Washington DC – Asian Pacific American Film (APA Film) announces the 5th year of the P.O.V. Workshop, a youth filmmaking training program designed to empower and provide a voice to local Asian Pacific American youth by teaching them the art of visual storytelling. The P.O.V. Youth Filmmaker Workshop program consists of a series of workshops taking place over the course of six consecutive weekends, during which participants will learn the necessary skills and steps to create a short film from conception to completion.

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Film writer Allison Lyzenga, who has covered the DC APA Film Festival for several years, attended the D.C. premiere of Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale. The film will be in theaters starting on April 27. Read what Allison thought about the film:

By Allison Lyzenga, My Film Habit

I had the pleasure of being invited to attend an advance screening of this film by one of its sponsors. TECRO is the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, and this organization frequently sponsors films that present or teach about Taiwanese culture. I am always impressed by movies that I really learn something from. And, just about everything in Warriors of the Rainbow was brand new to me. I’m not claiming to be so worldly as to know everything about all the countries in the world. But, I’ve found that it’s often hard to find films that cover new ground. This phenomenon is understandable. Filmmakers are eager for their work to succeed, so many tend to fall back on old, reliable material. But, I really learned a lot from this film.

My Film Habit: Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale

So who are these crazy volunteers who do all this for nothing? We go all over the map. A lot of us have day jobs. Some are students while others are retired. Some love the Capitals, others love the Penguins. Some listen to Joy Division, others dig the Beatles. Some have kids while others have cute ‘lil doggies and kitties. What brings us together is our love of film.

We’re always looking for more people to join the crew. But as we said, we can’t pay you a dime. However you get to see lots of movies for free. Some of our sponsors donate delectable treats + drinks so yes, we’ll hook you up with that. A lot of us are foodies!

Did I mention that we also enjoy Karaoke?

Another benefit of joining us: Since the job market is still tight, you can pretty much do whatever you want and put it on your resume that you’re a Social Media Manager or a Fundraiser. So there are a ton of benefits to joining us.

Meet some of the peeps who you will be working with if you join us. Volunteering is good for the soul!

Michelle Lee- DC APA Film Festival Community Outreach Director
In my role with DC APA Film, I got to connect to lots of cool community organizations in DC to spread the word about our festival. As a young child, my favorite Disney movie was Pocahontas, which I think was prescient of my later interest in Asian American studies, focusing on literature and the arts, as well as generally thinking about race in the US. My favorite character in the movie was Meeko the raccoon. In my copious amounts of spare time, you can find me playing ultimate frisbee on the mall, coding in python, or chasing neighborhood squirrels down the street in a fairly crazed fashion.

Amanda Lo – DC APA Film Festival Guest Coordinator
During my time working on Guest Services for the 12th DC APA Film Festival with Gayle, I developed an unhealthy obsession of refreshing my email inbox, but who doesn’t like emailing with filmmakers, producers, and writers of amazing films 24/7? It’s awesome! I had a fabulous time working with DC APA and the festival week was a blast!

Sunbin Song- DC APA Film Festival Programmer
I got the privilege of watching many unique, enlightening, personal and creative movies with a great gang of people (and friends) all year; got to hang out with Jason Karman maker of Square Dance Story all festival week; walked around The Lincoln Memorial with Caspar Wong maker of Lulu Sessions and the winner of our George C. Lin Award; learned how to use my smartphone as a press badge from Eric Byler and Annabel Park; saw past film-makers again and met new ones such as Jason Nou of Hipstar and Soham Mehta of Fatakra at the filmmakers’ brunch on top of Franco’s awesome roof-deck on K street, and got to play closing night party with Ron and Franco in Inara Sunset! An awesome time.

Nene Kalu — Festival Director
I was a Near Eastern Studies major in college and while the Near East != East Asia, I still find myself fascinated with the region, particularly Japan and Southeast Asia. When I heard about the film festival, I thought “Let me continue my longstanding tradition of hanging out with cool Asian-American people by volunteering with these folks.” It was a great decision indeed, and one that I have not regretted. I stand by DC APA’s absolute belief that there’s more to life for Asian-American (and really all immigrant) kids than becoming a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. I think highlighting filmmakers in the APA community brings this to light.

Richard Fidler – Sponsorship
Having joined the group in 2007 I’m somewhat of an anomaly. I just turned 70; everybody else is decades younger. I’m retired; everybody else has honest work. I’m one of 2-3 members who is not Asian-American (although my wife is). Before the Festival I had never been involved in film festivals and Asian American groups in any way. I try to provide a perspective that the others can’t and help out wherever I can. And I’m a strong believer in the idea that you get out of anything what you put into it. I stick around because the people are so interesting and refreshing.

Christine Dela Rosa – Staff
I worked on ticketing for the film festival. From inputting sales numbers to managing lists of ticket holders, I was probably connected to more people at the festival than anyone else on staff…save for the fact that I didn’t actually meet a lot of the people on these lists. I’m very supportive of media that educates and/or expresses enough so that viewers feel differently as a result of watching the piece. I’ve always been a fan of promoting Asian American stories as well as Asian American engagement in the arts. The festival seems to combine both of those ideas in a fun and accessible environment and I hope everyone continues to support its efforts in the future.

Eric Paler — DC APA Film Festival Director
I was the ‘red lion’ of the “Voltron Festival Director-ate Strike Force” for this year’s festival. Having been involved with APA Film for many years now I am still inspired by the gratitude of the filmmakers who allow us to showcase their work and the audience who share their appreciation. Oh, and our staff and volunteers rock!

M. Franco Salvoza, Board of Directors, Festival Director
After joining in 2006, I have felt privileged to be part of an organization that has such meaningful and promising work, and is filled with the most passionate, caring, and fun volunteers you will ever find. I’m thrilled that we have been able to shine a spotlight on and provide a voice to this community while connecting people from all over the globe. We are proud of how DC APA Film has grown to date, and look forward to even bigger and better things in the future! Strap in and come along for the ride!

Sharon Kim – Programming Committee, Print Editor, Marketing/PR
I started with DC APA Film three years ago sending out the Newsletter. Last year, I added the Program Book, and this year I also added my involvement with the Programming Committee. The 12th annual DC APA Film Festival was the most work but the most fun that I’ve had with the festival so far. I’m so proud of all the work we do to promote and support the APA community in film, and the great festival that we put together every year. If you haven’t yet, make sure you sign up for the Newsletter!

Tad Doyle – DC APA Film Festival Vice President
I’ve had a lifelong passion for film as an art form, frequently haunting the retrospectives of obscure filmmakers at the NGA, Freer-Sacker, AFI or Hirshhorn. This is my tenth year with the festival and I’m so proud of all we have been able to achieve over the years. The joy of meeting our audiences and filmmakers during the festival makes all the hard work of the previous year worthwhile. And our first Staff Karaoke night serenading our young volunteers with Morrissey, Siouxsie, Joy Division, Echo and the Cure was a highlight! For fun, you can find me traveling the world, trekking volcanoes, enjoying coffee farms, architecture and trains.

Bora Chung – DC APA Film Festival Photographer
I was proud to capture the DC APA Film Festival, an amalgmation of artists actively reshaping our perception of Asian Americans. I have always held high regard for this film festival and in 2011 I had that opportunity. It’s about time we gave more recognition to organizations that not only entertain but educate. I am a DC based photographer and you can find more of my photographs on my website – www.borachung.com

Ron Sanchez – Your humble blogger
I’ve had a great run with this group but am stepping down this year to work on projects that I’ve put on hold for many years. I did the press stuff for the group since I was a reporter/editor for more than a decade. Also did sponsorship and managed the social media accounts. I’m a daydreamer and dream chaser, I quit my job at USA TODAY in early 2000 to move to SoCal to make films and eat fish tacos. Built more for the West Coast and always an optimist, I do love DC but avoid politics because there’s too much bickering and negativity. Was very proud to write the music for the 2011 film fest trailer and my band Inara Sunset along with bandmates Franco and Sunbin played at the Closing Night parties. Films, Popcorn and Rock N Roll!

PHOTO CREDITS: 1-4 by Wayne Huang; 5 by Bora Chung

Call for Films: 2012 DC APA Film Festival Now Accepting Submissions!

WASHINGTON, March 5, 2012  ̶  The 13th Annual D.C. Asian Pacific American (APA) Film Festival will take place on October 2012, and we are accepting all submissions through Withoutabox: https://www.withoutabox.com/login/5151

More than 20,000 people in the D.C. area have been introduced to the voices and talents of Asian Pacific American filmmakers with the number of attendees growing steadily each year. In recent years we have featured films about contemporary issues that have gone to win awards and receive national television broadcast premieres such as 9500 Liberty (MTV Networks, 2010), A Village Called Versailles (PBS, Independent Lens, 2010) and Daughter from Denang (Academy Award nomination, 2003).

We accept submissions of all types of films including narratives, documentaries, animation, music videos and experimental. Why should you submit your full-length or short film to our festival?

• We are the largest showcase of Asian Pacific American films on the East Coast.
• Great networking opportunities with filmmakers and talent from around the country.
• Good odds of acceptance: 30% of entries programmed last year!
• Washington D.C. is an exciting town with great museums, restaurants and a vibrant nightlife.

Dates to remember: Early deadline is April 27, 2012; regular deadline is May 18, 2012; and late deadline is June 1, 2012. Visit our submission FAQ for full details: http://www.apafilm.org/submissions/

Sponsor the 13th D.C. Asian Pacific American Film Festival!

Sponsoring the APA Film Festival includes buying a multi-channel opportunity to reach out to thousands of movie-goers in the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Apart from limited edition festival souvenir catalogs for all attendees, sponsors benefit from additional web, print, and broadcast outlets. Individual or institutional/business opportunities available. GEICO, Verizon, Prudential and SONY have been past sponsors. For more info about Sponsorship, visit http://www.apafilm.org/sponsor/

Since 2000, D.C. Asian Pacific American Film, Inc., a nonprofit, tax-exempt charity under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, has produced an annual film festival based in Washington, D.C. devoted to film and media arts made by and/or about Americans of Asian Pacific Islander descent and other Asian Diasporic groups from around the world. For more info about D.C. APA Film, please visit our website at www.apafilm.org

https://www.facebook.com/apafilm

Additionally, Sulu DC will present the: Artist of the Year Award, Community Contribution Award, Audience Award, Community Partner Award, Sulu DC Award, and Sulu DC House Award.

So come, meet super rad people, and rock out — all the while supporting fantastic AAPI artists. Doesn’t get much better than that! For more information, visit the website www.suludc.com

WHAT: Sulu DC’s 2nd Anniversary and Awards Show

For more info about Moustache Motion Pictures, visit: www.MoustacheMotion.com

Amigo, the 17th feature film from Sayles, provides an optic on the easily forgotten history of the Philippine-American War, a short lived but brutal war that claimed the lives of about 4,000 Americans and between 200,000 to 600,000 Filipinos. Amigo stars legendary Filipino actor Joel Torre as Rafael, a village mayor caught in the crossfire of the war, and Academy-Award winner, Chris Cooper, as U.S. Colonel Hardacre. Filipino American scholar Theo Gonzalves, a professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will moderate the conversation with Sayles.

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 from 6 to 9 p.m. (FREE)
WHERE: Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street + Independence Ave, SW

Details:
http://apanews.si.edu/2011/10/05/amigo-john-sayles/

Surrogate Valentine Trailer HD from goh nakamura on Vimeo.

Join us Saturday night for a fantastic night of movie and music, not to mention fabulous food and drink at the Closing Night reception after the screening.

The Film:
Goh Nakamura (playing himself) is a San Francisco musician trying to break into the music scene. In the meantime, he agrees to do a favor for a filmmaker friend and teaches TV star Danny (Chadd Stoops) how to play the guitar for his upcoming movie role. In an attempt to learn the ins and outs of being a “rock star,” Danny follows Goh on his West Coast tour.

Goh unexpectedly runs into his high school crush Rachel (Lynn Chen) while on tour. Danny, grateful for Goh’s help, tries to return the favor by playing wingman so Goh might get a second chance with Rachel.

Directed by Dave Boyle (White on Rice, screened at the 2009 DC APA Film Festival), Surrogate Valentine is a sweet, romantic comedy showcasing the music of Goh Nakamura.
—Sharon Kim

Preceded by Beta to the Max
In 1982, Jerry Little is on top of the world as the foremost Beta machine salesman. But he’s about to be tested when a Japanese rival unveils the VHS tape.

Closing Night Reception

Surrogate Valentine will be screened twice on Saturday, Oct 15 at the Goethe Institut in the heart of DC’s Gallery Place/Chinatown. Following each screening will be a reception held in the Goethe Institut’s upstairs art gallery space.

The Closing Night Reception will feature a black-and-white theme with a specially catered menu featuring a decadent dessert spread, international hand-poured coffees from Modern Times Coffeehouse, Asian cuisine from PING and Sticky Rice, along with the local live band favorite Inara Sunset, who are regular performers at Modern Times Coffeehouse. The bar will feature microdistillery and international liquors, such as Brokers Gin, Smooth Ambler White Whiskey, Don Q Rum, Tierruca Sauvignon Blanc, and Parallel Cote D’Rhone.

Admittance to the reception is included in the Closing Night ticket.

Click here for tickets to Screening No. 1 at 7 p.m.

Click here for tickets to Screening No. 2 at 9 p.m.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 ̶ D.C. Asian Pacific American Film is thrilled to award its Best Narrative Feature Award to director Prashant Bhargava and his feature film debut PATANG (The Kite). PATANG will screen Saturday, October 15, 4 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut in Washington D.C.

Bhargava will be at the screening and will be available for in person interviews before and after the screening. A Q&A will immediately follow the screening. Bhargava is also available for phone interviews.

PATANG has garnered much praise since it celebrated its world premiere at the 2011 BERLIN FILM FESTIVAL as part of the Forum program, and the U.S. premiere at the TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL as 1 of 12 feature films in the World Narrative Competition from 5,624 submissions.

“The storytelling is effortlessly made part of the hypnotically beautiful visuals, and woven into a kaledioscope of colors, faces, music and a little romance. Bhargava is masterful in the way he allows his story to emerge from his mosaic, instead of spelling it out by the numbers. Evokes the old and new Indias side by side as well as I’ve seen done,” wrote legendary film critic Roger Ebert of the CHICAGO SUN TIMES.

Ebert on PATANG: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/10/i_visited_india_only_once.html

A poetic journey to the old city of Ahmedabad, PATANG weaves together the stories of six people transformed by the energy of India’s largest kite festival.

Every year, a million kites fill the skies above Ahmedabad – dueling, soaring, tumbling, and flying high. When a successful Delhi businessman takes his daughter on a surprise trip back to his childhood home for the festival, the entire family has to confront its own fractured past and fragile dreams. Music and fireworks, food and laughter, a kaleidoscope of color and light, the magic of the kite flying high – all this is a traditional recipe of healing and renewal.

With naturalistic performances from actors and non–actors alike, bold, lyrical editing, vibrant cinematography and a kinetic score, PATANG delights the senses and nourishes the spirit.

Click here to purchase tickets.