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FILMS BY CHINESE AMERICANS, AS WELL AS FILMS FROM THE CHINESE DIASPORA AND THE MAINLAND

22nd SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL, MARCH 4-11, 2004 IN SAN FRANCISCO AND BERKELEY, AND MARCH 19-21, 2004 IN SAN JOSE

The 22nd San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) offers more than 35 films and videos from Chinese and Chinese American filmmakers. The Festival unspools March 4-11 at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres and the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and at the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley and March 19-21 at the Camera 3 Cinemas in San Jose. For more information or tickets please telephone (415) 856-1588 or visit www.naatanet.org/festival on the internet.

Opening night at this year's Festival is the latest from acclaimed Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, the sumptuous martial arts epic HERO. With cinematography by Christopher Doyle (CHUNGKING EXPRESS/SFIAAFF 1995), choreography from Ching Siu-Tung (CHINESE GHOST STORY), and the A-list of Chinese acting talent (Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, and Zhang Ziyi), HERO unspools the fictionalized but majestic action tale of the first emperor of China's attempts at unifying his country. The party continues afterwards with a gala reception at the Asian Art Museum.

The Festival is also proud to announce a tribute to legendary Chinese American actress Anna May Wong. As the world's first Asian American movie star, she is now being celebrated as new generations rediscover her films. Her work was often applauded, yet she was just as frequently criticized for her stereotyped roles. The Festival offers a Centerpiece Presentation of E.A. Dupont's silent classic PICCADILLY (1929), screening along with an original score performed live by acclaimed pianist Jon Jang. Also slated is a retrospective of some of her greatest performances, including Spotlight screenings of THE TOLL OF THE SEA (1922), SHANGHAI EXPRESS (1932) and DAUGHTER OF SHANGHAI (1937). The Anna May Wong tribute also includes a panel discussion with actresses, academics and critics who will assess—from personal and professional perspectives—the career of Ms. Wong.

Always crowd-pleasers are feature films from Chinese American filmmakers. Slated are Ching C. Ip's road movie SEE YOU OFF TO THE EDGE OF TOWN, about a family of Hong Kong tourists stranded in the American desert; Anne Marie Fleming's THE MAGICAL LIFE OF LONG TACK SAM, a documentary rediscovery of her once famous great-grandfather, the celebrated Vaudeville magician and acrobat; James Hou's MASTERS OF THE PILLOW, a non-fiction account of the making of UC-Davis professor Darrell Hamamotošs first-ever Asian American skin flick.

Also popular are films from China or by Chinese directors. Included are Li Ying's DREAM CUISINE, a loving look at a septuagenarian restauranteuring couple in Japan; Lou Ye's PURPLE BUTTERFLY, a love story set amidst the anti-Japanese resistance movement in 1930s China, starring Zhang Ziyi (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) ; Riley Ip's JUST ONE LOOK, a coming-of-ager set during the height of Bruce Lee mania, 1970s Hong Kong; and a rare screening of King Hu's classic 1965 wuxia film COME DRINK WITH ME, starring the luminous actress Cheng Peipei..

Short films by Chinese American makers include Ed Chen's RATTLE; Jimmy Ren's CAUGHT!; Kevin Lee's ON GUARD; David Au's FRESH LIKE STRAWBERRIES; Ann Marie Fleming's BLUE SKIES; Jenn Kao's THE PLUG; Kevin Choi's GAME BOY; Kristina Cheryl Wong's BEAT THE BUS!; Christine Choy's SPARROW VILLAGE; Angela Cheng's ESME SEEKING; Cynthia Liu's A. EYE FOR THE WHITE GUY, and a sneak peak snippet from Quentin Lee's forthcoming feature, ETHAN MAO. Other short works are Eugenia Chan's video for Bay Area punkers Clarendon Hills' song "In My Head (The Phone Is Dead)", Monkmus' video for Kid Koala's "Basin Street Blues," Sharon Dang's video for Versus' "LINUS," and Jacky's video for Sammi's "LET'S GO."

Also of interest is the world premiere of Cheuk C. Kwan's CHINESE RESTAURANTS: SONG OF THE EXILE, an exploration of these family-run businesses in some rather unexpected locales—Israel, South Africa, and Turkey; as well as Shih-Ching Tsou and Sean Baker's TAKE OUT, a CHAN IS MISSING-like mix of documentary-style realism and suspenseful storytelling that paints a stark picture of life behind the counter of a NYC Chinese take-out restaurant.

The 22nd San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival is supported in part by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Asian Art Museum, California Arts Council, Community Technology Foundation, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Grants for the Arts, Koret Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, NOON, San Francisco Film and Video Arts Commission, and the Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation.

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, runs March 4-11, 2004 at the AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres, 1881 Post Street, and the Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street in San Francisco and at the Pacific Film Archive, 2575 Bancroft Way in Berkeley, and March 19-21 at the Camera 3 Cinemas, Second and Carlos Street in San Jose. For more information, please telephone (415) 865-1588 or visit www.naatanet.org/festival on the internet.