Call for Submissions Now Open!
February 17, 2013
A city is waiting. The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival is now accepting films.
Postmark deadlines:
* Early Deadline: 4/15/13
* Regular Deadline: 6/1/13
* Final Deadline: 7/5/13
For more info on film submissions, please click here.
2012 Festival Wrap
December 2, 2012
The 2012 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO is a wrap!
Thanks to our staff, volunteers, sponsors and attendees for making this happen. Thanks also to our venue partners: International House and Asian Arts Initiative.
Click to view photos
PAAFF’12
Festival Award Winners:
Best Narrative Feature Film: White Frog (Dir. Quentin Lee)
Best Documentary: Mr. Cao Goes To Washington (Dir. S. Leo Chiang)
Best Short Film: The Glow (Dir. Bryan Ott)
PAAFF Award For Acting Excellence: BD Wong
Audience Awards:
Narrative Feature Film: Shanghai Calling (Dir. Daniel Hsia)
Documentary: My KoAloha Story (Dir. Gary San Angel)
Official Lineup for the 5th Annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO
October 8, 2012
The 2012 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO will run from Wednesday, November 7th to Saturday, November 17th (with a break from Mon, Nov 12th to Thurs, Nov 15th) at the Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia) and the Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia). We are proud to announce our lineup and schedule.
Click here to view a pdf of our main events.
Click here to read our online program guide.
Online Schedule & Ticketing – Tickets: $8 General Admission / $6 Students or Seniors
Tickets can be purchased online or for films at the International House you can also call their box office at 215.387.5125, or stop by from Tuesday – Saturday, 1pm-8pm.
(Tickets purchased over the phone or in person will not include a surcharge)
iPhone app (iPhone users can download the Festival Genius app to view our full film festival schedule on their smartphones)
Click to view a full list of our events on Facebook!
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2012
LAUNCH NIGHT (FREE catered reception)
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Phila. 19107)
6PM – NO LOOK PASS – Get Tickets
No Look Pass is the coming-of-age, American Dream story of Emily ‘Etay’ Tay, (who’s been called the female Jeremy Lin) a first-generation Burmese immigrant from Chinatown, LA, who breaks all of the rules of tradition.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2012
OPENING NIGHT FILM & FREE catered reception
from Mikado and wine tasting from CBL Wine Co. LLC
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
7PM – SHANGHAI CALLING – Get Tickets
9:45PM Reception
Imagine a steady stream of immigrants, traveling across a vast ocean to a foreign country, searching for new jobs and better lives. But the immigrants are Americans, and the country they are moving to… is China. Shanghai Calling is a romantic comedy about modern-day American immigrants in an unfamiliar land. Starring Daniel Henney (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and featuring legendary Hollywood actor Bill Paxton. (Preceded by the HBO special “East of Main Street: Small Talk”)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
6:30PM – GRACELAND – Get Tickets
Both entertaining and disturbing, Graceland (which premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival) is a gritty and gripping crime thriller, weaving plots of political corruption and human trafficking into a kidnapping-gone-wrong narrative, making for one intense and unpredictable ride.
(Mature audiences: Explicit Content, Nudity, Graphic Violence, Children in Danger)
Starring Arnold Reyes, Menggie Cobarrubias and Dido de La Paz.
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
8:30PM – SUNSET STORIES – Get Tickets
May (Monique Curnen), a high-strung and overly meticulous nurse, must return to Los Angeles to retrieve bone marrow for a transplant. Soon after her trip begins, her world turns upside down when past and present collide and she runs smack into JP (Sung Kang), the man she left behind five years ago. Executive produced by Justin Lin (Fast & Furious series).
Cavanaugh’s 119 South 39th Street (@ Sansom Street)
10:30PM – INSTAGRAM AFTERPARTY
Come out to our festival afterparty!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2012
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
12PM – Shorts Program 1 (FREE SCREENING!) – Get Tickets
Six stories of discovery, Asian American style
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
2:30PM – A DECENT ARRANGEMENT – Get Tickets
Ashok Khosla, an Indian-American copywriter, journeys to India seeking an arranged marriage. With subtle comedy and true-to-life drama, A Decent Arrangement shows us a side of India not commonly seen by western audiences and delivers an affecting story that resonates with those of us in search of our place in a changing world. Starring Adam Laupus and Shabana Azmi.
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
5PM – ASIAN AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD (FREE Event!)
As Philadelphia Asian American Film & Filmmakers looks back after 5 years, we present a lively discussion that will examine the advances Asian American filmmakers and actors have made in the industry in recent years. Our diverse panel will discuss their struggles and successes as they strive to make an impact in Hollywood.
BD Wong will be honored with an award for his contributions as an actor.
Moderated by Richard Lui (MSNBC anchor)
CENTERPIECE FILM PRESENTED BY STATE FARM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
7PM – WHITE FROG – Get Tickets
White Frog is a universal story of the power of family, friendship, and love positioned to appeal to a broad audience in the same way as ORDINARY PEOPLE, JOY LUCK CLUB, and THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. Starring Booboo Stewart (Twilight Saga), Joan Chen (The Last Emperor), BD Wong (Law & Order: SVU) and Harry Shum Jr (Glee).
Horror After Dark
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
9:30PM – I AM A GHOST – Get Tickets
Emily, a troubled spirit, haunts her own house every day, wondering why she can’t leave. With the help of Sylvia, a clairvoyant hired to rid the house of spirits, Emily is forced into a ‘patient/therapist’ relationship, uncovering disturbing mysteries about her past that may help her move on to ‘the next place’. Starring Anna Ishida and Jeannie Barroga.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2012
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
1PM – Shorts Program 2 (FREE SCREENING!) – Get Tickets
Notable new works from the Asian American film community
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
3:30PM – UPLOADED: THE ASIAN AMERICAN MOVEMENT – Get Tickets
Uploaded: The Asian American Movement explores a generation finding its voice through new media. The documentary brings to light struggles and successes of leading Asian Americans–from both new media creators to long-time industry professionals–in the areas of music, film, and dance.
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
7PM – YES, WE’RE OPEN – Get Tickets
Yes, We’re Open is a rollicking new sex comedy from the creators of COLMA: THE MUSICAL, starring Lynn Chen (Saving Face), Parry Shen (Better Luck Tomorrow), and Sheetal Sheth (Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World).
CLOSING NIGHT FILM & FREE CATERED RECEPTION SPONSORED BY COMCAST
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2012
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
6PM – PEARLS OF THE FAR EAST – Get Tickets
The inner lives and forbidden loves of seven Vietnamese women form the beautiful string that runs through director Cuong Ngo’s feature film debut, Pearls of the Far East. The breathtaking images and spectacular landscapes from the north to the south of Vietnam show sides of the country distinct from traditional Western depictions and frame the mysteries and deep secrets of these lives.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2012
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Phila. 19107)
1PM – MR. CAO GOES TO WASHINGTON – Get Tickets
Mr. Cao Goes To Washington is a fascinating character study of Rep. Joseph Cao (R-New Orleans) – the first Vietnamese American elected to the Congress and the only Republican to vote for President Obama’s Health Care Reform Bill. Will Cao make it through his term with his idealism intact?
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Phila. 19107)
3:15PM – TALK STORY WITH DANIEL HO (FREE LIVE EVENT!) – Get Tickets
Traditionally a Hawaiian instrument, the 4-stringed guitar-like ukulele has found a niche in popular music. Its unique sound brings an instant island tone to any piece of music. Learn about this incredible and beloved instrument in Hawaiian “talk story” style from 6 time Grammy Award winning artist and Hawaiian music legend Daniel Ho! Also, featuring a mini-concert!
FESTIVAL FINALE SCREENING & FREE CATERED RECEPTION
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Phila. 19107)
4:30PM – MY KOALOHA STORY – Get Tickets
My KoAloha Story is a Made in Hawaii ‘talk story’ style documentary-music film about a family owned ukulele business and their special brand of old school Aloha. What was once a failed plastics business in the midst of bankruptcy is transformed into one of the most highly regarded and beloved ukulele companies in the world, KoAloha Ukulele.
21st Annual Philadelphia Film Festival October 18-28, 2012
October 7, 2012
21st Annual Philadelphia Film Festival
October 18-28, 2012
Ticket prices vary
Open to the Public
Ritz East
Ritz at the Bourse
Prince Music Theater
The Rave University City
Gershman Y
Annenberg Zellerbach Theater
The Philadelphia Film Society and the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival have partnered up so you can be a part of the 21st Annual Philadelphia Film Festival at a discounted price! The Festival will run from October 18-28, screening over 100 films from around the world at different venues in the city. Don’t miss out on seeing something you’ll never forget! Click for a list of Asian/Asian American films Use promo code PAAFF21 and click here to purchase your discount tickets.
For more information on the Festival, Student Rush promo and PFF on Us program visit, www.filmadelphia.org/festival.
