Stay tuned for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Virtual Showcase!
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In keeping with directives from our government agencies, we have rescheduled the 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) to a later date as we continue our commitment to the well being of our volunteers, artists, and audiences.
We acknowledge that this virus has been racialized and has incited hateful acts towards our communities. While we are seeing anti-Asian sentiments that perpetuate perilous narratives, Visual Communications and the Festival will continue to be a space for expression, engagement, and empowerment.
Therefore, we are proud to announce our Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Virtual Showcase, slated for Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May. The Virtual Showcase aims to highlight artists whose stories are critical at this moment. From celebrating our histories and cultures, to mobilizing our communities to be socially and politically active, we are looking forward to presenting FREE films and panels to keep us connected. The program will launch Friday, May 1st.
The LAAPFF Virtual Showcase includes a cinematic discourse of American socio-politics through ASIAN AMERICANS (series producer Renee Tajima-Peña; episode producers S. Leo Chiang, Gheeta Ghandbir, & Grace Lee), the world premiere of FIRST VOTE (dir. Yi Chen), and SHE COULD BE NEXT (dirs. Grace Lee & Marjan Safinia). Additionally, it includes THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT (dirs. Ric Burns and Li-Shin Yu), which examines the origin, history, and impact of the 1882 law that made it illegal for Chinese workers to come to America and for Chinese nationals already here ever to become U.S. citizens - a first in a long line of acts targeting Asians for exclusion.
In our continued effort to celebrate Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islander stories, we present MELE MURALS (dir. Tadashi Nakamura) and KA HUAKA’I - THE JOURNEY TO MERRIE MONARCH (dir. Gerard Elmore), along with short documentary films STANDING ABOVE THE CLOUDS (Jalena Keane-Lee), THE ROGERS (dirs. Dean Hamer & Joe Wilson), and BORN THIS WAY: AWA’S STORY (dir. Mitchell Hawkes).
We will also present cinematic works by and about our diverse communities through our partnerships with Cambodia Town Film Festival, Cinema Sala, Vietnamese Boat People Podcast, and Youth FX. We look forward to having you engage us in our virtual panels and fireside chats with artists, such as Ramona Diaz (A THOUSAND CUTS) and Bao Nguyen (BE WATER). Furthermore, we are amplifying narrative works that will be released on streaming such as I WILL MAKE YOU MINE (dir. Lynn Chen) and BULGE BRACKET (dir. Christopher Au).
Visual Communications is grateful to HBO® for their commitment to magnify emerging filmmakers. The LAAPFF Virtual Showcase will be streaming winning films from past winners of HBO APA Visionaries. Gather in strength and join us for Visionary Fridays in May.
Our deepest gratitude to our friends and supporters who continue to believe in what we collectively make happen. The LAAPFF Virtual Showcase would not be possible without your support.
Our communities, while ever transforming, continue to act in solidarity. The LAAPFF Virtual Showcase is co-presented with our friends who empower communities through media. Thank you for your partnerships:
Asian American Documentary Network, Asian CineVision | Asian American International Film Festival, Austin Asian American Film Festival, Boston Asian American Film Festival, Cambodia Town Film Festival, Center for Asian American Media | CAAMFest, Cinema Sala, DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival, Foundation for Asian American in Independent Media, Hawaii International Film Festival, Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles, OCA - Greater Houston | Houston Asian American & Pacific Islander Film Festival, Pacific Arts Movement | San Diego Asian Film Festival, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Seattle Asian American Film Festival, Taiwanese American Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Vietnamese Boat People Podcast, Youth FX
Thank you to our Organizational Partners: Asian Highway 1, Angry Asian Man, API Equality, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA, Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, Beatrock Music, Chinese American Museum, East West Players, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, Japanese American National Museum, Kollaboration, Little Tokyo Community Council, Little Tokyo Service Center, Long Distance Radio, This Filipino American Life, Tuesday Night Project
Lastly, thank you to our VC Staff for your passion to make this showcase happen. We look forward to the day when we can celebrate each other in person.
In this time of isolation, we stay connected. Welcome to the LAAPFF Virtual Showcase.
~Visual Communications Staff
