AABANY members, it’s that time of the year – the Asian American International Film Festival is here!

Let’s support Steve De Castro, trial attorney turned film director, and his new documentary, “Fred Ho’s Last Year,” a tribute to legendary jazz saxophonist/ composer and Asian American activist Fred Ho. 

Former AABANY Vice President (ca. 2003), Steve left his lucrative 3-attorney law firm to pursue his passion – filmmaking. Drawn to Fred Ho’s fatalism and optimism in the face of cancer, Steve struggles to portray the life and times and intellectualism as Fred Ho is taken by the same disease that claimed Steve’s father. 

Capturing his 7-year ordeal with colon cancer, Steve pays homage to Fred Ho’s intellectual scrutiny, his confidence in himself as an artist, and his radical vision. Above all, he allows Ho’s music to speak for itself.

AABANY supports and commends Steve’s emotional experience in creating this film and recognizes Fred Ho as his inspiration. In Steve’s words: “When times are tough in post production, I thought to myself, if Fred can mount his performances while his body is running on only half his heart, one lung, and half of his digestive organs removed, I can finish this film.”

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You can get 20% off your ticket purchase for this film by using our special promo code when you purchase on the AAIFF ‘14 website. You’re welcome!

Promo Code: aabany

How to apply this code: First, go to the AAIFF website and choose the film Fred Ho’s Last Year; then, click the button of “Add to Cart,” you will enter the Cart page; in this page, there is a field called “Apply Promo Code” on the bottom. Please put the discount code (aabany) in this field and click the button, then, you will get a discount.

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From the AAIFF website:

“An homage to the award-winning avant-garde jazz composer, Asian American author and political activist, FRED HO’S LAST YEAR captures the unapologetic Fred Ho in an unbelievable year as he fights cancer, leads orchestras, holds lectures, leads protests, publishes books, and even produces his magnum opus: an elaborate, manga-inspired samurai opera on a New York stage. Filmed over the course of 2013, the film provides a glimpse into Fred’s extraordinary life as a musician, a mentor, a pioneer and a dear friend for those who will be continuously inspired by his courage and persistence.

On July 31st, the AAIFF’14 will co-host a sneak preview of FRED HO’S LAST YEAR with Museum of Chinese in America, followed by a discussion with director Steven De Castro, playwright Ruth Margraff (CAFE ANTASIA), and Fred’s long-term friend Anne T. Greene.

On August 2nd, to follow the screening of FRED HO’S LAST YEAR at Village East Cinema will be a music tribute by Fred Ho’s student Ben Barson playing Fred’s saxophone.”

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We’ll see you there!