For more information, please visit the website HERE.

Children of Invention, last year’s 10th Anniversary Closing Night Film, will be among five Sundance features to launch YouTube Rentals, the company’s new foray into online video-on-demand rentals. Writer-director Tze Chun, APA Film’s first recipient of the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award, is “very excited to be taking part in this initiative.”

PARK CITY, Utah – Tze Chun’s CHILDREN OF INVENTION , one of the most-awarded and best-reviewed festival films of 2009 will be among the five Sundance features to launch YouTube Rentals, the company’s new foray into online video-on-demand rentals. The film, about two young children left to fend for themselves when their mother gets embroiled in an illegal pyramid scheme, will be available for rental exclusively at YouTube during the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, which runs January 22 to 31. Additionally, in the tradition of a post-screening Q&A, Chun will be posting video blogs to answer some of the questions that viewers ask in the “Comments” section.

“We’re very excited to be taking part in this initiative,” said Chun. “YouTube gives us exposure to the largest online video audience in the world, and allows us to engage directly with the community of people interested in our film. CHILDREN OF INVENTION isn’t the type of film YouTube is traditionally known for; it’s a heartfelt family drama that’s built not only to entertain, but also to move the viewer. And at 86 minutes long, it’s probably 85 minutes longer than most videos YouTube users log on to watch. But we’re hoping that the YouTube audience, as well as viewers new to YouTube, will see this as a paradigm shift–we hope that they will come to the site to get immersed in a film for an hour and a half, and have the type of experience that one usually reserves for the theaters.”

Starting with their first festival after Sundance last year, the filmmakers have been utilizing the film’s critical acclaim and press attention to self-distribute DVDs while on the festival circuit. “Our goal has always been a release strategy that embraces the exciting shifts in audience behavior,” Chun said. “And we cannot think of a more perfect partner than the freethinkers at YouTube and Google. After premiering at Sundance last year and playing over 40 festivals, we are happy to come full circle back to Sundance for our online VOD premiere. We hope that this new YouTube platform will bring filmmakers one step closer to reaching their audiences, and let audiences see what truly independent film is capable of!”

Producer Mynette Louie added, “This Sundance-YouTube partnership is totally in line with our hybrid distribution philosophy for this film: capitalize on festival publicity, retain as many rights as possible, and challenge the existing release windows in the hopes of establishing better, more flexible distribution options for indie films.” Louie and Chun were recently named in Ted Hope’s list of “21 Brave Thinkers Of Truly Free Film.”

In yet another example of shifting distribution windows, CHILDREN OF INVENTION will be self-released theatrically in Boston on February 26, and in New York and Los Angeles on March 12. The New York release, facilitated by Variance Films, is a joint, or “DIWO” (“Do It With Others”), release with Dave Boyle’s comedy WHITE ON RICE, another festival darling of 2009.

CHILDREN OF INVENTION is available for rent on YouTube from January 22-31 at http://www.youtube.com/childrenofinvention. For more information about the upcoming theatrical release in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, or to purchase a DVD, go to www.childrenofinvention.com.

There will be a press conference about the YouTube/Sundance initiative on Friday, January 22 at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Details are below:

WHEN: Friday, January 22, 2 p.m. MT
WHERE: The Yard, located at 1251 Kearns Blvd., Park City, UT 84060
WHO: YouTube spokespeople, including David Eun, VP of content partnerships, and participating Sundance filmmakers along with John Cooper, Director of the Sundance Film Festival
WHAT: An informal conversation followed by Q&A
RSVP: Rachael Horwitz, rhorwitz@cutline.com or 206.290.5334

—————-

About CHILDREN OF INVENTION

One of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” writer-director Tze Chun makes his feature film debut with one of the most-awarded and best-reviewed films of 2009. CHILDREN OF INVENTION is by turns humorous and heartbreaking, an “edge-of-your-seat family drama” (Spout) that’s both “powerfully moving and rigorously intelligent” (Boston Phoenix).

After being evicted, hardworking single mom Elaine Cheng tries to maintain a normal life for her children, Raymond and Tina. Elaine juggles a number of jobs, including working for a questionable pyramid scheme. When Elaine doesn’t return home one night, nobody knows the kids are home alone, and they are left to fend for themselves. As the days pass, Raymond, a budding inventor, realizes he needs to come up with a plan to take care of his little sister.

Referencing both the mortgage meltdown and suburban Ponzi schemes, “the film finds delicate moments of beauty and grace as its child heroes are forced to make their way” (Filmmaker Magazine). Featuring “gifted child actors–off-the-charts cute, refreshingly free of Hollywood precociousness” (LA Weekly), CHILDREN OF INVENTION is “as close to cinematic purity as one is likely to see this year” (Film Society of Lincoln Center), a timely drama about the influence of the adult world on children and resilience in hard times.

CHILDREN OF INVENTION had its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, played over 40 film festivals, and won 15 festival awards, including Grand Jury or Best Narrative Feature prizes at the Independent Film Festival Boston, Newport International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, and Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival. It was named one of the “Top 13 Films of 2009″ by Hammer to Nail, and made several “Best Undistributed Films of 2009″ lists.

For more information, visit www.childrenofinvention.com.

Contact:
Mynette Louie, Producer
info@childrenofinvention.com

MEET US AT THE LODGE

Saturday, January 23, 2010 • 1 PM – 4 PM
The Filmmaker Lodge Elks Building
550 Main St., 2nd Floor
Park City, Utah
Hosted by the organizers of the Asian Pacific American Filmmakers Reception

Learn more about funding, distribution and exhibition for Asian Pacific American films at our annual outreach and networking session.

For more info and program updates, visit:
http://asianpacificfilmexperience.blogspot.com

MEET THE APA FILMMAKERS’ RECEPTION

Sunday, January 24, 2010 • 4 PM – 6 PM
CHINA PANDA RESTAURANT
1776 Park Avenue
Park City, Utah
(435) 649-5593
(Behind the Yarrow Hotel and Albertson’s, and next door to Gard Sports; Free parking available in lot.)
Please join us at the original location of the APA Filmmakers’ Experience in Park City, where we will recognize all the Asian Pacific filmmakers with works screening at this year’s Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals. A chance to meet many of your fellow filmmakers and producers, and mingle with celebrities.

Program alumni receive year-round support through TAA OnTrack, which includes educational panels and workshops; TFI hosted presentation screenings; promotional support for completed films; and the use of digital filmmaking and editing equipment.

Tribeca All Access is open to both mid-career and emerging narrative and documentary filmmakers. Applicants are required to apply with a completed feature-length screenplay, documentary proposal, or documentary work-in-progress and must have at least one screenwriter or director attached who qualifies. Projects may be of any subject matter, genre, or budget range suited for independent or major studio production.

The program is now a recognized talent pool within the industry and an unrivaled opportunity to advance your filmmaking career.

Apply Now! Deadline is Monday, December 14, 2009.

Visit www.tribecafilminstitute.org/taa/ for complete details and upcoming events.

For those who wanted to see White on Rice during our festival but missed it, you are in luck!

The Embassy of Japan is hosting a special screening of White on Rice on November 19 at 6:30pm.

This event is free and open to the public but reservations are required. Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis. Doors close at 7 p.m.

Please send your name, affiliation, and the number in your party to jiccrsvp@embjapan.org.

Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
Lafayette Centre III (lower level)
1155 21st Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

(Courtesy of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival)

From our friends at SFIAAFF, a great opportunity for students:

The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival is proud to continue its annual Student Delegate Program. Aimed to engage students with Asian and Asian American cinema, the program strives to cultivate the next generation of scholars, artists, administrators and activists invested in the field of Asian American media.

As part of the Student Delegate Program, participants have the opportunity to:

* Participate in a structured program of screenings, events and meetings
* Access other festival events, i.e. panels, talks and parties
* Create online content for the SFIAAFF website

The program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students in colleges and universities. We encourage both non-film and film majors to apply. The most important qualities we seek in a candidate are a love for film and desire to share this passion, the ability to interact with other students and festival guests, and a willingness to follow a rigorous program of screenings and discussions.

With only six spots available, each student’s full commitment to the program is mandatory. In addition, students will be asked to write an article, blog or create a video during the festival, as well as complete a post-festival survey.

Download the Application here.
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2009

For more information about the Student Delegate Program, email christine[at]asianamericanmedia[dot]org.

(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

The Asian Pacific American Coalition and award-winning Filipino American director Rik Cordero will be screening Inside a Change – winner, Best Film, 2009 HBO New York International Latino Film Festival, at George Mason University Saturday, 7 p.m. at the Harris Theatre.

There will be a filmmaker Q & A and panel discussion about the film, film-making techniques, and more after the screening. Cordero and lead actor Ephraim Benton will be in attendance.

Admission is free but capacity is limited. RSVP on Facebook event to hold your seat:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144947314013

For more about the film visit: http://www.insideachange.com

George Mason University
Harris Theater
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030

October 17, 2009
Doors open at 6 PM
Show starts at 7 PM

Admission is free but capacity is limited.

Please RSVP with full names and names of guests to vlacsama@gmu.edu, subject line “Inside a Change.”

(Photo by Ron Sanchez)

Why should you vote for us?

One reason is that we’re 100 percent run by volunteers. Yes, no one on our staff gets paid. We do it because of our love of films, particularly Asian Pacific American films.

We’ve also shown some of the best films that have come out in 2009. Honokaa Boy, 9500 Liberty, A Village Called Versailles, Children of Invention, and many more.

We’ve had killer parties, a filmmaker workshop, a panel discussion, numerous Q+As with the filmmakers.

So help us spread the word about this great festival! Vote for us for best film festival:

http://www.expressnightout.com/bestof/

Write in Other:  ”DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival” and tell all your friends. You don’t have to fill out the whole form.

Those POV kids sure made a great short flick (Photo by Laura Elizabeth Pohl)

Got the festival blues? If so relive the moment by checking out photos on our Flickr page.

Desson Thomson, right, hosted the 9500 Liberty Q+A (Laura Elizabeth Pohl)