DC Asian Pacific American Film, Inc.

(Photo by Julie Kim)

All we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about.
-Charles Kingsley (from a letter sent by the Lin family)

The City of San Diego declared October 13, 2009 George Lin Day, honoring the life and work of George C. Lin who made the DC Asian Pacific American Film, Inc. and the San Diego Asian Film Foundation the outstanding success it is today. The declaration was made by San Diego Councilmember Carl DeMaio at 10 a.m. at the City Council meeting.

A handful of the current senior staff members of DC APA Film were fortunate to get to know and work with George. Many of the newer staffers such as myself did not know George but after reading articles and hearing stories about him, we have an idea about what kind of person George was.

If you are a filmmaker, George would be excited about your project and offer all the help that he could. He would encourage you to make the best film possible. If you needed a cinematographer or editor, he would be on the phone talking to his contacts. If you needed help with financing, he wouldn’t be afraid to open his checkbook. Basically George would back you up 100 percent. It may be your film but he would treat it as if it were his own – his goal was to help artists achieve their creative vision.

George’s love for the arts cannot be measured because it is so vast. Despite facing health challenges his entire adult life, he continued to promote and support his love of the arts and film. During his last week, he never stopped promoting the San Diego Asian Film Foundation and told nurses at the hospital to check out the film festival; he also advised SDAFF staff on where the festival fliers should be distributed.

(Photo by Julie Kim)

On Monday Oct. 19, a film that George produced, Before We Close, screened in San Diego, a project that he was very proud and excited about.

DC APA Film enjoyed its most successful festival this year. We had our biggest turnout ever, several screenings and a filmmaker worshop were sold out. A huge reason for the success was because of the tireless work ethic, enthusiasm and love of film by our all-volunteer staff – the very core qualities that George exemplified.

DC APA Film is proud to award the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award each year. The award was created in order to recognize young and talented filmmakers for their commitment to filmmaking, which reflects the spirit of George’s life and legacy. Our inaugural recipient was Tze Chun, writer and director of Children of Invention.

APA Film’s 10th anniversary is dedicated to George, a founder, a lover of the arts, a brother, son and beloved friend to so many.

(Photo by Julie Kim)

The George C. Lin Memorial Fund was established by the Lin family in October of 2008 in memory of George C. Lin (1971-2008). The fund provides charitable grants to students, educators and professionals in the non-profit media and arts industries. Additionally, the fund provides grants and other forms of support promoting Pheochromocytoma cancer research, education and awareness.

Charitable donations can be made to:

The George C. Lin Memorial Fund
c/o The San Diego Foundation
2508 Historic Decatur Rd. Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92106

ONLINE: http://georgelinfund.blogspot.com/

Email the George C. Lin Memorial Fund if you wish to be updated on the fund’s activities: georgelinfund@gmail.com