Comcast NBC10 Telemundo72 Comcast Spectator is presenting the 8th Annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival from November 12 to November 22, 2015. In under a decade, PAAFF has emerged as the premier Asian American film festival on the East Coast. The festival will feature over 60 films, intimate discussions with filmmakers, special programs on food, music, and culture, including featured guests spoken word artist Michelle Meyers and Peter Shinkoda (Nobu on Netflix’s Daredevil).
The festival kicks off with the Philadelphia premiere of SEOUL SEARCHING, a John Hughes-esque teen comedy set in South Korea, on Thursday, November 12th at 7PM with director Benson Lee in person at I-House; followed by an Opening Night Reception featuring 1980s dance music and a costume contest. Click here for tickets.
The centerpiece of the festival is a special music event with producer and emcee Scott “CHOPS” Jung of Philly’s legendary Mountain Brothers, whose producing credits include Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj. This multimedia program on Saturday, November 14th at 9:00PM, will explore the Asian American Hip Hop movement through music videos and live performances by artists included in the seminal compilation album, Strength in Numbers. It will also feature a Q&A with CHOPS and special guests. Click here for tickets and more information.
RIGHT FOOTED, a documentary about Filipina American Jessica Cox, who was born without arms and went on to become the first person licensed to pilot an airplane with her feet, will close the festival on Sunday, November 22nd at 6:30pm, followed by the closing reception. Cox and her husband Patrick will be in attendance. Click here for tickets.
This year’s selection of films will address a range of issues from immigration policy to teen angst. There is no official theme, however the year 2015 carries with it several numerological associations, which informed some of the programming:
• The number 8 is associated luck and good fortune in Chinese numerology;
• 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, a time of rampant anti-Asian racism in which over 120,000 Japanese American families were interned in camps throughout the United States;
• 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which took important steps to prohibit racial discrimination in voting, impacting communities of color throughout the country;
• 40 years have passed since the end of the Vietnam War, which was a direct catalyst for mass migration of Southeast Asians to the US (of which Philadelphia is a large hub).
The 8th annual festival takes place at International House (3701 Chestnut Street, University City) from November 12-15 and moves to Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Chinatown North) from November 20-22. There will be a Free Community Screening Series from November 16-19 at multiple venues in South Philly.
Special Programs include:
• PAAFF Eats – A food centric program section that centers around culinary arts on screen and in person.
• PAAFF Pride – A program section showcasing LGBTQ content that demonstrates our commitment to including all of members of our community.
• PAAFF Pulse – A music-based section that explores the ris¬ing numbers of APAs working in the music industry.
• Pacific Islanders Showcase presented by PBS affiliate Pacific Islanders in Communications – A collection of feature films that explore a multitude of Pacific Islander American experiences including those from Samoa, Tonga, Hawai’i, and Vanuatu.
• Community Screening Series – Remembering the End of the Vietnam War 40 Years Later – A series of free screenings at community centers in South Philadelphia.
Click here for the PAAFF Program and here to purchase tickets.
The 2015 Festival is presented by Comcast NBC10 Telemundo72 Comcast Spectator; and made possible through the generosity of Premier Sponsor Aetna; Founding Sponsor HBO; Partner Sponsors Wells Fargo, PHLDiversity, Pennsylvania Department of Drug & Alcohol Programs, and Samuel S. Fels Fund; and Prime Sponsors PECO, Jefferson Health, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Greater Philadelphia Asian Studies Consortium, Allstate, and Hepatitis B Foundation.
ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) is the first and only event of its kind in Philadelphia, bringing in audience members from all over the region and Asian American filmmakers, actors, and leaders, from around the world. The festival also hosts numerous screenings year-round independently and in partnership with regional arts and community organizations.
PAAFF’s parent organization, Philadelphia Asian American Film & Filmmakers, is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to showcase films by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans for the city of Philadelphia and Greater Philadelphia region. They aim to present captivating programs that engage, inspire, and connect our community both to one another and the non-Asian mainstream.
For more information about PAAFF’15 visit phillyasianfilmfest.org and follow on social media @paaff or #PAAFF15.
Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival on November 21st. She is profiled in Examiner.com, FebOne1960.com Blog, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
Other Articles:
Hide and Seek starring Lia Chang and Garth Kravits screens at the 2015 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF15) in Women’s Shorts Program at Asian Arts Initiative on Nov. 21
World Premiere of PALI ROAD at 2015 Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) on Nov. 16 & 21st
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Ed Moy’s Animated Short UP IN THE CLOUDS has East Coast premiere screening at PAAFF15 on Nov. 20
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Announces 8th Annual Festival Lineup
Gotta Dance Star André De Shields receives 2015 Award for Excellence in the Arts from The Theatre School at DePaul University
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GOTTA DANCE stars André De Shields, Stefanie Powers, Lori Tan Chinn, Lillias White step out for ON YOUR FEET!
Tiger Morse by Mark Shaw: Jet Set Style Quest, 1962, on view at The Liz O’Brien Gallery through Dec. 18
Joel de la Fuente, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Alexa Davalos, Luke Kleintank, Rufus Sewell, DJ Qualls and More at ‘The Man in The High Castle’ New York Series Premiere
Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, Ann Harada, Kristin Chenoweth, Karen Ziemba, Jon Cryer and More celebrate Great Writers at Dramatists Guild Fund’s 2015 Gala
Greg Watanabe makes Broadway Debut as Mike Masaoka in ‘Allegiance’
AsAmNews.com: Q & A with Arthur Dong, Award-winning Filmmaker and Author, Gay Icon, Distinguished Professor of Film
Film Lab Screening of #72HrSO Films at Time Warner Theater & Panel Discussion of Mass Media Constructions of Beauty
AsAmNews.com: Creating an Asian American presence on Wikipedia, one WikiAPA Edit-a-thon at a time
AsAmNews.com: The King and I’s Special Performance Benefits The Actors Fund
Playbill.com: Hugs, Laughs and Photobombs By Tony Winners! Go Backstage at the Special Actors Fund Performance of The King and I
Broadwayworld.com: Photo Flash: Phylicia Rashad, Andre De Shields & More Original Cast Members from THE WIZ Reunite in Central Park!
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA Cast Reunion featured in BLACK BELT MAGAZINE August/September 2015
Drumhead Magazine: Living Colour Drummer Will Calhoun, Photos by Lia Chang
AsAmNews.com: AAPI Heritage Month: My Grandmother’s Detention on Angel Island
Crafting a Career
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2015 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com
All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2015 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com.
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