Warning: include(http://www.apafilm.org/javascript.js) [function.include]: failed to open stream: HTTP request failed! HTTP/1.1 404 Not Found in /home4/apafilmo/public_html/Press2004-09-23-5thAPAFilmFestival.php on line 7

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.apafilm.org/javascript.js' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib64/php:/usr/lib/php') in /home4/apafilmo/public_html/Press2004-09-23-5thAPAFilmFestival.php on line 7

APA Film Announces the 5th Annual Asian Pacific American Film Festival

September 23rd, 2004
For immediate release

Festival Highlights Asian American Perspectives in Film

Washington, D.C. – APA Film will present the 5th Annual Asian Pacific American Film Festival October 7-16, 2004 at locations throughout the Washington, D.C., area including the Smithsonian Institution's Freer and Sackler Galleries and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The festival will showcase daily short film programs, documentaries, and feature length films by Asian filmmakers based in North America and abroad. All screenings are open to the public and many will have free admission.

The Opening Night Film and Reception on October 7 is Take Out, a feature film about a day in the life of a Chinese immigrant who works as a restaurant delivery man in New York City. Filmmakers Sean Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou are scheduled to attend.

The festival continues through the weekend with a special presentation of Masters of the Pillow, a documentary about the politics surrounding the production of an Asian American pornographic movie. Director James Hou is scheduled to attend and a panel discussion will follow the screening.

This year’s festival features a variety of programs and locations, including screenings co-presented with the Washington Jewish Film Festival and Reel Affirmations; and a selection of internationally-themed films shown at the Goethe-Institut, the Canadian Embassy, and Georgetown University.

Closing weekend features two free programs at the Freer and Sackler Galleries. The Ride is a feature-length film about Hawaiian surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku, with a panel discussion on Pacific Islanders in film to follow. The museum is also host to the Closing Night Film, The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam, a unique documentary about a world-traveling Chinese vaudeville performer and entrepreneur. Filmmaker Anne Marie Fleming is scheduled to attend.

“This year, our festival will showcase 65 films, including 11 feature-length films - the most we have ever shown, “ said Gene Huh, Director of Programming. “The films, which range in subject matter from outrageous comedies to hard-hitting political documentaries, reflect the diverse and exciting range of talent that comprises today's Asian Pacific American filmmaking community.”

Asian Pacific American (APA) Film is a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation, devoted to encouraging the artistic development of APA media artists and raising public awareness of APA media arts through an annual festival and other events in the Washington, D.C. area.

A complete schedule of films will be posted online in late September at http://www.apafilm.org.

For program schedule and press inquiries only, contact Anna Petrillo, , 410-493-1371

For information on specific films and content, contact Gene Huh, Director of Programming, .
For information on sponsoring the festival or advertising, contact Christina Hsu,
For information on volunteering for the festival, contact Vincent Huang, Volunteer Coordinator,