Program Book 2008 Small

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Contents
5 About SDAFF
7 Special Events
8 Ticket Info
12 Festival
Schedule
14 Member
Information
15 Program
Guide
82 Foundation
& Festival Staff
Scene from ALIEN ABDUCTION, featured in this year’s Animation: The Illusion of Life program, (page 26)
Welcome
Catch Them All!
with director Jessica Yu noted ab bove,
filmmaker
mmaker Jennifer Phang will joinjo us for
her critically-acclaimed Sun
Sundance film
HALF-LIFE;
LIFE; first-time
first-tim director Hein Seok
brings us an intimat
intimate documentary on
Korean “comfort
K mff women” in HOUSE
OF SHARING;
O RING THE FISH FALL IN LOVE
offers a delectable story about an n Irania
Iranian
woman who cooks her way into the
heart of a former lover; and the beautiful
actress Sheetal Sheth return
ac returns to our
festival for THE WORLD UNSEEN, as an
Indian woman living ng in Sou
South Africa during
uring
the
he Apartheid.
arthei Others inclu
include
clude SSHAME E,
SHADOWSOWSWS IN THE PALAPALACE,
LACE, FAMILY
F Y
INC.,YOURS URS TRULY MISS CHINATOW
UR ATOWN,
AGAINST THE GRAIN GRAIN,
AIN, and WINGS GS OF
DE
DEFEAT.
Between our documentaries,

ntaries short
rt film
programs, and narrative ffeatures, th
here are
so many wonderful
nderfu programs - each
eac one
with a speciall pur
purpose
rpose and behind-the-
behind-
Welcome to the ninth season of tthee scenes
sce es story
ry to tell. Among them are MY FA FATHER,
THE
San Diego Asian Film Festival!
tival! We have come a based
ba ed on thee true story of Korean adoptee
optee Aa
Aaron
long way since we began inn 2000, and tthiss year’s
y Bates; MYSTIC
Ba TIC BALL, a 20-y
20-year history
ory of a m
man’s
programming iss a reflection of our maturityy and journey
rney to master
masster Myan
Myanmar’s
anmar’s national sport; an
and
growth. We are thrilled
d tto showcase
ase film
films frorom 17 Harry Kim’s DIRTY
D RTY HA HANDS,
ANDS, profiling eight years
yea of
countries and expandd our festival into Riv
Riversidede the life and crimess of thee borderline
bord schizophre
schizophrenic
for the first time. artistt David Choe.
arti oe
Ther
here is so
om much to offer. From our openingg nnight T bbeauty of our foundation
The on is that
at we have
film, the hilarious PING PON
film PONG PLAYA, A directed
ected byy created
ed a place where everyone
eve e is welcome to
Academy Award winnerr Jes
Aca Jessica Yu, to our closing share an
andd discover stories that
at cconnect
nnect
ect us as hum
human
n
night film, the charming Japanese drama ALWAYS beings.
eings.
2: SUNSET ON THIRD STREET, EET, more
m than 140
short and feature
atu films are packed into this festival. I want to
o givee a special sh
shout out to my hu husba
band and
We hope you “Catch
“Cat them all.”
all ” love of my life,
ife LLouis Song
Song, for
or sac
sacrificing so much
m
muc
uch to
allow
w me to continu
continue
nue growing the Foundation. n. And
A d
I’m personally excited to see so many films
lms to ourr dear George ge Lin – this fest
festival
tival is dedicated
ed tto
o
made by or about women this season. Along you!
— LEE AN
ANN KIM
SDAFF
SDA
DAFF exec
executive
i Director
ctor
*photo by Robert Dahey
4 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

About SDAFF
The San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the Pan
Asian experience through the media arts. We strive to present meaningful programs that culturally connect, inspire and
empower the community.
photos by Daniel K. Lew
WHAT WE DO
• Annual Film Festival in San Diego & Riverside
• Year-long Philippine Cinema Showcase in Chula Vista
• Quarterly Film screenings
• Student scholarships, high school digital storytelling internship (Reel Voices), & film review competition
• Special community film screenings & programs
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“I’ve been to a lot of film festivals all around the world and SDAFF definitely ranks among the best!”
– Director, Linda Hattendorf, “Cats of Mirikitani” (Grand Jury Winner SDAFF 07)
“ The SDAFF is not just about the great films, but about the great community that embraces them .”
– Jeffrey Wong, FilmThreat.com
“The San Diego Asian Film Festival is a rich and enriching contribution to the cultural landscape of San Diego”
– Actor, George Takei
HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Buy a ticket, support our programs!
• Become a Member or make a tax-deductible donation
• Sign up for our eNewsletter on our website
• Volunteer
• Tell your friends and family about us!
SDAFF is a 501 (c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible.

For more info: call 858-565-1264, email: info@sdaff.org or go to our website: www.SDAFF.org
Catch Them All! | 5

Macy’s is proud to support the shining stars at the
9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival
Special Events at a Glance
VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE
Oct 9-16,
6, Hazard Cente
Center Ultrastar
rastar
ar lobby
Reel in the Vote with us during
ng this
his importa
importan
important
nt election yye
year. If you care enoug
enough to watc
atch a film and
support
po t SDAFF, you shou
should care
are enough to be
b registered
ed to vvo
vote!
OPENIING NIGHT PARTY

Thursday, October 9, 9PM-1A 1AM
Airport Lounge,
L 2400 India
Indi St (Little It
Italy)
Join thee cast
c and crew of our opening p night film, PING PONG PLAY
PLAYA , and
nd celeb
celebrate
bra the launch of
our
urr 99th festival.. Free fo
for members,
mbers, pass holders, and anyone with a ticket
et stub. 221&
& up. Sponsored by
Verizon
erizon Wireless ss.
BLOWFISH: An Intersection of Sights and Sounds

Friday, Octoberr 10 aat 9PM – 2AMM
Canes Bar & Grill, 3105 Ocean Frontt Way (Mission Beach)
Our popular Friday night party, featuring
turing
ring live musical
m perf
performan
mances by The Blue Scholars,s, Far
Fa East
Movement,
v Hip-Hop
ip Hop violinist Paull Dateh, and AAshley
shley Robles.
es. Plus Fresh Beats and DJ IC
ICY IICE spinning
the tunes
tunes. $7 w/ ticke
ticket stub/$100 at door. 21& up.
BLOWFISH: Unplugged
Saturday, Octob
October
er 11, Noon
oon – 6PM
oo
UltraStar
Star Missi
Mission Valley
V Cinemas, Lobby
Experience some of So-Cal’s
-Cal’s mo
most talented
ed unplugged musicians
usic
A Celebrity Panel: ASIAN AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD

Saturday, Octob ober
ber 11 at NO
NOON
UltraStar Mis
Ultr ission Valley Cinemas att Hazard
H Cente
Center
Asiaan Ameri rican
ican actors talk about
ut th
the
their
heir breakthr
breakthrough
gh iinto big-time Hollywood. d. Scheduled to attend
are
re Aaronn Y Yoo (“21,” “Disturbia”),
bia”),
”) Ja
James Kyson Leee (Heroe
(Heroes), Leonardo
ard Nam (“Sisterhood of the
Traveling
Tr ing Pants 1&2”,, “Fast & Furious 3”), Smit
Smith Cho (Knig
(Knight Rider),
), Shee
Sheetal Sheth (World Unseen),
andd JiJimmyy T
Tsai (Ping Pong Playa)
P ya).
FROM COMICS TO FILM

Sund October 12
Sunday, 2 at 2:30PMM
UltraStar
ar Mis
Missionn Valley
alley Cinemas at Hazard Center
Popular
ar comicc book
ok artist Jim Le
Lee and writer Greg Pak talk about the trend of turning comics to live
action
n film.
HAPPY SLIP: UNCENSORED

Mon ay, O
Monday, Oct 13 6PM
UltraStar
tar Mi
Mission Vall
Valley Cinemas at Hazard Center
YouTube celebrity,
l Christine Gambito, talks about her rise to fame through Happy Slip, based on her
Filipino American family.
Catch Them All! | 7

Ticket Information
Tickets for all shows Oct 9-16 can be purchased at Hazard Cen
Center UltraStar
ar Cinema box office.
Tickets for all shows
ows Oct 21-23 can be purchased at Riverside University
ty Villa
Village starting
arting O
Oct
ct 14
14.
To guarantee
uarantee seating,
sea patrons
rons must show up at least 15 minutes
utes before sho
showtimee.
N0N-MEMBER PRICES (Oct 9-16)

Opening & Closing Nig
Nightt Film
Films $15 (PING
(PI PONG PLAYA AYA & ALW
ALWAYS 2))
General Admission $9.50
Blowfish
lowfish Music Showcasee $7 with tticket stub, $10 without
out
Panels
els $7
Festival 4-pack (while
ilee availabl
avai
available) $30
MEMBER PRICES (Oct 9-16)

Opening & Closing Night ht Films $10 (PING PONG NG PLAYA & ALWA ALWAYS 2)
General Admission $6
Blowfish Music Showcas
wc se Free
Panels Free (must
must ge
get tick
ticket from box office)
Festival 4-packk (while available)
ava
vail $222
* some members
bers receive free tickets
ckets or passes
asses depending on n thei
their level. Membership prices are for listed member ONLY.
Y.
** sign up
p for membership ins inside Hazard Center
nter UltraStarr lobby,
nte l aand tak
take advantage of discounts immediately.
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS (Oct 9-16)

$2 discounts for the following groupss with
w appppropriate ID:
• Student, Military,
itar & Seniors (55+)
• Harrah’s club
b car
card
rd
• Sempra Employees
mploye
Riverside Prices ONLY (Oct 21-23)

4-packs & all-fest passes do not
no apply in Riverside
General Admission $8.50

Student, Seniors, Military $7
UCR Studen
Studdents $5 (w// stu
student ID)
FREE PROGRAMS:
• Ni Hao, Kai
Kai-Lan
ai-Lan
Lan – World premiere
pre of Hallow
Halloween
oween episo
episode.
• Free Films at 4:0
4:00
0 (any program listed
d at 4PM Oct 13
13-16
16 iis free to the public).
blic)
• Reel Voices (Oct 12, Noon).
• Reel
el in the Vote (Oct 14, 6 pm).
• First FFilms at Riverside (first program each day O
Oct 21-23 is free to UCR
U Students).
Stud
REFUND POLICY
No refunds for unused tickets, 4-pack
4-packs, or all-festival
-festival passes.
es. Exchanges are only ava
available when
n a progra
gram if oversold.
SOLD-OUT SCREENINGS / RUSH LINES

When a program
progra is sold
pro old out, there is a very good
oo chance seatss will be availab
available
ble th
tthrough a “rus
“rush line” att the theater.
er. Ru
Rush lines take place
outside the the
theater 30 minutes before re the show.
how. We will offe
offer alllll open seat
seats
ats 15 mminutes before showtime on a first-come
st c ba
basis to those
waiting in the “rush line.”
FESTIVAL VENUES BLOWFISH MUSIC SHOWCASE (Oct 11)

O 9-16, 2008 (San Diego
Oct Diego) Canes
ane Bar & G
Grille
lle
UltraStar
aStar Mission Valleyy Ci
Cinemas 3105 Ocean
an Fro
Front Walk
75100 Ha
Hazard Center Drive San Diego, CA
A 92
92109 (Mission
(M on Beac
ach)
San Diego, CA 92108
PHILIPPINE CINEMA SHOWCASE
Oct 21-23, 2008 (Riverside) FFilipino film, everyday, all year long! See page
p 54 for sche
schedule
edule aand ticket info
inffo.
University Village Cinemas
1201 University Ave UltraStar Chula Vista 10
Riverside, CA 92507 555 Broadway
Chula Vista, CA 91910

2;8;B ?;L;?
DJ> ;7HJ
E<97H? D=
Sharp Health Plan
is a proud sponsor of the
San Diego Asian Film Festival
As the only San Diego-based commercial health plan, we not only serve the people of San Diego County —
we are the people of San Diego County.
Advocate
We believe our members deserve a trusted health care partner and advocate.
Family
We believe our members are important, and health care should be personal.
Neighbor
We believe it’s important to live, work and play in the same community as our members.
SHP 47A © 2008SHC
(619) 228-2300 or 1-800-359-2002 | www.sharphealthplan.com Catch Them All! | 9

TIT
TLE SPONSOR
ONSO
SOR
Toyota
MAJOR
MAJO
OR GRAN
G ANTS
TS SPOTLIGHT
OTLIGHT SPONSORS
OTL SP
LARGEE THEATER
ER SPONSORS
ONSORS
SMALL
ALL THEATER SPONSOR
SPONSORS PRESENT
RESENTING
R NT GALA
ALA
SPO
ONSO
SORS
RS
REELL IN THE
REE TH VOTE
V
SCREENING
NIN SPONSORS
ON
Hom
m Family
F Foundation
ion
Katz & Asso

Associates
COMMUNITY
MM T SPO
PO
ONSORS
SD Chinese
ese Women’s Assn. Pinkerton Government Service Wa
awanes
esa Insu
surrance
OPENING
G NIGHT
N HT PARTY
PA TY
SPECIAL
AL EVENT
NT SPONSORS
NSOR
RS
Project
roject
ect Concer
Co
Concern Inte
nternational ULA
ULAN HG6SD
G SD
0HG6SD
0
VPR
RRWK__ JORZ
J _DJHGHI\
REEL VOICES
ES EDUCATIONAL
DUC
CATI
C A AL SUPPORT
S RT
Bob Hoffman
n Vid
deo
OFFICIAL
O C
CIAL AIRLIN
NES OFFFICIAL
C L HOTEL OFFICIAL
O
NEWSPAPER
MEDIA
DIA PARTNERS
PART
ARTN RS
IN-KIND
IN KIN SPONSORS
Chipotle Mission Valley
Val Jasmine Bistro L&L Hawaiian Barbeque (Eastlake & Mira Mesa)
Pepsi
si B
Bottling Paramount Pictures Saffron Sansai Sushi on a Roll Zion Market
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OCTOBER 9-16 & OCTOBER 21-23
THURSDAY, OCT 9 Theater 7 - HA
HARRAH’S
H’S RINCON
RINCO
CON Project Showcase
5:45PM PLEASE VOTE FOR ME Theater 7 - H
HARRAH’S RINCON
N
Theate
eater 1 - FUJ
UJITSU 12:00PM Celebrity Pan
Panel
nel (panel)
(paanel)
Theater
t 1 - FFUJITS
UJITSU
SU 12:15PM CRICKET IN COURT
COU OF AKBAR
6:10PM OH SAIGO
GON Theater 2 - WEL
WELLS FARGO
Theater 2 - WEL
WELLS FARGO 12:15PM M
Masala Bite
tes
Theater 2 - W
WELLS FAR
FARGO 12:40PM HELLCAT
ATS
7:0
:00PM PING
G PONG PLAYA
PLAY Theater 6 - SHARP
(Opening
ng Nigh
Night
ght Film) 12:25PM DRAWING
WIN PAP AP
PER
Theater 7 - HARRA
RAH’S RIN
NCON Theater 7 - HAR
RRAH’S RINCON 1:00 PM THE WO
WORLD UNSEEN
Theat
eater 1 - FUJITSU
7
7:45PM
M S
Scene in San Di
Diego 1:10PM
M FAMILLY INC.
Theater 6 - SHA
HARP
ARP Theatter 6 - SHARP
SHAR 2:00PM
M ASSEMBLY
Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON
8:00PM PUBLIC ENEMYEMY RET
RETURNSS 2:10P
PM All in thee Fam
Family
Theater 1 - FUJITSU Theater 2 - WELLSS FARGO 2:30PM From Comics to Film (panel)
Theater 2 - WELLS FARGO
8:15PM FOSTER
OSTER CHILD (JOHNOHN JOHN)
N) 2:20PM Animation:
Thea
eater 2 - WELLSS FARGO
RGO The Illusion of Life 3:20PM MYSTIC BAL
BALL
Theaater 1 - FUJITSU Theater 6 - SHARP
SH
9:45PM
9:4 ASSEMBLY
Theater 7 - HARRAH’S
H’S RINCON
N 2:35PM
35PM SAN
AN
NTA A MESA
M 3:30PM YOU TRULY,
YOURS
Theat
ater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON MISS CHINATOWN
FRIDAY, OCT
T 10
1 Theater 1 - FUJITSU
J
5:00PM Around
roundd the World 2
2:50PM
M AN AME
MERICAN IN CHINA
Theater 2 - WELLS FARGO
Theate Theater 6 - SHARP 4:30PM
4: ACCU
ACCURACY
AC Y OF DEATH
Theate
eater 7 - HARRAH’S
ARRAH’S RINCON
5:30PM AGAINST THE GRAIN 4:
4:40PM KILLING OF A CHINESENESE COOKIEE
NE
Theater 7 - HAR
HARRAH’S RINCON Thea
eater 1 - FU
UJITSU
TSU 5:00PM O
OCEAN OF PEA
PEARLS
ARLS
Thea
eater 2 - WELLSS FA
FARGO
5:45PM
PM HALF-LIFE 4:50PM
:50 M KISSING
NG COUS
COUSINS
COOUSIN
Theater 6 - SHARP Theater 2 - WELL
LLS FARG
GO 5:20PM
5:2 STORY OOF SPIRITS
RI
Theater
he 1 - FUJITSU
FUJIT
6:00PM
M H
HOLLYWOOD CHINESE 5:05PM M FATHEER
MY
Th
heater 1 - FUJITSU Theater 7 - HARRAH’S
Th AH RINCON
R 5:30PM UNSPOKE EN PASSION
Theater
eater 6 - SHARPP
7:20PM
PM I Hear
Heart U
Hea 5:20P
0PM WHITE SILK
WHI KDDRE
DRESS
Theate 2 - WELLS FARGO
Theater Theate
ter 6 - SHARP
HARP 7:00
0PM CHOCOLATE
OL
Theater
er 7 - HA
HARRAH’
H’S RINCON
7:30PM CHOCOLATE 7:00PM
7: SECRETT
CON Theater 1 - FUJITSU
FUJITS
I 7:10
0PM Cinephile’s
inephile’s Jo
Journey
Theater 1 - FUJITSU
Th F
8:15PM Manila and Beyond
eyo 7:20P
7: PM Love Is Qu
Queer
Theater 1 - FUJITSU Theater
er 7 - HARRAH’S
ARRAH’S RINC
RINCON
N 7:30PM ALWAYS 1:
SUNSET
NSET ON THIRD STREET
8:30PM L: CHANGE THE WORLD
ORL 7:45PM BLACKK BELT
BEL Theater
hheater 2 - WELLS FARGO
GO
Theater 6 - SHARP
Thea Theater
er 2 - WEL
W LLS FARGO
7:4
:45PM DOROR
DOR ORO
8:30PM Blo
Blowfish: Int
Intersection of 8:05PM
M Figh
ght Night Theater 6 - SHARP
Sig
ights and Sounds (Offsite
ite) Th
Theaterr 6 - SHARP
9:25PM
PM OPEN CITY
9:50PM DIRTY HANDS 9:30PM MAGAZINE
ZINE GAP ROADROA Thea
eater 7 - HARR
RRAH’S
RAH’S R
RINCON
Theater 7 - HA
HARRAH’S RINCON Theater 1 - FUJITS
ITSU
10:00PM
0PM BIG MAN JAPAN
APA 9:50PM
M VEXILLE
XILLE
LE
Theater 2 - WELLS
LL FARGO Theater
er 2 - WELLS
LS FARGO
RGO
GO
10:15PM 200 POUNDS BEAUTY 10:00PM

0:00P PUBLIC ENEMY RETURNS
Theater 1 - FUJITSU Theater 7 - HARRAH’S
H’S RINC
RINCON
SATURDAY, OCT 11 SUNDAY, OCT 12

10:30AM Ni Hao, Kai Lan (free) 12:00PM Reel Voices Teen Video (free)

MONDAY,
O OCT 13 5:30PM RED RACEE 7:00PM PLANET BBOY
4:00PM
:00P RED RACE (free) e) Theat
eater 7 - HAR
HARRAH’S RINC
NCON
Theater 1 - FUJITSUU 8:45PM
M PUBLIC ENE
NEMY RETURNS
6:15
5 PM SHAMEE
5:00PM Masala Bites Theaterr 2 - WE
WELLS
LS FAR
FARGO 9:15PM Manila and
d Beyond
B
77:0
00PM Animattion: The Illusion
Ill sion o
off LLife WED
WEDNESDAY,
WEDNE OCT 22
5:15PM PASSING POSTO ON Theate
ater 1 - FU
FUJITSU (RIVERSID
SIDE)
Theater 2 - WELLLS FARGO 4:30PM HOUSE OF
OF SHARING (FREE)
7:15PM SECRET
5:30PM MEANING OF TEA EA Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON
ON 7:00PM KISSING
K NG COU
COUSINS
OUSINS
Theater 6 - SHARP
7:30PM
PM THOUSAND
THOUS ND YEARS 8:00PM WHITE SILK
W K DRESS
D
DRE
6:00PM Happy Slip: Uncensored (panel)) OF GOOD PRAYERS
PRAYER
Theater 1 - FUJITSU Theater
er 6 - SH
HARP 9:20PM DIRTY HANDS
HAN
ANDS
7:00PM PING PONG PLAYA 8:35PM Around the World THURSDAAY, OC

CT 23
Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON Theater 2 - WELLS FARGO
Theate (R
(RIVERSI
SIDE)
5:00PM
M MYSTIC BALL
ALL (FREE)
(F
7:15PM DANCE OF THE DRAGON 9:20PM DIRTY HANDS
Theater 2 - WEL
WELLS FARGO Theater 6 - SHARP
AR 6:00P
0PM ALWAYSS 1:
ALW
SUNSET
T ON THIRD
HIRD STREET
7:35PM GENGHIS KHAN 9:30PM L: C
CHANGE THE HE WO ORLD
Theater 6 - SHARP Theater 1 - FUJITSU
The 7:15PM
5PM PING
NG PONG PLAYA
8:00PM
0PM SHADOWS
OWS IN THE PALACE
LACE 9:55PM SHADOWS IN THE HE PALACE 99:20PM
M Animation: the Illusion
noof Life
Theater 1 - FUJITSU
Theat U Theater 7 - HARRAH’S
Thea RAH’S RINCON
N
9:30PM
9: MY FATHER
TUESDAY,
SDAY, OCT 14 TH
THURSDAY,
HURSDAY, OC
OCT 16
4:00P
PM FOLLOW
LLOW YOUR HEART T ((free) 4:00PM PLEA
EASEE VOTE
EAS VOTE FOR ME (free)
Theater
ater 1 - FUJI
UJITSU Theater
Th er 1 - FUJITSU
5:30PM WINGSGS OF
O DEFEEAT 5:15PM HELLCAT
H ATTS
Theater 6 - SH
SHAR
ARP Thheater 6 - SHAR
RP
5:40PM FISH FALL IN LOVE 5:45PM CHI

HIL
ILDREN
REN OF THE STA ARS
Theater
eate 2 - WELLS
ELLS FARGO Thheate
terr 2 - W
WELLS FARG
GO
6:00PM
M REEL IN
N THE VOTE
VOT (free) 6:00PM BLA
LACK
ACK BELT
BEL
Theate
eater 1 - FFUJITSU
T T ter 1 - FUJITSU
Theate U
6:15PM ALW
ALWAYS 1: 7:00PM ALWAYS
YS 2
SUNSET ON N THIRD ST
STREET (CLOSING NIGHT
NIGH
HT FILM
Theater 7 - HARRAH’S RINCON WITH POST RECEP PTION)
Theater 7 - HARRAH
Thea RRAH
H’S RINCON
N
7:30PM HOUSE OF SHARING
Theater 6 - SHARP
Th 7:1
7:15PM MY FATHER R
Theater 2 - WELLS FFARGO
7:45PM 200 POUNDS BEAUT UTYY
Theater 2 - WELLS
LLS FARGO
ARG 7:40PM
M SLINGSHOT
GSH
SHOT
HOT
OT (TIRADOR
(TIRADOR)
(TIRAD
Theater
ter
er 6 - SHA
HARP
8:30PM LOVERS
Theater
heater 1 - FUJITSU
UJIT 8:10PM ACCURACY
CU OFF DE
DEATH
Theater
eater 1 - FUJITS
TSU
9:00PM
00PM O
OPEN CITY
Theate
T ter 7 - HARRAH’S
RRAH’S RIN
RINCON
WEDNESDAY,
DNE Y, OCT 15
4
4:00PM FAMILY,
AMILY, INC.
I ((free)
OCTOBER 21-23, 2008
(University Village Cinemas, Riverside)
Theater
heater 2 - WELLS FARGO
RGO
*firrst
*first
rst show
s on each day FREE for
5:00
5:00PM UNDER THE SKIN N UCR sstudents*
Theater 1 - FUJI
Th
Theate FUJITSU
ITSU
U
TUESDAY,
SD OCT 21
5:1
5:15PM SLEEPWA
EEEPWALKING IN (RIVERSIDE)
THE
H MEMEKONG 5:30PM OH SAIGON*
Theater
h 6 - SHARP
6:15PM HOLLYWOOD CHINESE
Catch Them All! | 13

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Film & Program Guide

Ping Pong Playa
opening night film
Opening Night Party

Join the cast and crew of PING PONG PLAYA
at AIRPORT LOUNGE (2400 India St.)
9PM - 1AM
Sponsored by Verizon Wireless
THU Oct 9, 7PM (OPENING NIGHT)

MON Oct 13, 7PM
THU Oct 23, 7:15PM (Riverside)
USA | 96 min. | Video | English & Chinese w/ English subtitles | 2007
DIRECTOR: Jessica Yu
PRODUCERS: Anne Clements, Joan Huang
WRITERS: Jessica Yu, Jimmy Tsai
CAST: Jimmy Tsai, Smith Cho, Roger Fan, Andrew Vo
*Director & cast scheduled to attend Oct 9 screening
Christopher “C-Dub” Wang (Jimmy Tsai) dreams of becoming a professional basketball player. Unfortunately, he also
constantly blames his inability to make the NBA on his genetics, struggles to hold down a low-paying job at the mall
and spends most of his free time playing video games and daydreaming of easy money. In short, C-Dub is every Asian
American parent’s worst nightmare. Thankfully for the Wang family, C-Dub’s older brother Michael (Roger Fan) is a doctor
and national ping pong champion, who generates business for his family’s ping pong school and store.
When Michael and Mrs. Wang are both hurt in a car accident,C-Dub is forced to step up and take over teaching duties
at the ping pong school. The stakes are taken even higher when C-Dub must shake off his reputation as a chronic
underachiever and defend his family’s honor by replacing his brother in the national ping pong tournament.
Sharply directed by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu (“In the Realms of the Unreal”), making her narrative
feature directing debut, PING PONG PLAYA is the rare sports comedy that will have you rolling with laughter, while
effectively tackling important Asian American identity issues.

JESSICA YU’S PING PONG
PLAYA: TORRID TABLE
TENNIS HILARITY
By Dr. Craig D. Reid
PING PONG PLAYA combines romance, comedy and

sports as director Jessica Yu tackles a rare Hollywood
genre, an all Asian American comedy that is not in your
face but is in your brain. It’s the kind of film that makes
you think without thinking, where you laugh because it is
subversively funny and the repartee spicily squawks like
the progeny of a parrot and a phoenix on meth.
“The film isn’t about making any points,” Yu contends.

“We were going for humor and characters first and
didn’t worry about how it would be perceived later on.
We weren’t purposely trying to be politically correct, we
did what made sense for the characters in this world.
Many great films over the years tend to be heavy yet we
wanted to dish up some superficial comedy to balance
things out. If we had one goal, it was that we could see
without feeling like we were being hit over the head with
anything…except for some fairly juvenile humor bits. We
wanted to make a fun Asian American movie.”
The film centers on Christopher Wang (Jimmy Tsai)

whose street moniker “C-Dub” elevates his stature from
the reality of his Chinese American façade to cling to
the pipe dream of one day becoming the first Chinese-
American NBA pro basketball player.Yet when his mom
and “perfect” brother Michael (Roger Fan) get into a car
accident, then C-Dub must step up to the wacky paddle
and fight for his family’s ping-pong dynasty.
Yu enthusiastically shares, “I remember seeing Jimmy

doing his C-Dub character in a series of mock
commercials for an online clothing company and he
bowled me over. He was so funny. There was something
satiric and subversive about the humor…he was making
fun of stereotyping and the way people take themselves
too seriously when it comes to their own identity. I
thought this would be a great character to put in a film.”
When asked if Yu is obligated to make Asian American

themed films, she assuredly comments, “I don’t feel
pressured to tackle Asian American themes. Certainly
PING PONG PLAYA came naturally and it was a pleasure
to mind one’s own history for the little details and
experiences that makes the characters more authentic.
But certainly a big part of the humor was in poking fun at
ourselves through C-Dub who sometimes took himself
too seriously and when you do that, you then have
license to poke fun at other things too.”

Always 2:
Sunset On Third Street
closing night film
THU Oct 16, 7PM
Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 147 min. | 35mm | 2007

DIRECTOR: Takashi Yamazaki
PRODUCERS: Shuji Abe and Seiji Okuda
WRITERS: Takashi Yamazaki and Ryota Furusawa
CAST: Maki Horikita, Hedetaka Yoshioka,
Shinichi Tsutsumi, Kazuki Koshimizu, Tomokazu Miura
Closing Night Reception immediately following screening sponsored by Goldilocks,

L&L Hawaiian BBQ, Jasmine Seafood & Sushi on a Roll
West Coast Premiere
Fans who watched the first ALWAYS repair shop-owning Suzuki and his wife values of friendship, hard work, sacrifice
on closing night of SDAFF ’06 are still (Hiroko Yakushimaru); their lovelorn and family commitment be lost when the
talking about how they walked out of mechanic and de facto daughter Mutsuko Japanese economy goes “boom?” And
the theater blubbering over the magical (Maki Horikita); frustrated novelist just how does Godzilla figure into all of
film that swept Japan’s version of the neighbor Chagawa (Hidetaka Yoshioka) this? You must watch to see.
Academy Awards. This year, SDAFF is and his adopted son Junnosuke (Kenta
bringing back the endearing cast of Suga); and sad, kept woman Hiromi Programmer’s note: You don’t need to have
characters in ALWAYS 2: SUNSET ON (Koyuki). The 1964 Tokyo Olympics have watched the original ALWAYS: SUNSET ON
THIRD STREET, which takes place four been announced, and the entire country THIRD STREET to follow this film. But just in
months after the original ended. has begun an enthusiastic rush towards case you want the full experience, we brought it
affluence and modernity. back for a few screenings. Be sure to bring some
Tokyo Tower is now complete, though tissue! Oct 12, 7:30pm; Oct 14, 6:30pm, Oct 23,
family patriarch Norifumi Suzuki (Shinichi Will the Suzukis and their hardscrabble 6PM (Riverside)
Tsutsumi) is too scared to actually go up neighbors be left behind in Tokyo’s great
in it – and re-introduces audiences to rush forward into the second half of
all the major characters. There’s the car the 20th century? Will their traditional
FLY COAST-TO-COAST,
STATE-TO-STATE,
OR CITY-TO-CITY.
With over 60 destinations around the country,

no matter where you’re headed,
Southwest Airlines will take you there.
Offical Airline of the 2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival
©2007, 2008 Southwest Airlines Co.

FEATURES
200 Pounds Beauty S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles |

116 min. | 35mm | 2006
DIRECTOR:Yong-hwa Kim
CAST: Ah-Joong Kim, Jin-Mo Joo, Dong-il
Seong, Hyeon-Sook Kim
FRI Oct 10, 10:15PM

TUE Oct 14, 7:45PM
*Mature content
Screening Sponsored by
One of the top-grossing romantic comedies in South Korean history, 200 POUNDS BEAUTY is based on
a best-selling Japanese comic book series that centers on the life of Hanna, an extremely overweight singer
with an unbelievable voice. Although she had dreamed of becoming a pop singer, her appearance always Co-presented by: Korean American
stood in the way. Instead, she is hired as a faceless singer, providing vocals for pop star Ami, who lip-syncs Coalition of San Diego
because she can’t carry a note to save her life.
As Hanna is targeted with countless jokes about her full figure, she remains lighthearted and works hard to
please Ami’s music producer, Sang-jun, with whom she has developed a secret crush. Ami sees that Sang-jun
is being kind to Hanna, and in a fit of jealousy, humiliates Hanna in front of him, causing her to run away. Fed
up of being ill-treated due to her weight, Hanna undergoes an extreme makeover which changes her life and
her identity.
While 200 POUNDS BEAUTY will make you laugh, it ultimately pokes fun at society’s obsession with plastic
surgery, while challenging viewers to seek the meaning of one’s true beauty.
Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles |

113 min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Masaya Kakei
CAST: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Manami
Konishi, Sumiko Fuji, Ken Mitsuishi
SUN Oct 12, 4:30PM

THU Oct 16, 8:10PM
Accuracy of Death
Co-presented by: Japan Society of San
Diego and Tijuana,
ACCURACY OF DEATH is a charming tale about the Grim Reaper and his talking dog that celebrates the San Diego Japanese Language & Culture
idea that life is worth living. Taiwanese/Japanese heartthrob Takeshi Kaneshiro (“The Returner,” SDAFF ‘03) Meet-up Group
plays an angel of God who is assigned to spend a week with the unfortunate humans chosen for a sudden
demise. His task is to decide whether the person deserves a second chance, or if he is to “proceed.”
Stretched across 30 years, the charismatic but lonely Grim Reaper encounters three lost souls. In 1988, he
considers the case of a young office lady who lives an unlucky life she hardly considers worth living. In 2008,
he has to judge the worthiness of a yakuza trapped in the middle of a gang war. And in the future, he meets a
feisty hair stylist who has managed to alienate her entire family.
Kaneshiro, who has appeared in films by Wong Kar-Wai, Zhang Yimou, and John Woo, takes an unpromising
part and turns in an amazing performance. By the time the movie ends, he has single-handedly sold the
audience on the idea that death is an inevitable part of being alive and there’s never a need to fear the reaper.

FEATURES
Against the Grain:
An Artist’s Guide to Peru & USA | English, Japanese & Spanish
Surviving Peru w/ English subtitles| 64 min. | Video |

2008
Director/Writer/Producer: Ann Kaneko
FRI Oct 10, 5:30PM
*Director Ann Kaneko scheduled to

attend
Co-presented by: The House of Peru

Japan Society of San Diego and
Tijuana, Media Arts Center San
Diego, San Diego Latino Film Festival
In 1989, Peruvian artist Alfredo Marquez was sentenced to 20 years in prison for depicting a lipstick-wearing
Chairman Mao in his artwork. The reason was that Mao has been the symbol for the guerilla organization the
Shining Path, which has battled against the Peruvian government for decades. However, this specific instance
of artistic repression soon became a symbol for the important role that artists have had as a leading force
for political activism in Peru.
For six years, filmmaker Ann Kaneko traveled throughout Peru during the aftermath of the regime of Alberto
Fujimori, the Japanese Peruvian former President of Peru, whose brutal authoritarian rule did much to inspire
brave acts of protest from Peruvian artists. AGAINST THE GRAIN highlights several of these Peruvian artists
who have helped shape social consciousness in Peru, including Marquez and Japanese Peruvian artist Eduardo
Tokeshi, who had suffered from the anti-Japanese backlash of the post-Fujimori era. Through the telling of
their stories, AGAINST THE GRAIN helps us gain a greater appreciation for the freedom of expression and
its role in facilitating change.

SHORTS
All In The Family Co-presented by: Asian Accountants of
San Diego, UCSD Asian Pacific Islander
Student Alliance
TRT: 104 min.n
Together under one roof, a collection of short films aabout family
mily qquirks,, dysfunction
dysfunctions,
tions, and tthe
he tie
ties
that
hat bind us
us.
SAT Oct 11, 2:10PM
*Mature content
*Castt & crew schedule
scheduled to attend
a
at
MAMO’S WEEDS THE OH MALLEY’S IN SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA EAT

Director: Akiraa Bo
Boch | 18 min. | DADDY’S MY MERCEDES Director: Joyce Wong | 11 min. | Direct
Directors: Daniel Jai
ai Lee, Arvin
Video | 200007 Director:
or: Chilil Kongg | 9 min. | Video | 2007
007 Chen & Mitchel
Mitc Dumlao
umlao | 21
2
A strangege weed
wee infestation and Video | 2008
V 008 A rebelliousus Korean adoptee
dopte min. | Video
Viideo | 2008
a series of mysterious phone Archie Bunke
A ker meets WillWil and stirs up comedic
st omedic hell forr he
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s
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ad an elderly Jap
Japanese Grace as old-fas ashioned siste
ter ado
doptive
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moother and younger
youn ng about
uut food.
American
rican gardener back to the rivalry comes to a head overr a sister.
ster.
toucchstones of his past.
touch new Mercedes. s.
THE AGENT MOON LADY COOKIES FOR SALE SMILE

Director:
t David Kim | 8 min. | Director: Wendy Cheng | 15 Director:r: W
Weses Kim m | 4 min. | Di tor: JJuliaa Kw
Director: Kwan | 188 min. |
Video | 2008 min. | Video | 2007 35mm
mm | 2007 35mm | 2007
200
Building the family of Je
Jesus, one A little boy forced
d to ttake A little
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preacher at a time.
preac care
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use his engages
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wit uses its Sears coupon for a freee
imagination
magina to find a way to heal
eal a veryy gr
grumpy py neig
neighbor. family por
portrait.
ait.
her.

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 132
min. | 35mm | 2005
DIRECTOR: Takashi Yamazaki
WRITER: Ryouhei Saigan
CAST: Hidetaka Yoshioka, Shin’ichi
Tsutsumi, Maki Horiki
SUN Oct 12, 7:30PM

TUE Oct 14, 6:15PM
THU Oct 23, 6:00PM (RIVERSIDE)
Always: Sunset on
Third Street
Oct 14th screening co-presented by:
Charles Schwab
Back by popular demand is one of the most charming and heartwarming films you will see. ALWAYS:
SUNSET ON THIRD STREET played to sold-out audiences at SDAFF ‘06, and we brought it back as a
companion to our closing night film, ALWAYS 2.
Diego and Tijuana
Based on a popular manga and set in post-war Japan in the late 1950’s, rebuilding began in Tokyo where
construction of the magnificent Tokyo Tower was underway and houses across the city were acquiring their
first washing machines, refrigerators and the most holy of holies—televisions. The story centers on Mr.
Chagawa, who dreams of writing the Great Japanese Novel. His dreams are no more deluded than those
of Mutsuko, a countryside schoolgirl who thinks she’s taken a job with a thriving car manufacturer only to
discover that she’s working in a one-garage mechanic’s shop. Then there’s Hiromi who opens a bar down the
street and is saddled with the abandoned child of the nightspot’s previous owner.
Winner of 13 of Japan’s 14 Academy Awards, ALWAYS – SUNSET ON THIRD STREET is a movie that
guarantees you’ll cry at the end, so be prepared for this emotional and visually lavish journey.
USA & China | English & Mandarin w/

English subtitles | 90 min. | Video | 2008
DIRECTOR: Ron Berrett

PRODUCERS: Steve Geiger,Maggie Yuan
WRITER: Ron Berrett and Wenxin Yuan
CAST: James Snyder, Sun Fei Fei, Anthony
Montgomery, Michael Gross
SAT Oct 11, 2:50PM
*Director scheduled to attend

An American in China
Co-presented by: San Diego Chinese
Women’s Association, The House of
China
Twenty-two year old David Braddock is floundering - stuck in that lazy period between college and “what
am I going to do with the rest of my life?” Even David’s best friend, Sha, is concerned with David’s aimless
attitude. When David’s parents pressure him to either choose a career path or join the family business, he
decides to follow his father’s urging to “Go East young man.”
Once in China, he finds that it is much different from what he imagined: full of bustling modern cities as well
as charming little villages. He travels to a town that the modern world hasn’t yet altered and meets Mei, a
beautiful, ambitious young girl who works two jobs in order to save enough money to follow her dream
of going to the prestigious Beijing University. Despite their differences, a romance blossoms during the few
short weeks that David is with Mei.
This coming of age, fish out of water story takes us on a fascinating journey to a world full of strange
customs and people. But cultural differences, politics or distance cannot change the fact that we all share the
same basic desire: to love and be loved.
is proud to be a partner of the
SDAFF's expansion to Riverside
October 21-23, 2008
A M TIO
T
SHORTS
Animation: The Illusion of Life Co-presented by Platt College
TRT: 86 min.
How do you coaxx life out of thin air? Find out in this program
pro dedicated
icat entirely
tirely to
o the
th
Magical
al Art of
o Animatioon.
SAT Oct 11, 2:20PM
WED Oct 15, 7PM
THU Oct 23, 9:20PM (RIVERSIDE)
*Mature contentt / *Cast andd ccre
crew scheduuled to attend
AGAINST THE GRAIN NADAL VS. ALIEN ALIEN ABDUCTION MAGICICADA

Director: Kevin Kolodinsky I Dir
Director: Tak Hoon Kim I Korea Director: David Han I USA I 2 Director: B Benett Kim I USA I 3
USA I 2 min. I V
Video I 2008 I 3 min. I Video
deo I 2008
2 min. I Video I 2008 min. I V
Video I 2007
A hapless karate
rate fifighter
ghte Internationa
onal tennis
nnis sup
perstar What happens when a hungry
W A magical cicada attempts
mpts to win
meets his biggest
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ow-tip a the sympa
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o a boyy who has
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fo thre
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i
medium: CGI 33D;; so
software: global domination.
glob mediu
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s n.
SNOW DAY AWKWARD ABRIDGED APPLE/BIRD & THE BEE

Director:r: Kim Hazell I U
USA I 2 Dir
Director: : Ces
Cesar Kuriyama
yama I USA
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min. I Video
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BATTLE OF THE ALBUM HALLUCII THE POSSUM THE MOUSE TRAP
COVERS Director: Goo-Shun WangWan I USA Director: Chris
Ch C Choy I USA I 5 Director:
or:Wo
: Woon Han I Koreaore I 6
Director: Rohitash Rao & I 4 min. I Video
V I 2006 min. I Video I 2005 min. I Video
deo I 22007
Abraham Spear I USA I 3 min. I A drunkeen man is trappedped andd A story about an apple farmer A butterfly
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sets off a chain
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fight to the death! stairs.
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medium: CGII 2D
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SWIMMING MOON SPORTS AND DIVERSION KETCHUP

Director:
tor: N
Nahomi Maki I USA I Director: Bum Lee I USA I 4 min. Director:
rector: Wenchu
Wenchung Lu I U
W USA I
4 min. I Vide
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deo
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A being is ddriven to madne
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medium:
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USA I 5 min. I Video I 20
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A lovable caveman finally meets
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medium:: tr
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YELLOW STICKY NOTES SHOOTING STAR MEAT DAYS JOSIE’S LALALAND

Director: Jeff Chiba SStearns I Director: Ryan Chen I U USA
SA I 3 Direcector:: Joe Hsieh I Taiwan
Taiw I 122 Director:Yibi bi H
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medium: tradi
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SHORTS
Around The World Co-presented by: City College World
Cultures Program, UCSD Cross-Cultural
Center
TRT: 105 min n
Whether rockin’ in a freer world or entering a wom
woman’s domain,
main, a revealing
aling collect
collection
ection of sstories
torie
traversing
raversing ac
across time
me and place.
FRI Oct 10 5PM
WED Oct 15 8:35PM
*Mature
ure content
cont
*Directors
ectors scheduled to attend
atten
A DROP OF LIFE RESIDUE THE STATE OF SUNSHINE

Direector Shalini Kantayya, 16
Director: 6 Director: Nathaniel
Nathanie N Nuon, 15 Director: Z. Eric Yang, 23 3 min.,
min.,Video, 2007
min.,Vide min,
n,Video
Video,
o, 2008 Video, 20 2007
The story of two womenomen - a Six years after
ter a risky mis
mission Two youngg immigrant
immigra
mmig siblings,
villager in rural India and aan cond
onducted by a secret gro group of working as prostitutes
prostit
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THE WOMEN’S KINGDOM LIGHT MY FIRE

Director: Xiaoli Zhou,u, 22 min., D rector:
Dire r: Lee
Le Jong -pil, 299 min.,
m
Video, 2006 Video,
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Assembly China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles |
124 min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Xiaogang Feng
CAST: Wang Baoqiang, Liao Fan
THU Oct 9, 9:45PM

SUN Oct 12, 2PM
*Mature content
Co-presented by: Chinese Consolidated

Benevolent Association, The House of
China
Based on a true story, ASSEMBLY follows one man’s journey in search of truth and honor in the aftermath of
one of the bloodiest battles in the Chinese Civil War.
It is the winter of 1948 and Captain Guzidi is leading an infantry unit consisting of just 46 men on a sniping
mission. Their orders are to fight until the retreat assembly call is sounded. But that call never comes. After
many hours of defense and with ammunition running out, men are falling hard and fast. Guzidi realizes that
the call might have been missed during the heat of battle, contributing to the deaths of his men. The first half
of the film is mesmerizing and brutal, containing some of the most realistic warfare scenes many critics have
compared to “Saving Private Ryan.”
The second half of the film finds Guzidi as the only survivor on a mission to prove the heroism of his men
and to honor their glorious deaths. Overall, ASSEMBLY’s unflinching look at war can be too much for viewers
to digest, but that is also what makes it so rewarding.
Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles |103

min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Hitoshi Matsumoto
CAST: Hitoshi Matsumoto, Riki Takeuchi,
Ua, Ryunosuke Kamiki
FRI Oct 10, 10PM
*Mature content
Big Man Japan

Diego and TijuanaSan Diego Japanese
Language & Culture Meetup Group
A television camera crew follows around middle-aged loser Dai Sato (Hitoshi Matsumoto) as he goes
through his daily routine. Details of his life appear far too mundane until he receives a call from the
“Department of Baddie Prevention.” It is then that Dai Sato springs into action by heading over to a power
station to receive the electrocution treatments that transform him into Dainipponjin (Big Man Japan), a 500-
foot tall superhero. As Dainipponjin, Dai Sato protects the people of Japan by battling against a vast array of
bizarre giant monsters.
However, life as a crime-fighting celebrity is not exactly glamorous. As a sixth-generation superhero,
Dainipponjin is faced with modern day problems that none of his predecessors could have ever dreamt of.
And things get even worse for him when a demonic beast from North Korea shows up to terrorize Japan.
Featuring a brilliantly deadpan comedic performance by Matsumoto, Japan’s most popular comedian, BIG
MAN JAPAN delivers big-time laughs mixed with sharp satire.
FEATURES
Black Belt Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 95

min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Shunichi Nagasaki
PRODUCERS: Kanjiro Sakura, Nobuniko
Sakho
WRITER: George Iida
CAST: Akihito Yagi, Tatsuya Naka,Yuji
Suzuki, Shinya Ohwada
SAT Oct 11 7:45PM

THU Oct 16 6PM
*Mature content

Diego and Tijuana
BLACK BELT is a well acted, deliberately nuanced drama about the moral dilemma of a young man forced
to choose between his principles and his obligation to defend the helpless. Trouble develops in Japan’s late
Showa dynasty (1932), in the wake of that country’s invasion of Manchuria, when a company of military
police arrogantly disrupts the karate studies of three young men at the rural dojo of their old wise master.
Convinced that their skills can help in battle, the army wants to acquire their services as fight instructors.
The fact that actual karate masters portray the main characters guarantees a great martial arts flick—no
wires, no stunts, and no elaborate special effects. It’s a no-frills fistacuffs that is all simply quick and brutal.

Blowfish: An Intersection of Sights and Sounds
Come kick off SDAFF 2008 with our third annual music and video showcase. A dynamic convergence of Asian American
talent, Blowfish is an exploration of the intersection of beats, rhymes and film, through live performance and projected
videos. Don’t miss this party, a deadly but delicious mix of West Coast party-rocking with San Diego flavor.
Hosts for the evening: Friday October 10, 2008 Tickets: SPECIAL!
Dan aka Dan of 9pm-2am $10 at the door $7 Discounted Guest List:
afterschoolspecial and Hula Canes Bar & Grill $7 w/ festival ticket stub please RSVP to blowfish@
from A.J.’s Playhouse 93.3 3105 Ocean Front Way 21+ only sdaff.org by noon, 10/09.
San Diego, CA 92109
(858)488-1780
Featured Performers:
THE BLUE SCHOLARS FAR*EAST MOVEMENT PAUL DATEH ASHLEY ROBLES

A Seattle hip-hop duo with Representing the Fresh Paul Dateh and Inka One Local singing sensation!
a progressive underground Coast with their party bring a whole new meaning
style all their own. rocking new school sound. to classical music.
Featuring Music Video Premieres By: Spinning Fresh Beats

Dj Icy Ice of the World
Blue Scholars Far East Movement Daedelus Lyrics Born Famous Beat Junkies
Loyalty Dance Like Michael Jackson Fair Weather Friend I like it, I love it
Dir: Zia Mohajerjasbi Dir: Wong Fu Productions Dir: Jordan Kim Dir: Neon
BLOWFISH UNPLUGGED
Experience the Local-Motion of some of SoCal’s most
talented unplugged musicians.
Saturday, October 11, 2009 Blowfish is proudly presented by:

12pm-6pm Raytheon
FREE Yellowspider Marketing
Crunchy Sandwich
Where:
Hazard Center UltraStar Cinemas Lobby
ACTS TBA

Celebrity Panel: Asian Americans
in Hollywood
SAT Oct 11, Noo on
It’s an annual tradition
tradittion
on aat SDAFFF – we sit down the stars of our ffest and ask them candi
candid questions about hhow they got their
foott in the door, th
their
eir be
best and
d worst gigs,
ig plus try to squeeze
eze out a little insider Hollywood
o gossip.
Aaron Yoo Smith Cho Sheetal Sheth

(21, Disturbia) (Knight Rider, PING PONG PLAYA) (The World Unseen, Looking for
Comedy in the Muslim World)
Leonardo Nam Jimmy Tsai

(The Sisterhood of the Traveling (PING PONG PLAYA)
Pants 2, Fast and the Furious 3)
Snacks sponsored by Southwest Airlines

FEATURES
China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles |

50 min. | Video | 2007
DIRECTOR, WRITER,
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Rob Aspey
PRODUCER: Alex Haase
THU Oct 16, 5:45PM
*Founder of Stars and Rain school,

Tian Huiping, scheduled to attend
*Proceeds from this screening will

benefit co-presenter, SD Autism Society
Children of the Stars
Co-presented by: SD Autism Society
Hundreds of thousands of families in China are affected by autism. These families often face a desperate
situation. With little to no knowledge of the developmental disorder, they do not know how to teach or cope
with their children. They are also largely excluded by a society that does not understand or accept them.
CHILDREN OF THE STARS is a very personal documentary on a group of families seeking help for their
severely autistic children. Among them is the Wei family. Their five-year-old boy is violent, cannot speak, and
does not seem to even recognize his parents. No schools would accept him, causing his family so much
shame and despair, they even considered family suicide.
But they regained hope, when accepted into a program at a little charity school in Beijing called “Stars and
Rain.” Here, they would join other families to learn behavioral techniques that will enable them to teach and
manage their son.
A deeply moving journey, CHILDREN OF THE STARS follows the progress of the Wei family over three
months, resulting in an extraordinary story of parental love.
Thailand | Thai w/ English subtitles | 110

min. | 35mm | 2008
DIRECTOR: Prachya Pinkaew
WRITER: Chukiat Sakveerakul, Nepalee
Sakweerakul
CAST: Yanin Vismitananda, Ammara
Siripong, Hiroshi Abe
FRI Oct 10 7:30PM

SUN Oct 12 7PM
Chocolate *U.S. Premiere

*Mature content
Co-presented by: San Diego Thai

Language and Culture Exchange Meetup
When Zin, a collector/moll for a Thai kingpin, falls for a Japanese Yakuza, an illegitimate child named Zen is
produced. Raised alone by her mother, Zen turns out to be an autistic girl with amazing acrobatic skills, quick Group
reflexes – and a sweet tooth for chocolate candies. Watching old Tony Jaa and Bruce Lee movies nonstop,
Zen is a martial arts master in training. Then when her mother becomes ill with cancer, it is up to her and her
older cousin to use her skills to collect old debts in order to pay her mother’s medical bills.
CHOCOLATE is a no-frills story about revenge brought to you by the makers of “Ong Bak” (SDAFF ’04). In
similar vein to the Tony Jaa films, there are no tricks or special effects here. It’s a spectacular and jaw-dropping
display of many years of Muay Thai training. Stay through the credits and see proof of the danger and the
injuries the actors had to overcome. The fight scenes in CHOCOLATE will not disappoint and when you see
newcomer Yanin “Jeeja” Vismitananda (only 14 years old), you’ll want to see it twice to believe it.

SHORTS
Cinephile’s Journey
TRT:
T: 106 min
A collection
n of award-winning and challengin
challenging short films for the
he more-tha
more-than-average
-than-averaage m
movie lover.
SUN Oct 12, 7:10PM
*Mature ccontent
ten
PASSAGE
Director:
t r: Angela
A How | 21 min.
m |
Video | 2007
2
A chance
ce encounter betw
between
two strangers
angers pushes both
bo
to co
comee to terms withh past
decis
decisions made.
LIGHT YEARS TRIPLE 8 PALACE

Direector Richard Martin | 15
Director: 5 Director: Alexander Ku | 30 min min.
min. | 35
35mm | 2008 | Video | 22007
07
Four relationships spanning
Fou panning the A young Chinesenese girl
gir in NYC
four corners of the globe aare owes a staggering
ring smuggling
put to the ultimate
u test when debt
deebt to the Snakeheads
Snakke and
they learn thee world
wo may end faces
ces working in a sweatshop or
in eight minutes. prostit
stit
itution.
KNEES
Dir
Director:
irector:
r: M
Minhyun PaPark | 16 mi min.
|V
Vide
deo | 2007
Afterr witnessing the death
Af dea of
the manan who saves hhisis life, a boy
withdraw
with ws to a life of isolation
so
and ssadneess.
DEAR HEIDI
Director:
Dire or: Joh
John Ferrie | 24 mmin.
| Video
V eo o | 2008
World Premiere re A young,
ambitio
bitious attorney
rney is suddenlyy
fired
red from
fro his job an nd finds
himself examiningining his
h lifee
choices whenn he turnss to his
ex-girlfriend for comfort.

FEATURES
India & USA | 88 min. | Video | 2008

DIRECTORS: Andrew Mendelson, Nadia
Abji
PRODUCERS: Negin Farsad
SUN Oct 12, 12:15PM
*World Premiere
*Director Andrew Mendelson sched-

uled to attend & perform
A Cricket in the
Court of Akbar
Co-presented by: Intuit Indian Network,
Raag and Taal Academy, Qualcomm, Inc.
North Indian classical music, a centuries-old musical tradition of great depth and richness, has influenced
generations of composers around the world. Although many of these musicians consider it the highest form
of musical expression, North Indian classical music remains unfamiliar to most Western ears. Furthermore,
the rapid influx of Western culture in today’s era of globalization now threatens this music with tragic
obsolescence.
In an unusual reversal of this cultural current, Andrew Mendelson, a 32-year-old native Texan, has dedicated his
life to the study of the sitar under his guru. A CRICKET IN THE COURT OF AKBAR is a documentary that
follows Mendelson as he travels to India to compete for the grand prize in the Tournament of Champions,
the Sur Sadak gold medal. As he prepares to vie for the championship as the only American competitor, he
struggles to reconcile his western identity with his embrace of the sitar. The film offers a variety of experts
from India and the United States with insight into the timely issue of global cultural exchange and the timeless
appeal of the musical tradition.
Singapore I English, Korean w/ English

subtitles | 105 min. I Video I 2008
DIRECTOR: John Radel
PRODUCER: Robin Leong
WRITER: John Radel, Max Mannix
CAST: Fann Wong, Jang Hyuk, Jason Scott
Lee
MON Oct 13 7:15PM
*Mature content
Dance of the Dragon
Co-presented by: SingMa Club of San
Diego, CSUSM Jam Control World Dance
Korean country boy Tae (Jang Hyuk), has dreamed of being a famous ballroom dancer since his first encounter Org, San Diego Alliance for Asian Pacific
with the beautiful art form when he was a young boy. Twenty years later, self taught with the aid of dance Islander Americans
videos, Tae knows the only way to take the next step is to leave Korea for Singapore where he can be trained
by Emi Lim (Fann Wong), a former ballroom dancing champion renowned for her ability to take dancers to
great heights.
As the only student in the class without a partner, Tae sometimes partners with Emi in training. Before long
it becomes apparent that he has developed feelings for her. Tae struggles with life in his new environment so
far away from home, but none loom larger than Cheng (Jason Scott Lee) – Emi’s boyfriend and former martial
arts champion. Threatened by the new student, Cheng warns Tae to stay away from ‘his girl.’
DANCE OF THE DRAGON is an enchanting tale of love, passion, courage, and hope, with the demanding and
visually stunning disciplines of ballroom dancing and martial arts woven as backdrops into the plot.

FEATURES
Dirty Hands: The Life and Crimes

of David Choe
O 9:
:2
Oct
ERSIDE
Q:You worked on this film for over five years. finished two years ago. The money challenge
Q&A with Harry Kim, What was it like to film David Choe’s life is not so unusual, it sucks for every indie
director of DIRTY during this time period, especially when his filmmaker to have to invest all your time,
career really took off? money, and energy into a film that 99% of the
HANDS: THE LIFE AND time would probably not pay you that back.
David was always hustling before and after But in the end, you made a movie. I’m just
CRIMES OF DAVID his career took off. If anything, David was in grateful that this one isn’t sitting in my closet
CHOE a slump in the period right before he went gathering dust but that people are actually
to prison. So that really made things happen watching it and they like it.
by Gene Huh and actually turned out good for both of us.
After the Los Angeles premiere, my mom told Q. What inspired you to become a
Q: How did you decide to make this film? Dave’s mom that she was glad that Dave went filmmaker?
to prison because it made my movie happen.
It started off as a 10-minute doc that I did as There was this college film festival/ student
a school project. As a thesis, I was going to Q: Did you encounter any unusual challenges screening held at Pitzer when I was back in
do this 30-minute thing on David mixing my in making this documentary? college. As you can guess, they were pretty
cinematographer, Johnny Granado’s footage bad. At that point, I said hey...I could do better
and mine. But when he ended up going to jail Like being in the Congo and marrying a than this shit. So I just started doing it.
and coming out sermoning for Jesus, I had to 15-year old pygmy girl? Hitchhiking across
keep shooting and chasing to see where it the U.S. and rafting down the Mississippi in
would lead me. an inflatable Wal-Mart fun tube? Yeah, there
was a chance I could have died. I would have
also given one of my kidneys to have this film
FEATURES
Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 139

min | Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Akihiko Shiota
WRITERS: Masa Nakamura, Akihiko
Shiota
PRODUCERS: Takashi Hirano
CAST: Satoshi Tsumabuki, Kou Shibasaki,
Kiichi Nakai, Eita, Mieko Harada
SUN Oct 12, 7:45PM
*Mature content
Dororo
Diego and Tijuana, UCSD Multi-Asian
Set during the turbulent Sengoku period of Japanese history, DORORO is the story of Hyakkimaru (Satoshi Student Association
Tsumabuki), a young man who had 48 body parts sacrificed to 48 demons before birth by his power-
hungry father, Kagemitsu Daigo (Kiichi Nakai). As a result of this demonic pact, Kagemitsu becomes the
most powerful man in Japan and his limbless son is left to die. However, a doctor discovers Hyakkimaru and
saves him. The doctor then raises Hyakkimaru as his adopted son, until one day Hyakkimaru comes to the
realization that his destiny is to regain his humanity and reclaim his body parts by slaying the 48 demons.
Thankfully for Hyakkimaru, has incorporated awesome weaponry into Hyakkimaru’s appendages, including
arms that transform into swords. Hyakkimaru is soon joined by a tomboyish female orphan named Dororo
(Kou Shibasaki), the self-proclaimed greatest thief in the world.
A strong performance by dashing lead actor Tsumabuki (“Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish,” SDAFF ’04) is
supported by a cast of Japanese stars. All of these elements come together to make DORORO a wonderful
fantasy film that should not be missed.

FEATURES
S. Korea I Korean w/ English subtitles |

94 min. I Video I 2007
DIRECTOR: Sunhee Kim
PRODUCER: Jae-joong Kim
WRITER: Sunhee Kim
CAST: Eun-bi Kang
SAT Oct 11 12:25PM
*World Premiere
Drawing Paper
Sang-won has the dream of being a professional singer, so she becomes a member of her vocational high
school band, Magnolia. The members of Magnolia begin to practice with the band of a neighboring boy’s high
school as recommended by their seniors. As they work together, feelings develop, and friends quickly become
competitors for the affection of a boy. Through the relationships of Sang-won, Soi, and Su-ah, the three girls
learn the need to make their own decisions. In the process of their growing pains, they discover their true
love.
Set in a vocational girls’ high school, this coming-of-age film interweaves the themes of friendships between
schoolgirls, their lives, and their strong determination to hold onto their dreams of making music in spite
of the harsh realities of growing up in Korea. Performing in traditional schoolgirl attire in the spirit of
Oreskaband, DRAWING PAPER features the young cast actually doing a decent job creating their own music
in the all-girl band. The unabashed hopefulness in the lyrics that Sang-won sings harkens back to the age of
innocence, and what it was like to fall in love with music for the first time.
China & USA | Mandarin w/ English

subtitles | 47 min. | Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Emily Ting
PRODUCER: Helen Jen, Emily Ting
SAT Oct 11, 1:10PM

WED, Oct 15, 4PM (FREE)
*Mature content
* Producer Helen Jen & Director

Emily Ting scheduled to attend Oct
11 screening
Family Inc.
*Oct 15 free screening sponsored by
Burkett & Wong Engineers
When filmmaker Emily Ting was asked by her father to return to Asia and take over the family business, she
didn’t exactly know how to say ‘no.’ Promising herself she would try it out for just one year, she traded in her Co-presented by: Burkett and Wong,
friends, her filmmaking pursuits, and her love of New York for a grueling new life as CEO-in-training in one of Chinese School of San Diego, Harbor
Hong Kong’s most notorious toy companies. Two years later, she’s still there – with no end in sight. Presbyterian Church
From picking up the slack left behind by a runaway brother to steering a sinking company on the brink of
bankruptcy, Emily finds herself getting more and more stuck in a life she didn’t choose for herself. But her
biggest challenge yet is in trying to reconnect with an absentee father whose passion for his business far
outshines his relationship with his family.
In an attempt to come to terms with her new life, Emily turns the camera on herself and her family and the
result is an incredibly honest and at times bittersweet family portrait that examines the price we end up
paying when business and family become one.

SHORTS
Fight Night
TRT 93 min.
In this collection of films, young men confront
ont moral dilem
dilemmas andd seemingly impossible
situations. Whether they are seeking vengeance,
e eance, exploring the limits
ts of loyal
loyalt
loyalty
lty or even
channeling the supernatural, it’s always
ways tim
timee for some actio
action!
SAT Oct 11, 8:05PM

*Mature content / *C
Cast and crew scheduled to attend
BOOKIE AIM FOR THE HEART: BLOOD DEBTS 6TH AND SANTA FE
Director:
rector: Bao Tr
Tran | 18
8mmin.. | A GUIDE TO VAMPIRE Director: Roland d Nguy
Nguyen | 14 Director: Mike Gunther
unthher | 13
1 min.
Videoo | 2007 DEFENSE min. | Video | 22007 | Video
Vide | 2007
A bookie gam
gambles everything
rythingg Director:
or: FFernando Huerta
Huer
uert | 6 A young ma man must betr
etray his Childhood
Child
hild friends fall out in the
onn an unluck
unlucky waitress.
waitr min | Video
de | 2007 past to prove
p his loya
yalty to a aftermath of a successful bubut
This humorous mockm Vietnam
amese gang. violent heist.
eist.
instructional
uctional teaches
teachees the myths
yths
hs
and
nd realities of defe
defendi
ding again
inst
vampires.
THE ASIAN ARROW DEAD MAN’S HOUR THE TRIDENT

Directors:
ctors: Richard Quebra
Quebral & Director: Nathan Kitada
Kit da | 20 Dir
Director: Anurag Mehta | 14
R.C. Penque
ue | 8 min. | Vide
Vi
Video | min. | Video
eo | 20077 min. | 35mm | 22007
m
2008
08 A hitman
man returns from
f om the grave A myst
mysteriouss shop
shopkeeper
A disgraced
g aced superh
superheroo search
searches seekinng vengeance
ce. reconnects
reco
onne a young Indian
for a neww city to defen
defend. American man with his
Am
previous life as a war
pre warrior.
Featuring David Carra
Carradine
(“Kill Bill:Volume 2”).

FEATURES
Iran I Persian w/ English subtitles I 96 min.

The Fish Fall In Love I VIDEO I 2006
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Ali Raffi
PRODUCER: Hassan Kalami
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mahmoud Kalari
CAST: Reza Kianian, Roya Nonahali,
Golshifteh Farahani, Maryam Saadat,
Maedeh Tahmasbi, Mehdi Pakdel, Sina
Razani
TUE Oct 14 5:40PM
Co-presented by: Persian Cultural

Center of San Diego, Persian Institute at
SDSU/LARC
Atieh’s singular passion is food, and her small but popular restaurant on the sleepy Caspian coast is her pride
and joy. But when Aziz, her former fiancé, appears after being gone for 20 years, the women believe he has
intentions of closing the restaurant. Atieh prepares his favorite dishes, one after the other, in a desperate
effort to convince him otherwise. Loosely based on the Persian fable of Shahrazad and the “Thousand Myths
(A Thousand and One Nights),” director Ali Raffi uses the language of food to paint a richly textured portrait
of life and love on the northern coast of Iran.
Hong Kong | English, French & Cantonese

w/ English subtitles | 91 min. | Video |
2007
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Duncan Jepson
TUE Oct 14, 4PM (FREE)
*Mature content
Follow Your Heart: Free screening sponsored by Burkett

& Wong Engineers
China’s New Youth
Movement
FOLLOW YOUR HEART is Duncan Jepson’s first venture in filmmaking. By day, Jepson is a corporate lawyer
in Hong Kong. His daring documentary explores the life and ideals of a new generation of Chinese, focusing
on the beliefs, work and family of a number of China’s successful independent hip hop artists. The group,
spread across China, believes in Old School values: self-expression, freedom, and truth to oneself. The film
investigates the dynamic between the inflexible political environment and a modernizing ancient culture,
the issues that are affecting Chinese youth such as “Chinese-ness,” geography, freedom, family, information,
consumerism, wealth, and individuality. Finally, the film sets out to describe the high optimism of this new
generation and the future that they want to build.

FEATURES
Philippines | English & Tagalog w/ English

subtitles| 35mm | 98 min. | 2007
DIRECTOR: Brillante Mendoza
PRODUCER: Robbie Tan
WRITER: Ralston Jover, Joel Jover
CAST: Cherry Pie Picache, Eugene
Domingo, Jiro Manio, Kier Alonzo, Kier
Segundo
THU Oct 9, 8:15PM
*Mature content
Foster Child
FOSTER CHILD re-screens at the
Philippine Cinema Showcase Oct
17-19 at the Chula Vista UltraStar
The emotional bonds between foster-parents-for-hire and the abandoned babies they care for are examined Cinemas (555 Broadway). For info, go
in the highly acclaimed drama FOSTER CHILD by prolific filmmaker Brillante Mendoza. Based on a true story, to www.philippinecinemashowcase.
it’s a glimpse into the life of a poor foster family in Manila, comprised of mother Thelma (played by the multi- org
award winning actress Cherry Pie Picache), husband Dado, and sons Gerald and Yuri. The film sees Thelma on
the day she’s forced to part with a precious three-year-old named John-John, who has just been adopted by an
American family.
Mendoza gives viewers a rare glimpse into the slums of the Philippines. Like his fixed cameras lens, viewers
are forced to take in and contemplate – if only for an hour and a half – on the Third World living conditions
so many Filipino families must endure. What’s more, the film refers to the alarming number of foster homes
interspersed throughout the island nation.
The world premiere of FOSTER CHILD was held at the Cannes International Film Festival and culminated in
a rousing standing ovation at the Directors’ Fortnight. -Adapted by Paul Ventura, HIFF

From Comics to Film: A Panel
SUN Oct 12, 2:30PM
Greg Pak Jim Lee
In recent years, films adapted from comic books have dominated the global box offices - from gigantic
blockbuster summer movies such as “The Dark Knight,” “300” and “Iron Man” to critically-acclaimed
films such “Oldboy,” “A History of Violence” and “Road to Perdition.” Due to the strong representation
of Asian Americans within the comic book industry, this trend will surely have an effect on the Asian
American arts community.
Join acclaimed artist Jim Lee (“X-Men,” “Batman: Hush”) and writer/filmmaker Greg Pak (“Planet
Hulk”, “Robot Stories,” SDAFF ’03) for a lively discussion on the comic book creation process and the
adaptation of comics for the big screen from an Asian American perspective. Martin Wong (co-editor of
Giant Robot magazine) will moderate this panel.
Book signing with Greg Pak immediately following program at Barnes & Noble (upstairs from theater)

FEATURES
Genghis Khan: To the
Ends of the Earth and Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 136
Sea min. | 35mm | 2007

DIRECTOR: Shinichiro Sawai
PRODUCERS: Haruki Kadokawa, Ryuhei
Chiba
WRITERS: Takehiro Nakajima and Shoichi
Maruyama
CAST: Takashi Sorimachi, Rei Kikukawa,
Mayumi Wakamura, Ken’ichi Matsuyama
MON Oct 13, 7:35PM
*Mature content

Diego and Tijuana
Shinichiro Sawai’s GENGHIS KHAN is a Japanese-Mongolian production that topped the box office in Japan.
This biopic tells the story of the vast ambitions of Genghis Khan using thousands of extras to recreate the
spectacular battles and military feats of the great legend. Takashi Sorimachi stars as Temujin (aka Genghis) as
the story covers his doubts over the secret of his birth, the betrayal of his sworn friend, and his mixed feelings
for his son.
Similar to the earlier released film “Mongol,” Sawai’s film offers a humanization of the infamous icon, a leader
that is stoic patient stong, and emphatic. Beautifully shot on location in Mongolia, the film is an epic not to be
missed on the big screen.
Half-Life USA | 106 min. | Video | 2008

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Jennifer Phang
PRODUCERS: Alan T. Chan, Reuben Lim,
Robert Zimmer
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Assulv Wolf
Austad
CAST: Alexander Agate, Sanoe Lake, Julia
Nickson, Leonardo Nam, Ben Redgrave
FRI Oct 10, 5:45PM
*Mature content
* Director and cast scheduled to

attend
Set in a world where global warming is more than just a theory, HALF-LIFE tells the story of the Wu family, a
suburban family reaching the breaking point. The Wu family - Saura (Julia Nickson), older sister Pam (Sanoe
Lake), and eight-year-old Timothy (Alexander Agate) - have their lives shaken up by the arrival of Wendell
(Ben Redgrave), an outwardly pleasant young man who has entered into a relationship with Saura. The
directionless Pam responds to the problems at home by seeking solace in the company of a young gay man
Scott (Leonardo Nam), whose religious parents remain in complete denial of their son’s open sexuality. In
the meantime, young Timothy becomes aware of the supernatural powers he possesses. As the natural
disasters escalate and the air quality deteriorates, the tension within the family continues to boil until it
reaches the story reaches its surreal conclusion.
Deftly blending CG animation with live action, HALF-LIFE is a bold and original debut feature film from
director Jennifer Phang. A selection at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, HALF-LIFE stamps Phang as an
aggressive filmmaker wiling to take risks and definitely an independent director to watch.

Happy Slip: Uncensored
Moderated by
Lee Ann Kim
MON OCT 13 6PM
A talented comedian, an rally went around

YouTube’s most subscri ip,’ until friends at
better known by her on king if I had a ‘sad
international following o
in which she imperson
American family. SLIP, with Gambito
sonal journey, how
Gambito’s video Mixed N ollywood channels
YouTube Video Awards fo medic presentation
second place, and recent sion.
for Philippine tourism. No
shoots, and edits her ske Wednesday, October
case, located at the
So, where does HAPPY SLIP come from, you may ask? Chula Vista Center UltraStar. For more information, go to: www.
philippinecinemashowcase.org
“As a child, my Filipino mom would always remind me to wear Co-presented by: Miramar College Diversity/International Education
a half-slip with skirts. However, the way she would pronounce Committee & Verizon Wireless
the phrase was misleading: “Your hap e-slip! Be sure to wear

FEATURES
S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles |

114 min. | 35mm | 2008
DIRECTOR: Chil-in Kwon
WRITERS: Hye-Ryeon Park, Hyeon-su
Kim, Soo-ah Kim
CAST: Min-hee Kim, Mi-sook Lee,
So-hee An, Seong-su Kim, Heung-su
Kim, Hui-seok Yun, Eun-ji Jo, Beom Kim,
Hang-jun Jang
SUN Oct 12, 12:40PM

THU Oct 16, 5:15PM
Hellcats
*Mature content
musician in an unsuccessful rock band, cheating on her. To drown her sorrows, Ah-mi begins to drink heavily
and recklessly until she meets a kindhearted young accountant. Despite her desire for independence, Ah-mi
lives with her older sister,Young-mi (Mi-sook Lee), and Young-mi’s teenaged daughter, Kang-ae (So-hee An).
Young-mi, an attractive and successful 41-year-old interior designer, has just entered into an affair with a young
actor, but must also deal with a piece of unwelcome news from her doctor. Kang-ae is busy getting love
advice from an exotic female friend as she tries to gain attention from her apathetic boyfriend.
Based on the comic book series “10, 20 and 30” and directed by Chil-in Kwon (SINGLES), HELLCATS is a Co-presented by: San Diego Women’s
sweet, romantic comedy that takes a realistic view of the modern Korean single woman. Terrifically acted Film Festival
and confidently directed, this is a film that transcends the “chick flick” genre to create an intelligent and
entertaining film that will appeal to all audiences.
USA | 90 min. | 35mm | 2007

DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER:
Arthur Dong
FRI Oct 10, 6PM

TUE Oct 21, 6:15PM (RIVERSIDE)
*Director scheduled to attend both

screenings
Hollywood Chinese
Co-presented by: New Americans
Museum of San Diego
From 1916, when the first Asian American feature-length film was produced, to “Brokeback Mountain” 90
years later, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE comprehensively documents the contributions Chinese American
have made to American cinema. Featuring interviews with notable artists such as Ang Lee, Wayne Wang, Joan
Chen, David Henry Hwang, Nancy Kwan, Justin Lin, B.D. Wong, Lisa Lu, and James Hong, this fine documentary
blends the first-person accounts of the earlier pioneers with interviews with some of today’s most influential
stars. The film also contains rare footage, including clips from reels that director Arthur Dong re-discovered
from the 1916 film, “Curse of Quon Gwon,” the earliest known Asian American film. All the important eras in
Asian American film are covered, including the yellow-face era of exploitation films.
With HOLLYWOOD CHINESE, Award-winning filmmaker Arthur Dong has succeeded in creating an
entertaining and extraordinarily informative documentary film. Truly a landmark achievement in Asian
American film, HOLLYWOOD CHINESE is a film that should seen by all persons with interest in American
film.
FEATURES
House of Sharing Preceded by

WIAMBU – COMFORT
TUE Oct 14, 7:30PM WOMAN

WED Oct 22, 4:30PM (RIVERSIDE) Director: James Bang
* Mature content S. Korea & USA | Korean &
* Director Hein Seok scheduled to Japanese w/ English subtitles | Co-presented by: Thomas Jefferson
attend Oct 14 screening Video | 2008 School of Law - Center for Law and
Social Justice, CSUSM Women’s Studies
A 17-year-old Korean girl is
Program, Gabriella Network - San
brought to a Japanese military Diego, San Diego Women’s Film Festival,
camp during WWII, where her UCSD Kamalayan Kollective, USD
catastrophic future awaits. Communication Studies
S. Korea & USA | Korean w/

English subtitles | 84 min | Video
| 2008 | DIRECTOR: Hein Seok
West Coast Premiere
During WWII, eight Korean girls survived kidnapping,

torture, and sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial
Army. They returned home, only to spend the next 60
years outcast by society. These eight women are among
an estimated 200,000 victims. Now in their eighties, the
women continue to fight for justice, even as their time is
running out.
In HOUSE OF SHARING, first-time director Hein Seok

captured the candid lives of these eight survivors for over
a year, as they shared their life stories through heartfelt
words, paintings, and songs. During their seemingly
hopeless ordeals before and after the war, the women
find a collective strength in their outrage. Also revealed
is a hidden side to these women, who are simply called
halmoni (grandmother). They are lively, loving, and
unexpectedly humorous.
HOUSE OF SHARING captures a personal portrait of

some of the last living “comfort women,” who are living
legacies to the atrocities of war, and the strength of the
human spirit.
the Japanese government. So in the to let them know that I am not just going
summer of 2005, I decided to travel to shoot the film and disappear from their
to Korea to visit the House of Sharing lives.
- a compound where eight survivors
live together. Once I got to know the I struck by how charming and funny these
grandmothers, it was very clear as to what women are, but you can see their pain
kind of story I wanted to tell. through their art.
Seeing the original paintings hanging in the
Was it difficult to gain their trust and get museum at the House of Sharing was one
Q&A with director them to open up to you? of the most profound experiences I had
Hein Seok When I first arrived, I asked the director if when I first arrived.
By Lee Ann Kim I could volunteer at the museum located
How did you come across this story? within the compound. During the first I think that after the most avid painters
I learned about existence of comfort month, I did not shoot at all. I was very like Duk-kyung Kang and Soon-duk
women fifteen years ago. And to this day, concerned about invading their privacy. I Kim passed away, the program slowly
their stories are some of the most heart wanted to make sure the grandmothers disappeared. Not all of the grandmothers
wrenching I have ever come across. were comfortable with me. After a month, wanted to paint and some found it very
Through various media outlets, I followed I started shooting at the Wednesday difficult to visualize their pain.
the survivors’ constant and unsuccessful demonstrations and gradually progressed
efforts to obtain a formal apology from from there. I guess my main challenge was

SHORTS
I Heart U
T 114 mins.
TRT:
A collection of shorts about love and dating, from our heart to your
yo rs!
FRI Oct 10, 7:20PM
*Mature content / *Cast

ast and crew scheduledd to attend
CALIFORNIA KING MY FIRST CRUSH DAMN THE PAST! 364 CRANES

Director:
ctor: Eli Akira Kaufman
fma | Director:
ector:: Roc
Rocky Jo | 8 min.
min | Director:
ector: Juli Kangg | 29 mmin. | Director: Vincent Lin | 14 mi
min. |
21 min.. | Video | 2007
2 Video | 2008 Viddeo | 2007 Video
ideo | 2007
A mattress sale
salesman, who A young and adorable Kore Korean
ore Music happen
happens when a sin singing A youn
young couple’s turn of
employs faux science
s to get girl, Hyori,, eexperiences what
wha
wh mute meet
meets the girl of his luck ultimately tests
ests their
female customers
ustomers into bed,, falls
fal many people always ys rem
remembe ber dreams,
d s, but
b the path h to true love commitment nt and
a changes their
for a skeptical
cal insomn
insomniacc who
w - the ups
ps and downs of o falling forr iisn’t
sn easy
ea when you ou can
an only
o fate foreve
fo ever.
knows her science
en bett tter than a firstt crush
crush. expreress yourselff in
i song.
ng
her heart.
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE

FOURTH DATE
Director: Vijay Mathew
athew | 14 m
min.
| Video | 2008
A surreal short comedy
medy about
dating—with a Freu
eudian twist.
BITE ME THE POSTCARD

Director: Jason
son Fon
Fongg | 133 min. | Direc
rector: Josh Kim | 15 min. |
Video | 200808 Video | 2007
Vid
A lonely vam
vampire/accou
countant A post
ost office
of clerk
erk mistakenly
m
who doesn’t
oesn’t seem ttoo hav
have much thinks
inkss tha
that a customer is tryingg
luck with
luc th the ladies
es tr
tries his to
o get her attention by writing
hhand
and at Last-M
Last-Minute
Minute Mate Spee
Speed open
en love letters on po
postcards
Dating. he sends out.

FEATURES
USA | 75 min. | Video | 2008

The Killing of a DIRECTOR/WRITER: Derek Shimoda
Chinese Cookie PRODUCERS: Derek Shimoda, Jimmy
Tsai
WRITERS: Derek Shimoda, Mark Tasaka
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Taylor
SAT Oct 11, 4:40PM
Co-presented by: San Diego Chinese

Historical Museum
What do Powerball, the planet Mars and sexual innuendos have in common? Fortune cookies of course!
Filmmaker Derek Shimoda invites us to take a closer look at a little something taken for granted at the San Diego Chinese Service Center
end of nearly every Chinese restaurant meal. Who started it all? Was its birthplace in San Francisco or Los
Angeles? And who writes those fortunes anyway?
Shimoda takes us on an irreverent and comical journey revealing the enigmatic and sometimes contentious
back story of the famous fortune cookie. A colorful cast of characters weighs in on the ubiquitous act of
cracking open a cookie and trying to discern one’s destiny. Martin Yan from “Yan Can Cook,” Miss South
Carolina, and Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura offer their take.
Whether you think they’re harmless fun, worry they perpetuate stereotypes of Asian culture or secretly
believe they’ll lead you to happiness, fortune cookies have become an indelible part of not only Chinese
American dining, but American pop culture and beyond, making cameos in everything from “Mr. Rogers” to
the “The Simpsons” to outer space. - adapted from San Francisco International Asian Film Festival
USA | 99 min. | Video | 2007

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER/WRITER:
Amyn Kaderali
PRODUCERS: Manish Goyal, Rahul Haria
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Alison Kelly
CAST: Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca
Hazlewood, P.J.Byrne, Zack Ward, Rachael
C. Smith, David Alan Grier, & Jaleel White.
SAT Oct 11, 4:50PM

WED Oct 22, 7PM (RIVERSIDE)
Kissing Cousins *Director & cast/crew scheduled to

attend Oct 11 screening
*Mature content
Amir, 29, is a heartbreaker—literally. As a relationship termination specialist, Amir spends his days delivering
bad news to unsuspecting lovers across Los Angeles. Though Amir claims he is just the messenger, the job Co-presented by: Intuit Indian Network
has made him hard-hearted and as a result, he is the last bachelor in his group of friends. When Amir returns
to his family’s Bay Area home for Thanksgiving, he is reunited with Zara, his charming and beautiful cousin
San Diego Indian American Society
from Britain who he has not seen in twenty years. The two cousins do not get along right away. As the days
go by, Zara grows sympathetic towards Amir’s sad state of perpetual bachelorhood. Over time, Amir starts
to soften from Zara’s influence. An undercurrent of sexual tension develops between them as the charade Qualcomm, Inc.
comes dangerously close to going too far. Will Amir fall for his own cousin?! Or will he become one of his
own victims?
KISSING COUSINS bursts with razor sharp wit and smartly written dialog. Memorable cameos by David
Alan Grier (“In Living Color”) as Amir’s fellow bachelor buddy, and Jaleel White (“Family Matters”) as his
antagonistic brother-in-law round out the excellent cast.
FEATURES
Japan | Japanese w/English subtitles | 129

min. | 35mm | 2008
DIRECTOR: Hideo Nakata
PRODUCERS: Nobuhiro Iizuka, Takahiro
Kobashi, Takahiro Sato, Tadashi Tanaka
WRITERS: Tsugumi Oba, Takeshi Obata
CAST: Kenichi Matsuyama, Mayuko
Fukuda, Sei Hiraizumi, Renji Ishibashi,Yuta
Kanai,Youki Kudoh
FRI Oct 10, 8:30PM

WED Oct 15, 9:30PM
L: Change the World
*Mature content
A group of fanatical eco-terrorists have decided to unleash a biological weapon on the planet. When the virus Co-presented by: Japan Society of San
wipes out an entire village in Thailand the authorities call upon L (Kenichi Matsuyama), the greatest detective Diego and Tijuana
in the world, to save humanity. Assisting him are two young children, a boy who was the only survivor of the
Thai village attack and the daughter of the creator of the virus antidote. Of course, L’s reliable partner Watari
is available as always to provide able support.
A spinoff of the wildly popular “Death Note” series of manga (Japanese comics), anime TV show and live
action films, director Hideo Nakata (RING) takes L, the quirky, sweet-toothed, slightly goth hero of “Death
Note” and places him in a position where he must save the world. A huge box office success in Japan, this film
has clearly established Kenichi Matsuyama as a superstar and matinee idol. L: CHANGE THE WORLD is fun
for everyone and definitely required viewing for fans of the “Death Note” franchise.
soon,
this COME TO B-SIDE—YOUR SOURCE FOR
GREAT INDEPENDENT FILM TITLES AND
THE SAME GROUP THAT BROUGHT YOU
THE WEBSITE AT THIS FESTIVAL.
festival BUY DVDS OR DOWNLOAD INCREDIBLE

INDEPENDENT TITLES AND TOP FESTIVAL
FILMS FOR AS LITTLE AS $2.99.
will
NEVER GO WITHOUT GOOD MOVIES AGAIN.
www.bside.com
end. …AND YOU'LL BE ON YOUR OWN TO SEARCH FOR

UNIQUE, HIGH QUALITY FILMS IN THIS YEAR'S SEA
OF BIG BUDGET, LOW CONCEPT MULTIPLEX MOVIES.
the audience is never wrong.
©2008 B-Side Entertainment. All rights reserved. All images are the rights of their respective owners.

SHORTS
Love is Queer Co-presented by: FilmOut San Diego,
First UU Church Rainbow Outreach,
Greater San Diego Business Association,
TRT: 96 Guys Like Us, Long Yang Club of SD,
P.F.L.A.G. SD Chapter, Pride Resource
esource
Love is family. Love iss true. Love is fleeting. But queer affairs of the heartt are never
er bo
bboring!
oring! Office of SDSU, Family Health Cent
Centers
Reception imm
immediatelyy following program
progra sponsored by Ulan Medical Spa Spp of San Diego,
ego SD LGBT Community
Center - Women’s Resource Center, SD
SAT Oct 11, 7:20PM POZabilities,
s, UC
UCSD LGBT Resource
Center
*Mature content / *Directo
*Director & crew
w sscheduled
d to attend
A PASSING RAIN JUST YOU’VE GOT MALE LOOK AGAIN

Director: Kim Myoung-hwa hwa Director:
tor: Edward
Edwward Gunawan
Gunaw Directors Chris Nguyen,
Directors: uyen, Director: Jenniferr Lin | 7
|S. Korea | 8 min.| 35mm | 12 min.|| Video
Vi | 20077 Nadine
N a Truong, Ryan Kim | min.| Video| 2008
| 2006 Two guy
guys go o online
o for a 5mmin. | Video| 2007
mi When a work visa runs out,
Two youngg Korean
Ko
orean girls hookup, but discov over their
eir A love
velorn guy expecting a bi-nationall lesbian couple
meet andd part like a passing romp is anythithing but cas
casua
sual. a mail-o
-order bride gets a risks tthe life they’ve bbuilt
ilt
rain. surprise delivery.
d together.
together
ogeth
S/HE MISS POPULARITY KALI MA THE LITTLE KNAVE

Director: Gina Pei Chi Di
Director: Wayne Yun
Yung | 6 Directo
ector
or: Soman
man Chainani Directo
tor: Sarah Naomi |11
Chen | 12 min.| Video| 2007 min.| Video, 2006
min |14 min.| Video|
deo| 200
2007 min.| Video|
min deo| 2007
20
12-year-old Shane struggles A Chinese man goes A suburban
uburba Indian
In
ndian mother A young thieff discovers
discove that
to embrace
mbrace her true self old school to juggle two turns
ns vengefu
vengefull after
a her son
on what she wants
w nts she cann
ccannot
against
nstt the
th weightt of boyfriends. is beaten
aten by a bully
bully.
bu keep.
cultural
ral ex
expectations.
tion
SEXY GIRL AND THE POSTCARD

CARPENTER Director
or: Josh Kim|m| S. Kore
Korea
Director:
ctor: D
Dongkeun Leeup |15 min.
n.| Video|
deo| 22007
|6 min.| Video| 2006
6 A mysterious
riouss po
postcard stirs
Animated girl-on-girl
girl aaction paassions at a post office in
gets mythic — and ugly. K
Korea.
Kore

Proud Sponsor of
the 9th Annual San Diego
Asian Film Festival
ARE YOU ASIAN?
Hepatitis B is a worldwide Asian epidemic.

1 in 10 Asians are infected here in the U.S.
GET TESTED.
www.asianliver.com

FEATURES
Lovers
2007
DIRECTOR: Carl Zhang
PRODUCERS: Carl Zhang
WRITER: Carl Zhang
CAST: Cherie Leena, James Vegter
TUE Oct 14, 8:30PM
*Mature content
LOVERS begins as a young photographer, Jeremy, arrives in Shanghai on the night of his first solo exhibition in
the city. Elsewhere on that same winter’s night, a young woman, ‘Qiu Sen,’ quickly and silently snaps photos of
a random couple while stalking closely behind them. She is eventually led into a small street corner art gallery
advertising Jeremy’s exhibition.
As she follows the couple inside, her life will pause for a moment. In that moment, Jeremy will see her—and
she will see him. When their eyes lock, they will fall for each other for the second time….
The film asks the question, what would you do if you had a chance to heal the wounds of a loved one you
hurt deeply? Or would the emotional baggage and pain of past mistakes be too much to overcome? Set
against the beautiful, glowing backdrop of modern Shanghai, LOVERS deals with the subjects of love both lost
and found, and the fragility of a second chance.
Magazine Gap Road

2007
DIRECTOR: Nicholas Chin
PRODUCERS: Chiu Wah Lee, Nicholas
Chin
WRITER: Nicholas Chin
CAST: Carl Ng, Elvis Tsui, Qu Ying, Jessey
Ming
SAT Oct 11 9:30PM
*Mature content
High above the commerce and crowds of Hong Kong winds Magazine Gap Road, a secluded enclave of
wealth and privilege. Samantha is a curator for a private museum in a world where her past - a life spent in
the Japanese flesh trade - is her most well-kept secret. One day, it catches up with her in a single phone call
from Kate, another escort, who’s in trouble. For Samantha, helping Kate means going back to the world she
escaped and risking everything - her budding romance with a wealthy antiques collector, the deadly men who
run Hong Kong’s high-class prostitution ring, and most importantly, her own fears that beneath the veneer of
respectability, she will always be for sale.
MAGAZINE GAP ROAD is a follow up to director Nicholas Chin’s short film “Tai Tai” (Official Selection
at Cannes 2002) and touts an accomplished cast and crew including Beijing actress Qu Ying, Jessey Meng
(“Mummy III”), cinematographer Chan Yuan Kai (“Ashes of Time”) and Oscar award-winning editor Jean Tsien.
It is an understated film set away from the crowded Hong Kong that most audiences have seen and takes
them to a world of Hong Kong high society.
SHORTS
Manila and Beyond Co-presented by: Miramar College
Diversity/International
C
ternational Education
Ed
TRT: 69 min. Committee
A collection of stories celebrating Pinoy Pride and the diverse
se Filipino Am
American
experience.
FRI Oct 10, 8:15PM
*Mature content / *Directors scheduled to attend
LITTLE MANILA CELEBRATION GIVING CARE

Director: Marissa
Ma Aroy | 26 min. Director:
ector: Rochelle Lo
Lozada | Director: Clarissa
Claarissa DDe Los Reyes
| Video | 2006
200 Philippines
hilippines
ppine | 5 min. | Video
Vi | 20088 | 11 min. | Video
V | 2007
007
Document entary highlighting
ightingg the From m Vi
Visual Communications’
Communiic An undodocumented d ccaregiver
vibrant
ant history
his o
of Filipinoss in
i Armed ed With a Came
Cameraera ser
series,, mustt choose
c betw
tween going
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ckton and is part of the
t a young Filipinoo girl goes
es on a hom
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nder Series.
Serie journey
urney to find “lola.”
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ue bbeing the one
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pen on
This program will repeat at the

Chula Vista Ultrastar Cinemas (555 Broadway)
October 17-19. For information, go to
www.philippinecinemashowcase.org
AN IMMIGRANT GIRL’S LEGEND

JOURNEY Director:
or: Mark Villegas
Vil gas | 5 m
min.
D
Director:or: Lonny Stev
Stevens
even | 22 | Videoo | 2008
min. | Video | 2008
m Up-close
-close with Isaiah
I aia Dacio (ak
(aka
World
orld
rld Premiere
Premier A young FFilipino DJJ Icy Ice), from
om his beginnings
beginnin
girl
rl is caught in the mix of herer ass a memberr of the lege
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business
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ess Sta
Stacks Records.

SHORTS
Masala Bites Co-presented by: San Diego Indian
American Society, Qualcomm, Inc.,.
TRT
RT: 85 min. Intuit Indian Network
A scrumptious
mptious mix of films, perspectives, and lives representing
prese g the divers
diversity
ersityy of th
the
he Sou
South
Asian experrience.
As
SAT Oct 11, 12:15PM
MON Oct 13, 5PM
*Mature conten
content
ontent
ten / *Direct
ctors scheduled to attend
BOMBAY SKIES SNAP-SHOT DANCE OF A FREEBIRD

Direector Rita Rani | India | 21
Director: Director: Suel Kim | 8 min. | Director: Ruslan Pak | S. Korea |
min. | Vid
Video | 2007 Video
deo | 20
200
008 13 min. | Video
eo | 22008
American-born Anjalili runs off
Am A police officer
ficer racially profiles
p A talentedd South
outh Asian
As man
to India to become a movi
movie a ph
photographer,er, threatening
threatenin the struggles with ada
adapting to life in
star, but is chased
c down by an safety
ty of his community
mmunity and his is Seoul,
Se
eoul, South Korea
Kor
ore
angry father who eventually own chhild.
reconnects with the he city he
once called home.
ANJALI TIFFIN THE TRIDENT

Director: Maya Anand d | 15min.
1 | Director: Ai Lene Chohor | Director:
Dire or: An
Anurag Mehta | 16
Video | 2008 Malaysia | 14 min. | Video
deo | 2007
007 min. | 35mm
mi 35mm | 2008
2
A rebellious
ous Indian-American
an An Indian
an gir
girl born into
nto the life A wisee shopkeeeper (David
teenager catches
catc her father of a servant
vant only lives
ives for
fo the
he Carrad
rraddine) helps
ps a young man
cheating, and must decide love and affection off a lonely
lon discover
scover
er his inner warrior
w
whether or not to share this Chinese grandmotherr who runs through an ancient
ncientt Indian
In an
secret. a food
od delivery
de business. Trident and a healthy dose of
Hindu spiritua
uality.

FEATURES
France, India, Ireland, Japan, Morocco,

The Meaning of Tea Taiwan, United Kingdom & USA | 74 min.
| Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Scott Chamberlin Hoyt
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Scott
Chamberlin Hoyt
PRODUCER: Michaela McKee, Keir
Moreano
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY:
Gordon Arkenberg
MON Oct 13, 5:30PM
*Free Reception immediately

following, sponsored by
THE MEANING OF TEA, gorgeously filmed by Gordon Arkenberg, explores the romance and complexities
surrounding tea, a universally beloved and widely consumed beverage. The film travels through eight countries,
unveiling many reasons behind tea’s mysterious appeal. From afternoon tea in the Midwestern United States
to tea estates in India, from the traditional tea ceremony of Japan to modern tea life in Morocco, the film
explores the rituals and ceremonies of tea celebrated and enjoyed by a myriad of unique cultures. The
common thread weaving together these individual stories is the question of whether there is any inherent Co-presented by: San Diego Alliance for
meaning to be found in tea, particularly in an era increasingly dominated by mass marketing and fast food.
Asian Pacific Islander Americans
The film also examines the role certain modern forces pay in threatening the survival of tea and its cultural
significance. By visiting places where tea is still revered and by investigating its role in these societies, THE
MEANING OF TEA suggests the profoundly positive role tea may play in our future.
(1996), I was stationed in Korea. Were there any scenes that particularly touched
I was very fortunate to have a you?
Korean solider as my roommate.
I asked for his help, and he helped At the very end of movie where the hand is
find the orphanage, then posted over the heart—I broke down and cried tears
an ad in the Kwangju newspaper, of joy and honor!
which somehow got on a SBS Q:What about your adoptive parents, how did
documentary in late 1996. they react to your search and the movie? Have
About three years later, I was they seen it?
notified that my biological father Due to my different “facial features,” my

was trying to contact me. In July adopted parents have told me I was adopted
2000, I met my father for the first since I was able to understand English. They’ve
time at prison surrounded by a lot ALWAYS been supportive. So they were
of Korean media. honored to know that my successful search
From October 2000 through became a movie. They enjoyed [the film] so
January 2002, I got to know my much they watched it twice in Korea and just
father. During those years, two recently again in the United States.
Aaron Bates (right) with Director Dong-hyeok Hwang KBS producers (Hyun Mo Jung & Q: If there’s anything you’d like people to get out
Sanghan Lee) filmed my journey. Sometime in
Interview with Aaron 2003, KBS released a documentary. Through
of the film, what would that be?
Bates, whose life was that 2003 documentary, the movie company Three things: 1) Regardless of the situation,
contacted me in 2005 to make a movie. praise God for everything! 2) Greatest gift
the basis of the movie, God gave to all is that “Love conquers ALL
MY FATHER By Lee Ann Kim Q: How close was the movie to your real
experience?
and love never fails” and, 3) ADOPTION
reaps more blessings then one can really
Q: How did the movie come about? Was it from comprehend - adoption works!
all the publicity in Korea for your search? It’s a movie not an autobiography. So the
movie is NOT always accurate but a lot of
Yes, the movie came about due to my “experience” were very close such as me Meet Aaron Bates in person at the 5:05PM
search [for my biological parents] and going to military and while I was in the Oct 11 screening of MY FATHER
publicity. During my first military year military, going to search for my parents.
FEATURES
Co-presented by: Korean American Bar

Association of San Diego, Arthouse
Movies Meetup Group

FEATURES
Mystic Ball
SUN Oct 12, 3:20PM
THU Oct 23, 5PM (RIVERSIDE)
*Mature content
* Director scheduled to attend
October 12th screening
Canada, Myanmar & USA | Burmese w/ English

DIRECTOR: Greg Hamilton
PRODUCER: Matthew London, Greg Hamilton
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Jeremy Pollar, Aung
Ko Latt, Matthew London, John Maronset, Alex
Morrison, Emiko Omori, Dyanna Tayl
Some 20 years in the making, MYSTIC BALL is a testament

to the passion and perseverance of Canadian director
Greg Hamilton – not only as a filmmaker but as a
champion of chinlone, the national sport of Myanmar.
Co-presented by: AAJA San Diego
Rainbow Integral Kids School As its leading foreign expert and player, Hamilton
Rescue Task Force thoroughly introduces Western audiences to this unknown,
mesmerizing game. Invented over 1500 years ago and
considered by many to be the oldest form of soccer,
chinlone is a mix of hackey sack, tai chi, dance, and a lot
of meditation. Teams composed of both men and women
form an ever-morphing circle to keep a woven rattan ball
from touching the ground by employing any of the 200
different kicks that have evolved over the centuries. In
chinlone, which is played to music, no score is kept; the
focus is not on winning or losing but rather the sheer
beauty and joy of the play.
Even more relevant in the wake of the unrest coursing

through Myanmar this fall, MYSTIC BALL – like the game it
portrays – shows the importance of play for the prospect
of unity and peace.
The Spiritual Kick understand other than a feeling to discover, the chinlone solo artist Su Su Hlaing. Known
as the “Golden Princess,” she seems to have
he answered a calling, braved the elements
of Director Greg and became the first foreigner to play elevated the game into a somewhat Zen
Hamilton’s MYSTIC BALL chinlone at the highest level and to open realm of fantasy.
By Dr. Craig D. Reid doors to a side of Burmese culture that is
often ignored or hidden. When asked about the film’s theme,
At first glance chinlone (“cane-ball” in Hamilton thoughtfully posits that it is about
Burmese), a spiritual kicking art created by “I first saw someone doing chinlone in a transcending limitations, loneliness and one’s
Burmese ancients over 1500 years ago, looks Toronto park in 1981,” Hamilton reminisces. culture into another culture. “It’s finding
like David Beckham juggling a soccer ball with “I never played soccer, wasn’t familiar with it, one’s place in the world. The film shows that
his feet while using martial arts contortions but when I saw chinlone, I was immediately somebody went out of their own way in spite
and spins. But in actuality, the driving force of fascinated that he was kicking the ball behind of others around them, and found that deep
this traditional game, this nationwide treasure his back without looking.” passionate interest in life.”
that exists within the borders of Myanmar but
outside the political boundaries of a country Made out of rattan and held together by the Although in chinlone it is not a goal to be a
in turmoil, is that the challenge of chinlone is rattan’s tension, the chinlone ball’s patented national or world champion, Hamilton would
ultimately about beauty and elegance. ching-bingling sound, as a result of 200 like to be a champion for chinlone in his
possible kicking maneuvers, is also part of the quest to spread the word of the art. “I am
MYSTIC BALL recounts Greg Hamilton’s mantra-like tonality that can ultimately trance searching for a sponsor or patron. I want to
25-year journey on a path deemed closed the player into a feeling of overwhelming get the players out on tour so the world can
to foreigners; the art of chinlone.Yet with happiness. One of the sparkling enigmas that see them and respond to them. This is my
his purity of love for something he did not Hamilton features prominently in the film is next journey.”

FEATURES
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan
USA | 25 min | Video | 2008
SAT Oct 11, 10:30AM
*World Premiere / *FREE Screening
*Join us for a free book reading im-

mediately following Ni-Hao, Kai-Lan
at the Barnes & Noble bookstore
upstairs from the theater at Hazard
Center, starting at 11AM.
Co-presented by: Barnard Elementary

School, Kidsland.tv
Bring out the kids for the world premiere screening of one of Nick Jr.’s most popular shows - Ni Hao, Kai-Lan.
Trick or treat, it’s Halloween! Kai-lan and her friends dress up to go trick or treating with YeYe (grandpa).
Kai-lan is a dinosaur, Tolee’s a panda, Hoho’s the Monkey King, and Rintoo is his favorite — a dragon! But
just when they set out to trick or treat, Rintoo sprains his ankle. YeYe helps him and tells him that he needs
to stay in bed and rest. Rintoo realizes that means he can’t go trick or treating, and he starts to cry. It’s up
to Kai-lan and the viewer to figure out how make things better for Rintoo. Kai-lan has a great idea — they
can make Rintoo’s bed into a huge dragon costume, attach some wheels, and zoom around the backyard to
go trick or treating, without Rintoo ever getting out of bed! Rintoo is thrilled, and everyone has an amazing
Halloween.
Ocean of Pearls
USA | 94 min. | Video| 2008
DIRECTOR: Sarab Neelam
WRITER:V. Prasad
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jeff Dowd,
Jim Burstein
CINEMATOPHER: Lon Stratton
CAST: Omid Abtahi, Heather McComb,
Ron Canada, Navi Rawat, Ajay Mehta,
Brenda Strong
SUN Oct 12, 5PM
*Mature Content
*Cast & crew scheduled to attend
As a Sikh man with a full beard and turban, Dr. Amrit Singh (Omid Abtahi) is often faced with the realities of Co-presented by: South Asian Bar
racial profiling. But when he sees his dreams of becoming Chief of Surgery at a state-of-the-art transplant Association of San Diego, Arthouse
center dwindle because of his appearance, Amrit makes a wrenching decision. He goes against a tradition he’s
Movies Meetup Group, Qualcomm, Inc.
maintained his whole life and cuts his hair. Despite his resolve to abandon tradition, he hides this decision
from his girlfriend and family, which marks the beginning of a series of compromises as he deals with hospital
politics and health care injustices. When the condition of patient Mary Stewart (Brenda Strong, “Desperate
Housewives”) turns grim, Amrit begins to reexamine the value of the religious traditions he’d turned his back
on. When a family secret is finally revealed, Amrit begins to understand the meaning behind the Sikh tradition.
Among the first feature-length narrative films portraying the Sikh experience, the award-winning OCEAN OF
PEARLS is a powerful look at one man’s balancing act between faith, family, and getting ahead.
2008 Grand Jury Award, Audience Award Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

FEATURES
Oh Saigon
USA & Vietnam | English & Vietnamese w/
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Doan Hoang
WRITERS: Doan Hoang, Bret Sigler
THU Oct 9, 6:10PM

TUE Oct 21, 5:30PM (Riverside)
Co-presented by:Vietnamese American

Youth Alliance
On April 30, 1975, the final day of the Vietnam War, Doan Hoang’s family departed Saigon on the last
helicopter out of the country. On that day, a nation was reunified, but Doan’s family was torn asunder, as
brother was separated from brother and Doan’s half-sister,Van, was left behind. Twenty-five years later, Hoang
began shooting documentary footage of her family’s story, uncovering family secrets along the way, finally
culminating with the Hoang family’s return to Vietnam five years later.
In this astonishing look at a family divided by war, Hoang’s camera is omnipresent, providing the type of
intimate access to the Hoang family that only a family member could obtain. The result is the creation of a
powerful documentary film depicting the raw emotion and natural human reactions of a family’s struggle to
overcome the ramifications of wartime decisions.
Open City
112 min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Sang-ki Lee
CAST:Ye-jin Son, Myeong-min Kim
SUN Oct 12, 9:25PM

TUE Oct 14, 9PM
*Mature content
The big budget and star-studded Korean film OPEN CITY is an urban crime story loaded with action and
sexual tension. Set in the gritty streets of Seoul, the story is a cat and mouse game involving a network of
professional pickpockets. Sexy actress Son Ye-jin shows off in the lead role as Baek Jang-mi (White Rose), the
boss of a dangerous gang of pickpockets affiliated with the Japanese Yakuza. Jang-mi aspires to expand her turf
by conquering Seoul’s hot spots like Dongdaemun and Myeong-dong, but she’ll need the help of a young and
handsome detective (Kim Myung-min) who falls for her beauty.
Co-presented by: San Diego Dragon Boat
OPEN CITY delivers as the slick action thriller with relentless violence, a pretty realistic portrayal of the Team
underground crime world and bonus—beautiful women in off-the-runway fashions.

FEATURES
Passing Poston USA I 70 min. I Video | 2007

DIRECTOR: Joe Fox & James Nubile
WRITER: Joe Fox
PRODUCER: Fly On The Wall
Productions
MON Oct 13, 5:15PM
*Reception immediately following

program
Co-presented by: Buddhist Temple of San

Diego, Japanese American Citizens League
Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana,
CSUSM Asian Pacific Islander Faculty Staff
For Ruth Okimoto, the scars from her internment during World War II have never healed. The need to
Assoc., CSUSM Cross Cultural Center
confront the past brings her back to the desert of Arizona where she spent her childhood years behind
barbed wire — back to where Poston was built. Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego, Phi Alpha
Theta (Alpha Zeta Chi Chapter)/History
The Poston Relocation center, built on the Colorado River Indian Reservation, served as one of ten Club
internment camps built in seven states. Between 1942 and 1945, the Poston camps housed over 18,000
Japanese and Japanese American detainees. PASSING POSTON follows Ruth’s moving journey as she
searches for meaning in the inexplicable while discovering the true story of how the Poston camp came into
being. Ruth’s answers become an awakening and a road to revelation as the film examines the emotional
and haunting stories of several other former internees of Poston. Each person is shadowed by a tragic past,
each struggling in their own painful way to reconcile the trauma of their youth, each yearning during the last
chapter of their lives to find their rightful place in this country.
Planet B-Boy France, Germany, Japan, S. Korea & USA|

95 min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Benson Lee
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Chris C. Kim,
Donny Huang, Johnny Lee
PRODUCERS: Amy Lo, Benson Lee
CINEMATOGRAPHER:Vasco Nunes
EDITOR: Benson Lee, Jeff Marcello
TUE Oct 21, 7PM

(RIVERSIDE ONLY)
An exciting showcase of some of the most insane dance performances and unforgettable power moves,
PLANET B-BOY depicts the global resurgence of breakdancing and the personal stories of those bustin’ the
moves. The film follows a dancer in Las Vegas looking for his big break, a Korean son who seeks his father’s
approval and a 12-year-old boy in France confronting his family’s racism. From the outskirts of Paris to the
suburbs of Seoul, the film serves as a reminder of hip hop’s influence on different and diverse cultures.
Forgotten by the mainstream and written off as an embarrassing 80s fad, breakdancing had a long climb
back to being accepted by the masses, but on the streets and in underground clubs from Tokyo to the USA
it never died, bubbling under the surface with a huge cult following and exploding each year in international
competition. Following four crews of ‘B-Boys’ from different nations as they prepare to battle it out at
the 2005 world championships, this frenetic documentary shows off the dizzying spectacle of the art form,
showcasing the skill and acrobatics of break dancing’s idiosyncratic characters.

FEATURES
China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 58

Please Vote for Me min. | Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Weijun Chen
PRODUCERS: Don Edkins
THU Oct 9, 5:45PM

THU Oct 16, 4PM (Free)
Free screening on October 16 sponsored

by Burkett & Wong Engineers
Winner of the Sterling Audience Award at the AFI Silverdocs Film Festival, PLEASE VOTE FOR ME is one of
the most insightful and enjoyable documentaries of the year. In a school of Wuhan, China, it’s time to elect a
class monitor. Three eight-year-old contenders are chosen to square off: an incumbent known for his harsh
dictatorship, the smart yet shy girl, and the class clown. With their parents coaching and strategizing as the
free election approaches, the children face their fears and their challengers in a no-holds-barred series of
classroom debates. The election elicits betrayals, tears, and laughter, revealing the hardships of campaigning
and the lessons of dealing with defeat.
In this immensely entertaining snapshot of a culture going through change and the growing pains of their
children, Weijun Chen’s expertly crafted film will have you on the edge of your seat as the winner is
announced.
–Natalie McMenemy, AFI FEST
Public Enemy Returns S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles |

127 min. | 35mm | 2008
WRITER: Jin Jang
CAST: Kyung-gu Sol, Jae-young Jung,
Moon-shik Lee
THU Oct 9, 8PM

SAT Oct 11, 10PM
The original PUBLIC ENEMY told the story of a corrupt, burnt-out cop, Chul-Joong Kang, whose professional
passions are reignited when he crosses paths with a pampered, spoiled thrill killer. This time around, Kang is
ready to retire after a lifetime of fighting crime, injuries, and a zero credit rating. He can’t afford a house, and
caring for his family is out of the question.
On the other end of the social spectrum is Lee Won-Sul, a successful businessman with hundreds of
investments, a country house, and a doting family. He’s much-loved, highly respected and a great man in all the Co-presented by: San Diego Multicultural
ways the irascible, corner-cutting, deadbeat Kang is not. Asian Professionals
So when Kang comes up with a link between Lee and some recent murders, people tend not to believe him.
The more he tries to prove that everyone’s favorite fella is a slimy crook commanding an empire of crime, the
more he’s dismissed as jealous, crazy, and downright dangerous. -Adapted by New York Asian Film Festival

FEATURES
Red Race China | Mandarin w/ English subtitles | 70

min.| Video| 2008
DIRECTOR: Chao Gan
MON Oct 13, 4PM (FREE)

WED Oct 15, 5:30PM
Free screening on October 13 sponsored

by Burkett & Wong Engineers
Against the backdrop of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and escalating international condemnation and
demonstrations over Chinese policies from Tibet to Darfur, THE RED RACE presents a detailed insight into
the Chinese passion for gymnastics.
The Lu Wan District Youth Athletic School in Shanghai seems to value competitive sports over reading
and writing for its students. Many of the children come from rural provinces and live with grandparents or
surrogate caretakers. Their parents hope to give them opportunities not available in the countryside. Some
children voice hope that they will eventually become successful enough to build homes for their families.Yet
the path won’t be easy. The trainers often “teach” by humiliation and punishment, and reward with candy.
These are the realities that the young children must face, as must the parents who send them knowing that
their chances for success are slim and the journey will be grueling. As the film progresses one question
persists: at what price is the New China? -Gail Silva, Silverdocs
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SHORTS
Reel In The Vote Reel in the Vote was made possible
grants from the California
po by
rnia Independent
Voter Project,
ct, Epsilon Systems Solutions,
TRT: 70 min. the Hom Fam mily Foundation, and Zero
Divide.
A collection of short films that confront Asian Pacific Is Islander
er voter apath
apathy
apathy, but also
celebrate API heroes of democracy. Reel el in the Vote is a FREE
EE program.
Reception immediately following program,
rogram, coordinated by Katz
Ka & Assoc
Associates.
sociates.
ciates.
TUE Oct 14, 6PM
ABSENT VOICES THE BIG V THE GREATER GOOD: THE BANANA REPUBLIC
Directed by Michael el C
Cheen Directed
ected by Curtis Ch
Chin POLITICAL JOURNEY OF Directed by Cheryl
heryyl Kan
Kanekar
A Filipino wowoman launch
aunches
hes Hoping
oping
ping to have an imp
impact on thee TOM HOM Asian Americans discuss
scuss why
a bid forr tthe California
rnia sttate upcoming
oming election, a gr
omi ggroup of Directed
ted by Ron Tua
Tuatagaloa they do not vote, creating a
th
legislature,
legislature
lature, but fa
faces a tough
ugh
gh friends
ds decide to make
maake a pu
public
lic The st
story of thee first
fi and onlyy complex picture
cture of immigrant
immig
challenge:
lenge: bringin
bringing outt th
the API service announcem
cement abo
aboutt tthe Asia
sian American n elected to serrve communities
munities shaped by their
thei old
vote. importance
portance of vot
vo
voting. on the San Di
Diego o ci
city council. aand
d nnew homelands.
HELP SAVE MARYLAND THE ALISON CHRONICLES POWER OF THE SWING VOTE
FROM WHAT?! Directeded by De
Dean an Lim Directed by Eddie Kim
D
Directed ed by Eric Byl
Byler
yler First-time
ime votin ng experience
perience of An entertaining
ain yet informative
tive
SShaquille
uille and Ann
Annabel
abel are an Asian American can girl who just
jus doc
ocumentary
tary that
t delves into
Asian
siann American immigrants
grant turrned eighteeeen.
n. the rreasons as to why there
th re
with
ith opposite vviews
ew on is a perceived lack of Asian
“Illegal
legal Immigra
Immigration.” During
Im Americans voting.
A oting. Watch REEL IN THE VOTE after the festival
On Demand on Cox Digital Channel 1, Free
public
ublic
blic demo
demonstrations,
de s, eachh is
Zone, My Community and Time Warner Cable
confronted
onfront by passers rs-by
s-by w
who Channel 144
challenge
halleng their resrespective
espective
pective view
views.

Reel Voices 2008
Akira Chan, Instructor
Although the Reel Voices students These seven awesome students have reinforced my
are only about half generation younger than me, belief that the casualness of youth filmmaking can
their skills and style of media communication define create an even more conscious and critical type of
the rapid changes in video/culture/media that have filmmaker.
come to pass since I was their age.
This is where these students shine. They opened
It’s unnecessary to comment on how much YouTube their minds, and over the course of the program,
and MySpace have influenced teen filmmakers. we all restlessly traveled the Reel Voices journey. A
These forums have become casual dialects of young great ride that ended way too soon!
mediamakers--mediamakers who tend to worry less
about how well their projects are produced, and No matter how much filmmaking changes, we
instead how large their guaranteed audience will can always count on what’s real – what has heart
grow the moment it is “posted” to the world. This and soul – and listening to the voices of a new
reality is as empowering as it is problematic, isn’t it? generation is a great way to begin that discovery.
Navigate YouTube and the thousands of young Thanks Mike, Mari, Joska, Harrison, Elle, Al, Ryan, Aki.
voices and faces, and try to find the “real voices” I learned something from each of you and I think we
- it can be frustrating! Each of us can feel, see, all grew together this summer. Hope it was fun.
and hear when something is “REAL.” That is what
these students have shown me, and now you - the -AKIRA CHAN is the teaching assistant for Reel Voices.
audience.

SHORTS
Reel Voices Reel Voices was made possib
from Bank of America, Th
sible by grants
The Junior Seau
Foundation, Bob
B Hoffman Productions,
T 50 min.
TRT:
and Sony Techhnology
Come experience the Reel Voices of seven, talented
alented San Die
Diego high school stu
stud
students with the
world premiere of their short documentaries ta es produced thro
through the San Diego
Diegggo Asian Film
m
Foundation. You’ll be proud to say you ou saw these films here first.
Free reception followingg screening sponsored
red by L&L Hawaiian Barbeque
B que of Eastlake and Mira Me
Mesa.
SUN Oct 12, 12PM (FREE)
DICK, DICK & JANE: THE THE BEHOLDER: BEAUTY THE ALMOST LOST OUT OF BOUNDS
MODERN AMERICAN THROUGH THE EYES OF GENERATION Director: Harrison Tongg | 9 min.
FAMILY APRIL MITCHELL Director:
irector: Joska Charles | 9 min.| | Video | 2008
Director:
tor: Mari Jacobson
obs | 5 mi min
in. Director:: Elle Lipson | 7 min
min.
mi | Video | 2008 You
ou see so many Asian teens in
| Video | 2008 Video | 2008
00 Victims of Sudan’s geno nocidal leagues across America, so why is
A look into
to the role of
o a An artistic teen withth a genetic
g tic war shar
w are their harro
rrowing it that in the
he NBA only Yao Ming
same-sex couple
ouple wit
within a family skin condition,
ndition, deals with
wi how
w w eexperie
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mes to mind?
dynamic. her appearance affect
affects he
her self-- theirr culture alive
ve towards d the
image, her art,t and her ouutlookk youunger generaration.
on beauty.
Watch REEL EL VOICES

V after the
festival On De
Demand on Cox
Diigital Channel 1, Free Zone, My
Community and Time Warner
Comm
Cable Channel 144
Ca
A BRIGHTER FUTURE NAPUA LLIMA ‘O KEHAULANI FREE MATT WONG

A priest
st cham
champions
mpions the strug
struggle Director: Ryan
yan Mede
Medelel | 7min.
min. | Direc
rector: Akio Mitsunaga | 9
to brin
bring freee education to tthe Video | 200808 min. | Video | 2008
min 008
poore
orest off the poor in Tijuana. The struggle
ggles that new
ew and old How
H w conducive
c e is the
th modern
wahine competitors rs unde
undergo to public
ublicc sch
school enviornment
preserve
pre ve the Hawaiian
waiia traditio
tradition to
o stu
student creativity? In
off hula dancing
ng. 2007,
07 Matt Wong dared to
experiment and learnedrned not to
mess with bureaucracy.

FEATURES
SAT Oct 11 2:35PM
Philippines & USA | Tagalog w/ English

subtitles | 85min. | 35mm | 2008
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Ron Morales
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Ellen Morales,
Ray Morales
PRODUCERS: Louise Lovegrove, Karin
Chien, Ron Morales
Cinematographer:Yaron Orbach
CAST: Jacob Kiron Shalov, Melissa Leo,
Jaime Tirelli, Maria Lopez
*Mature Content
Santa Mesa This film repeats as part of the

Philippine Cinema Showcase October
New York-based filmmaker Ron Morales he befriends Jose, an older photographer 17-19 at the Chula Vista Ultrastar
makes a striking feature debut with this who takes him in and begins to mentor Cinemas. For information, go to:
beautifully filmed coming-of-age tale of a him. Simultaneously he also finds comfort www.philippinecinemashowcase.org
Filipino American boy who must return “home” in a developing friendship and crush with
after the death of a loved one.Young Hector Sel (Maria Lopez) as they commiserate
loses his mom during a critical time in his life over issues of isolation at home. His worlds Co-presented by: Filipino American National
as an impressionable young teen. With no begin to collide as he notices that Jose has a Historical Society, Mabuhay Alliance,
other family connections, he is taken in by mysterious connection with one of his random Philippine-American Youth Organization
his estranged grandmother in the Philippines. photography subjects.
Unable to speak Tagalog, Hector strug-gles
in this unfamiliar home (and an even more With excellent performances, SANTA
unfamiliar country), and soon falls into the MESA convincingly captures the beauty and
wrong crowd with some local street kids. awkwardness of cultural isolation and teen
angst amidst the tender sadness of losing a
Things seem to turn around for Hector as loved one. -Adapted by Ernest Mark
This is a personal tale about Hector come from the typical plight of immigrant
SANTA MESA: GONE (Jacob Kiron Shalov), a 12-year old, workers trying to make a better financial
BUT NOT FORGOTTEN orphaned Filipino-American kid life in America.
By Dr. Craig D. Reid electrocuted by culture shock after being
shipped off to Manila to live with a long “I recall a conversation [my mom and I]
Crossing a bridge spanning the Pasig had when I was 16 where she said her
lost relative; a grumpy old grandma (local
River from metro Manila to the rickety, mom would tell her, ‘The hardest thing
star Angie Ferro) who does not speak
shanty-like outskirts of the Philippine that you will ever have to accept is that
English and would be just as happy to
capital, to a neighborhood foreigners this is your life and what you do with it,
never have met him.
never discover, first generation Filipino- is up to you.’ It is the underlying point of
American Ron Morales inadvertently the film.”
“I saw a lot of Hector in me,” Morales
created a historical record of a fading
shares. “When I first cast Hector, I
landscape in his directorial debut film During his most recent trip back to the
envisioned him to be a mix, further
SANTA MESA. Philippines, Morales sadly notes that
bringing out the loss of Filipino heritage.
When it comes to Filipino culture, we Santa Mesa no longer exists, the houses
A country built on its railroad system, are torn down and everyone has been
are both lost because I was raised in an
where squatter colonies arose relocated to a place three hours outside
all-white neighborhood and have seen a
along these rail lines. When Morales the city. Morales’ film has now become a
decline in my culture.”
serendipitously stumbled upon one of historic cinematic record of the country’s
these colonies and combined it with quickly vanishing railway squatter colony
Morales explains that he and his family
him trying to understand his family past, system, another enigmatic part of Filipino
are not tight, they have become distant
SANTA MESA evolved. culture that will soon be lost of forever.
and don’t know each, which has probably

SHORTS
Scene in San Diego Co-presented by Groovy Like a Movie
TRT:
RT: 113 min.
A collection
n of short films produced by film
filmmakers in
n Am
America’s
’s Finest City.
Cit
THU Oct 9, 7:45PM

*Maturee ccontent / *Directors
*Directo sched
heduled
eduled to attend
UNTITLED FOLLOW THE SIGNS TIMELESS

Director: Edwardard Kim
Ki | 16 min.. Directors:
rectors Steve Godwin
Godw & Direct Jeffrey Ferrer | 15 min.
Director:
| Video | 2008 Wesley Mitchell
M h ll | 7 min. | Video | Video
d | 2008
A frustrated filmmaker sees es his | 2008 Devastated after suffering a
failing
failin
ng ide
ideas come to life. Somewhere
mewhereere in a galaxy
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FEATURES
Hong Kong & Taiwan | Mandarin w/

Secret English subtitles | 101 min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Jay Chou
PRODUCERS: J.R.Yang
WRITER: To Chi-long
CAST: Jay Chou, Kwai Lun-mei, Anthony
Wong
SAT Oct 11, 7PM

WED Oct 15, 7:15PM
Co-presented by: San Diego Multicultural

Asian Professionals
Arguably the world’s most popular Mandarin-language recording artist, Jay Chou has successfully forayed into
acting through roles in “Initial D” and “Curse of the Golden Flower.” With his directorial debut film SECRET,
Chou establishes himself as a gifted performer and a skillful auteur, directing a script based on his own original
story. Not bad for a Taiwanese pop superstar.
Chou plays Lun, a music student at a secondary school who one day meets Yu while she is playing an evocative
tune on the piano. “What’s the melody you played the first day we met?” asks Lun. “That’s my secret,” Yu
whispers back. What evolves is an innocent and seemingly typical young romance between the two talented
pianists. But the real intrigue of the film begins when Lun discovers an old photograph of Yu with his father
(Anthony Wong), which triggers him to investigate the mystery of Yu and the secret melody she plays.
SECRET is a fun, for-all-ages film with a surprise twist that your girlfriend, parents, or teenage kids will all
enjoy.

Shadows in the Palace 112 min. | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR/WRITER: Mee-Jung Kim
CAST: Jin-Hee Park, Se-Ah Yun, Jeong-
Eun Lim
MON Oct 13, 8PM

WED Oct 15, 9:55PM
*Mature content
Set during the Chosun Dynasty, SHADOWS IN THE PALACE begins with the death of a maid-in-waiting who
has hung herself within the palace walls. While performing the autopsy, imperial medic Chun-ryung (Park
Jin-hee) begins to suspect murder and starts her own investigation into the matter. Standing in her way are
the barren queen and the royal concubine who has mothered a child for the previously heir-less king, among
others. As she begins to unravel the vast array of deceptions, Chun-ryung is soon confronted by a secret
more powerful than she could have ever imagined.
This is the first feature film directed by Mee-jung Kim, a young woman who served as assistant director
on the 2005 Korean blockbuster “King and the Clown.” Notable for her all-female crew, Mee-jung Kim has
succeeded in creating a masterfully genre-bending film that combines elements of the historical costume
drama, murder mystery, and even Asian horror genres with a deft touch. Not just a beautiful and wildly
entertaining movie, SHADOWS IN THE PALACE is truly a remarkable film that boldly crosses lines.

FEATURES
Pakistan & USA | Farsi w/ English

Shame subtitles | 110 min. | Video | 2006
DIRECTOR: Mohammed Naqvi
PRODUCERS: Mohammed Naqvi, Jill
Schneider
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Ahmed Bashir
WED Oct 15, 6:15PM
*Mature Content
Reception immediately following

screening hosted by Project Concern
International and Gem Foundation
Every day, horrific world events evade justice. SHAME is the story of a courageous woman who fought back.
During the summer of 2002, in a remote village of Pakistan, 33-year-old Mukhtaran Mai’s life changed when
the village’s tribal council sanctioned a punishment against her for a crime allegedly committed by her younger
brother. Following the tribal custom of “honor for honor,” Mai was gang-raped and then publicly paraded Co-presented by: Amnesty Group 137,
around as an example. Friends of Hamid Daudani, Project
Concern International, SDSU Women’s
Her family cowered in shame. The village shunned her. Normally the only recourse for such a woman would Resource Center, San Diego Women’s
be suicide. Instead, Mai set out to seek justice and shook the very core of Pakistan’s decaying judicial system.
Film Festival
In her quest, she endured public scrutiny and exposure to the alien world outside her village, losing friends,
family, and her life as she knew it.
Throughout this incredible journey, Mai maintains an astonishing resilience and belief in herself. Journalists
may visit less frequently, but her work and the work of women like her - is not yet over. There is still plenty of
shame to be faced and conquered. -Thom Powers
Cambodia & USA| Khmer w/ English

DIRECTOR: John Pirozzi
PRODUCER: John Pirozzi & Josh Otten
CINEMATOGRAPHER: John Pirozzi
MUSIC: Dengue Fever
WED Oct 15, 5:15PM
Sleepwalking in the Mekong

Co-presented by: UCSD Cambodian
Student Association
SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THE MEKONG follows Los Angeles band Dengue Fever on their journey to
Cambodia to perform 60s and 70s Cambodian rock ‘n’ roll in the country where it was created and very
nearly destroyed. The odyssey is a homecoming for singer Chhom Nimol and a transformation for the
rest of the band as they perform with master musicians and record new songs along the way. More than a
rockumentary, the film serves up a portrait of modern Cambodia as the band tours through Phnom Penh
and beyond, crossing a great cultural chasm with the same spirit of Cambodia’s original rock pioneers. It
is a celebration of this long-overlooked music and reveals the power of music to weave a common thread
between extremely different cultures.
Shot in 10 days, the real star of this film is the unique and intoxicating Cambodian music that also heals
the generations of wounds from the brutal reign of the Khmer Rouge. SLEEPWALKING THROUGH THE
MEKONG is a testament to the power of this music. It’s no wonder Variety calls this “An engagingly different
rock ‘n’ roll documentary...”
FEATURES
Slingshot (Tirador)
THU Oct 16, 7:40PM
*Mature content
*Director & cast scheduled to attend
SLINGSHOT will also screen at the Chula
Vista UltraStar (555 Broadway) as part
of the Philippine Cinema Showcase
October 17-23. For more info: www.
philippinecinemashowcase.org
Philippines | Tagalog w/ English subitles | 86 min. |

Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Brillante Mendoza
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Ferdinand Lapuz
PRODUCER: Renato Esguerra, Antonio del
Rosario
WRITER: Ralston Joel Jover
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Brillante Mendoza, Julius
Villanueva, Jeffrey dela Cruz, Gary Tria
Prolific filmmaker Brillante Mendoza premieres his work at the San Diego Asian Film Festival this
CAST: Jiro Manio, Kristoffer King, Coco Martin,
year with a double-header of FOSTER CHILD and SLINGSHOT, both shot on the streets of Manila
Nathan Lopez, Jaclyn Jose
in what’s been described as “real time” filmmaking. Though fictional, Mendoza’s impressive skill is to
impose a calculated narrative onto Manila’s constant unpredictability, shaping its ground-level chaos
into art.
SLINGSHOT opens with a bravura sequence: a nighttime raid on one of Manila’s squatter
neighborhoods. The camera chases plainclothes police wielding massive automatic weapons through
the narrow laneways as they ransack homes, break in on couples making love, and herd dozens of
people out into the open. Only some of them are guilty. But in this neighborhood, stealing puts food
in your belly. Some snatch wallets and jewelry, some shoplift, others prefer more intimate forms of
thievery.
A showcase of Mendoza’s rapidly maturing abilities with digital cinema, SLINGSHOT also presents
the full range of human behavior—especially the ironies of greed and vanity.
The stories climax at a rally where politicians give high-minded speeches to thousands holding
candles aloft in the night. But even there, the harsh economics of life on the streets rules the
evening. -Adapted by Cameron Bailey
Q&A with Brillante is complete..Making the actors shoot in the and spirit of the snatchers.
Mendoza, director of actual location of the stories and telling them
to hang out in the area as much as they could Q: I know your most recent film, “Serbis,” was
Slingshot (Tirador) is what I call “ immersion.” How do I make selected to compete at Cannes. Congratulations!
By Lee Ann Kim them hang out in the area when we don’t
even have trailers for anyone? If our budget It was an humbling experience. It’s too good
Q:You have a wonderfully, distinctive style as a could afford it, we rent a room or a house to be true but it happened and I’m extremely
filmmaker. While watching SLINGSHOT and in the vicinity that could serve as a as resting happy about it.
FOSTER CHILD, sometimes I had to ask myself “is place for the actors in between takes and in
this real life?” How difficult was it to shoot these between filming days. That’s actually how my Q:You’re an incredibly prolific, cutting edge
films in such tight quarters in Manila? actors practically become the characters they filmmaker. How do you feel your work fits into the
are portraying. And, that’s how dedicated and film industry in the Philippines?
Most of my films are set in real time and professional these actors are.
in actual locations. That’s why I am able to At the moment the prevailing attitude of
capture even the heat! We don’t have huge Q:What inspired the stories and characters of the moviegoing public towards my films is
studio lots in the Philippines where sets can SLINGSHOT? of curiosity. It is perhaps the tragedy of any
be built for particular movies. Besides, an filmmaker and producers as well to make films
independent filmmaker like me would not have The idea came about not because of that are patronized out of curiosity. We hope
the money to build sets. So what I do is to find fascination with snatchers but more on the that this attitude will be cured.
the most perfect location for the story I want desires to discover and learn about other
to tell, then bring the actors there, make them people’s lives and culture that I have never Meet Brillante Mendoza and his lead actor
live there or nearby if possible, then shoot the been deeply aware of before. Tirador is a look Coco Martin at the screening of SLINGSHOT
film continuously and chronologically until it not only into the life but into the heart, mind (TIRADOR) on Thu, Oct 16 at 8PM.
FEATURES
USA & Vietnam | English & Vietnamese w/

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER: Tien Nguyen
SUN Oct 12, 5:20PM
Story of Spirits Co-presented by:Vietnamese American

Youth Alliance
In Vietnam, legend has it that a person who dies far from home will wander the earth forever until they are
commemorated—until their story is told. THE STORY OF SPIRITS documents Tien Nguyen’s escape from
Vietnam with her father and her three siblings while her mother and unborn sister stayed behind following
the fall of Saigon in 1975.
Thirty years after her disappearance, a mother’s ghost returns, channeled through her husband’s new
wife. This sudden appearance however, leads her daughter to question her lifelong belief that her mother
abandoned her children. As her questions turn to doubt, the daughter embarks on a journey to shatter years
of family deception and silence. She traces the path of a woman that she has never known, from their wealthy
life in Saigon, to 1975 when the family fled to America without her mother, to her mysterious disappearance
at sea, and finally, to her father’s struggle living with the ghost of his dead wife. Using in-depth interviews with
her family in California, Michigan, New Jersey and ultimately Vietnam, she is able to piece together one story,
but several conclusions.
USA | Farsi & Mandarin w/ English

subtiltes | 83 min. | Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Wayne Wang
Writer: Yiyun Li
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Yasushi
Kotani, Taizon Son, Jooick Lee
PRODUCER:Yukie Kito, Rich Cowan,
Wayne Wang
Cinematographer: Patrick Lindenmaier
CAST: Faye Yu, Henry O,Vida Ghremani
A Thousand Years of
WED Oct 15, 7:30PM
Good Prayers
Winner of 4 prizes at the San Sebastian Film Festival, including Best Film and Best Actor
Best known for directing “The Joy Luck Club,” filmmaker Wayne Wang is arguably one of the most prolific Co-presented by: Chinese Consolidated
Asian American independent filmmakers today. Adapted from a short story written by Chinese émigré,Yiyun Benevolent Association,
Li, A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS is among Wang’s latest Asian-themed films that explore the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego,
bonds of family and Chinese identity in the modern world. San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
The story begins with a dignified and quiet Mr. Shi (Henry O), who arrives in Spokane, Washington to visit
his divorced daughter,Yilan, whom he has not seen in12 years. Fearful that her father will meddle in the
affair of her failed marriage,Yilan finds excuses to leave her father alone in her apartment. In desperation,
he begins to visit a local park and befriends an older Iranian woman living with her son. These two lonely
souls communicate perfectly, despite their language barrier. Yilan eventually is forced to face her father, and is
surprised by what she discovers.

FEATURES
USA | English | 59 min | Video | 2008

Under the Skin DIRECTOR: Billy Burke
PRODUCER: Billy Burke
CAST: Mario Barth
WED Oct 15, 5PM

Diego and Tijuana
Mario Barth guides the viewer inside the Horitoshi family, masters of the ancient art of Tebori, a traditional
Japanese technique of tattoo that dates back for centuries. The Japanese government has outlawed Tebori
tattoos due to their underworld ties. For the first time ever, viewers will be able to see the small and secret
society of the Horitoshi Family, as well as their rich culture, exotic land, the history and mythology of Japanese
tattooing.
While in Tokyo, Barth participates in underground festivals, rituals and gets tattooed on camera. Barth has
gained much respect from the Horitoshi family throughout his career and is the only Westerner welcomed
to immerse into this highly guarded world, which until now, the average person would have zero access. It is
only through Barth’s accomplishments and stellar reputation that the viewer is given the key to this veiled
community.
Philippines| Tagalog w/ English subtitles |

109 min. | Video | 2007
DIRECTOR: Roni Bertubin
PRODUCER: Juan Artemio Barron III
WRITER: Romualdo Avellanosa
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Gary Gardoce
CAST: Ken Escudero, Wil Sandejas, Ashley
Silverio, Sylvia Sanchez
SUN Oct 12, 5:30PM
*Mature content
Unspoken Passion
Water flows through this beautiful Filipino film like the life force it is — pouring down upon or flooding
into the key moments in the lives of two young men who meet as boys in a rural town and end up as male
prostitutes in Manila. Whether it’s the river where they play as boys, the holy water sprayed at a religious
festival, the filthy water that seeps through the Manila slums, the steaming water in the bathhouses where the
young men ply their trade, or just the ever-present rain, these guys are always getting wet.
Ken Escudero as Enzo and Wil Sadejas as Adong play the friends as young men. Their lifelong bond seems
broken when Adong elopes with Melay (Ashley Silverio), leaving Enzo heartbroken and alone in the river,
where the two had been happily skinny-dipping until she came along. Enzo soon embarks on a search for his
friend that takes five years. They finally meet again when they are unwittingly booked as performers in the
same gay sex show. Will the unspoken passion shared by these beautiful young men be forced into the open?
- Frameline

FEATURES
Japan I Japanese w/ English subtitles | 109

min. I Video I 2007
DIRECTOR: Fumihiko Sori
PRODUCER: Toshiaki Nakazawa, Ichirô
Takase,Yumiko Yoshihara
WRITER: Haruka Handa, Fumihiko Sori
CAST:Yasuko Matsuyuki, Meisa Kuroki
SAT Oct 11, 9:30PM
Vexille Co-presented by: Japan Society of San

Diego and Tijuana
In the year 2067, Japan makes key breakthroughs in robot technology and isolates itself off from the rest of
the world. A decade later, the Americans believe Japan is a threat, and send in a special forces unit led by
Vexille (voiced by Meisa Kuroki) to investigate. After infiltrating Japan’s security, they discover something
shocking: technology which has managed to blend human tissue with robot engineering, resulting in androids
virtually indiscernible from real humans. Ambushed and left for dead,Vexille is rescued by local rebel Maria
(Yatsuko Matsuyuki) who shares a common desire to take back their humanity and end the cybernetic
tyranny. Together, they team up with a ragtag crew of insurgents to prevent the rest of the world from
meeting the same sinister fate.
Director Fumihiko Sori’s vivid depiction of dystopian Japan pays homage to “Bladerunner,” even down to
its ass-kicking femme fatales. Heavily inspired by “Ghost In The Shell,” “The Matrix,” “Star Wars,” and “Road
Warrior,” VEXVILLE is packed full of jaw-dropping action sequences and eye-popping visuals that rival the best
of Hollywood films. An official selection in prestigious Toronto Int’l Film Festival, Anime Insider calls VEXVILLE
“A must see!”
Vietnam | Vietnamese w/English subtitles

| 142 min | 35mm | 2007
DIRECTOR: Huynh Luu
PRODUCER: Huynh Luu, Raymond Lim
WRITER: Huynh Luu
CAST: Trong Anh Ngoc, Nguyen Khanh
Quoc
SAT Oct 11, 5:20PM

WED Oct 22, 8PM (RIVERSIDE)
*Mature content
The White Silk Dress
Co-presented by: SD Viet Meetup Group
SDSU Vietnamese Student Association
Prior to the collapse of French colonial rule in Vietnam, Dau (Trong Anh Ngoc) and Gu (Nguyen Khanh
Quoc) are lovers as well as servants from two different households in the picturesque Vietnamese town of
Ha Dong. Both have suffered harshly at the hands of their cruel masters and lack the means to get married in
the accepted sense. However, when Gu’s master is assassinated, Dau and Gu flee south and eventually ending
up in the central Vietnamese seaside town of Hoi An. There, they raise a family with Dau eventually giving
birth to four girls. Unfortunately, their loving family life becomes threatened when Gu learns how his wife Dau
has been secretly earning money to support their family and as the horrors of the war begin to hit closer to
home.
Considered controversial by some, THE WHITE SILK DRESS was the Vietnamese representative at the 80th
Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language film category and the winner of the Audience Award at the
Pusan International Film Festival. A tribute to the strength and heart of Vietnamese women, this evocative and
elegant epic film will be sure to leave a lasting impression.
FEATURES
USA | English Japanese w/ English

DIRECTOR: Risa Morimoto
PRODUCER: Risa Morimoto, Linda
Hoaglund
WRITER: Linda Hoaglund
TUE Oct 14, 5:30PM
Wings of Defeat Co-presented by: Japan Society of San

Diego and Tijuana
In the West, World War II Japanese kamikaze pilots are commonly remembered as a symbol of suicidal
fanaticism. In Japan, the kamikaze pilots are held in reverence as patriots for committing the ultimate sacrifice
in defense of their nation. Few outside of Japan realize that by the spring of 1945, all Japanese combat aircraft
were reassigned to kamikaze missions and that hundreds of kamikaze pilots survived World War II.
When director Risa Morimoto discovered that her late uncle was one these kamikaze pilots who survived
the war, she was inspired to go to Japan and film interviews with other survivors. Through these interviews,
we learn that the desperate Japanese military government, unwilling to face the inevitable defeat, forced young
men to take on missions with no chance of survival. By blending these extraordinary interviews with rare
combat footage and interviews with American military men who survived kamikaze attacks, WINGS OF
DEFEAT pains a very different picture of kamikaze pilots, one that shatters the commonly held mythology.
S. Africa | 112 min. | Video | 2007

DIRECTOR/WRITER: Shamim Sarif
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Katherine
Priestly, Lisa Tchenguiz-Imerman
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Mike Downie
CAST: Lisa Ray, Sheetal Sheth, Parvin
Dabas, Nandana Sen
SUN Oct 12, 1PM
*Mature content
*Lead actress Sheetal Sheth

The World Unseen scheduled to attend
Co-presented by: SDSU Women’s

Resource Center, UCSD Women’s
In 1950’s South Africa, the dawn of apartheid places every detail of life under strict scrutiny. Yet here’s free-
Center, USD Asian Pacific American Law
spirited Amina (Sheetal Sheth, “Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World”) scandalizing her Indian community.
She’s broken all the rules by running a café, a safe haven of laughter, music, and a grey area for those who fall Students Association, Qualcomm, Inc.
outside the strict black and white rules of the government. Miriam (Lisa Ray, Water), on the other hand, is a
doting mother to her children and a demure and subservient wife to her chauvinistic husband, Omar. When
Miriam meets Amina, their unexpected attraction throws them both off balance. Although Miriam manages
to subdue her fascination with Amina, she finds herself slowly inspired to confront familiar and familial
constraints. Shortly after their encounter Miriam moves to an isolated life in the country, but even here
apartheid is placing its cruel footprint on society, and these injustices bring the two women together again,
cementing the basis of their growing feelings.
THE WORLD UNSEEN is also a revealing look at a rarely examined community that divides white from black
and women from men, but also one that might just allow an unexpected love to survive.
FEATURES
USA | 60 min. | Video | 2008

DIRECTOR: Daisy Lin Shapiro
PRODUCERS: Aaron Shapiro, John Keitel,
Stephen Liu
SUN Oct 12, 3:30PM
Co-presented by: Families with Children

from China - San Diego Chapter,
San Diego Mesa College Asian Pacific
Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown American Studies Program Committee,
San Diego Mesa College Women’s Union,
San Diego Mesa College Women’s Study
Advisory Committee, SDSU Alpha Phi
Ever since the very first Miss Chinatown was crowned in 1958, the titleholder has been a highly recognizable
Gamma, San Diego Women’s Film Festival,
Asian American icon at once admired and reviled. Her dazzling smile, perfumed coif, tight Chinese dress and
UCSD Women’s Center
impeccable English is the picture of contentment - the perfect blend of East and West, old world continuity
and modern sensibilities. Or, what some call, a caricature of the feminine and ethnic ideal, exploited and
outdated.
YOURS TRULY, MISS CHINATOWN goes behind the scenes of the 2003 Los Angeles Miss Chinatown
pageant, delving into the lives of two pageant contestants during the pageant and the aftermath. Added to the
mix is the anti-heroine, a Miss Chinatown imposter who dares to take on the myth, and playfully molds the
symbol to reflect her own coming of age experiences.
Following these women over several years, at a pivotal time in their lives, what emerges are some of the
rarely heard voices of young Asian American women at the turn of the 21st century.
J.D. Power and Associates ranked Barona “Highest in Satisfaction

Barona.com
in the Southern California Casino Gaming Experience.”

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$'$!' &# "# !"# &' $
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!

It’s our right and privilege.
What a shame that statistics show Asian Pacific
Islanders have the lowest voter registration and lowest
voter turnout! WE can change that NOW!
- Register to vote in our lobby or

online before October 20
- Come join us for our FREE Reel in the Vote
program, October 14, 6PM
- Enjoy our original PSAs
Congrats to winner Henry Ahn
- VOTE ON NOVEMBER 4!
REEL IN THE VOTE is supported by grants from the CA Independent Voters Project, Episilon Systems Solutions,
Hom Family Foundation, and Zero Divide, as well as marketing support from Katz & Associates

FOUNDATION & FESTIVAL STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Alexis Zukowski Gene Huh Ham Tran

Lee Ann Kim Pamela Huynh Chi-Hui Yang
REEL VOICES COORDINATOR Marilyn Jones Jeff Yang
ASSOCIATE FOUNDATION Mike Watson Chris Paffendorf
DIRECTOR Rita Quach PUBLIC RELATIONS
Mye Hoang REEL VOICES ASSISTANT Tanya Shin Andy Hoang
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Duke Tran
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
REEL VOICES INTERNS Ken Wade CPA SERVICES
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ARTISTIC PROGRAMMERS
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SPECIAL EVENTS Diana Martinez Danny Kim
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BUSINESS OPERATIONS
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Kelly Lim WRITERS Judy Lee
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ENTRY & TRAFFIC
Terry Matsuoka Kristin Seiler
COORDINATOR
Monica Moon PHOTOGRAPHERS Joe Virata
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PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Daniel K. Lew Bryan Ziadie
VOLUNTEER
Chris Paffendorf Michael Domingo
COORDINATORS
Rodney Regala ASSISTANT TO
Emil Ayoubkhan
FACILITIES COORDINATOR Reggie Regala EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Megan Lam
Anthony Noceda Allan Regala Jini Shim
COMMUNITY
OPERATIONS DOWN LOW TEAM
OUTREACH
Phil Luque Guilain Bwinika
COORDINATOR
Martin Johnson Jessica Chang
Duke Tran
Brian Corpuz
PROJECTIONISTS Darryl Kim
GRAPHICS DESIGN
Trevor Behan Eddie Kim
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Vince Martinez
Mye Hoang BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Arnold Marquez Dan Hom, Chairman
ONLINE CONTENT
Jon Miller Lani Lutar,Vice Chair
COORDINATOR
Chris Paffendorf Jaejung Kim, Secretary
Ryan Wong
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Henry Cheng
WEBSITE
GUEST SERVICES Ray Hom
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BOX OFFICE Arturo Rivera
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& MERCHANDISING Louis Song
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Traci Kanamori

THANK YOU LIST 2008
AAJA San Diego Neil Kendricks Samuel Song

ABA San Diego Margaret Kennedy, Town & Country Weston Song
Jonathan Abhay Danny Kim, UCR Jimmy Tsai
Brent Altomare, Groovy Like A Movie Darryl Kim Alan Tse
Emlyn Aurelio, NICU Eddie Kim, Pepsi Ron Tuatagaloa
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Diana Chuh Bryan Min, ESS Tony Young, Councilmember
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Pascal Courtin, Sidney Frank Importing Co. Hope Murran, Time Warner Timothy Yuen, Burkett & Wong
Matt D’Arrigo Alex Nath, Town & Country Rick Zeiler
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Fritz Friedman, Sony Pictures Bill Ostrem
Michele Goodson, FUNimation Mark Palaganas, Intertrend
Roger Gordon CPA Mike Palmer, Stone Brewing
Joe Gregore, Town & Country Judy Patacsil, Miramar College
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Dan Hom, the KING Rodney Regala
Gayle Hom Craig Reid
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Andy Hoang Damon Rubio, UltraStar
Melanie Horn, Qualcomm Shirley Sans, AT&T
Moses Hwang Dana Sass, Barona
Aya Ibarra Wally Schlotter
Daniel Jaimes John Skrentny
Deborah Java Jack Song
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Mike Gunther A GUIDE TO VAMPIRE Huayi Brothers Pictures Visual Communications
11333 Moorpark St. #166 DEFENSE Kelly Pang 120 Judge John Aiso Street
Studio City, CA 91602 Fernando Huerto kellyps@hbpictures.com Los Angeles, CA 90012
mikegunther@sbcglobal.net 10058 Challenger Cir. info@vconline.org
818-919-2525 Spring Valley, CA 91978 AWKWARD
818-932-1937 cloogie64@hotmail.com 140 Richardson St. Apt. 1 CHILDREN OF THE STARS
619-471-6517 Brooklyn, NY 11211 Rob Aspey
200 POUND BEAUTY cesarkuriyama@gmail.com 602. Unit 10, Block 31
KM Culture Co., Ltd. ALIEN ABDUCTION Xing Fu Er Cun,
3rd Fl., Bojun Bldg., David Han BATTLE OF THE ALBUM Xing Dong Lu
Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-010 309-311 East 37th Street, Apt. COVERS Chaoyang District
Korea BW Curious Pictures Beijing, 100027 China
82 2 3438 3848 New York, NY 10016 440 Lafayette Street, 6th floor rob.aspey@gmail.com
jaok@kmculture.com makotsu@gmail.com New York, NY 10003 312-688-3375
ro@curiouspictures.com
364 CRANES ALWAYS 1 &2 CHOCOLATE
Vincent Lin Nippon Television Network BIG MAN JAPAN Sahamongkol Films
990 Avenue of the Americas Fumiko Nagata Matt Cowal Panu Aree
#20P 1-6-1 Higashi Shimbashi, Magnolia Pictures panu@sahamongkolfilm.com
New York, NY 10018 Minato-ku 49 West 27th Street, 7th Floor
vince@mintsintin.com Tokyo 105-7444 Japan NY, NY 10001 COOKIES FOR SALE
917-826-4255 tel: +81-3-6215-3028 (212) 924-6742 Wes Kim
fax: +81-3-6215-3029 info@cookiesforsalefilm.com
ABRIDGED nagata-f.stf@ntv.co.jp BITE ME PO Box 31993
Arjun Rihan Jason Fong Seattle, WA, 98103
2620 Van Buren Pl AN AMERICAN IN CHINA jasonyerface@yahoo.com wes@weskim.com
Los Angeles, CA 90007 Ron Berrett 916-541-2022 206-719-6261
arjunrihan@gmail.com 6914 Tujunga Ave 916-371-0799
650-814-3145 North Hollywood, CA 91605 A CRICKET IN THE COURT OF
info@east-west-media.com BLOOD DEBTS AKBAR
ACCURACY OF DEATH 818-388-8023 Roland Nguyen Andrew Mendelson
Nippon Television Network 818-947-0036 426 S. Occidental Blvd. #3 448 W. 19th St., #3F
Fumiko Nagata Los Angeles, CA 90057 New York, NY 10011
1-6-1 Higashi Shimbashi, AN IMMIGRANT GIRL’S rvnfilms@gmail.com andrew@ragamalaproductions.
Minato-ku JOURNEY 415-846-1579 com
Tokyo 105-7444 Japan Alex Marino 917-658-7983
tel: +81-3-6215-3028 11316 Ventura Blvd BLACK BELT
fax: +81-3-6215-3029 Studio City, CA 91604 Klockworkx DAMN THE PAST!
nagata-f.stf@ntv.co.jp cap@completeactorsplace.com Miku Kikuchi /International Sales Juli Kang
818-506-5111 1-6-10 MF Bldg. 4F Ebisu Minami 1317 1/2 N. Stanley Ave.
AGAINST THE GRAIN Shibuya-Ku, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Kevin Kolodinsky ANJALI Tokyo JAPAN, 150-0022 julikang@sbcglobal.net
5150 NE 9th Lane Maya Anand tel: +81-35720-7791 fax :+81- 323-851-9335
Ocala, FL 34470 anjalifilm@gmail.com 35720-7792
kkolodin@ringling.edu 917-362-8452 DANCE OF FREE BIRD
352-236-4493 BOMBAY SKIES Korean National University of
APPLE/BIRD & THE BEE Rita Rani the Arts
AGAINST THE GRAIN: “AGAIN & AGAIN” rrani_1@yahoo.com L382-ho, San #1-5
AN ARTIST’S SURVIVAL GUIDE Dennis Liu 818-451-8223 Seoul 136-716
TO PERU 730 Columbus Ave 82.2.746.9549
Ann Kaneko Apt. 14D BOOKIE knuadis@knua.ac.kr
12323 Culver Blvd. New York, NY 10025 Bao Tran
Los Angeles, CA 90066 dennis.a.liu@gmail.com 2010 N 153rd Pl DANCE OF THE DRAGON
annkaneko@pobox.com 917-912-1508 Shoreline, WA 98133-6336 Calvin Tan
310-390-1369 860-945-1072 info@pov-films.com 442 Orchard Road #02-13
206-910-6219 Singapore 238879
THE AGENT THE ASIAN ARROW calvin@silkroadpictures.com
David Kim Richard B Quebral CALIFORNIA KING (65) 67350818
1159 Magnolia Ave. #1A 1214 N. Gardner St. Eli Kaufman (65) 67350812
Gardena, CA 90247 West Hollywood, CA 90046 717 Raymond Ave. #6
monks617@gmail.com rquebral@gmail.com Santa Monica, CA 90405 DEAD MAN’S HOUR
310-755-8546 323-318-4540 eli_kaufman@hotmail.com Nathan Kitada
310-450-7901 5432 Franklin Avenue Apt. 207

Los Angeles, CA 90027 Carlsbad, CA 92009 P.O. Box 39548 LIGHT MY FIRE
nathan.kitada@gmail.com godwin.steve@gmail.com Los Angeles CA 90039 (see Dance of Freebird)
323-962-7748 619-890-6199 info@deepfocusproductions.
com LIGHT YEARS
DEAR HEIDI FOLLOW YOUR HEART : Richard Martin
John Ferrie CHINA’S NEW YOUTH THE HOUSE OF SHARING 24889 Nueva Vista
2400 Buchanan St. Apt 104 MOVEMENT Hein Seok Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
San Francisco, CA, 94115 Duncan Jepson 297 Montgomery St. #3W richmart11@yahoo.com
U SA 24th Floor, Winsome House, Jersey City, NJ 7302 949-510-0689
john.ferrie@gmail.com 71-73 Wyndham Street, Central, info@thehouseofsharing.com 866-612-9904
617-669-9371 (Cell) Hong Kong 661-373-6225
duncan.jepson@creative-work. THE LITTLE KNAVE
DIRTY HANDS: com JOSIE’S LALALAND Sarah Campbell
THE ART & CRIMES OF 852-918-8288 eb@hybworks.co.uk Portland, OR 97214
DAVID CHOE sarahnaomi@
Harry Kim FOSTER CHILD JUST framespersecondfilms.com
1315 S Oxford Ave Ignatius Films Canada Edward Gunawan 503-756-5156
Los Angeles, CA 90006 1412 Seaview Drive, Mississauga, 5593 1/2 Village Green
harry@bdprod.com Ontario, Canada L5J 1X5 Los Angeles, CA 90016 LITTLE MANILA:
310-775-9232 Tel.: +63 2 747 6742 323.842.9874 FILIPINOS IN CALIFORNIA’S
Mobile: +63 916 234 0268 edwardgunawan@gmail.com HEARTLAND
DORORO ignatiusfilmscanada@yahoo.ca Media Factory
Dir: Akihiko Shiota KALI MA 2600 Tenth St. Ste. 600
Universal Studios Home GANDHI AT THE BAT Soman Chainani Berkely, CA
Entertainment Stephanie Argy No Pressure Productions marissa@mediafactory.tv
100 Universal City Plaza 913 1/2 Manzanita Street 2790 Broadway, #2
1440/06 Los Angeles, CA 90029-3009 New York, NY, 10025 LOOK AGAIN
Universal City, CA 91608 steph@mentalslapstick.com nopressurefilms@gmail.com Jennifer Lin
pamela.chien@nbcuni.com 323-663-9911 917 693 7280 (Day) 1809 Sacramento St
Berkeley, CA 94702
DRAWING PAPER GENGHIS KHAN: KETCHUP lookagainfilms@gmail.com
Sunhee Kim TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH Wenchung Lu 510-388-6061
escape39@hanmail.net AND SEA 25236 Running Horse Rd. 510-647-8196
82-2-838-2786 1200 Lakeside Parkway Bldg 1 New Hall, CA 91321
Flower Mound, TX wlu@alum.calarts.edu LOVERS
A DROP OF LIFE michele.goodson@funimation. Carl Zhang
Shalini Kantayya com THE KILLING OF A CHINESE carlzhang@thestyleembassy.com
221 East 18th Street, #3C COOKIE 61-412-218-179
Brooklyn, NY 11226 GIVING CARE Jimmy Tsai
kshalini@7thempiremedia.com Steven Payne 2100 Sawtelle Blvd. Ste.101 MAGAZINE GAP ROAD
646-393-5209 543 45th Street, Suite 2 Los Angeles, CA, 90025 Nicholas Chin
Brooklyn, NY 11220 ryan@cherryskyfilms.com Hong Kong
EAT slp068@verizon.net 3104798001 (Work) nick@taitaifilms.com
Mitchel Dumlao 646-267-2688 +852 94041811
5161 San Lorenzo Dr. KISSING COUSINS
Santa Barbara, CA 93111 HALF-LIFE Amyn Kaderali MAGICICADA
mitchel.dumlao@gmail.com Green Finch Pictures 438 S.Venice Blvd. #1 1327 Solera Lane #1
805-708-1856 200 West 20th Street #815 Venice, CA 90291 Diamond Bar, CA 91765
NY, NY 10011 amynk@hotmail.com benettkim@yahoo.com
ESCAPING THE NORM reuben@halflifemovie.com 310-591-8764
Glenn Gimutao MAMO’S WEEDS
ggimutao@uci.edu HALLUCII KNEES Akira Boch
Goo-Shun Wang Minhyun Park 1034A Magnolia Street
FAMILY INC. 339 Lexington Ave Apt# 4R mpark2@sva.edu Los Angeles, CA 91030
Emily Ting New York, NY 10016 917-361-4087 akiraboch@yahoo.com
emily@unboundfeet.com dorcus@gmail.com 626-441-6926
852-6202-2696 646-651-5748 L: CHANGE THE WORLD
(See Always 1 & 2) THE MEANING OF TEA
THE FISH FALL IN LOVE HELLCATS LALALAND Scott Chamberlin-Hoyt
Global Films Initiative CJ Entertainment Ronnarit Lueangwattanakij jennifer.ahlstrom@gmail.com
444 De Haro Street, #124 1801 Century Park East Suite 99-56 63rd. Ave. #2R 212-691-8899
San Francisco, CA 94107 1901 Rego Park, NY 11374
lisa@globalfilm.org Los Angeles, CA 90067 ronn_iam@hotmail.com MEAT DAYS
audrey@cj.net 646-934-5297 Wen-ming Hsieh
FOLLOW THE SIGNS wts234@ms6.hinet.net
Steve Godwin HOLLYWOOD CHINESE LEGEND peter771112@yahoo.com.tw
3121 Via Simpatia Deep Focus Productions (see Celebration)
MISS POPULARITY THE OH-MALLEYS IN Leo Matsuda ryanchen26@gmail.com
Sharon Bradley DADDY’S MY MERCEDES 5648 BAY ST APT 623
Vivo Media Art Centre Chil Kong Emeryville, CA 94608-2443 SLEEPWALKING THROUGH
1965 Main St.Vancouver BC V5T 2041 N.Vermont Ave #400 leoimatt@hotmail.com THE MEKONG
3C1 LA, CA 90027 Jorge Ornelas
videoout@telus.net chilk@sbcglobal.net PUBLIC ENEMY RETURNS jorge@m80im.com
818-554-0977 (see Hellcats) 323-644-7800
MOON LADY
Sulyn Zan OH SAIGON THE RED RACE SMILE
111 Somerville Rd Nuoc Pictures Chao Gan Julia Kwan
Ridgewood, NJ 7450 317 Hicks St., Ste. 8 298 Weihai Road 2957 Grant Street
wseoling@gmail.com Brooklyn, NY 11201 Shanghai, 200041 China Vancouver, BC V5K 3H6
201-447-9021 nuoc@mac.com ganchao@ganchao.net Canada
62870089 firehorsemail2@gmail.com
THE MOUSE TRAP OPEN CITY 778-889-6271
indiestory@indiestory.com (see Hellcats) RESIDUE
Sothea Pictures SLINGSHOT (TIRADOR)
MY FATHER PASSAGE 9140 Grammercy Dr, #297 (see Foster Child)
Lotte Cinema, Justin Choi Angela How San Diego, CA 92123
1556-4, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu 1400 N. Gardner Street, #3 619-822-3080 SNAP-SHOT
Seoul, 137-873, KOREA Los Angeles, CA 90046 Jaredldavis@gmail.com Suel Kim
Tel: 822.3470.3596 aperturepictures@yahoo.com suelfilm@gmail.com
jchoi@lottecinema.co.kr 323-969-0756 S/HE 646-673-1308
Sharon Bradley
MY FIRST CRUSH PASSING POSTON VIVO Media Art Centre SNOW DAY
Rocky Jo jfox@flywall.com 1965 Main St.Vancouver BC V5T Karen Sullivan
8500 Steller Drive nubile@flywall.com 3C1 Ringling College of Art And
Building 7 videoout@telus.net Design
Culver City, CA 90232 A PASSING RAIN 2700 N. Tamiami Trail
contact@bbfilms.net 4FL., BaekAk B/D, 135-4 SANTA MESA Sarasota, FL 33569
310-467-7788 Seoul 110-043 Louise Lovegrove ksulliva@ringling.edu
82.2.722.6055 7 East 14th Street
MYSTIC BALL indiestory@indiestory.com Apt 726 SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA
Black Rice Productions New York, NY 10003 Joyce Wong
795 Fifth Ave. Suite 1007 PING PONG PLAYA louiselovegrove@gmail.com 2 Rednor Rd.
New York, NY 10021 IFC Films 917-701-8289 Toronto, ON M4C4B4
1 212 591 6029 11 PENN PLAZA, 15TH FL. Canada
matthew@blackrice.com NY, NY 10001 SAVE RON JR. joyce.film@gmail.com
646.273.7260 Infrastructure Productions 647-226-1561
NADAL VS. ALIEN nabaruch@ifcintheaters.com ray@infdv.com
Hyungkee Lee SPORTS AND DIVERSIONS
Dmc E3-2, Sang-am Dong, Mapo PLANET B-BOY SECRET Bum Lee
Gu Vicky Wight 1212 Tower Two, Admirality Ctr Park Ville C, Apt. 201
Dmc R&d Center # 305 Elephant Eye Films 040 Hong Kong Neung-dong 314-3
Seoul, Seoul 121-270 27 W. 20th Street, Suite 607 makolivia@edkofilm.com.hk Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-847
822-380-3346 New York, NY 10011 South Korea
keeanimation@gmail.com vicky@elephanteyefilms.com SEXY GIRL AND CARPENTER bumbarian@gmail.com
DongKeun Lee
NEW AGING PLEASE VOTE FOR ME 1472-13. #501, Seochodong, THE STATE OF SUNSHINE
Jason Wong Steps International Seochoku Kathy Barber
808 Greenridge Drive 7 Glynville Terrace Gardens Seoul, 137-073 A3100 University Center
La Canada, CA 91011 Cape Town, Western Cape 8001 South Korea Tallahassee, FL 32306-2350
wongjaso@gmail.com South Africa caenal@hotmail.com kbarber@film.fsu.edu
818-790-8868 don@steps.co.za 82-10-9041-4254 850-645-4840
+27 21 465 5805 850-644-2626
NI HAO, KAI-LAN SHADOWS IN THE PALACE
Nick Jr. & NOGGIN THE POSSUM (see Hellcats)
Brand Marketing Chris Choy SHAME THE STORY OF SPIRITS
1515 Broadway 819 NW 23rd Ave Mu-Nan Pictures, LLC Tien Nguyen
NY, NY 10013 Portland OR 97210 Jill Schneider tnbrunelle@gmail.com
shalina.mansharamani@nick.com chrischoy1203@yahoo.com 631-766-3799
930 Second Ave. Suite 4A SWIMMING MOON
OCEAN OF PEARLS THE POSTCARD NY, NY 10005 Nahomi Maki
P.O. Box 99411 Josh Kim n_a_h_o_m@hotmail.com
Troy, MI 48099-9411 junepyo@gmail.com SHOOTING STAR 213-200-3328
sjneelam@comcast.net 806 N. HUNTINGTON Blvd.
PREKISSTORIC TIMES Pomona CA 91768 A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD
PRAYERS WIANBU –
Magnolia Pictures COMFORT WOMAN
9100 Wilshire Boulevard James Bang
Beverly Hills, CA 90212 20 Newport Pkwy #1903
424.731.0068 Jersey City, NJ 7310
nblock@magpictures.com jamesbang@gmail.com
917-743-7263
TIFFIN
Ai Lene Chor WINGS OF DEFEAT
5256 N Glenwood Ave. #N1 Risa Morimoto
Chicago, IL 60640 21 Chittenden Avenue, #4
chorailene@gmail.com New York, NY 10033
773-835-5363 morimoto@edgewoodpictures.
com
TIMELESS 212-928-2580
Jeffrey Ferrer
supermanofsteel@gmail.com THE WOMEN’S KINGDOM
619-632-0068 German Camera Productions LLC
Brent Huffman
THE TRIDENT 15998 Maricopa Highway
Anurag Mehta Ojai, CA 93023
1510 11th Street (805) 646-1204
Suite 102 brent@germancamera.com
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-699-8094 THE WORLD UNSEEN
Aida Kattan
TRIPLE 8 PALACE 330 N. Maple Street, Unit G
Alexander Ku Burbank, CA 91505
417 Grand Street, D905 filmadikt@gmail.com
New York, NY 10002 818-388-2868
xku@nyc.rr.com
646-610-9610 YELLOW STICKY NOTES
Jeff Chiba Stearns
UNDER THE SKIN 2327 Belgo Road
Mario Barth Kelowna, AB V1P 1E1
15 Van Orden Pl Canada
Hackensack, NJ 7601 meditatingbunny@hotmail.com
rosetta@starlighttattoo.com 250-215-4733
201-342-4446
201-342-7499 YOU WILL REMEMBER
Yasmine Gomez
UNSPOKEN PASSION 1368 11th Ave
(see Foster Child) San Francisco, CA 94122
UNTITLED floatingheads@gmail.com
Edward Kim 510-290-1942
eddykim1@gmail.com
909-835-0822 YOURS TRULY, MISS
CHINATOWN
VEXILLE Daisy Shapiro
FUNimation Films 11120 Braddock Drive
Michele Goodson Culver City, CA 90230
1200 Lakeside Parkway Bldg 1 shaplin1@yahoo.com
Flower Mound, TX 310-559-7907
michele.goodson@funimation.
com YOU’VE GOT MALE
Chris Nguyen
WHAT HAPPENED ON THE chris@cherryskyfilms.com
FOURTH DATE
Mrinalini Kamath
26 Kingston Terrace
Princeton, NJ 8540
mkamath07@gmail.com
609-921-1545
THE WHITE SILK DRESS

luu_huynh@yahoo.com

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the 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival.
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The most exciting music experience in San Diego!
The Mozarts: All in the Family
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Asian Silk Road
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A Big Round of Applause For
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for your continuous and invaluable support of arts, culture, and diversity in our region.
Our Patrons, Members And Filmmakers Thank You!

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Cox Communications

is proud to sponsor the

Cox Digital Cable subscribers can go to On Demand

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Between our documentaries,

*photo by Robert Dahey

4 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

photos by Daniel K. Lew

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

HOW YOU CAN HELP

SDAFF is a 501 (c)(3) and all donations are tax-deductible.

Catch Them All! | 5

OPENIING NIGHT PARTY

BLOWFISH: An Intersection of Sights and Sounds

A Celebrity Panel: ASIAN AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD

FROM COMICS TO FILM

HAPPY SLIP: UNCENSORED

Catch Them All! | 7

N0N-MEMBER PRICES (Oct 9-16)

MEMBER PRICES (Oct 9-16)

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS (Oct 9-16)

Riverside Prices ONLY (Oct 21-23)

General Admission $8.50

SOLD-OUT SCREENINGS / RUSH LINES

FESTIVAL VENUES BLOWFISH MUSIC SHOWCASE (Oct 11)

8 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

(619) 228-2300 or 1-800-359-2002 | www.sharphealthplan.com Catch Them All! | 9

Katz & Asso

10:15PM 200 POUNDS BEAUTY 10:00PM

SATURDAY, OCT 11 SUNDAY, OCT 12

12 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

7:00PM PING PONG PLAYA 8:35PM Around the World THURSDAAY, OC

5:40PM FISH FALL IN LOVE 5:45PM CHI

Catch Them All! | 13

San Diego Asian Film FFoundation

We thank our 2008 Members

2008 Membership Roster

PRODUCERS ($1000) Gregg Penetrante William Saung Megan Lam

Johnny Chou Erika Hiramat

Jaejung Kim Sang Kang

Dan Lawton JJinah Kim Michael Dodge

Chong Lee Julie Kim Gra

14 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

Catch Them All! | 15

Opening Night Party

Sponsored by Verizon Wireless

THU Oct 9, 7PM (OPENING NIGHT)

USA | 96 min. | Video | English & Chinese w/ English subtitles | 2007

*Director & cast scheduled to attend Oct 9 screening

16 | The 9th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival

PING PONG PLAYA combines romance, comedy and

“The ﬁlm isn’t about making any points,” Yu contends.

The ﬁlm centers on Christopher Wang (Jimmy Tsai)

Yu enthusiastically shares, “I remember seeing Jimmy

When asked if Yu is obligated to make Asian American

Catch Them All! | 17

THU Oct 16, 7PM

Japan | Japanese w/ English subtitles | 147 min. | 35mm | 2007

Closing Night Reception immediately following screening sponsored by Goldilocks,

With over 60 destinations around the country,

Ofﬁcal Airline of the 2008 San Diego Asian Film Festival

©2007, 2008 Southwest Airlines Co.

200 Pounds Beauty S. Korea | Korean w/ English subtitles |