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19th SFIAAFF Wraps Up

Press Release: 19th SFIAAFF Wraps Up

19th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival Successful Fest Wraps With More Sell-Outs, Same Attendance For Fewer Programs

The 19th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) closed its San Francisco leg on Thursday, March 15 with a sold out screening of Gene Cajayon's directorial debut film, THE DEBUT at San Francisco's 653 seat AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres. This year's Festival attracted 15,000 filmgoers (the same number as last year's Fest), but sold out almost half of its shows (28 of 62 program), while expanding the Festival's venues with screenings in San Jose (March 17-18). The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, the largest showcase for Asian American and Asian film and filmmakers in the country, presents diverse feature-length and short works from across the Asian Diaspora; offers engaging panel discussions, showcases musical events, and welcomes filmmakers in from around the globe.

The sold out screenings at the AMC Kabuki Theater included: in House 1 (653 seats): two screenings of "The Flip Side," the world premiere of "The Chinatown Files," and "The Debut;" in House Three (254 seats): two screenings of "Annyong Kimchi," "The Wrestlers," the world premiere of "The Split Horn," Blue Love shorts program, Urge To Purge shorts program, Grrrrls, Uninterrupted shorts program, Homo Knock Knock shorts program, and Smells Like Teen Spirit shorts program; in House 4 (223 seats): two screenings of "Roads And Bridges," two screenings of "Cut Runs Deep," two screenings of "Love/Juice," "The Wrestlers," "Dog Food," "Shadow Magic," "Hidden Whisper," and "Help!!!;" and in House 2 (160 seats): "The Iron Ladies." The sold out programs at Pacific Film Archive (222 seats) in Berkeley include "The Wrestlers" and "Maryam." "The Debut" sold out in San Jose at the Camera 3 Cinemas (268 seats).

This year's festival was bookended by Filipino American filmmakers with strong Bay Area ties: Rod Pulido's "The Flip Side" and Gene Cajayon's "The Debut." Kicking off the Festival was Rod Pulido's feature film directorial debut "The Flip Side," a slightly skewed comic stew of cultural identity, sibling rivalry and Filipino American family dysfunction. Before the screening San Francisco Film and Video Arts Commissioner Lily Chan presented a Mayoral proclamation declaring the coming days "Filipino American Film Week." After the screening was a fabulous gala reception at San Francisco Art Institute with the filmmaker and talent. Capping off the Festival offerings was Gene Cajayon's delightful Filipino American romantic family drama "The Debut," starring the Basco Brothers (Dante, Darion, Dion and Derek). After the screening festival-goers came out in force at a lively reception at Fort Mason Center with the filmmakers and talent.

The festival was host to more than 130 filmmakers, directors, programmers, and guests from around the world, including Matsue Tetsuaki from Japan, the director of the hugely popular "Annyong Kimchi," and Raymond Red (director of "Anino") from The Philippines, as well as representatives from PBS, MTV and ten different Asian American film festivals in North America. Asian American filmmakers and actors in attendance included Abraham Lim (director of "Roads And Bridges"), Lily Mariye (award-winning director of "The Shangri-La Cafe," and star of TV's E.R.), and Ann Hu (director of "Shadow Magic").

"This year's festival was a great success not only on a critical level, but also as a community event," explained Festival Director Chi-hui Yang. "The support, care and generosity which were extended to the Festival and filmmakers was incredible and very inspirational for the planning of our Twentieth Anniversary next year!"

Festival highlights include: the world premiere of Amy Chen's "The Chinatown Files," a searing look at Chinese Americans who were persecuted under McCarthyism, which received a standing ovation from its sold-out audience; the Thao family (who traveled from Wisconsin) were also warmly welcomed at the screening of "The Split Horn," Taggart Siegel's fifteen-year look at the Hmong clan; and Abraham Lim's (editor for Robert Altman) directorial debut "Roads And Bridges," a sizzling look at racism, friendship and hot black-top, was such a crowd-pleaser that a third screening was added after the first two sold out.

Another hot event for audiences was the second year of DIRECTIONS IN SOUND, a combination of video screenings and live musical performances. Introduced as a one-day event at the SFIAAFF 2000, DIRECTIONS IN SOUND expanded this year to two venues (Justice League and Cafˇ du Nord) in San Francisco and both dates were a box office hit. Another perennial Festival favorite is the Community Unity screenings -- special shows that bring local high- and middle-school students together with filmmakers to discuss their movies and motives, which attracted more than 1000 Bay Area teens.

"It was an awesome ten days," exclaimed Eddie Wong, Executive Director of NAATA. "We are energized by the annual exchange between filmmakers and audiences, which increases the public's awareness of a growing, mature and diverse body of Asian American film and video work. Moreover, the festival remains grounded as a community event, highly accessible and enjoyable to all."

The SFIAAFF is produced and presented by NAATA (National Asian American Telecommunications Association). Founded in 1980, NAATA's mission is to present stories that convey the richness and diversity of the Asian Pacific American experience. We do this by funding, producing, distributing and exhibiting films, videos and new media to the broadest audience possible.

The SFIAAFF 2001 is supported by its Premier Sponsors: Chevron, California State Automobile Association, Wells Fargo Bank, AsianAvenue.com, and the Commodore Hotel. Executive Sponsors include BayArea.com. Media Sponsors include KRON TV, Bay TV, KQED TV, KTSF TV, San Francisco Bay Guardian, The Mercury News/Viet Mercury/Nuevo Mundo, Asian Week, and YOLK Magazine.

For more information about SFIAAFF, please visit
www.naatanet.org/festival/2001.

Check out SFIAAFF 2001 Gallery