (grandmother). They are lively, loving, and unexpectedly humorous. HOUSE OF SHARING captures a personal portrait of some of the last living “comfort women,” who are living legacies to the atrocities of war, and the strength of the human spirit.

the Japanese government. So in the summer of 2005, I decided to travel to Korea to visit the House of Sharing - a compound where eight survivors live together. Once I got to know the grandmothers, it was very clear as to what kind of story I wanted to tell.

Q&A with director Hein Seok By Lee Ann Kim How did you come across this story? I learned about existence of comfort women fifteen years ago. And to this day, their stories are some of the most heart wrenching I have ever come across. Through various media outlets, I followed the survivors’ constant and unsuccessful efforts to obtain a formal apology from 46 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Was it difficult to gain their trust and get them to open up to you? When I first arrived, I asked the director if I could volunteer at the museum located within the compound. During the first month, I did not shoot at all. I was very concerned about invading their privacy. I wanted to make sure the grandmothers were comfortable with me. After a month, I started shooting at the Wednesday demonstrations and gradually progressed from there. I guess my main challenge was

to let them know that I am not just going to shoot the film and disappear from their lives. I struck by how charming and funny these women are, but you can see their pain through their art. Seeing the original paintings hanging in the museum at the House of Sharing was one of the most profound experiences I had when I first arrived. I think that after the most avid painters like Duk-kyung Kang and Soon-duk Kim passed away, the program slowly disappeared. Not all of the grandmothers wanted to paint and some found it very difficult to visualize their pain.

SHORTS

I Heart U T 114 mins. TRT: A collection of shorts about love and dating, from our heart to your yo rs! FRI Oct 10, 7:20PM

*Mature content / *Cast ast and crew scheduledd to attend

CALIFORNIA KING

MY FIRST CRUSH

DAMN THE PAST!

364 CRANES

Director: ctor: Eli Akira Kaufman fma | 21 min.. | Video | 2007 2 A mattress sale salesman, who employs faux science s to get female customers ustomers into bed,, falls fal for a skeptical cal insomn insomniacc who w knows her science en bett tter than her heart.

Director: ector:: Roc Rocky Jo | 8 min. min | Video | 2008 A young and adorable Kore Korean ore girl, Hyori,, eexperiences what wha wh many people always ys rem remembe ber - the ups ps and downs of o falling forr a firstt crush crush.

Director: ector: Juli Kangg | 29 m min. | Vid deo | 2007 Music happen happens when a sin singing mute meet meets the girl of his dreams, d s, but b the path h to true love iisn’t sn easy ea when you ou can an only o expre ress yourselff in i song. ng

Director: Vincent Lin | 14 mi min. | Video ideo | 2007 A youn young couple’s turn of luck ultimately tests ests their commitment nt and a changes their fate foreve fo ever.

BITE ME

THE POSTCARD

Director: Jason son Fon Fongg | 133 min. | Video | 2008 08 A lonely vam vampire/accou countant who doesn’t oesn’t seem tto o hav have much luck with luc th the ladies es tr tries his hhand and at Last-M Last-Minute Minute Mate Spee Speed Dating.

Direc rector: Josh Kim | 15 min. | Video | 2007 Vid A post ost office of clerk erk mistakenly m thinks inkss tha that a customer is tryingg to o get her attention by writing open en love letters on po postcards he sends out.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FOURTH DATE Director: Vijay Mathew athew | 14 m min. | Video | 2008 A surreal short comedy medy about dating—with a Freu eudian twist.

Catch Them All! | 47

FEATURES

The Killing of a Chinese Cookie

USA | 75 min. | Video | 2008 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Derek Shimoda PRODUCERS: Derek Shimoda, Jimmy Tsai WRITERS: Derek Shimoda, Mark Tasaka CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Taylor

SAT Oct 11, 4:40PM

Co-presented by: San Diego Chinese Historical Museum

What do Powerball, the planet Mars and sexual innuendos have in common? Fortune cookies of course! Filmmaker Derek Shimoda invites us to take a closer look at a little something taken for granted at the end of nearly every Chinese restaurant meal. Who started it all? Was its birthplace in San Francisco or Los Angeles? And who writes those fortunes anyway?

San Diego Chinese Service Center

Shimoda takes us on an irreverent and comical journey revealing the enigmatic and sometimes contentious back story of the famous fortune cookie. A colorful cast of characters weighs in on the ubiquitous act of cracking open a cookie and trying to discern one’s destiny. Martin Yan from “Yan Can Cook,” Miss South Carolina, and Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura offer their take. Whether you think they’re harmless fun, worry they perpetuate stereotypes of Asian culture or secretly believe they’ll lead you to happiness, fortune cookies have become an indelible part of not only Chinese American dining, but American pop culture and beyond, making cameos in everything from “Mr. Rogers” to the “The Simpsons” to outer space. - adapted from San Francisco International Asian Film Festival

USA | 99 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/WRITER: Amyn Kaderali PRODUCERS: Manish Goyal, Rahul Haria CINEMATOGRAPHER: Alison Kelly CAST: Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazlewood, P.J.Byrne, Zack Ward, Rachael C. Smith, David Alan Grier, & Jaleel White.

SAT Oct 11, 4:50PM WED Oct 22, 7PM (RIVERSIDE)

Kissing Cousins

*Director & cast/crew scheduled to attend Oct 11 screening *Mature content

Amir, 29, is a heartbreaker—literally. As a relationship termination specialist, Amir spends his days delivering bad news to unsuspecting lovers across Los Angeles. Though Amir claims he is just the messenger, the job has made him hard-hearted and as a result, he is the last bachelor in his group of friends. When Amir returns to his family’s Bay Area home for Thanksgiving, he is reunited with Zara, his charming and beautiful cousin from Britain who he has not seen in twenty years. The two cousins do not get along right away. As the days go by, Zara grows sympathetic towards Amir’s sad state of perpetual bachelorhood. Over time, Amir starts to soften from Zara’s influence. An undercurrent of sexual tension develops between them as the charade comes dangerously close to going too far. Will Amir fall for his own cousin?! Or will he become one of his own victims? KISSING COUSINS bursts with razor sharp wit and smartly written dialog. Memorable cameos by David Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) as Amir’s fellow bachelor buddy, and Jaleel White (“Family Matters”) as his antagonistic brother-in-law round out the excellent cast. 48 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Co-presented by: Intuit Indian Network San Diego Indian American Society Qualcomm, Inc.

FEATURES Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 129 min. | 35mm | 2008 DIRECTOR: Hideo Nakata PRODUCERS: Nobuhiro Iizuka, Takahiro Kobashi, Takahiro Sato, Tadashi Tanaka WRITERS: Tsugumi Oba, Takeshi Obata CAST: Kenichi Matsuyama, Mayuko Fukuda, Sei Hiraizumi, Renji Ishibashi,Yuta Kanai,Youki Kudoh

FRI Oct 10, 8:30PM WED Oct 15, 9:30PM

L: Change the World

*Mature content

A group of fanatical eco-terrorists have decided to unleash a biological weapon on the planet. When the virus wipes out an entire village in Thailand the authorities call upon L (Kenichi Matsuyama), the greatest detective in the world, to save humanity. Assisting him are two young children, a boy who was the only survivor of the Thai village attack and the daughter of the creator of the virus antidote. Of course, L’s reliable partner Watari is available as always to provide able support.

Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

A spinoff of the wildly popular “Death Note” series of manga (Japanese comics), anime TV show and live action films, director Hideo Nakata (RING) takes L, the quirky, sweet-toothed, slightly goth hero of “Death Note” and places him in a position where he must save the world. A huge box office success in Japan, this film has clearly established Kenichi Matsuyama as a superstar and matinee idol. L: CHANGE THE WORLD is fun for everyone and definitely required viewing for fans of the “Death Note” franchise.

soon, this festival will end.

COME TO B-SIDE—YOUR SOURCE FOR GREAT INDEPENDENT FILM TITLES AND THE SAME GROUP THAT BROUGHT YOU THE WEBSITE AT THIS FESTIVAL. BUY DVDS OR DOWNLOAD INCREDIBLE INDEPENDENT TITLES AND TOP FESTIVAL FILMS FOR AS LITTLE AS $2.99. NEVER GO WITHOUT GOOD MOVIES AGAIN.

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…AND YOU'LL BE ON YOUR OWN TO SEARCH FOR UNIQUE, HIGH QUALITY FILMS IN THIS YEAR'S SEA OF BIG BUDGET, LOW CONCEPT MULTIPLEX MOVIES. the audience is never wrong.

©2008 B-Side Entertainment. All rights reserved. All images are the rights of their respective owners.

Catch Them All! | 49

SHORTS

Love is Queer TRT: 96 Love is family. Love iss true. Love is fleeting. But queer affairs of the heartt are never er bo bboring! oring! Reception imm immediatelyy following program progra sponsored by Ulan Medical Spa Spp SAT Oct 11, 7:20PM

Co-presented by: FilmOut San Diego, First UU Church Rainbow Outreach, Greater San Diego Business Association, Guys Like Us, Long Yang Club of SD, P.F.L.A.G. SD Chapter, Pride Resource esource Office of SDSU, Family Health Cent Centers of San Diego, ego SD LGBT Community Center - Women’s Resource Center, SD POZabilities, s, UC UCSD LGBT Resource Center

*Mature content / *Directo *Director & crew w sscheduled d to attend

A PASSING RAIN

JUST

YOU’VE GOT MALE

LOOK AGAIN

Director: Kim Myoung-hwa hwa |S. Korea | 8 min.| 35mm | 2006 Two youngg Korean Ko orean girls meet and d part like a passing rain.

Director: tor: Edward Edw ward Gunawan Gunaw | 12 min.|| Video Vi | 2007 7 Two guy guys go o online o for a hookup, but discov over their eir romp is anythi thing but cas casua sual.

Directors Chris Nguyen, Directors: uyen, Nadine N a Truong, Ryan Kim | 5m min. | Video| 2007 mi A love velorn guy expecting a mail-o -order bride gets a surprise delivery. d

Director: Jenniferr Lin | 7 min.| Video| 2008 When a work visa runs out, a bi-nationall lesbian couple risks tthe life they’ve bbuilt ilt together. together ogeth

S/HE

MISS POPULARITY

KALI MA

THE LITTLE KNAVE

Director: Gina Pei Chi Chen | 12 min.| Video| 2007 12-year-old Shane struggles to embrace mbrace her true self against nstt the th weightt of cultural ral ex expectations. tion

Di Director: Wayne Yun Yung | 6 min.| Video, 2006 min A Chinese man goes old school to juggle two boyfriends.

Directo ector or: Soman man Chainani |14 min.| Video| deo| 200 2007 A suburban uburba Indian In ndian mother turns ns vengefu vengefull after a her son on is beaten aten by a bully bully. bu

Directo tor: Sarah Naomi |11 min.| Video| min deo| 2007 20 A young thieff discovers discove that what she wants w nts she cann ccannot keep.

SEXY GIRL AND CARPENTER Director: ctor: D Dongkeun Leeup |6 min.| Video| 2006 6 Animated girl-on-girl girl aaction gets mythic — and ugly.

50 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

THE POSTCARD Director or: Josh Kim| m| S. Kore Korea |15 min. n.| Video| deo| 22007 A mysterious riouss po postcard stirs paassions at a post office in K Korea. Kore

Proud Sponsor of the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

ARE YOU ASIAN? Hepatitis B is a worldwide Asian epidemic. 1 in 10 Asians are infected here in the U.S.

GET TESTED. www.asianliver.com Catch Them All! | 51

Lovers

FEATURES Hong Kong | English, French & Cantonese w/ English subtitles | 115 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Carl Zhang PRODUCERS: Carl Zhang WRITER: Carl Zhang CAST: Cherie Leena, James Vegter

TUE Oct 14, 8:30PM *Mature content

LOVERS begins as a young photographer, Jeremy, arrives in Shanghai on the night of his first solo exhibition in the city. Elsewhere on that same winter’s night, a young woman, ‘Qiu Sen,’ quickly and silently snaps photos of a random couple while stalking closely behind them. She is eventually led into a small street corner art gallery advertising Jeremy’s exhibition. As she follows the couple inside, her life will pause for a moment. In that moment, Jeremy will see her—and she will see him. When their eyes lock, they will fall for each other for the second time…. The film asks the question, what would you do if you had a chance to heal the wounds of a loved one you hurt deeply? Or would the emotional baggage and pain of past mistakes be too much to overcome? Set against the beautiful, glowing backdrop of modern Shanghai, LOVERS deals with the subjects of love both lost and found, and the fragility of a second chance.

Magazine Gap Road Hong Kong | English, French & Cantonese w/ English subtitles | 115 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Nicholas Chin PRODUCERS: Chiu Wah Lee, Nicholas Chin WRITER: Nicholas Chin CAST: Carl Ng, Elvis Tsui, Qu Ying, Jessey Ming

SAT Oct 11 9:30PM *Mature content

High above the commerce and crowds of Hong Kong winds Magazine Gap Road, a secluded enclave of wealth and privilege. Samantha is a curator for a private museum in a world where her past - a life spent in the Japanese flesh trade - is her most well-kept secret. One day, it catches up with her in a single phone call from Kate, another escort, who’s in trouble. For Samantha, helping Kate means going back to the world she escaped and risking everything - her budding romance with a wealthy antiques collector, the deadly men who run Hong Kong’s high-class prostitution ring, and most importantly, her own fears that beneath the veneer of respectability, she will always be for sale. MAGAZINE GAP ROAD is a follow up to director Nicholas Chin’s short film “Tai Tai” (Official Selection at Cannes 2002) and touts an accomplished cast and crew including Beijing actress Qu Ying, Jessey Meng (“Mummy III”), cinematographer Chan Yuan Kai (“Ashes of Time”) and Oscar award-winning editor Jean Tsien. It is an understated film set away from the crowded Hong Kong that most audiences have seen and takes them to a world of Hong Kong high society. 52 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

SHORTS

Manila and Beyond

Co-presented by: Miramar College C Diversity/International ternational Education Ed

TRT: 69 min. A collection of stories celebrating Pinoy Pride and the diverse se Filipino Am American experience.

Committee

FRI Oct 10, 8:15PM TUE Oct 21, 9:15PM (RIVERSIDE)

*Mature content / *Directors scheduled to attend

LITTLE MANILA

CELEBRATION

GIVING CARE

Director: Marissa Ma Aroy | 26 min. | Video | 2006 200 Document entary highlighting ightingg the vibrant ant history his o of Filipinoss in i Stockton ckton and is part of the t Viewfinder nder Series. Serie

Director: ector: Rochelle Lo Lozada | Philippines hilippines ppine | 5 min. | Video Vi | 2008 8 From m Vi Visual Communications’ Communiic Armed ed With a Came Camera era ser series,, a young Filipino o girl goes es on a journey urney to find “lola.” “lo “

Director: Clarissa Claarissa D De Los Reyes | 11 min. | Video V | 2007 007 An undo documented d ccaregiver mustt choose c betw tween going hom ome to grievee her father’s death or conti de ntinue ue bbeing the one tthat everyon one depends pen on

This program will repeat at the Chula Vista Ultrastar Cinemas (555 Broadway) October 17-19. For information, go to www.philippinecinemashowcase.org

AN IMMIGRANT GIRL’S JOURNEY D Director: or: Lonny Stev Stevens even | 22 min. | Video | 2008 m World orld rld Premiere Premier A young FFilipino girl rl is caught in the mix of her er other’s her’s dream d of living the “good d life” e”” in Ame A America.

LEGEND Director: or: Mark Villegas Vil gas | 5 m min. | Video o | 2008 Up-close -close with Isaiah I aia Dacio (ak (aka DJJ Icy Ice), from om his beginnings beginnin ass a memberr of the lege legendary DJ crew w through t his recen recent notoriety ty as proprietor roprietor o of his DJ busine business ness ess Sta Stacks Records.

Catch Them All! | 53

SHORTS

Masala Bites

Co-presented by: San Diego Indian American Society, Qualcomm, Inc.,.

TRT RT: 85 min. A scrumptious mptious mix of films, perspectives, and lives representing prese g the divers diversity ersityy of th the he Sou South Asian experrience. As SAT Oct 11, 12:15PM MON Oct 13, 5PM

*Mature conten content ontent ten / *Direct ctors scheduled to attend

BOMBAY SKIES

SNAP-SHOT

DANCE OF A FREEBIRD

Direector Rita Rani | India | 21 Director: min. | Vid Video | 2007 American-born Anjalili runs off Am to India to become a movi movie star, but is chased c down by an angry father who eventually reconnects with the he city he once called home.

Director: Suel Kim | 8 min. | Video deo | 20 200 008 A police officer ficer racially profiles p a ph photographer, er, threatening threatenin the safety ty of his community mmunity and his is own chhild.

Director: Ruslan Pak | S. Korea | 13 min. | Video eo | 22008 A talented d South outh Asian As man struggles with ada adapting to life in Seoul, Se eoul, South Korea Kor ore

ANJALI

TIFFIN

THE TRIDENT

Director: Maya Anand d | 15min. 1 | Video | 2008 A rebellious ous Indian-American an teenager catches catc her father cheating, and must decide whether or not to share this secret.

Director: Ai Lene Cho hor | Malaysia | 14 min. | Video deo | 2007 007 An Indian an gir girl born into nto the life of a servant vant only lives ives for fo the he love and affection off a lonely lon Chinese grandmotherr who runs a food od delivery de business.

Director: Dire or: An Anurag Mehta | 16 min. | 35mm mi 35mm | 2008 2 A wisee shopkeeeper (David Carrad rrad dine) helps ps a young man discover scover er his inner warrior w through an ancient ncientt Indian In an Trident and a healthy dose of Hindu spiritua uality.

56 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Intuit Indian Network

FEATURES France, India, Ireland, Japan, Morocco,

The Meaning of Tea

Taiwan, United Kingdom & USA | 74 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Scott Chamberlin Hoyt EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Scott Chamberlin Hoyt PRODUCER: Michaela McKee, Keir Moreano DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Gordon Arkenberg

MON Oct 13, 5:30PM *Free Reception immediately following, sponsored by THE MEANING OF TEA, gorgeously filmed by Gordon Arkenberg, explores the romance and complexities surrounding tea, a universally beloved and widely consumed beverage. The film travels through eight countries, unveiling many reasons behind tea’s mysterious appeal. From afternoon tea in the Midwestern United States to tea estates in India, from the traditional tea ceremony of Japan to modern tea life in Morocco, the film explores the rituals and ceremonies of tea celebrated and enjoyed by a myriad of unique cultures. The common thread weaving together these individual stories is the question of whether there is any inherent meaning to be found in tea, particularly in an era increasingly dominated by mass marketing and fast food. The film also examines the role certain modern forces pay in threatening the survival of tea and its cultural significance. By visiting places where tea is still revered and by investigating its role in these societies, THE MEANING OF TEA suggests the profoundly positive role tea may play in our future.

(1996), I was stationed in Korea. I was very fortunate to have a Korean solider as my roommate. I asked for his help, and he helped find the orphanage, then posted an ad in the Kwangju newspaper, which somehow got on a SBS documentary in late 1996. About three years later, I was

Aaron Bates (right) with Director Dong-hyeok Hwang

Interview with Aaron Bates, whose life was the basis of the movie, MY FATHER By Lee Ann Kim Q: How did the movie come about? Was it from all the publicity in Korea for your search? Yes, the movie came about due to my search [for my biological parents] and publicity. During my first military year

notified that my biological father was trying to contact me. In July 2000, I met my father for the first time at prison surrounded by a lot of Korean media. From October 2000 through January 2002, I got to know my father. During those years, two KBS producers (Hyun Mo Jung & Sanghan Lee) filmed my journey. Sometime in 2003, KBS released a documentary. Through that 2003 documentary, the movie company contacted me in 2005 to make a movie. Q: How close was the movie to your real experience? It’s a movie not an autobiography. So the movie is NOT always accurate but a lot of “experience” were very close such as me going to military and while I was in the military, going to search for my parents.

Co-presented by: San Diego Alliance for Asian Pacific Islander Americans

Were there any scenes that particularly touched you? At the very end of movie where the hand is over the heart—I broke down and cried tears of joy and honor! Q:What about your adoptive parents, how did they react to your search and the movie? Have they seen it? Due to my different “facial features,” my adopted parents have told me I was adopted since I was able to understand English. They’ve ALWAYS been supportive. So they were honored to know that my successful search became a movie. They enjoyed [the film] so much they watched it twice in Korea and just recently again in the United States. Q: If there’s anything you’d like people to get out of the film, what would that be? Three things: 1) Regardless of the situation, praise God for everything! 2) Greatest gift God gave to all is that “Love conquers ALL and love never fails” and, 3) ADOPTION reaps more blessings then one can really comprehend - adoption works!

Meet Aaron Bates in person at the 5:05PM Oct 11 screening of MY FATHER

FEATURES

Co-presented by: Korean American Bar Association of San Diego, Arthouse Movies Meetup Group

58 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FEATURES

Mystic Ball SUN Oct 12, 3:20PM THU Oct 23, 5PM (RIVERSIDE) *Mature content * Director scheduled to attend October 12th screening Canada, Myanmar & USA | Burmese w/ English subtitles | 83 min. | Video | 2006 DIRECTOR: Greg Hamilton PRODUCER: Matthew London, Greg Hamilton CINEMATOGRAPHER: Jeremy Pollar, Aung Ko Latt, Matthew London, John Maronset, Alex Morrison, Emiko Omori, Dyanna Tayl

Some 20 years in the making, MYSTIC BALL is a testament to the passion and perseverance of Canadian director Greg Hamilton – not only as a filmmaker but as a champion of chinlone, the national sport of Myanmar. Co-presented by: AAJA San Diego Rainbow Integral Kids School Rescue Task Force

As its leading foreign expert and player, Hamilton thoroughly introduces Western audiences to this unknown, mesmerizing game. Invented over 1500 years ago and considered by many to be the oldest form of soccer, chinlone is a mix of hackey sack, tai chi, dance, and a lot of meditation. Teams composed of both men and women form an ever-morphing circle to keep a woven rattan ball from touching the ground by employing any of the 200 different kicks that have evolved over the centuries. In chinlone, which is played to music, no score is kept; the focus is not on winning or losing but rather the sheer beauty and joy of the play. Even more relevant in the wake of the unrest coursing through Myanmar this fall, MYSTIC BALL – like the game it portrays – shows the importance of play for the prospect of unity and peace.

The Spiritual Kick of Director Greg Hamilton’s MYSTIC BALL By Dr. Craig D. Reid At first glance chinlone (“cane-ball” in Burmese), a spiritual kicking art created by Burmese ancients over 1500 years ago, looks like David Beckham juggling a soccer ball with his feet while using martial arts contortions and spins. But in actuality, the driving force of this traditional game, this nationwide treasure that exists within the borders of Myanmar but outside the political boundaries of a country in turmoil, is that the challenge of chinlone is ultimately about beauty and elegance. MYSTIC BALL recounts Greg Hamilton’s 25-year journey on a path deemed closed to foreigners; the art of chinlone.Yet with his purity of love for something he did not

understand other than a feeling to discover, he answered a calling, braved the elements and became the first foreigner to play chinlone at the highest level and to open doors to a side of Burmese culture that is often ignored or hidden.

the chinlone solo artist Su Su Hlaing. Known as the “Golden Princess,” she seems to have elevated the game into a somewhat Zen realm of fantasy.

“I first saw someone doing chinlone in a Toronto park in 1981,” Hamilton reminisces. “I never played soccer, wasn’t familiar with it, but when I saw chinlone, I was immediately fascinated that he was kicking the ball behind his back without looking.”

When asked about the film’s theme, Hamilton thoughtfully posits that it is about transcending limitations, loneliness and one’s culture into another culture. “It’s finding one’s place in the world. The film shows that somebody went out of their own way in spite of others around them, and found that deep passionate interest in life.”

Made out of rattan and held together by the rattan’s tension, the chinlone ball’s patented ching-bingling sound, as a result of 200 possible kicking maneuvers, is also part of the mantra-like tonality that can ultimately trance the player into a feeling of overwhelming happiness. One of the sparkling enigmas that Hamilton features prominently in the film is

Although in chinlone it is not a goal to be a national or world champion, Hamilton would like to be a champion for chinlone in his quest to spread the word of the art. “I am searching for a sponsor or patron. I want to get the players out on tour so the world can see them and respond to them. This is my next journey.” Catch Them All! | 59

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan

FEATURES USA | 25 min | Video | 2008

SAT Oct 11, 10:30AM *World Premiere / *FREE Screening *Join us for a free book reading immediately following Ni-Hao, Kai-Lan at the Barnes & Noble bookstore upstairs from the theater at Hazard Center, starting at 11AM.

Co-presented by: Barnard Elementary School, Kidsland.tv

Bring out the kids for the world premiere screening of one of Nick Jr.’s most popular shows - Ni Hao, Kai-Lan. Trick or treat, it’s Halloween! Kai-lan and her friends dress up to go trick or treating with YeYe (grandpa). Kai-lan is a dinosaur, Tolee’s a panda, Hoho’s the Monkey King, and Rintoo is his favorite — a dragon! But just when they set out to trick or treat, Rintoo sprains his ankle. YeYe helps him and tells him that he needs to stay in bed and rest. Rintoo realizes that means he can’t go trick or treating, and he starts to cry. It’s up to Kai-lan and the viewer to figure out how make things better for Rintoo. Kai-lan has a great idea — they can make Rintoo’s bed into a huge dragon costume, attach some wheels, and zoom around the backyard to go trick or treating, without Rintoo ever getting out of bed! Rintoo is thrilled, and everyone has an amazing Halloween.

Ocean of Pearls USA | 94 min. | Video| 2008 DIRECTOR: Sarab Neelam WRITER:V. Prasad EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jeff Dowd, Jim Burstein CINEMATOPHER: Lon Stratton CAST: Omid Abtahi, Heather McComb, Ron Canada, Navi Rawat, Ajay Mehta, Brenda Strong

SUN Oct 12, 5PM *Mature Content *Cast & crew scheduled to attend As a Sikh man with a full beard and turban, Dr. Amrit Singh (Omid Abtahi) is often faced with the realities of racial profiling. But when he sees his dreams of becoming Chief of Surgery at a state-of-the-art transplant center dwindle because of his appearance, Amrit makes a wrenching decision. He goes against a tradition he’s maintained his whole life and cuts his hair. Despite his resolve to abandon tradition, he hides this decision from his girlfriend and family, which marks the beginning of a series of compromises as he deals with hospital politics and health care injustices. When the condition of patient Mary Stewart (Brenda Strong, “Desperate Housewives”) turns grim, Amrit begins to reexamine the value of the religious traditions he’d turned his back on. When a family secret is finally revealed, Amrit begins to understand the meaning behind the Sikh tradition. Among the first feature-length narrative films portraying the Sikh experience, the award-winning OCEAN OF PEARLS is a powerful look at one man’s balancing act between faith, family, and getting ahead. 2008 Grand Jury Award, Audience Award Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 60 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Co-presented by: South Asian Bar Association of San Diego, Arthouse Movies Meetup Group, Qualcomm, Inc.

Oh Saigon

FEATURES USA & Vietnam | English & Vietnamese w/ English subtitles | 57 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Doan Hoang WRITERS: Doan Hoang, Bret Sigler

THU Oct 9, 6:10PM TUE Oct 21, 5:30PM (Riverside)

Co-presented by:Vietnamese American Youth Alliance

On April 30, 1975, the final day of the Vietnam War, Doan Hoang’s family departed Saigon on the last helicopter out of the country. On that day, a nation was reunified, but Doan’s family was torn asunder, as brother was separated from brother and Doan’s half-sister,Van, was left behind. Twenty-five years later, Hoang began shooting documentary footage of her family’s story, uncovering family secrets along the way, finally culminating with the Hoang family’s return to Vietnam five years later. In this astonishing look at a family divided by war, Hoang’s camera is omnipresent, providing the type of intimate access to the Hoang family that only a family member could obtain. The result is the creation of a powerful documentary film depicting the raw emotion and natural human reactions of a family’s struggle to overcome the ramifications of wartime decisions.

Open City S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles | 112 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Sang-ki Lee CAST:Ye-jin Son, Myeong-min Kim

SUN Oct 12, 9:25PM TUE Oct 14, 9PM *Mature content

Screening Sponsored by

The big budget and star-studded Korean film OPEN CITY is an urban crime story loaded with action and sexual tension. Set in the gritty streets of Seoul, the story is a cat and mouse game involving a network of professional pickpockets. Sexy actress Son Ye-jin shows off in the lead role as Baek Jang-mi (White Rose), the boss of a dangerous gang of pickpockets affiliated with the Japanese Yakuza. Jang-mi aspires to expand her turf by conquering Seoul’s hot spots like Dongdaemun and Myeong-dong, but she’ll need the help of a young and handsome detective (Kim Myung-min) who falls for her beauty. Co-presented by: San Diego Dragon Boat

OPEN CITY delivers as the slick action thriller with relentless violence, a pretty realistic portrayal of the underground crime world and bonus—beautiful women in off-the-runway fashions.

Team

Catch Them All! | 61

FEATURES

Passing Poston

USA I 70 min. I Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Joe Fox & James Nubile WRITER: Joe Fox PRODUCER: Fly On The Wall Productions

MON Oct 13, 5:15PM *Reception immediately following program

Co-presented by: Buddhist Temple of San Diego, Japanese American Citizens League Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana,

For Ruth Okimoto, the scars from her internment during World War II have never healed. The need to confront the past brings her back to the desert of Arizona where she spent her childhood years behind barbed wire — back to where Poston was built.

CSUSM Asian Pacific Islander Faculty Staff Assoc., CSUSM Cross Cultural Center Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, Phi Alpha Theta (Alpha Zeta Chi Chapter)/History

The Poston Relocation center, built on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, served as one of ten internment camps built in seven states. Between 1942 and 1945, the Poston camps housed over 18,000 Japanese and Japanese American detainees. PASSING POSTON follows Ruth’s moving journey as she searches for meaning in the inexplicable while discovering the true story of how the Poston camp came into being. Ruth’s answers become an awakening and a road to revelation as the film examines the emotional and haunting stories of several other former internees of Poston. Each person is shadowed by a tragic past, each struggling in their own painful way to reconcile the trauma of their youth, each yearning during the last chapter of their lives to find their rightful place in this country.

Planet B-Boy

Club

France, Germany, Japan, S. Korea & USA| 95 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Benson Lee EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Chris C. Kim, Donny Huang, Johnny Lee PRODUCERS: Amy Lo, Benson Lee CINEMATOGRAPHER:Vasco Nunes EDITOR: Benson Lee, Jeff Marcello

TUE Oct 21, 7PM (RIVERSIDE ONLY) *Director scheduled to attend

An exciting showcase of some of the most insane dance performances and unforgettable power moves, PLANET B-BOY depicts the global resurgence of breakdancing and the personal stories of those bustin’ the moves. The film follows a dancer in Las Vegas looking for his big break, a Korean son who seeks his father’s approval and a 12-year-old boy in France confronting his family’s racism. From the outskirts of Paris to the suburbs of Seoul, the film serves as a reminder of hip hop’s influence on different and diverse cultures. Forgotten by the mainstream and written off as an embarrassing 80s fad, breakdancing had a long climb back to being accepted by the masses, but on the streets and in underground clubs from Tokyo to the USA it never died, bubbling under the surface with a huge cult following and exploding each year in international competition. Following four crews of ‘B-Boys’ from different nations as they prepare to battle it out at the 2005 world championships, this frenetic documentary shows off the dizzying spectacle of the art form, showcasing the skill and acrobatics of break dancing’s idiosyncratic characters. 62 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FEATURES

Please Vote for Me

China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 58 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Weijun Chen PRODUCERS: Don Edkins

THU Oct 9, 5:45PM THU Oct 16, 4PM (Free)

Free screening on October 16 sponsored by Burkett & Wong Engineers

Winner of the Sterling Audience Award at the AFI Silverdocs Film Festival, PLEASE VOTE FOR ME is one of the most insightful and enjoyable documentaries of the year. In a school of Wuhan, China, it’s time to elect a class monitor. Three eight-year-old contenders are chosen to square off: an incumbent known for his harsh dictatorship, the smart yet shy girl, and the class clown. With their parents coaching and strategizing as the free election approaches, the children face their fears and their challengers in a no-holds-barred series of classroom debates. The election elicits betrayals, tears, and laughter, revealing the hardships of campaigning and the lessons of dealing with defeat. In this immensely entertaining snapshot of a culture going through change and the growing pains of their children, Weijun Chen’s expertly crafted film will have you on the edge of your seat as the winner is announced. –Natalie McMenemy, AFI FEST

Public Enemy Returns

S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles | 127 min. | 35mm | 2008 WRITER: Jin Jang CAST: Kyung-gu Sol, Jae-young Jung, Moon-shik Lee

THU Oct 9, 8PM SAT Oct 11, 10PM TUE Oct 21, 8:45PM (RIVERSIDE)

Screening Sponsored by

The original PUBLIC ENEMY told the story of a corrupt, burnt-out cop, Chul-Joong Kang, whose professional passions are reignited when he crosses paths with a pampered, spoiled thrill killer. This time around, Kang is ready to retire after a lifetime of fighting crime, injuries, and a zero credit rating. He can’t afford a house, and caring for his family is out of the question. On the other end of the social spectrum is Lee Won-Sul, a successful businessman with hundreds of investments, a country house, and a doting family. He’s much-loved, highly respected and a great man in all the ways the irascible, corner-cutting, deadbeat Kang is not.

Co-presented by: San Diego Multicultural Asian Professionals

So when Kang comes up with a link between Lee and some recent murders, people tend not to believe him. The more he tries to prove that everyone’s favorite fella is a slimy crook commanding an empire of crime, the more he’s dismissed as jealous, crazy, and downright dangerous. -Adapted by New York Asian Film Festival

Catch Them All! | 63

FEATURES

Red Race

China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 70 min.| Video| 2008 DIRECTOR: Chao Gan

MON Oct 13, 4PM (FREE) WED Oct 15, 5:30PM

Free screening on October 13 sponsored by Burkett & Wong Engineers

Against the backdrop of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and escalating international condemnation and demonstrations over Chinese policies from Tibet to Darfur, THE RED RACE presents a detailed insight into the Chinese passion for gymnastics. The Lu Wan District Youth Athletic School in Shanghai seems to value competitive sports over reading and writing for its students. Many of the children come from rural provinces and live with grandparents or surrogate caretakers. Their parents hope to give them opportunities not available in the countryside. Some children voice hope that they will eventually become successful enough to build homes for their families.Yet the path won’t be easy. The trainers often “teach” by humiliation and punishment, and reward with candy. These are the realities that the young children must face, as must the parents who send them knowing that their chances for success are slim and the journey will be grueling. As the film progresses one question persists: at what price is the New China? -Gail Silva, Silverdocs

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64 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

SHORTS

Reel In The Vote TRT: 70 min. A collection of short films that confront Asian Pacific Is Islander er voter apath apathy apathy, but also celebrate API heroes of democracy. Reel el in the Vote is a FREE EE program. Reception immediately following program, rogram, coordinated by Katz Ka & Assoc Associates. sociates. ciates.

Reel in the Vote was made possible po by grants from the California rnia Independent Voter Project, ct, Epsilon Systems Solutions, the Hom Fam mily Foundation, and Zero Divide.

TUE Oct 14, 6PM

ABSENT VOICES

THE BIG V

Directed by Michael el C Cheen A Filipino wo woman launch aunches hes a bid forr tthe California rnia sttate legislature, legislature lature, but fa faces a tough ugh gh challenge: lenge: bringin bringing outt th the API vote.

Directed ected by Curtis Ch Chin Hoping oping ping to have an imp impact on thee upcoming oming election, a gr omi ggroup of friends ds decide to make maake a pu public lic service announcem cement abo aboutt tthe importance portance of vot vo voting.

HELP SAVE MARYLAND FROM WHAT?! D Directed ed by Eric Byl Byler yler SShaquille uille and Ann Annabel abel are Asian sian n American immigrants grant with ith opposite vviews ew on “Illegal legal Immigra Immigration.” During Im public ublic blic demo demonstrations, de s, eachh is confronted onfront by passers rs-by s-by w who challenge halleng their res respective espective pective view views.

THE GREATER GOOD: THE POLITICAL JOURNEY OF TOM HOM Directed ted by Ron Tua Tuatagaloa The st story of thee first fi and onlyy Asia sian American n elected to serrve on the San Di Diego o ci city council.

THE ALISON CHRONICLES

POWER OF THE SWING VOTE

Directed ed by De Dean an Lim First-time ime votin ng experience perience of an Asian American can girl who just jus turrned eighteeeen. n.

Directed by Eddie Kim An entertaining ain yet informative tive doc ocumentary tary that t delves into the rreasons as to why there th re is a perceived lack of Asian Americans voting. A oting.

BANANA REPUBLIC Directed by Cheryl heryyl Kan Kanekar Asian Americans discuss scuss why they do not vote, creating a th complex picture cture of immigrant immig communities munities shaped by their thei old aand d nnew homelands.

Watch REEL IN THE VOTE after the festival On Demand on Cox Digital Channel 1, Free Zone, My Community and Time Warner Cable Channel 144

Catch Them All! | 65

Reel Voices 2008 Akira Chan, Instructor

Although the Reel Voices students are only about half generation younger than me, their skills and style of media communication define the rapid changes in video/culture/media that have come to pass since I was their age. It’s unnecessary to comment on how much YouTube and MySpace have influenced teen filmmakers. These forums have become casual dialects of young mediamakers--mediamakers who tend to worry less about how well their projects are produced, and instead how large their guaranteed audience will grow the moment it is “posted” to the world. This reality is as empowering as it is problematic, isn’t it? Navigate YouTube and the thousands of young voices and faces, and try to find the “real voices” - it can be frustrating! Each of us can feel, see, and hear when something is “REAL.” That is what these students have shown me, and now you - the audience.

66 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

These seven awesome students have reinforced my belief that the casualness of youth filmmaking can create an even more conscious and critical type of filmmaker. This is where these students shine. They opened their minds, and over the course of the program, we all restlessly traveled the Reel Voices journey. A great ride that ended way too soon! No matter how much filmmaking changes, we can always count on what’s real – what has heart and soul – and listening to the voices of a new generation is a great way to begin that discovery. Thanks Mike, Mari, Joska, Harrison, Elle, Al, Ryan, Aki. I learned something from each of you and I think we all grew together this summer. Hope it was fun. -AKIRA CHAN is the teaching assistant for Reel Voices.

SHORTS

Reel Voices

Reel Voices was made possib sible by grants from Bank of America, Th The Junior Seau

T 50 min. TRT: Come experience the Reel Voices of seven, talented alented San Die Diego high school stu stud students with the world premiere of their short documentaries ta es produced thro through the San Diego Diegggo Asian Film m Foundation. You’ll be proud to say you ou saw these films here first. Free reception followingg screening sponsored red by L&L Hawaiian Barbeque B que of Eastlake and Mira Me Mesa.

Foundation, Bob B Hoffman Productions, and Sony Techhnology

SUN Oct 12, 12PM (FREE)

DICK, DICK & JANE: THE MODERN AMERICAN FAMILY

THE BEHOLDER: BEAUTY THROUGH THE EYES OF APRIL MITCHELL

Director: tor: Mari Jacobson obs | 5 mi min in. | Video | 2008 A look into to the role of o a same-sex couple ouple wit within a family dynamic.

Director:: Elle Lipson | 7 min min. mi | Video | 2008 00 An artistic teen with th a genetic g tic skin condition, ndition, deals with wi how w w her appearance affect affects he her self-image, her art, t and her ou utlookk on beauty.

THE ALMOST LOST GENERATION Director: irector: Joska Charles | 9 min.| Video | 2008 Victims of Sudan’s geno nocidal war shar w are their harro rrowing eexperie x rience and effo ffortss to keep theirr culture alive ve towards d the youunger genera ration.

OUT OF BOUNDS Director: Harrison Tongg | 9 min. | Video | 2008 You ou see so many Asian teens in leagues across America, so why is it that in the he NBA only Yao Ming comes mes to mind?

Watch REEL EL VOICES V after the festival On De Demand on Cox Diigital Channel 1, Free Zone, My Community and Time Warner Comm Cable Channel 144 Ca

A BRIGHTER FUTURE

NAPUA LLIMA ‘O KEHAULANI FREE MATT WONG

A priest st cham champions mpions the strug struggle to brin bring freee education to tthe poore orest off the poor in Tijuana.

Director: Ryan yan Mede Medel el | 7min. min. | Video | 2008 08 The struggle ggles that new ew and old wahine competitors rs unde undergo to preserve pre ve the Hawaiian waiia traditio tradition off hula dancing ng.

Direc rector: Akio Mitsunaga | 9 min. | Video | 2008 min 008 How H w conducive c e is the th modern public ublicc sch school enviornment to o stu student creativity? In 2007, 07 Matt Wong dared to experiment and learned rned not to mess with bureaucracy.

Catch Them All! | 67

FEATURES SAT Oct 11 2:35PM Philippines & USA | Tagalog w/ English subtitles | 85min. | 35mm | 2008 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Ron Morales EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ellen Morales, Ray Morales PRODUCERS: Louise Lovegrove, Karin Chien, Ron Morales Cinematographer:Yaron Orbach CAST: Jacob Kiron Shalov, Melissa Leo, Jaime Tirelli, Maria Lopez

*Mature Content *Director scheduled to attend

Santa Mesa New York-based filmmaker Ron Morales makes a striking feature debut with this beautifully filmed coming-of-age tale of a Filipino American boy who must return “home” after the death of a loved one.Young Hector loses his mom during a critical time in his life as an impressionable young teen. With no other family connections, he is taken in by his estranged grandmother in the Philippines. Unable to speak Tagalog, Hector strug-gles in this unfamiliar home (and an even more unfamiliar country), and soon falls into the wrong crowd with some local street kids. Things seem to turn around for Hector as

SANTA MESA: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN By Dr. Craig D. Reid

Crossing a bridge spanning the Pasig River from metro Manila to the rickety, shanty-like outskirts of the Philippine capital, to a neighborhood foreigners never discover, first generation FilipinoAmerican Ron Morales inadvertently created a historical record of a fading landscape in his directorial debut film SANTA MESA. A country built on its railroad system, where squatter colonies arose along these rail lines. When Morales serendipitously stumbled upon one of these colonies and combined it with him trying to understand his family past, SANTA MESA evolved. 68 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

he befriends Jose, an older photographer who takes him in and begins to mentor him. Simultaneously he also finds comfort in a developing friendship and crush with Sel (Maria Lopez) as they commiserate over issues of isolation at home. His worlds begin to collide as he notices that Jose has a mysterious connection with one of his random photography subjects.

This film repeats as part of the Philippine Cinema Showcase October 17-19 at the Chula Vista Ultrastar Cinemas. For information, go to: www.philippinecinemashowcase.org

Co-presented by: Filipino American National Historical Society, Mabuhay Alliance, Philippine-American Youth Organization

With excellent performances, SANTA MESA convincingly captures the beauty and awkwardness of cultural isolation and teen angst amidst the tender sadness of losing a loved one. -Adapted by Ernest Mark

This is a personal tale about Hector (Jacob Kiron Shalov), a 12-year old, orphaned Filipino-American kid electrocuted by culture shock after being shipped off to Manila to live with a long lost relative; a grumpy old grandma (local star Angie Ferro) who does not speak English and would be just as happy to never have met him. “I saw a lot of Hector in me,” Morales shares. “When I first cast Hector, I envisioned him to be a mix, further bringing out the loss of Filipino heritage. When it comes to Filipino culture, we are both lost because I was raised in an all-white neighborhood and have seen a decline in my culture.” Morales explains that he and his family are not tight, they have become distant and don’t know each, which has probably

come from the typical plight of immigrant workers trying to make a better financial life in America. “I recall a conversation [my mom and I] had when I was 16 where she said her mom would tell her, ‘The hardest thing that you will ever have to accept is that this is your life and what you do with it, is up to you.’ It is the underlying point of the film.” During his most recent trip back to the Philippines, Morales sadly notes that Santa Mesa no longer exists, the houses are torn down and everyone has been relocated to a place three hours outside the city. Morales’ film has now become a historic cinematic record of the country’s quickly vanishing railway squatter colony system, another enigmatic part of Filipino culture that will soon be lost of forever.

SHORTS

Scene in San Diego

Co-presented by Groovy Like a Movie

TRT: RT: 113 min. A collection n of short films produced by film filmmakers in n Am America’s ’s Finest City. Cit THU Oct 9, 7:45PM *Maturee ccontent / *Directors *Directo sched heduled eduled to attend

UNTITLED

FOLLOW THE SIGNS

TIMELESS

Director: Edward ard Kim Ki | 16 min.. | Video | 2008 A frustrated filmmaker sees es his failing failin ng ide ideas come to life.

Directors: rectors Steve Godwin Godw & Wesley Mitchell M h ll | 7 min. | Video | 2008 Somewhere mewhere ere in a galaxy g far, far away, ay, sign spinner skills aare in high demand. hig d

Direct Jeffrey Ferrer | 15 min. Director: | Video d | 2008 Devastated after suffering a personal tragedy, a man n is given a second chance nce to relive his past.

GANDHI AT THE BAT

ESCAPING THE NORM

SAVE RON JR.

D Director: Stephanie Argy gy & Alec Boehm | 11 min. | Video deo | 22006 Did Mohandas K. Gandhi really pinch-hit for the New York Yankees in 1933? 19

Director: r: Gl Glenn n Gimutao o | 13 min. | Video | 2008 008 This non-fiction film follows fo the life of a bi-racial teenager er dealing ling with hiss hom homosexuality lity and nd his parents who are in n den denia denial.

Director: Raymond ond G Gallardo ardo | 44 min. | Video | 200 2008 Com C medy dy build builds in an effort to save Ro sav on Jr.

Catch Them hem All! | 6 69

FEATURES

Secret

Hong Kong & Taiwan | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 101 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Jay Chou PRODUCERS: J.R.Yang WRITER: To Chi-long CAST: Jay Chou, Kwai Lun-mei, Anthony Wong

SAT Oct 11, 7PM WED Oct 15, 7:15PM

Co-presented by: San Diego Multicultural Asian Professionals

Arguably the world’s most popular Mandarin-language recording artist, Jay Chou has successfully forayed into acting through roles in “Initial D” and “Curse of the Golden Flower.” With his directorial debut film SECRET, Chou establishes himself as a gifted performer and a skillful auteur, directing a script based on his own original story. Not bad for a Taiwanese pop superstar. Chou plays Lun, a music student at a secondary school who one day meets Yu while she is playing an evocative tune on the piano. “What’s the melody you played the first day we met?” asks Lun. “That’s my secret,” Yu whispers back. What evolves is an innocent and seemingly typical young romance between the two talented pianists. But the real intrigue of the film begins when Lun discovers an old photograph of Yu with his father (Anthony Wong), which triggers him to investigate the mystery of Yu and the secret melody she plays. SECRET is a fun, for-all-ages film with a surprise twist that your girlfriend, parents, or teenage kids will all enjoy.

Shadows in the Palace

S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles | 112 min. | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Mee-Jung Kim CAST: Jin-Hee Park, Se-Ah Yun, JeongEun Lim

MON Oct 13, 8PM WED Oct 15, 9:55PM *Mature content

Screening Sponsored by

Set during the Chosun Dynasty, SHADOWS IN THE PALACE begins with the death of a maid-in-waiting who has hung herself within the palace walls. While performing the autopsy, imperial medic Chun-ryung (Park Jin-hee) begins to suspect murder and starts her own investigation into the matter. Standing in her way are the barren queen and the royal concubine who has mothered a child for the previously heir-less king, among others. As she begins to unravel the vast array of deceptions, Chun-ryung is soon confronted by a secret more powerful than she could have ever imagined. This is the first feature film directed by Mee-jung Kim, a young woman who served as assistant director on the 2005 Korean blockbuster “King and the Clown.” Notable for her all-female crew, Mee-jung Kim has succeeded in creating a masterfully genre-bending film that combines elements of the historical costume drama, murder mystery, and even Asian horror genres with a deft touch. Not just a beautiful and wildly entertaining movie, SHADOWS IN THE PALACE is truly a remarkable film that boldly crosses lines. 70 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

FEATURES

Shame

Pakistan & USA | Farsi w/ English subtitles | 110 min. | Video | 2006 DIRECTOR: Mohammed Naqvi PRODUCERS: Mohammed Naqvi, Jill Schneider CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ahmed Bashir

WED Oct 15, 6:15PM *Mature Content *Director scheduled to attend Reception immediately following screening hosted by Project Concern International and Gem Foundation Every day, horrific world events evade justice. SHAME is the story of a courageous woman who fought back. During the summer of 2002, in a remote village of Pakistan, 33-year-old Mukhtaran Mai’s life changed when the village’s tribal council sanctioned a punishment against her for a crime allegedly committed by her younger brother. Following the tribal custom of “honor for honor,” Mai was gang-raped and then publicly paraded around as an example. Her family cowered in shame. The village shunned her. Normally the only recourse for such a woman would be suicide. Instead, Mai set out to seek justice and shook the very core of Pakistan’s decaying judicial system. In her quest, she endured public scrutiny and exposure to the alien world outside her village, losing friends, family, and her life as she knew it.

Co-presented by: Amnesty Group 137, Friends of Hamid Daudani, Project Concern International, SDSU Women’s Resource Center, San Diego Women’s Film Festival

Throughout this incredible journey, Mai maintains an astonishing resilience and belief in herself. Journalists may visit less frequently, but her work and the work of women like her - is not yet over. There is still plenty of shame to be faced and conquered. -Thom Powers

Cambodia & USA| Khmer w/ English subtitles | 70 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: John Pirozzi PRODUCER: John Pirozzi & Josh Otten CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Pirozzi MUSIC: Dengue Fever

WED Oct 15, 5:15PM

Sleepwalking in the Mekong Co-presented by: UCSD Cambodian Student Association

SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THE MEKONG follows Los Angeles band Dengue Fever on their journey to Cambodia to perform 60s and 70s Cambodian rock ‘n’ roll in the country where it was created and very nearly destroyed. The odyssey is a homecoming for singer Chhom Nimol and a transformation for the rest of the band as they perform with master musicians and record new songs along the way. More than a rockumentary, the film serves up a portrait of modern Cambodia as the band tours through Phnom Penh and beyond, crossing a great cultural chasm with the same spirit of Cambodia’s original rock pioneers. It is a celebration of this long-overlooked music and reveals the power of music to weave a common thread between extremely different cultures. Shot in 10 days, the real star of this film is the unique and intoxicating Cambodian music that also heals the generations of wounds from the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge. SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THE MEKONG is a testament to the power of this music. It’s no wonder Variety calls this “An engagingly different rock ‘n’ roll documentary...” Catch Them All! | 71

Slingshot (Tirador)

FEATURES

THU Oct 16, 7:40PM *Mature content *Director & cast scheduled to attend SLINGSHOT will also screen at the Chula Vista UltraStar (555 Broadway) as part of the Philippine Cinema Showcase October 17-23. For more info: www. philippinecinemashowcase.org Philippines | Tagalog w/ English subitles | 86 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Brillante Mendoza EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ferdinand Lapuz PRODUCER: Renato Esguerra, Antonio del Rosario WRITER: Ralston Joel Jover CINEMATOGRAPHER: Brillante Mendoza, Julius Villanueva, Jeffrey dela Cruz, Gary Tria CAST: Jiro Manio, Kristoffer King, Coco Martin, Nathan Lopez, Jaclyn Jose

Prolific filmmaker Brillante Mendoza premieres his work at the San Diego Asian Film Festival this year with a double-header of FOSTER CHILD and SLINGSHOT, both shot on the streets of Manila in what’s been described as “real time” filmmaking. Though fictional, Mendoza’s impressive skill is to impose a calculated narrative onto Manila’s constant unpredictability, shaping its ground-level chaos into art. SLINGSHOT opens with a bravura sequence: a nighttime raid on one of Manila’s squatter neighborhoods. The camera chases plainclothes police wielding massive automatic weapons through the narrow laneways as they ransack homes, break in on couples making love, and herd dozens of people out into the open. Only some of them are guilty. But in this neighborhood, stealing puts food in your belly. Some snatch wallets and jewelry, some shoplift, others prefer more intimate forms of thievery. A showcase of Mendoza’s rapidly maturing abilities with digital cinema, SLINGSHOT also presents the full range of human behavior—especially the ironies of greed and vanity. The stories climax at a rally where politicians give high-minded speeches to thousands holding candles aloft in the night. But even there, the harsh economics of life on the streets rules the evening. -Adapted by Cameron Bailey

Q&A with Brillante Mendoza, director of Slingshot (Tirador) By Lee Ann Kim Q:You have a wonderfully, distinctive style as a filmmaker. While watching SLINGSHOT and FOSTER CHILD, sometimes I had to ask myself “is this real life?” How difficult was it to shoot these films in such tight quarters in Manila? Most of my films are set in real time and in actual locations. That’s why I am able to capture even the heat! We don’t have huge studio lots in the Philippines where sets can be built for particular movies. Besides, an independent filmmaker like me would not have the money to build sets. So what I do is to find the most perfect location for the story I want to tell, then bring the actors there, make them live there or nearby if possible, then shoot the film continuously and chronologically until it

is complete..Making the actors shoot in the actual location of the stories and telling them to hang out in the area as much as they could is what I call “ immersion.” How do I make them hang out in the area when we don’t even have trailers for anyone? If our budget could afford it, we rent a room or a house in the vicinity that could serve as a as resting place for the actors in between takes and in between filming days. That’s actually how my actors practically become the characters they are portraying. And, that’s how dedicated and professional these actors are. Q:What inspired the stories and characters of SLINGSHOT? The idea came about not because of fascination with snatchers but more on the desires to discover and learn about other people’s lives and culture that I have never been deeply aware of before. Tirador is a look not only into the life but into the heart, mind

and spirit of the snatchers. Q: I know your most recent film, “Serbis,” was selected to compete at Cannes. Congratulations! It was an humbling experience. It’s too good to be true but it happened and I’m extremely happy about it. Q:You’re an incredibly prolific, cutting edge filmmaker. How do you feel your work fits into the film industry in the Philippines? At the moment the prevailing attitude of the moviegoing public towards my films is of curiosity. It is perhaps the tragedy of any filmmaker and producers as well to make films that are patronized out of curiosity. We hope that this attitude will be cured. Meet Brillante Mendoza and his lead actor Coco Martin at the screening of SLINGSHOT (TIRADOR) on Thu, Oct 16 at 8PM.

FEATURES USA & Vietnam | English & Vietnamese w/ English subtitles | 60 min. | Video | 2006 DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Tien Nguyen

SUN Oct 12, 5:20PM

Story of Spirits

Co-presented by:Vietnamese American Youth Alliance

In Vietnam, legend has it that a person who dies far from home will wander the earth forever until they are commemorated—until their story is told. THE STORY OF SPIRITS documents Tien Nguyen’s escape from Vietnam with her father and her three siblings while her mother and unborn sister stayed behind following the fall of Saigon in 1975. Thirty years after her disappearance, a mother’s ghost returns, channeled through her husband’s new wife. This sudden appearance however, leads her daughter to question her lifelong belief that her mother abandoned her children. As her questions turn to doubt, the daughter embarks on a journey to shatter years of family deception and silence. She traces the path of a woman that she has never known, from their wealthy life in Saigon, to 1975 when the family fled to America without her mother, to her mysterious disappearance at sea, and finally, to her father’s struggle living with the ghost of his dead wife. Using in-depth interviews with her family in California, Michigan, New Jersey and ultimately Vietnam, she is able to piece together one story, but several conclusions.

USA | Farsi & Mandarin w/ English subtiltes | 83 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Wayne Wang Writer: Yiyun Li EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Yasushi Kotani, Taizon Son, Jooick Lee PRODUCER:Yukie Kito, Rich Cowan, Wayne Wang Cinematographer: Patrick Lindenmaier CAST: Faye Yu, Henry O,Vida Ghremani

A Thousand Years of Good Prayers

WED Oct 15, 7:30PM

Winner of 4 prizes at the San Sebastian Film Festival, including Best Film and Best Actor Best known for directing “The Joy Luck Club,” filmmaker Wayne Wang is arguably one of the most prolific Asian American independent filmmakers today. Adapted from a short story written by Chinese émigré,Yiyun Li, A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS is among Wang’s latest Asian-themed films that explore the bonds of family and Chinese identity in the modern world.

Co-presented by: Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, San Diego Chinese Historical Museum

The story begins with a dignified and quiet Mr. Shi (Henry O), who arrives in Spokane, Washington to visit his divorced daughter,Yilan, whom he has not seen in12 years. Fearful that her father will meddle in the affair of her failed marriage,Yilan finds excuses to leave her father alone in her apartment. In desperation, he begins to visit a local park and befriends an older Iranian woman living with her son. These two lonely souls communicate perfectly, despite their language barrier. Yilan eventually is forced to face her father, and is surprised by what she discovers. Catch Them All! | 73

FEATURES

Under the Skin

USA | English | 59 min | Video | 2008 DIRECTOR: Billy Burke PRODUCER: Billy Burke CAST: Mario Barth

WED Oct 15, 5PM

Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

Mario Barth guides the viewer inside the Horitoshi family, masters of the ancient art of Tebori, a traditional Japanese technique of tattoo that dates back for centuries. The Japanese government has outlawed Tebori tattoos due to their underworld ties. For the first time ever, viewers will be able to see the small and secret society of the Horitoshi Family, as well as their rich culture, exotic land, the history and mythology of Japanese tattooing. While in Tokyo, Barth participates in underground festivals, rituals and gets tattooed on camera. Barth has gained much respect from the Horitoshi family throughout his career and is the only Westerner welcomed to immerse into this highly guarded world, which until now, the average person would have zero access. It is only through Barth’s accomplishments and stellar reputation that the viewer is given the key to this veiled community.

Philippines| Tagalog w/ English subtitles | 109 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Roni Bertubin PRODUCER: Juan Artemio Barron III WRITER: Romualdo Avellanosa CINEMATOGRAPHER: Gary Gardoce CAST: Ken Escudero, Wil Sandejas, Ashley Silverio, Sylvia Sanchez

SUN Oct 12, 5:30PM

Unspoken Passion Water flows through this beautiful Filipino film like the life force it is — pouring down upon or flooding into the key moments in the lives of two young men who meet as boys in a rural town and end up as male prostitutes in Manila. Whether it’s the river where they play as boys, the holy water sprayed at a religious festival, the filthy water that seeps through the Manila slums, the steaming water in the bathhouses where the young men ply their trade, or just the ever-present rain, these guys are always getting wet. Ken Escudero as Enzo and Wil Sadejas as Adong play the friends as young men. Their lifelong bond seems broken when Adong elopes with Melay (Ashley Silverio), leaving Enzo heartbroken and alone in the river, where the two had been happily skinny-dipping until she came along. Enzo soon embarks on a search for his friend that takes five years. They finally meet again when they are unwittingly booked as performers in the same gay sex show. Will the unspoken passion shared by these beautiful young men be forced into the open? - Frameline 74 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

*Mature content

FEATURES Japan I Japanese w/ English subtitles | 109 min. I Video I 2007 DIRECTOR: Fumihiko Sori PRODUCER: Toshiaki Nakazawa, Ichirô Takase,Yumiko Yoshihara WRITER: Haruka Handa, Fumihiko Sori CAST:Yasuko Matsuyuki, Meisa Kuroki

SAT Oct 11, 9:30PM

Vexille

Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

In the year 2067, Japan makes key breakthroughs in robot technology and isolates itself off from the rest of the world. A decade later, the Americans believe Japan is a threat, and send in a special forces unit led by Vexille (voiced by Meisa Kuroki) to investigate. After infiltrating Japan’s security, they discover something shocking: technology which has managed to blend human tissue with robot engineering, resulting in androids virtually indiscernible from real humans. Ambushed and left for dead,Vexille is rescued by local rebel Maria (Yatsuko Matsuyuki) who shares a common desire to take back their humanity and end the cybernetic tyranny. Together, they team up with a ragtag crew of insurgents to prevent the rest of the world from meeting the same sinister fate. Director Fumihiko Sori’s vivid depiction of dystopian Japan pays homage to “Bladerunner,” even down to its ass-kicking femme fatales. Heavily inspired by “Ghost In The Shell,” “The Matrix,” “Star Wars,” and “Road Warrior,” VEXVILLE is packed full of jaw-dropping action sequences and eye-popping visuals that rival the best of Hollywood films. An official selection in prestigious Toronto Int’l Film Festival, Anime Insider calls VEXVILLE “A must see!”

Vietnam | Vietnamese w/English subtitles | 142 min | 35mm | 2007 DIRECTOR: Huynh Luu PRODUCER: Huynh Luu, Raymond Lim WRITER: Huynh Luu CAST: Trong Anh Ngoc, Nguyen Khanh Quoc

SAT Oct 11, 5:20PM WED Oct 22, 8PM (RIVERSIDE) *Mature content

The White Silk Dress Co-presented by: SD Viet Meetup Group SDSU Vietnamese Student Association

Prior to the collapse of French colonial rule in Vietnam, Dau (Trong Anh Ngoc) and Gu (Nguyen Khanh Quoc) are lovers as well as servants from two different households in the picturesque Vietnamese town of Ha Dong. Both have suffered harshly at the hands of their cruel masters and lack the means to get married in the accepted sense. However, when Gu’s master is assassinated, Dau and Gu flee south and eventually ending up in the central Vietnamese seaside town of Hoi An. There, they raise a family with Dau eventually giving birth to four girls. Unfortunately, their loving family life becomes threatened when Gu learns how his wife Dau has been secretly earning money to support their family and as the horrors of the war begin to hit closer to home. Considered controversial by some, THE WHITE SILK DRESS was the Vietnamese representative at the 80th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language film category and the winner of the Audience Award at the Pusan International Film Festival. A tribute to the strength and heart of Vietnamese women, this evocative and elegant epic film will be sure to leave a lasting impression. Catch Them All! | 75

FEATURES USA | English Japanese w/ English subtitles | 90 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR: Risa Morimoto PRODUCER: Risa Morimoto, Linda Hoaglund WRITER: Linda Hoaglund

TUE Oct 14, 5:30PM

Wings of Defeat

Co-presented by: Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana

In the West, World War II Japanese kamikaze pilots are commonly remembered as a symbol of suicidal fanaticism. In Japan, the kamikaze pilots are held in reverence as patriots for committing the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their nation. Few outside of Japan realize that by the spring of 1945, all Japanese combat aircraft were reassigned to kamikaze missions and that hundreds of kamikaze pilots survived World War II. When director Risa Morimoto discovered that her late uncle was one these kamikaze pilots who survived the war, she was inspired to go to Japan and film interviews with other survivors. Through these interviews, we learn that the desperate Japanese military government, unwilling to face the inevitable defeat, forced young men to take on missions with no chance of survival. By blending these extraordinary interviews with rare combat footage and interviews with American military men who survived kamikaze attacks, WINGS OF DEFEAT pains a very different picture of kamikaze pilots, one that shatters the commonly held mythology.

S. Africa | 112 min. | Video | 2007 DIRECTOR/WRITER: Shamim Sarif EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Katherine Priestly, Lisa Tchenguiz-Imerman CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mike Downie CAST: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Parvin Dabas, Nandana Sen

SUN Oct 12, 1PM *Mature content

The World Unseen

*Lead actress Sheetal Sheth scheduled to attend Co-presented by: SDSU Women’s

In 1950’s South Africa, the dawn of apartheid places every detail of life under strict scrutiny. Yet here’s freespirited Amina (Sheetal Sheth, “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World”) scandalizing her Indian community. She’s broken all the rules by running a café, a safe haven of laughter, music, and a grey area for those who fall outside the strict black and white rules of the government. Miriam (Lisa Ray, Water), on the other hand, is a doting mother to her children and a demure and subservient wife to her chauvinistic husband, Omar. When Miriam meets Amina, their unexpected attraction throws them both off balance. Although Miriam manages to subdue her fascination with Amina, she finds herself slowly inspired to confront familiar and familial constraints. Shortly after their encounter Miriam moves to an isolated life in the country, but even here apartheid is placing its cruel footprint on society, and these injustices bring the two women together again, cementing the basis of their growing feelings. THE WORLD UNSEEN is also a revealing look at a rarely examined community that divides white from black and women from men, but also one that might just allow an unexpected love to survive. 76 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Resource Center, UCSD Women’s Center, USD Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Qualcomm, Inc.

FEATURES USA | 60 min. | Video | 2008 DIRECTOR: Daisy Lin Shapiro PRODUCERS: Aaron Shapiro, John Keitel, Stephen Liu

SUN Oct 12, 3:30PM *Director scheduled to attend Co-presented by: Families with Children from China - San Diego Chapter,

Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown

San Diego Mesa College Asian Pacific American Studies Program Committee, San Diego Mesa College Women’s Union, San Diego Mesa College Women’s Study

Ever since the very first Miss Chinatown was crowned in 1958, the titleholder has been a highly recognizable Asian American icon at once admired and reviled. Her dazzling smile, perfumed coif, tight Chinese dress and impeccable English is the picture of contentment - the perfect blend of East and West, old world continuity and modern sensibilities. Or, what some call, a caricature of the feminine and ethnic ideal, exploited and outdated.

Advisory Committee, SDSU Alpha Phi Gamma, San Diego Women’s Film Festival, UCSD Women’s Center

YOURS TRULY, MISS CHINATOWN goes behind the scenes of the 2003 Los Angeles Miss Chinatown pageant, delving into the lives of two pageant contestants during the pageant and the aftermath. Added to the mix is the anti-heroine, a Miss Chinatown imposter who dares to take on the myth, and playfully molds the symbol to reflect her own coming of age experiences. Following these women over several years, at a pivotal time in their lives, what emerges are some of the rarely heard voices of young Asian American women at the turn of the 21st century.

Barona.com

J.D. Power and Associates ranked Barona “Highest in Satisfaction in the Southern California Casino Gaming Experience.”

Catch Them All! | 77



 
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It’s our right and privilege. What a shame that statistics show Asian Pacific Islanders have the lowest voter registration and lowest voter turnout! WE can change that NOW!

- Register to vote in our lobby or online before October 20 - Come join us for our FREE Reel in the Vote program, October 14, 6PM - Enjoy our original PSAs Congrats to winner Henry Ahn - VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4! REEL IN THE VOTE is supported by grants from the CA Independent Voters Project, Episilon Systems Solutions, Hom Family Foundation, and Zero Divide, as well as marketing support from Katz & Associates Catch Them All! | 79

FOUNDATION & FESTIVAL STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Alexis Zukowski

Lee Ann Kim

ASSOCIATE FOUNDATION DIRECTOR Mye Hoang

PROGRAM DIRECTOR George Lin MARKETING COORDINATOR Daniel Matthews ARTISTIC PROGRAMMERS Michael Chen Sam Chen Gene Huh BUSINESS OPERATIONS Jocelyn Pakingan Michelle Tubon ENTRY & TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Jennifer Lo VOLUNTEER COORDINATORS Emil Ayoubkhan Megan Lam COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR Duke Tran GRAPHICS DESIGN Marilyn Jones Christopher Lee Diana Martinez Vince Martinez ONLINE CONTENT COORDINATOR Ryan Wong WEBSITE Steve Lukas Vince Martinez Ben Ting Connie Allen STREET TEAM Daniel Matthews, Coordinator Rachel Andrada Joseph Balan Christina Buquid Kimberly Conocono Mark Gadia Pamela Huynh Daniel Lew Traci Kanamori

REEL VOICES COORDINATOR Mike Watson REEL VOICES ASSISTANT Akira Chan REEL VOICES INTERNS Akio Mitsunaga Ryan Medel Al Pappas Elle Lipson Joska Charles Mari Jacobson Harrison Tong SPECIAL EVENTS Dennis-Michael Broussard Aya Ibarra Sheila Kanoya Kelly Lim Sophia Lukas Terry Matsuoka Monica Moon PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Chris Paffendorf FACILITIES COORDINATOR Anthony Noceda OPERATIONS Phil Luque Martin Johnson PROJECTIONISTS Trevor Behan Andi Brandenberg Akira Chan Brook Faleknstein Mye Hoang Arnold Marquez Jon Miller Chris Paffendorf Jake Zamzow GUEST SERVICES Nick Cichon Catherine Jaravata Julie Kim Diana Martinez BOX OFFICE & MERCHANDISING Dorian Wicks FILM FORUM Rachel Andrada Stephen Chin John Dacapias Mark Gadia

82 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Gene Huh Pamela Huynh Marilyn Jones Chris Paffendorf Rita Quach Tanya Shin Didi Tanadjaja Duke Tran Ken Wade INTERNS Jonathan Abhay Clint Baruch Matt Wong PROGRAM BOOKLET TEAM Vince Martinez Diana Martinez Sophia Lukas Marilyn Jones WRITERS Dr. Craig Reid PHOTOGRAPHERS Jose Bucud Daniel K. Lew Michael Domingo Rodney Regala Reggie Regala Allan Regala DOWN LOW TEAM Guilain Bwinika Jessica Chang Brian Corpuz Darryl Kim Eddie Kim Jinah Kim Gina Lee BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dan Hom, Chairman Lani Lutar,Vice Chair Jaejung Kim, Secretary Yanqun Zhou, Treasurer Henry Cheng Ray Hom Albert Lee Benjamin Lee Ed Lee Joe Mendoza Steve Peace Arturo Rivera Louis Song Yen Tu Eddie Wang-Rodriguez Sarah Yang FESTIVAL JURY Beth Accomando Rose Kuo

Ham Tran Chi-Hui Yang Jeff Yang PUBLIC RELATIONS Andy Hoang Katz& Associates CPA SERVICES Roger Gordon, CPA LEGAL REPRESENTATION Mintz Levin RIVERSIDE TEAM William Caganap Frank Hiroyasu Danny Kim Esther Kim Julie Kim Mariam Lam Judy Lee Rosalind Sagara Kristin Seiler Joe Virata Rodd Wingate Bryan Ziadie ASSISTANT TO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jini Shim

THANK YOU LIST 2008 AAJA San Diego

Neil Kendricks

Samuel Song

ABA San Diego

Margaret Kennedy, Town & Country

Weston Song

Jonathan Abhay

Danny Kim, UCR

Jimmy Tsai

Brent Altomare, Groovy Like A Movie

Darryl Kim

Alan Tse

Emlyn Aurelio, NICU

Eddie Kim, Pepsi

Ron Tuatagaloa

Glenn Barroga

Jay Kim, Paramount Pictures

Felix Tuyay, SWC

Ferris Bautista

Jinah Kim

Emilio Joe Virata, UCR

Amy Berry, Cox

Julie Kim

Mike Watson

Michelle Brega, Bank of America

Myung Soon Kim

Scott White

John Castillo, A-B

Anderson Le, HIFF

Simon Wong

Jessica Chang, AAJA SD

Wyman Lee, DCAPA Film

Ditas Yamane

Don Chareunsy

Mike Lomotan, Planet C

Kelly Yang, SW Airlines

Han Chen, Kyocera

David Magdael

Jeff Yang

John Cho

Solly Manalo, L&L

Julia Yang

Yuni Cho

Arnold Marquez

Sarah Yang

Josh Choi, KCCLA

Janine Mason, Fieldstone Foundation

Lily Yee, Goldilocks

Diana Chuh

Bryan Min, ESS

Tony Young, Councilmember

Leeva Chung, USD

Joe Min, Intertrend

Su-Mei Yu, Saffron

Pascal Courtin, Sidney Frank Importing Co.

Hope Murran, Time Warner

Timothy Yuen, Burkett & Wong

Matt D’Arrigo

Alex Nath, Town & Country

Rick Zeiler

Ranjit Dhindsa

Dustin Nguyen

John Ellison, UltraStar

Angela Rockwood-Nguyen

Abe Ferrer,VC

Grace Niwa

Rosemarie Finone

Ben Ortega, Sansai

Fritz Friedman, Sony Pictures

Bill Ostrem

Michele Goodson, FUNimation

Mark Palaganas, Intertrend

Roger Gordon CPA

Mike Palmer, Stone Brewing

Joe Gregore, Town & Country

Judy Patacsil, Miramar College

Joon Han, Better SD

Chris Principio

Jennifer Hasche, Intuit

Reggie Regala

Dan Hom, the KING

Rodney Regala

Gayle Hom

Craig Reid

Loretta Hom

Sharon Rhodes

Tom Hom

Angela Rockwood-Nguyen

Andy Hoang

Damon Rubio, UltraStar

Melanie Horn, Qualcomm

Shirley Sans, AT&T

Moses Hwang

Dana Sass, Barona

Aya Ibarra

Wally Schlotter

Daniel Jaimes

John Skrentny

Deborah Java

Jack Song

Rebecca Kelley, Office of Ron Roberts

Louis Song Catch Them All! | 83

PRINT SOURCE 6TH AND SANTA FE Mike Gunther 11333 Moorpark St. #166 Studio City, CA 91602 [email protected] 818-919-2525 818-932-1937 200 POUND BEAUTY KM Culture Co., Ltd. 3rd Fl., Bojun Bldg., Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-010 Korea 82 2 3438 3848 [email protected] 364 CRANES Vincent Lin 990 Avenue of the Americas #20P New York, NY 10018 [email protected] 917-826-4255 ABRIDGED Arjun Rihan 2620 Van Buren Pl Los Angeles, CA 90007 [email protected] 650-814-3145 ACCURACY OF DEATH Nippon Television Network Fumiko Nagata 1-6-1 Higashi Shimbashi, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-7444 Japan tel: +81-3-6215-3028 fax: +81-3-6215-3029 [email protected] AGAINST THE GRAIN Kevin Kolodinsky 5150 NE 9th Lane Ocala, FL 34470 [email protected] 352-236-4493

AIM FOR THE HEART: A GUIDE TO VAMPIRE DEFENSE Fernando Huerto 10058 Challenger Cir. Spring Valley, CA 91978 [email protected] 619-471-6517 ALIEN ABDUCTION David Han 309-311 East 37th Street, Apt. BW New York, NY 10016 [email protected] ALWAYS 1 &2 Nippon Television Network Fumiko Nagata 1-6-1 Higashi Shimbashi, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-7444 Japan tel: +81-3-6215-3028 fax: +81-3-6215-3029 [email protected] AN AMERICAN IN CHINA Ron Berrett 6914 Tujunga Ave North Hollywood, CA 91605 [email protected] 818-388-8023 818-947-0036 AN IMMIGRANT GIRL’S JOURNEY Alex Marino 11316 Ventura Blvd Studio City, CA 91604 [email protected] 818-506-5111 ANJALI Maya Anand anjalifi[email protected] 917-362-8452

AGAINST THE GRAIN: AN ARTIST’S SURVIVAL GUIDE TO PERU Ann Kaneko 12323 Culver Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066 [email protected] 310-390-1369

APPLE/BIRD & THE BEE “AGAIN & AGAIN” Dennis Liu 730 Columbus Ave Apt. 14D New York, NY 10025 [email protected] 917-912-1508 860-945-1072

THE AGENT David Kim 1159 Magnolia Ave. #1A Gardena, CA 90247 [email protected] 310-755-8546

THE ASIAN ARROW Richard B Quebral 1214 N. Gardner St. West Hollywood, CA 90046 [email protected] 323-318-4540

84 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

ASSEMBLY Huayi Brothers Pictures Kelly Pang [email protected] AWKWARD 140 Richardson St. Apt. 1 Brooklyn, NY 11211 [email protected] BATTLE OF THE ALBUM COVERS Curious Pictures 440 Lafayette Street, 6th floor New York, NY 10003 [email protected] BIG MAN JAPAN Matt Cowal Magnolia Pictures 49 West 27th Street, 7th Floor NY, NY 10001 (212) 924-6742 BITE ME Jason Fong [email protected] 916-541-2022 916-371-0799

CELEBRATION Visual Communications 120 Judge John Aiso Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 [email protected] CHILDREN OF THE STARS Rob Aspey 602. Unit 10, Block 31 Xing Fu Er Cun, Xing Dong Lu Chaoyang District Beijing, 100027 China [email protected] 312-688-3375 CHOCOLATE Sahamongkol Films Panu Aree panu@sahamongkolfilm.com COOKIES FOR SALE Wes Kim info@cookiesforsalefilm.com PO Box 31993 Seattle, WA, 98103 [email protected] 206-719-6261

BLOOD DEBTS Roland Nguyen 426 S. Occidental Blvd. #3 Los Angeles, CA 90057 rvnfi[email protected] 415-846-1579

A CRICKET IN THE COURT OF AKBAR Andrew Mendelson 448 W. 19th St., #3F New York, NY 10011 andrew@ragamalaproductions. com 917-658-7983

BLACK BELT Klockworkx Miku Kikuchi /International Sales 1-6-10 MF Bldg. 4F Ebisu Minami Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo JAPAN, 150-0022 tel: +81-35720-7791 fax :+8135720-7792

DAMN THE PAST! Juli Kang 1317 1/2 N. Stanley Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 [email protected] 323-851-9335

BOMBAY SKIES Rita Rani [email protected] 818-451-8223 BOOKIE Bao Tran 2010 N 153rd Pl Shoreline, WA 98133-6336 info@pov-films.com 206-910-6219 CALIFORNIA KING Eli Kaufman 717 Raymond Ave. #6 Santa Monica, CA 90405 [email protected] 310-450-7901

DANCE OF FREE BIRD Korean National University of the Arts L382-ho, San #1-5 Seoul 136-716 82.2.746.9549 [email protected] DANCE OF THE DRAGON Calvin Tan 442 Orchard Road #02-13 Singapore 238879 [email protected] (65) 67350818 (65) 67350812 DEAD MAN’S HOUR Nathan Kitada 5432 Franklin Avenue Apt. 207

Los Angeles, CA 90027 [email protected] 323-962-7748

Carlsbad, CA 92009 [email protected] 619-890-6199

DEAR HEIDI John Ferrie 2400 Buchanan St. Apt 104 San Francisco, CA, 94115 U SA [email protected] 617-669-9371 (Cell)

FOLLOW YOUR HEART : CHINA’S NEW YOUTH MOVEMENT Duncan Jepson 24th Floor, Winsome House, 71-73 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong duncan.jepson@creative-work. com 852-918-8288

DIRTY HANDS: THE ART & CRIMES OF DAVID CHOE Harry Kim 1315 S Oxford Ave Los Angeles, CA 90006 [email protected] 310-775-9232 DORORO Dir: Akihiko Shiota Universal Studios Home Entertainment 100 Universal City Plaza 1440/06 Universal City, CA 91608 [email protected] DRAWING PAPER Sunhee Kim [email protected] 82-2-838-2786 A DROP OF LIFE Shalini Kantayya 221 East 18th Street, #3C Brooklyn, NY 11226 [email protected] 646-393-5209 EAT Mitchel Dumlao 5161 San Lorenzo Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93111 [email protected] 805-708-1856 ESCAPING THE NORM Glenn Gimutao [email protected] FAMILY INC. Emily Ting [email protected] 852-6202-2696 THE FISH FALL IN LOVE Global Films Initiative 444 De Haro Street, #124 San Francisco, CA 94107 lisa@globalfilm.org FOLLOW THE SIGNS Steve Godwin 3121 Via Simpatia

FOSTER CHILD Ignatius Films Canada 1412 Seaview Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5J 1X5 Tel.: +63 2 747 6742 Mobile: +63 916 234 0268 ignatiusfi[email protected] GANDHI AT THE BAT Stephanie Argy 913 1/2 Manzanita Street Los Angeles, CA 90029-3009 [email protected] 323-663-9911 GENGHIS KHAN: TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH AND SEA 1200 Lakeside Parkway Bldg 1 Flower Mound, TX michele.goodson@funimation. com GIVING CARE Steven Payne 543 45th Street, Suite 2 Brooklyn, NY 11220 [email protected] 646-267-2688 HALF-LIFE Green Finch Pictures 200 West 20th Street #815 NY, NY 10011 reuben@halflifemovie.com HALLUCII Goo-Shun Wang 339 Lexington Ave Apt# 4R New York, NY 10016 [email protected] 646-651-5748

P.O. Box 39548 Los Angeles CA 90039 info@deepfocusproductions. com THE HOUSE OF SHARING Hein Seok 297 Montgomery St. #3W Jersey City, NJ 7302 [email protected] 661-373-6225 JOSIE’S LALALAND [email protected] JUST Edward Gunawan 5593 1/2 Village Green Los Angeles, CA 90016 323.842.9874 [email protected] KALI MA Soman Chainani No Pressure Productions 2790 Broadway, #2 New York, NY, 10025 nopressurefi[email protected] 917 693 7280 (Day) KETCHUP Wenchung Lu 25236 Running Horse Rd. New Hall, CA 91321 [email protected] THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE Jimmy Tsai 2100 Sawtelle Blvd. Ste.101 Los Angeles, CA, 90025 ryan@cherryskyfilms.com 3104798001 (Work)

LIGHT MY FIRE (see Dance of Freebird) LIGHT YEARS Richard Martin 24889 Nueva Vista Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 [email protected] 949-510-0689 866-612-9904 THE LITTLE KNAVE Sarah Campbell Portland, OR 97214 sarahnaomi@ framespersecondfilms.com 503-756-5156 LITTLE MANILA: FILIPINOS IN CALIFORNIA’S HEARTLAND Media Factory 2600 Tenth St. Ste. 600 Berkely, CA [email protected] LOOK AGAIN Jennifer Lin 1809 Sacramento St Berkeley, CA 94702 lookagainfi[email protected] 510-388-6061 510-647-8196 LOVERS Carl Zhang [email protected] 61-412-218-179 MAGAZINE GAP ROAD Nicholas Chin Hong Kong nick@taitaifilms.com +852 94041811

KISSING COUSINS Amyn Kaderali 438 S.Venice Blvd. #1 Venice, CA 90291 [email protected] 310-591-8764

MAGICICADA 1327 Solera Lane #1 Diamond Bar, CA 91765 [email protected]

KNEES Minhyun Park [email protected] 917-361-4087

MAMO’S WEEDS Akira Boch 1034A Magnolia Street Los Angeles, CA 91030 [email protected] 626-441-6926

HELLCATS CJ Entertainment 1801 Century Park East Suite 1901 Los Angeles, CA 90067 [email protected]

L: CHANGE THE WORLD (See Always 1 & 2) LALALAND Ronnarit Lueangwattanakij 99-56 63rd. Ave. #2R Rego Park, NY 11374 [email protected] 646-934-5297

HOLLYWOOD CHINESE Deep Focus Productions

LEGEND (see Celebration)

THE MEANING OF TEA Scott Chamberlin-Hoyt [email protected] 212-691-8899 MEAT DAYS Wen-ming Hsieh [email protected] [email protected] Catch Them All! | 85

MISS POPULARITY Sharon Bradley Vivo Media Art Centre 1965 Main St.Vancouver BC V5T 3C1 [email protected]

THE OH-MALLEYS IN DADDY’S MY MERCEDES Chil Kong 2041 N.Vermont Ave #400 LA, CA 90027 [email protected] 818-554-0977

Leo Matsuda 5648 BAY ST APT 623 Emeryville, CA 94608-2443 [email protected]

MOON LADY Sulyn Zan 111 Somerville Rd Ridgewood, NJ 7450 [email protected] 201-447-9021

OH SAIGON Nuoc Pictures 317 Hicks St., Ste. 8 Brooklyn, NY 11201 [email protected]

THE RED RACE Chao Gan 298 Weihai Road Shanghai, 200041 China [email protected] 62870089

THE MOUSE TRAP [email protected]

OPEN CITY (see Hellcats)

MY FATHER Lotte Cinema, Justin Choi 1556-4, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu Seoul, 137-873, KOREA Tel: 822.3470.3596 [email protected]

PASSAGE Angela How 1400 N. Gardner Street, #3 Los Angeles, CA 90046 [email protected] 323-969-0756

MY FIRST CRUSH Rocky Jo 8500 Steller Drive Building 7 Culver City, CA 90232 contact@bbfilms.net 310-467-7788

PASSING POSTON jfox@flywall.com nubile@flywall.com

MYSTIC BALL Black Rice Productions 795 Fifth Ave. Suite 1007 New York, NY 10021 1 212 591 6029 [email protected] NADAL VS. ALIEN Hyungkee Lee Dmc E3-2, Sang-am Dong, Mapo Gu Dmc R&d Center # 305 Seoul, Seoul 121-270 822-380-3346 [email protected] NEW AGING Jason Wong 808 Greenridge Drive La Canada, CA 91011 [email protected] 818-790-8868 NI HAO, KAI-LAN Nick Jr. & NOGGIN Brand Marketing 1515 Broadway NY, NY 10013 [email protected] OCEAN OF PEARLS P.O. Box 99411 Troy, MI 48099-9411 [email protected]

A PASSING RAIN 4FL., BaekAk B/D, 135-4 Seoul 110-043 82.2.722.6055 [email protected] PING PONG PLAYA IFC Films 11 PENN PLAZA, 15TH FL. NY, NY 10001 646.273.7260 [email protected] PLANET B-BOY Vicky Wight Elephant Eye Films 27 W. 20th Street, Suite 607 New York, NY 10011 vicky@elephanteyefilms.com PLEASE VOTE FOR ME Steps International 7 Glynville Terrace Gardens Cape Town, Western Cape 8001 South Africa [email protected] +27 21 465 5805 THE POSSUM Chris Choy 819 NW 23rd Ave Portland OR 97210 [email protected] THE POSTCARD Josh Kim [email protected] PREKISSTORIC TIMES

86 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

PUBLIC ENEMY RETURNS (see Hellcats)

RESIDUE Sothea Pictures 9140 Grammercy Dr, #297 San Diego, CA 92123 619-822-3080 [email protected] S/HE Sharon Bradley VIVO Media Art Centre 1965 Main St.Vancouver BC V5T 3C1 [email protected] SANTA MESA Louise Lovegrove 7 East 14th Street Apt 726 New York, NY 10003 [email protected] 917-701-8289 SAVE RON JR. Infrastructure Productions [email protected] SECRET 1212 Tower Two, Admirality Ctr 040 Hong Kong makolivia@edkofilm.com.hk SEXY GIRL AND CARPENTER DongKeun Lee 1472-13. #501, Seochodong, Seochoku Seoul, 137-073 South Korea [email protected] 82-10-9041-4254 SHADOWS IN THE PALACE (see Hellcats) SHAME Mu-Nan Pictures, LLC Jill Schneider 631-766-3799 930 Second Ave. Suite 4A NY, NY 10005 SHOOTING STAR 806 N. HUNTINGTON Blvd. Pomona CA 91768

[email protected] SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THE MEKONG Jorge Ornelas [email protected] 323-644-7800 SMILE Julia Kwan 2957 Grant Street Vancouver, BC V5K 3H6 Canada fi[email protected] 778-889-6271 SLINGSHOT (TIRADOR) (see Foster Child) SNAP-SHOT Suel Kim suelfi[email protected] 646-673-1308 SNOW DAY Karen Sullivan Ringling College of Art And Design 2700 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 33569 [email protected] SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA Joyce Wong 2 Rednor Rd. Toronto, ON M4C4B4 Canada joyce.fi[email protected] 647-226-1561 SPORTS AND DIVERSIONS Bum Lee Park Ville C, Apt. 201 Neung-dong 314-3 Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-847 South Korea [email protected] THE STATE OF SUNSHINE Kathy Barber A3100 University Center Tallahassee, FL 32306-2350 kbarber@film.fsu.edu 850-645-4840 850-644-2626

THE STORY OF SPIRITS Tien Nguyen [email protected] SWIMMING MOON Nahomi Maki [email protected] 213-200-3328 A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD

PRAYERS Magnolia Pictures 9100 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, CA 90212 424.731.0068 [email protected] TIFFIN Ai Lene Chor 5256 N Glenwood Ave. #N1 Chicago, IL 60640 [email protected] 773-835-5363 TIMELESS Jeffrey Ferrer [email protected] 619-632-0068 THE TRIDENT Anurag Mehta 1510 11th Street Suite 102 Santa Monica, CA 90401 310-699-8094 TRIPLE 8 PALACE Alexander Ku 417 Grand Street, D905 New York, NY 10002 [email protected] 646-610-9610 UNDER THE SKIN Mario Barth 15 Van Orden Pl Hackensack, NJ 7601 [email protected] 201-342-4446 201-342-7499 UNSPOKEN PASSION (see Foster Child) UNTITLED Edward Kim [email protected] 909-835-0822 VEXILLE FUNimation Films Michele Goodson 1200 Lakeside Parkway Bldg 1 Flower Mound, TX michele.goodson@funimation. com WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FOURTH DATE Mrinalini Kamath 26 Kingston Terrace Princeton, NJ 8540 [email protected] 609-921-1545

WIANBU – COMFORT WOMAN James Bang 20 Newport Pkwy #1903 Jersey City, NJ 7310 [email protected] 917-743-7263 WINGS OF DEFEAT Risa Morimoto 21 Chittenden Avenue, #4 New York, NY 10033 morimoto@edgewoodpictures. com 212-928-2580 THE WOMEN’S KINGDOM German Camera Productions LLC Brent Huffman 15998 Maricopa Highway Ojai, CA 93023 (805) 646-1204 [email protected] THE WORLD UNSEEN Aida Kattan 330 N. Maple Street, Unit G Burbank, CA 91505 fi[email protected] 818-388-2868 YELLOW STICKY NOTES Jeff Chiba Stearns 2327 Belgo Road Kelowna, AB V1P 1E1 Canada [email protected] 250-215-4733 YOU WILL REMEMBER Yasmine Gomez 1368 11th Ave San Francisco, CA 94122 fl[email protected] 510-290-1942 YOURS TRULY, MISS CHINATOWN Daisy Shapiro 11120 Braddock Drive Culver City, CA 90230 [email protected] 310-559-7907 YOU’VE GOT MALE Chris Nguyen chris@cherryskyfilms.com

THE WHITE SILK DRESS [email protected] Catch Them All! | 87

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PROUD SUPPORTER SINCE 2001

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Some dream about extraordinary beauty. Others bring it to life. For creating the exceptional from the ordinary and inspiring creativity, Bank of America is proud to support the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. Visit us at www.bankofamerica.com.

Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender ~ © 2008 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. ART-50

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The Junior Seau Foundation Is Proud To Support The San Diego Asian Film Festival

www.juniorseau.org 858-244-SEAU

We are pleased to sponsor the 9th annual

San Diego Asian Film Festival We applaud your commitment to upholding and sharing the diverse legacy of Asian Pacific Islanders through the media arts.

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What’s the one word that describes you? PROVEN. If that’s the one word that describes you, we want to talk to you. We help some of the best companies in Southern California find people like you that are PROVEN professionals in the areas of Information Technology, Engineering, Finance & Accounting, and Scientific. For more information, please contact Louis Song directly at 858-412-1122 or [email protected].

Time Warner Cable is Proud to Sponsor the Asian Film Festival And nobody says that better than our employees...

Sarina Dahlan Marketing Manager

Tôi r t hãnh di n vì chúng tôi là ng i b o tr. Le Quang Lead Spec, Database IT

Ako ay natutuwa na kami ay sumusuporta. Pam Pantua Executive Assistant

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Innovating tomorrow.

At Sony, we are dedicated to improving lives through technological innovations and passion for our community.

A neighbor in the San Diego community for more than 30 years, Sony Electronics Inc. supports charitable organizations in education, healthcare, the environment

and the arts. Our commitment to create a better tomorrow starts with making a difference today.

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the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival.

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BEST BUY SUPPORTS THE SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTVAL

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The most exciting music experience in San Diego! The Mozarts: All in the Family October 3, 6, 7

Asian Silk Road November 14, 17, 18

The Creation: Haydn’s Masterpiece February 9, 10, 13

Jung-Ho Pak

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream March 6, 9, 10

HANDEL’S

Handel: 250 Years April 6, 7, 17

Beethoven: Rebel with a Cause May 11, 13, 15

Artistic Director and Conductor

Masterpiece Messiah December 12, 13, 14

Our famous period performance of the Messiah with images of great art masterpieces.

3 venues, 3 experiences: 4U
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Simon Wong Engineering is proud to support the San Diego Asian)LOP)RXQGDWLRQ

www.simonwongeng.com 858.566.3113

Structural Design

Bridge Design

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A Big Round of Applause For

Pam Slater-Price

Ron Roberts

Greg Cox

for your continuous and invaluable support of arts, culture, and diversity in our region.

Our Patrons, Members And Filmmakers Thank You!

                               

        

WORLDWISE PRODUCTIONS

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9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

SPECIAL ALL COFFEE AND TEA BASED DRINKS AT 2 FOR 1 PRICE.(with ticket stub) Special will be valid through and including Saturday, October 18, 2008.

Hours Monday through Friday 6:30–4 Sat. 7–4 (Closed on Sunday) We carry fresh baked bakery items from our ovens, plus breakfast and lunch.

Intermezzo Espresso 7610 Hazard Center Dr (Level three at Hazard center, next to Barnes and Noble)

(619) 296-5282

NO OTES...

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PRINTING GENEROUSLY DONATED BY THE OFFICE OF COUNTY SUPERVISOR RON ROBERTS PRINTED BY PCH LITHO