Tag: film festival

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AABANY Partners with AAIFF to Promote AAPI Short Films at its 46th Film Festival

AABANY is pleased to announce that it will be resuming its long-time partnership with AAIFF, promoting six short films showing online under the title of “Fire & Water: Shorts in Your Element.” These films include:

“Skin Can Breathe” by Chheangkea

Soda, a Cambodian teenager living in America seeks refuge from his volatile surroundings through swimming. Navigating his relationship with his family, as well as the awkward and erotic nature of his swim team, Soda’s story of self-discovery enthralls viewers. “Skin Can Breathe” is an award-winning short film, bound to catch the audience’s attention.

“Inheritance” by Erin Lau

Kelsey Akioka spends his days photographing the Kalapana lava fields, selling his photos in a pop-up tent to apathetic tourists to support his son and elderly father. Upon receiving news that his friend is sacrificing his passion to better his family’s life, Kelsey must balance his inner conflict with his home life. Directed by Erin Lau, a Native Hawaiian filmmaker with experience working with Sundance Institute, Tribeca Studios, MTV, the Points North Institute, Nia Tero, and Film Independent’s Project Involve program and Episodic Directors Intensive, this short film is a must watch.

“Honolulu” by Maya Tanaka

12-year-old Yuki’s Hawai’ian beach vacation is threatened by mundane family tensions that threaten to boil over, leaving unforgettable memories. Supported by the 2021 Tribeca Studios x Chanel Through Her Lens Female Filmmaking Grant, Maya Tanaka tells an intricate tale of family and culture through Honolulu.

“The Ocean Duck” by Huda Razzak, My Anh Ngo

During a flood, a woman’s visit to her ailing grandmother in a hospital triggers nostalgic memories and fantastical visions of an ancient tale coming to life. “The Ocean Duck,” an animated short film by Huda Razzak and My Anh Ngo, beautifully merges ancient poetry with a modern story of family bonds.

“Rooted (防己)” by Yi-Wei Wu

Rescued by a lifeguard who mistook him for drowning, a teenager grapples with newfound desires that have long been suppressed. Wu Yi-Wei, a writer exploring the complexities of gender, body, and family crisis, transitioned to film direction after earning his M.F.A. in RTF from Shih Hsin University, with “ROOTED” marking his debut short film.

“The Roaring of the Carabao” by Angeline Meitzler

A daughter, born in the United States, travels to the Philippines, her mother’s homeland, and is met with a volcanic eruption on the night of her arrival. Enchanted by the turbulent landscape, she embarks on a haunting journey through the past, present, and beyond, illuminated by the glow of an ember. Incorporating elements of hauntology, “The Roaring of the Carabao” explores the Taal Volcano, one of the Philippines’ most active volcanoes, and its ongoing activity as a symbol of Filipino Americanism.

To receive a 25% off discount code, exclusive to AABANY members, please register here at least two days prior to the showing. To buy tickets to “Fire & Water: Shorts in Your Element”, click here. To learn more about the other films and events exhibited at this festival, click here.

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AABANY Partners with AAIFF to Promote Feature Film “RAGING GRACE” During AAIFF’s 46th Film Festival

This year, AABANY is partnering with AAIFF to promote the film, “RAGING GRACE,” screening in-person on July 30th in Quad Cinema, at 34 W 13th Street. 

“RAGING GRACE” is a bold coming of age tale, telling the story of Joy, an undocumented Filipina immigrant, struggling to make a living as a housekeeper in London. A single mom, Joy fights to support her young and mischievous daughter, Grace. Joy hopes to save up for an overpriced visa that will allow the two of them to stay in England and build a new life. When Joy is offered the perfect position as elderly Mr. Garrett’s caretaker, she accepts, despite suspicions about the estate and the Garrett family simmering beneath the surface. “RAGING GRACE” defies conventional horror movie tropes while tackling powerful social commentary, illustrating a vibrant narrative of exploitation often faced by many new immigrants. 

The film will be followed by a filmmaker Q&A, allowing panelists to answer any questions attendees may have about the film and the shooting process. Furthermore, attendees have the opportunity to attend the closing reception at Project Farmhouse, located on 76 East 13th Street.

Tickets for this screening and closing reception will be available for $70.00 on the AAIFF website. To receive a 25% off discount code, exclusive to AABANY members, please register here at least two days prior to the showing. Click here to purchase tickets for this gripping film. To learn more about the other films and events exhibited at this festival, click here.

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AABANY Partners with AAIFF to Promote Feature Film “Finding Her Beat” During AAIFF’s 46th Film Festival

This year, AABANY is partnering with AAIFF to promote the film, “Finding Her Beat,” screening in-person on July 30th in Quad Cinema, at 34 W 13th Street. 

Amidst the icy grip of a Minnesota winter, an extraordinary collaboration unfolds between a Japanese drum master and a Korean adoptee from North Dakota. The two women are determined to gather the finest Taiko drummers worldwide, uniting to claim a cultural spotlight traditionally monopolized by men. Directed by award-winning directors Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, this documentary is not one to miss.

Tickets for this screening will be available for $16.00 on the AAIFF website. To receive a 25% off discount code, exclusive to AABANY members, please register here at least two days prior to the showing. Click here to purchase tickets for this amazing documentary. To learn more about the other films and events exhibited at this festival, click here.

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AABANY Partners with AAIFF to Promote Feature Film “Yaobikuni’s Love” During AAIFF’s 46th Film Festival

This year, AABANY is partnering with AAIFF to promote the film, “Yaobikuni’s Love,” screening in-person on July 29th in Quad Cinema, at 34 W 13th Street. 

The mockumentary tells the story of Yaobikuni, women of Japanese mythology that attained immortality through eating the flesh of a “ningyo,” a type of mermaid said to grant eternal life. Miike, the director for a documentary show, gives a smartphone to a Yaobikuni named Mizuki. She uses the phone to keep in touch with Miike, and to meet other Yaobikuni women. Upon installing a dating app, Mizuki is elated by the potential of a suitor in her life, only to have her hopes dashed when he fails to show up for a date. Miike comforts Mizuki after she is left in the cold, causing Mizuki to become attracted to the young documentarian.

The screening of the mockumentary will include the short film, “The Old Young Crow,” telling the story of an Iranian boy that befriends an old Japanese woman at a graveyard in Tokyo. The film, directed by Liam LoPinto, a filmmaker, and animator from New York City, serves as a fascinating appetizer that will be sure to charm and enchant viewers alike

General tickets for this screening will be available for $16.00 on the AAIFF website. To receive a 25% off discount code, exclusive to AABANY members, please register here at least two days prior to the showing. Click here to purchase tickets for this fascinating mockumentary. To learn more about the other films and events exhibited at this festival, click here.

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AABANY is a Proud Community Partner of the 46th Asian American International Film Festival

AABANY is excited to announce our community partnership with the 46th installment of the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF46), the first and longest running Asian American film festival in the US. Established in 1978 by Asian CineVision, a media arts nonprofit focused on AAPI interests, the festival is committed to supporting AAPI cinema as a tool for social change and inclusion in the media arts. This year, the festival is taking a unique hybrid format, screening films both in-person and online this July 26th to August 6th. 

The festival lineup includes a distinctive selection of feature films, such as “Yaobikuni’s Love,” “Raging Grace,” and “Finding Her Beat.” Additionally, you can look forward to a captivating assortment of short films, including “Skin Can Breathe,” “Inheritance,” “Honolulu,” “The Ocean Duck,” “Rooted (防己),” and “The Roaring of the Carabao.” Overall, AAIFF offers an enthralling experience, promising to immerse viewers in a world of fascinating stories that resonate with the Asian diaspora experience.

Aside from an outstanding selection of Asian American films, AAIFF will showcase exclusive panels, receptions, and other unique VIP events. Attendees will be provided with exceptional opportunities to mingle and connect with both industry professionals and fellow film enthusiasts. 

AABANY will be promoting these particular films for AAIFF26:

Feature Films 

Short Films

To receive a 25% off discount code, exclusive to AABANY members, please register at the embedded links above at least two days prior to the screening date. 
Tickets and passes are currently on sale on the AAIFF website— make sure to spread the word and confirm your attendance now by clicking here and securing your spot. To learn more, visit the AAIFF site by clicking here, or follow @asiancinevision to receive updates about this phenomenal event.

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Aug 3 Kicks Off the 45th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), Running through Aug 13.

AABANY is longtime community partner to the AAIFF, and AABANY members are invited to attend the film festival with the special 20% discount code: AAIFF45BAR. 

Our own Francis Chin, AABANY’s professional development committee chair will also be speaking on the 72 Hour Shootout post-screening panel, a special part of the AAIFF.

About the Festival

The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) proudly known as “The First Home to Asian American Cinema,” is the first and longest running festival to premier and showcase independent Asian, Asian diaspora and Pacific Islander cinema. With its origins at the Henry Street Settlement in New York City’s Lower East Side, the AAIFF brings together audiences from all over New York City, the tri-state region, and around the world. The 45th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF45) will take place from August 3 – 13, and combines in-person screenings and events with online programs. 

This year, AAIFF will feature FREE CHOL SOO LEE, a documentary which excavates the essential story of 1970s San Francisco, when 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is racially profiled and convicted of a Chinatown gang murder. In the past, AABANY featured Chol Soo Lee’s case in a trial reenactment titled, Alice in Chinatown: Chol Soo Lee and His Fight for Freedom. Five decades later, this documentary by Julie Ha and Eugene Yi revisits Chol Soo Lee’s story and serves as an urgent reminder that his legacy is more relevant than ever.  

On August 13th, the festival will showcase its Closing Night Presentations. Features include DEAR CORKY, directed by Curtis Chin illustrating an intimate look at the legendary photographer Corky Lee. A long-time friend of AABANY, we have hosted various events honoring Corky’s legacy, including the photo exhibit “Photographic Justice: A Tribute to Corky Lee,” currently showing at the U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York. Passionate about activism, documenting history, and combatting Asian hate crimes through his camera, Dear Corky is a film revealing the man behind the iconic pictures that mobilized the Asian American community. 

To learn more about the other films and see the full schedule of the festival, click here. For more information about ticketing, click here.

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AABANY Teams up with AAIFF to Promote Two Films During AAIFF’s 44th Film Festival

This year, AABANY is teaming up with the Asian American International Film Festival to promote two films, A Rifle and a Bag and Americanish, during AAIFF’s film festival, which will run from August 11 – 22. AABANY members receive a 20% discount for all VOD screenings if they use the code AAIFF44_AABANY. 

This year’s festival is a hybrid festival, mixing online screenings and live-streamed events with  select in-person events. You can watch from home with an internet connection. Most films are  available for viewing throughout the U.S. and Canada unless otherwise noted. You can access AAIFF’s full list of films and in-person events and screenings at this link:  

https://www.aaiff.org/program

A Rifle and a Bag 

Somi and her husband are striving to forge a new identity after fighting alongside the Naxalites,  a communist guerrilla group that has been waging war on the Indian State since the 60’s. After  a decade of armed struggle for the rights of their tribal communities, the couple deserted the  movement and surrendered to the police. Ever since, they have been trying to educate their son  and reconcile their violent past with the desire to integrate into Indian society. 

Americanish 

In Jackson Heights, Queens, career-driven sisters Maryam and Sam and their newly immigrated cousin Ameera must navigate the consistent and sometimes conflicting demands of  romance, culture, work, and family. Serving both as a lighthearted reimagination of and critical  divergence from the classic romantic comedy, AMERICANISH tackles and celebrates the  complex intersectionalities of womanhood by welcoming us into the world—with all its joys and  tribulations—of these three marriage-aged women. 

Region Restrictions: Tri-State (NY, NJ, CT) 

How Screenings Work: 

All films are VOD – on demand. If purchasing tickets in advance, you will receive an access link  via email when the film becomes available to view. For most films, this will be August 11. If  purchasing tickets during the festival (August 11 – August 22, 2021), you will receive the access  link immediately.  

You may watch the film anytime during the festival (Aug 11 to Aug 22). Once you hit play, you  will have 48 hours to finish watching the film. If you do not finish the film within those 48 hours,  you will need to purchase another ticket. Please note that some films may have additional  restrictions. Please read the Film/Event page for any additional restrictions. For more info, please click this link.

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Join AABANY for the 2020 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF43)

AABANY will be a community partner for two film screenings for the 2020 Asian American International Film Festival this fall. These two film screenings include:

Aswang (Dir. Alyx Ayn Arumpac)

This film is geoblocked to the USA.

Since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016 and announced his campaign to rid the Philippines of drug addicts and dealers, as many as 20,000 Filipinos have been murdered. ASWANG confronts these executions and their devastating aftermath.

Coded Bias (Dir. Shalini Kantayya)

CODED BIAS explores the fallout of MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini’s startling discovery that facial recognition does not see dark-skinned faces and women accurately and her push for legislative protection against biased AI.

This year, the festival is entirely online; you can watch from home with an internet connection. Each film or event will have a link to purchase your tickets. After you purchase, you will receive an email with a link to view the film. You may purchase anytime within the dates of our festival (October 1 to October 11, 2020). For more information and FAQs, please visit the “How to Festival” section of their website.

Please click the links above to purchase tickets and learn more about the films. AABANY members will receive a 20% discount code to all festival screenings once they register for the event on the AABANY website.

Click here to register for “Aswang” on the AABANY website.
Click here to register for “Coded Bias” on the AABANY website.

For more information on the AAIFF, please click here.

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Join AABANY for the 2019 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF)

AABANY will be co-sponsoring three film screenings with Asian CineVision for the 2019 Asian American International Film Festival this summer. These three film screenings include:

Jeff Adachi, the Sam Francisco Public Defender and filmmaker who passed earlier this year has been a pioneer in the justice system and API cinema. To celebrate his legacy, two of his documentaries will be shown, along with a tribute by Corey Tong and John Woo before the screening.

Seadrift follows the story of what begins as a dispute over fishing territory into an eruption of violence and hostility against Vietnamese refugees along the gulf coast. Seadrift examines a shooting of a white crab fisherman by a Vietnamese refugee, and its aftermath, which continues to reverberate today.

AABANY’s reenactments site also has information on Vietnamese Fishermen v. Ku Klux Klan, which is the trial that ensued from these conflicts in Seadrift, TX.

Shorts: Identities is a series of eight documentary shorts which all tackle the question: “What does it mean to be Asian, to be a part of the Asian Diaspora?” These shorts confirm that there is no singular answer to this question, and cover topics as wide-ranging as Cambodian doughnut shops (Doughnuts for Dollars) to the young Harvard student who started the non-profit, PERIOD org (Period Girl).

The screening for A Tribute to Jeff Adachi will be held at the Museum of Chinese in America, while the Shorts: Identities and Seadrift screenings will be held at Regal Essex, Theater B.

Please click the links to register and learn more about the films. AABANY members will receive a discount code once they register for the event on the AABANY website. 

For more information on the AAIFF, click here.