Coming Soon - SFIAAFF!

Just a quick head’s up to what’s on the horizon other than all the Cinequest films I’m still trying to squeeze in: the 30th Annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.
With 102 Films and Videos in 98 Screenings I’m sure there’s something for absolutely everyone…

I’m excited that among the 10 World Premieres, 7 US Premieres and 20 San Francisco Premieres there is the centerpiece feature Yes We’re Open which is as San Francisco of a production as you can get with writer H.P. Medoza and Director Richard Wong showcasing the world of a modern liberal couple from social politics to sex as they meet a polyamorous couple who challenge their assumptions about themselves.

Opening night promises to be an exciting affair with the world premiere of White Frog, Quentin Lee’s latest film about what appears to be a perfect family as things slowly unravel. While I haven’t had the chance to see it yet, I’m looking forward to seeing the all star cast of Joan Chen, B.D. Wong, and Harry Shum Jr. both onscreen and in attendance for what I’m sure will be a memorable evening in the Castro Theater. Following the screening the festivities continue at the beautiful Asian Art Museum where the opening night Gala offers the chance for fans of cinema to mingle with the film makers and community organizers who bring the festival to life.

Joan Chen will also be the focus of this year’s spotlight with a 
screening
 of 
her 
directorial
 debut 
”Xiu 
Xiu:
The 
Sent‐ Down 
Girl”
 and she will also be present at 
a “
Saving 
Face” 
reunion 
screening,
 with 
many
 cast 
and
 crew 
present. Her fans will thus get three chances to see her: March 8th, 9th, and 12th. I’m personally quite excited for Saving Face to be on a big screen as I only recently saw it and found it a charming and unconventional comedy which appeals to all generations. I will also be attending the spotlight screenings so you can expect more on this later.

I also am excited to see that Joan Chen is not the only actress with multiple films, as Lynn Chen also in Saving Face seems to be making a comeback with a packed schedule for this year’s festival appearing in “Yes We’re Open”, “Daylight Savings”, “Nice Girls Crew”, and of course the reunion screening of “Saving Face”. Her costar in “Saving Face” Michelle Krusiec is also going to be with her in “Nice Girls Crew” along with Sheetal Sheth who is additionally also costarring in “Yes We’re Open”. Meanwhile the writer of “Yes We’re Open”, H.P. Mendoza will also be premiering his new horror film “I Am A Ghost” and Dave Boyle who directs “Day Light Savings” also appears in “Yes We’re Open” With this amount of talent overlapping both in front of and behind the camera, it seems SFIAAFF’s aim of offering a stage to both established and up and coming talent is right on target.
The party will continue with the annual Directions in Sound showcasing the contributions of Asian American musicians while offering festival goers yet another chance to party and connect. I found this event particularly enjoyable last year and am looking forward to hearing the artists.

By the end of next week I’ll be coming back to San Jose as the festival migrates south to make sure Asian Americans in the south bay have the same opportunity to enjoy cinema within their community. Film goers currently at Cinequest which will end March 11th will thus have the ability to continue seeing festival films in the same theaters beginning Thursday night with the San Jose Opening night screening of Knots followed by yet another Gala.

If you want to buy tickets to any of these events or see what else the Center for Asian American Media has up their sleeve, check out caamedia.org.

With that said – I’m off to movies!