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Press Release: Spotlight on Loni DingFirst "Spotlight Program" Focuses on Loni Ding atthe 19th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival In celebration of her distinguished career, visionary Bay Area Chinese American filmmaker, teacher and advocate Loni Ding will be the subject of the first San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival "Spotlight Program" which takes place Tuesday March 13, 7:00 pm at the AMC Kabuki 8 and Wednesday, March 14, 7:30 pm at the Pacific Film Archive. The annual "Spotlight Program" close-up will provide an in-depth look at the career achievements of a selected member of the Asian American media arts community in special programs at each Festival. During her almost thirty years as an independent producer Ms Ding's work has ranged from a five-part children's series on multicultural identity, BEAN SPROUTS to hard-hitting documentaries about little-known histories or social justice issues like THE COLOR OF HONOR, and WILLI LOBO MANCHILD. In her current project, ANCESTORS IN THE AMERICAS, Ms Ding's commitment to social justice and the stories from her community find a new form of expression as she pioneers a "poetics of history" in a lyrically beautiful trilogy. The interplay between the personal and historical invites a new understanding of American history in her series. Through her work as a college educator and mentor, Ms Ding has influenced a whole generation of new media makers. At the "Spotlight" event Ms Ding will be in conversation with Barbara Abrash (Associate Director of Center for Media, Culture, and History at NYU). Clips from Ms Ding's films throughout the interview will illustrate her unique and honest cinematic vision. Loni Ding's career as a pioneering filmmaker, media policy advocate, and university teacher has earned wide praise in the academic and art worlds. Her awards include several Emmy Awards, a RockefellerFellowship (1994), a Guggenheim Fellowship (1982), a Director's Fellowship from the American Film Institute (1983), a James Phelan Award for Video (1988), and the Steven Tatsukawa Memorial Fund (1985), honoring her works devoted to Asian Pacific Americans. As a spokesperson and community advocate, Ms Ding has helped launch various organizations including the Neighborhood Arts Program of the San Francisco Art Commission, the National Asian American Television Association (NAATA), the Independent Television Service (ITVS), and San Francisco PBS station KQED's "Open Studio." Ms Ding's productions have screened at the London, Mannheim, and Berlin International Film Festivals. Her work has been broadcast on PBS in 14 national programs, and played to audiences on four continents, reaching corners of the world such as Israel, Korea, Japan (NHK), United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. NISEI SOLDIER and THE COLOR OF HONOR, two of Ms Ding's films on the political and moral dilemmas faced by Japanese American soldiers serving in World War II, were shown to the U.S. Congress as part of their legislative hearings in 1987 and 1988 on Japanese American Redress and Reparations. Her work helped facilitate the passage of the Civil Liberties Act granting reparations to the Japanese American community signed in 1988 by Ronald Reagan. Loni Ding's ANCESTORS IN THE AMERICAS, the first in-depth TV series to present the untold history and contemporary legacy of early (1700s - 1900s) Asian immigrants to the Americas will premiere nationally on PBS as Prime Time Specials on Friday, March 23, 2001 (Part 1) and Friday, March 30, 2001 (Part 2). Loni Ding currently teaches in the Asian American and Ethnic Studies Department of the University of California, Berkeley and has been a Distinguished Visiting Professor at other universities including the New School for Social Research in New York. Ms Ding is Co-President of the national board of the New York-based Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers; most recently she was appointed to serve on a Distinguished Blue Ribbon Commission to advise the Smithsonian Institution on its review and overhauling of themes and methods of presentation in the 21st century, focused on "What Is An American?". Last year's Festival was host to more than 100 filmmakers, industry, and special guests from Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Hong Kong and around the globe. With more than 25 programs selling out, over 15,000 filmgoers attended the 18th annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival 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. NAATA does this by funding, producing, distributing, and exhibiting films, videos, and new media to the broadest audience possible. The 2001 SFIAAFF's Premier Sponsors include 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, Asian Week, and YOLK Magazine.
For more information about NAATA, please visit Selected Filmography:
1974 WILLIE LOBO: MANCHILD (Producer, Director)
1975 600 MILLENIA: CHINA'S HISTORY UNEARTHED (Producer, Director, Writer, Editor)
1980 BEAN SPROUTS (Producer, Director, Writer, Editor)
1984 NISEI SOLDIER (Producer, Director, Writer, Editor)
1989 THE COLOR OF HONOR (Producer, Director, Writer, Editor)
2001 ANCESTORS IN THE AMERICAS (Producer)
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