UPDATE: SIFF starts today!
[5/12 UPDATE: Added the film Apart from That, another local production that features actors Toan Le and Wanda Chinn-Hanson.
5/25 UPDATE: Added the film Wrestling With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner by Freida Lee Mock.]
The massive film orgy otherwise known as Seattle International Film Festival is upon us. Here's a selection of picks of particular interest to Asian American cinephiles:
May 26
Boy Culture - New feature from Filipino American filmmaker Q. Allan Brocka (EATING OUT). Based on the novel by Matthew Rettenmund and produced in Seattle. A "Gay"-la presentation with a big party afterwards.
a/k/a Tommy Chong - Documentary about the half-Chinese half of the famous comedy duo Cheech & Chong and his hounding by the federal government.
May 27
Boy Culture - Encore screening.
Asian Pacific American Community Stories - Okay, just kidding -- this isn't a SIFF presentation, but come see it anyways!
May 29
Fly Filmmaking Challenge - SIFF's annual filmmaking shoot-'em-up. Keep an eye out for J. Brad Wilke's entry featuring a bumper crop of local Asian American talent.
May 30
a/k/a Tommy Chong - Encore screening.
May 31
Apart from That - A locally produced ensemble drama featuring Northwest actors Toan Le and Wanda Chinn-Hanson.
June 1
Apart from That - Encore screening.
June 2
3 Needles - Canadian drama with Lucy Liu and Sandra Oh in featured roles.
Bickford Shmeckler’s Cool Ideas - Offbeat comedy with John Cho in a supporting role.
June 3
Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas - Encore screening.
Wresting With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner - From filmmaker Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision).
June 5
Wresting With Angels: Playwright Tony Kushner - Encore screening.
June 6
3 Needles - Encore screening.
June 10
Eve and the Fire Horse - Acclaimed coming-of-age tale from Canadian filmmaker Julia Kwan. Official selection at Toronto and prize-winner at Sundance and Vancouver. Good buzz.
June 11
Man Push Cart - First feature from Iranian-American director Ramin Bahrani. Big festival buzz -- Venice, London, Sundance, New Directors/New Films.
On a Wire and a Prayer - Dying to make your own wire-fu epic? Then you cannot miss this master class brought to you by instructors from the International Stunt School and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office.
June 12
Sentenced Home - Heart-wrenching doc about Cambodian Americans forcibly deported to Cambodia thanks to ever-tightening US immigration law. Features Seattle-area subjects; producer Nicole Newnham expected to attend the screening.
June 13
Eve and the Fire Horse - Encore screening.
June 14
Fly Filmmaking Challenge - Encore screening.
Man Push Cart - Encore screening.
Americanese - One of the most eagerly anticipated Asian American feature films of the year. Based on the novel AMERICAN KNEES by UW professor Shawn Wong. Lots of good festival buzz from Sundance, SXSW, and every other Asian American film festival in the country. Director Eric Byler and Wong are expected to attend the screening. (NOTE: I need to confirm if they'll be at the June 14 and/or June 17 screening.)
June 17
Americanese - Encore screening.
June 18
I Wake Up Screening - Laura Kim of Warner Independent and journalist/critic John Anderson (Variety, Newsday, New York Times) come to Seattle to discuss their new book I WAKE UP SCREENING, an indispensable guide for filmmakers trying to navigate the treacherous path from film festivals to theatrical distribution. (NOTE: Just read the book myself -- excellent stuff.)
And I haven't even had a chance to go through the list of 141 short films to tease out the Asian American entries. Feel free to comment here if anything catches your eye.
[Originally posted May 11, 2006.]
northwest asian american film festival is a production of northwest asian american theatre