[vn-trans] Vietnamese Films 3/19 - 3/21: San Jose Asian American Film Festival (fwd)

[Tin Le]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 19 Mar 2004 14:17:48 -0800
From: Joyce Guan <outreach at naatanet.org>
To: webmaster at viet.net
Subject: Vietnamese Films 3/19 - 3/21: San Jose Asian American Film Festival

Hello ,

Greetings from the 22nd Annual San Francisco International Asian American
Film Festival! If you missed the San Francisco and Berkeley screenings,
there is still a chance to catch films March 19-21 in San Jose, including I
am excited to introduce the Vietnamese films screening at the Festival,
including Ham Tran's Oscar-nominated film THE ANNIVERSARY, starring DON
DUONG, and Victor Vu's FIRST MORNING. These films deal with the unique
challenges of being Vietnamese American and the effects of war. Additional
highlights include comedy shorts program MY NINJA FOR YOUR NUN and Hong Kong
film JUST ONE LOOK..

You are an important part of the Vietnamese community; could you please pass
the word on via your email lists and post info on your website?

Thanks!
Joyce

============================================================
Joyce Guan, Outreach Coordinator
San Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Festival

A presentation of NAATA:
National Asian American Telecommunications Association
145 9th St. Suite 350
San Francisco, CA 94103-2636
Tel:    (415) 863-0814 ext. 215
Fax:    (415) 863-7428
Webpage: http://www.naatanet.org/festival
===========================================================


TICKETS
Most shows sell out, so purchasing in advance is highly advised. For more
information on all shows, check the schedule at
http://www.naatanet.org/festival/2004/html/sanjose.html or call
408.998.3300. To stay up to date on sold out shows and added screenings,
join the SFIAAFF e-Newsletter:
http://www.naatanet.org/calendar/sfiaaff/e-newsletter.html

1) SHADOWS AND LIGHT
TRT: 74 mins

How do we judge decisions made during times of turmoil, uncertainty and
desperation? The nature of conflictÐpolitical, social and personalÐis
exposed through the lush, sweepingly beautiful backdrops of these films.
These intimate stories explore the bonds that become challenged when
rulesÐand loved onesÐchange beyond recognition.

-THE ANNIVERSARY (Ngay Gio)
San Francisco Premiere
USA 2003
28 mins., 35mm Color
LANGUAGE: Vietnamese
DIRECTOR: Ham Tran

A Buddhist monk is haunted by memories of war on the anniversary of his
brother's death. The film was shot in Vietnam by Guillermo Rojas, the
award-winning cinematographer of BEFORE NIGHT FALLS.

-THE SHADOW (Hinh Bong)
North American Premiere
Germany 2002
19 mins., 35mm Color
LANGUAGE: Vietnamese w/E.S.
DIRECTOR: Robin von Hardenberg

With an absent father, a young boy develops an attachment to a curious
replacement in this visually striking film of separation, alienation and
mistaken identity.

-WHEN THE STORM CAME
San Francisco Premiere
USA 2003
24 mins., Video Color
DIRECTOR: Shilpi Gupta

This documentary addresses the use of rape as a "weapon" in the hands of the
Indian military in Kashmir. Winner of the Best Short Film award at the
Sundance Film Festival.

-RATTLE
San Francisco Premiere
USA 2003
3 mins., 35mm B&W
DIRECTOR: Ed Chen

The evolution of envy, power and violence is traced in this fast-paced
animation.

Sponsored by: The Mercury News
Co-Presented by: East Meets West Foundation, Friends of South Asia, Global
Fund For Women

2) FIRST MORNING
Director: Victor Vu
USA, 2003, 90mins
SUN 03.21 | 730 PM | Camera 3 Cinemas

Set in Southern California's Vietnamese American community, FIRST MORNING is
a powerful story about the pains of war and the equally destructive silences
that follow. Director Victor Vu's powerful short film FIRECRACKER (SFIAAFF
'00) hinted at the complexities faced by refugees trying to make new lives
in America; with FIRST MORNING, he delves deeper into the struggles of one
such family as they cope with a past no one is ready to acknowledge, let
alone accept.

>From the moment they were forced to flee Vietnam, the Nguyens have been a
shattered family. Tuan and his troubled father Minh came first while Tuan's
mother Kim-Anh and sister Linh remained in endless refugee camps across
Southeast Asia. Even after they are finally reunited, fissures abound from
the family's unspoken traumas. Tuan finds himself alienated from his father,
while Linh withdraws from everyone.

Along with peers like Tony and Timothy Bui (THREE SEASONS, GREEN DRAGON), Vu
makes an important contribution to the growing number of films exploring the
lives and issues of the Vietnamese diaspora. Though FIRST MORNING focuses on
one family, its exploration of community pain and historical silences speaks
loudly in a world still fraught with the specter and legacies of war.

Sponsored by: Applied Materials
Co-Presented by: Association For Viet Arts, East Meets West Foundation


ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
In addition to our feature films, we have some phenomenal shorts programs
and an exciting live music event:

MY NINJA FOR YOUR NUN
TRT 92 mins
SAT 03.20 | 730PM Camera
Co-Presented by: Asian Americans for Community Outreach, MOSAIC Cross
Cultural Center

A ninja, a nun and something in between. These films give new meaning to
love and the absurdity that life has to offer.


DIRECTIONS IN SOUND

Saturday, March 20, 2004 | 900PM
The Agenda Cellar, 399 South First Street, San Jose

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND is the SFIAAFF's annual showcase of new Asian American
musicians and video artists. Exploring the links between moving images and
music through live performance and video projection, DIRECTIONS IN SOUND is
a revolutionary celebration of the Asian American music underground.

A Night of hip hop, hosted by
Distortion 2 Static (WB20)!

Featuring: Bay Area hip hop legends

APOLLO (Triple Threat DJs)
MIKE NICE (Word Life Promotions)
TONE DEF (106KMEL, SBC)
FUSE ONE (NC Collective)
HALO (Distortion 2 Static)

$10 | General Admission (21 and over only)

Sponsored by: Stir
Co-Presented by: Dream Cypher, First Thursdays, Giant Robot, Manja, Massive
Selector, Pinoise Pop, Word Life Promotions


PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets are now on sale at:
http://www.naatanet.org/festival, or call the Camera 3 Cinemas at
408.998.3300.

Purchasing in advance is highly advised, as shows will sell out! Discounted
group tickets are available.


MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the Festival, visit the website at
http://www.naatanet.org/festival.

2004 SFIAAFF e-Newsletter
Be the first to find out about the latest news and developments, including
updates sold out shows, late additions, and added screenings. Find out which
filmmakers and actors will be attending the festival! Read exclusive
articles, scoops and tidbits each morning during the festival! Sign up at
http://www.naatanet.org/calendar/sfiaaff/e-newsletter.html