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Official Lineup for the 2011 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO
October 16, 2011
The 2011 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO will run from Wednesday, November 2nd to Tuesday, November 8th at the Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut Street), the Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street) and the Prince Music Theater (1412 Chestnut Street). We are proud to announce our lineup and schedule.
Online Schedule & Ticketing – Tickets: $8 General Admission / $6 Students or Seniors>
Interactive Festival Program Guide
List of 2011 PAAFF Films & Events
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2011
LAUNCH NIGHT (FREE catered reception & B-boy demonstration)
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Phila. 19107)
7PM – Among B-Boys – Get Tickets
Among B-Boys is a documentary film about a movement in the Hmong American youth demographic who love the Hip Hop art of Bboying or Breakdancing.
-Director Christopher Woon will be in attendance for Q&A
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011
OPENING NIGHT FILM & FREE catered reception with OPEN BAR
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
7PM – Wedding Palace – Get Tickets
Pressured to get married by family and friends, 29 year-old advertising executive Jason Kim finds the woman of his dreams in cyberspace, 9000 miles away in Seoul, Korea. But when Na Young arrives in Los Angeles, Jason soon discovers that a relationship can sometimes be deeper online than in real life.
-Director Christine Yoo will be in attendance for Q&A
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
7PM – Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe – Get Tickets
Dirty Hands chronicles the life and career of famed street artist David Choe from 2000 to 2007 as documented by his close friend and director, Harry Kim
-Director Harry Kim will be in attendance for Q&A
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
9:15PM – Saigon Electric – Get Tickets
Boldly fusing hip-hop dance battles, romance, and a cross-section of youth culture in contemporary Vietnam, Saigon Electric is a film bursting with energy, showcasing a strong, youthful artistic presence in the global metropolis of Saigon.
-Director Stephane Gauger will be in attendance for Q&A
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2011
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
2PM – Shorts Program 1 (FREE SCREENING!) – Get Tickets
Dark or quirky films with a modern feel
-Filmmakers will be in attendance for Q&A

Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
5PM – Suite Suite Chinatown (FREE EVENT!) – Get Tickets
A collaboratively produced, multi-genre cinematic vision of Chinatown, where anything is possible and the unexpected is just the tip of the iceberg! (Panel discussion will follow)
-Featuring a live performance from Jason Min
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
7PM – Bang Bang – Get Tickets
Caught in the midst of teenage angst, gang life, and alienation, the two friends find themselves heading down two different paths of life. Bang Bang is a powerful, convincing, and terrifying look at teenage life and crime in Los Angeles.
-Director Byron Q will be in attendance for Q&A
CENTERPIECE FILM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
9:30PM – The Girl from the Naked Eye – Get Tickets
Non-stop action. Murder. Sex. Beautiful women. A bad-ass antihero. Mystery. All of these elements combine to make the ultimate Asian-American neo-noir thriller in director David Ren’s (Shanghai Kiss) second feature film, The Girl from the Naked Eye.
-Action star Jason Yee and producer Henry Mu will be in attendance for Q&A
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2011
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
1PM – Shorts Program 2 (FREE SCREENING!) – Get Tickets
These films are short in length and long in vision
-Filmmakers will be in attendance for Q&A

Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
3:30PM – One Kine Day – Get Tickets
One Kine Day will take you on a journey to a side of paradise you’ve never seen.
Winner of the Audience Award for Best Feature at the Hawaii International Film Festival.
-Star Ryan Greer will be in attendance for Q&A
CLOSING NIGHT FILM & FREE Catered Reception with OPEN BAR
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St, Phila. 19104)
6PM – Almost Perfect – Get Tickets
A successful career woman meets an almost perfect man, but first has to contend with her not-so-perfect family in this winning romantic comedy starring Kelly Hu (X-Men 2), Edison Chen (Infernal Affairs), Roger Rees (The Prestige), Tina Chen (Golden Globe Nominee) and Ivan Shaw.
-Director Bertha Bay-Sa Pan and co-star Tina Chen will be in attendance for Q&A
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2011
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Phila. 19107)
6:30PM – I Am (FREE Reception!) – Get Tickets
I Am is a personal and revealing film that journeys to a landscape where being gay was, until recently, a criminal and punishable offense.
-Director Sonali Gulati will take part in a video Q&A
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2011
Prince Music Theater (1412 Chestnut Street, Phila. 19110)
7PM – Enforcing the Silence (FREE SCREENING & RECEPTION!) – Get Tickets
Unlocking a thirty-year-old mystery surrounding the first Vietnamese American reportedly assassinated on U.S. soil, Enforcing the Silence explores how the Vietnam War continued in America.
-Director Tony Nguyen will be in attendance for Q&A
PAAFF’11 Free Launch Party
October 2, 2011
Come celebrate with friends, supporters and staff as we kick off the 2011 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival with a special FREE Launch Party on Friday, October 7th from 6:30-9pm at the Prince Music Theater.
We will be screening previews from each of our films as well as special video messages from several of our filmmakers and the locally produced short films:
Converge – Dir. Sara Suleman
Happiness is Iraq in My Rearview Mirror – Dir. Peter Kim
Act of Fate – Dir. Joey Min
There will be FREE catered food (we love free food), a cash bar and we’ll be giving out a few All Access Festival Passes!
If you like good food, good drinks, good film and good people, come hang out with us at the Prince.
RSVP on Facebook >>HERE
PAAFF Fundraiser Dinner
July 6, 2011
Join PAAFF for an evening of food and fun to support the 2011 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival!
Featuring a delicious 10-course Chinese dinner, live music (Jason Min, Lily Song), complimentary wine, a cash bar, a silent auction and door prizes!
Nydia Han (6ABC Consumer Reporter/Anchor) will emcee.
To view pictures, click here.
2010 Festival Wrap & Awards
October 27, 2010
The 2010 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO is a wrap! Thanks to our staff, volunteers, attendees and sponsors for making this happen. Thanks also to our venue partners: the International House and the Asian Arts Initiative.
(Click image below to see PAAFF’10 photos)


Festival Award Winners:
Best Narrative Feature Film: SF Stories
Best Documentary: The House of Suh
Best Short Film: Frog in the Well
Audience Awards:
Narrative Feature Film: Raspberry Magic
Documentary: The House of Suh
PAAFF is also proud to be accepting the Share the Heritage Award from the Multicultural Affairs Congress during their 16th Annual Recognition Luncheon on Friday, October 29th. For more details and tickets click here.
Official Lineup for the 2010 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO
September 12, 2010
The 2010 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented by HBO, which will run from Thursday, October 21st to Sunday, October 24th at the Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut Street), the Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street) and the Comcast Center (1701 JFK Blvd), is proud to announce our lineup and schedule.
View Online Schedule & Ticketing
Interactive Festival Program Guide
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21st
SPECIAL FREE LIVE EVENT
Perspectives on Asian American Identity 5:30-7PM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St)
PAAFF presents a lively discussion of issues of Asian American cultural identity to lead into our Opening Night. This free special event uses a special screening of the HBO produced mini-documentary, “East of Main Street: Asians Aloud” as the point of departure for an informed discussion.
Moderated by Nydia Han – Action News 6 ABC reporter
OPENING NIGHT FILM – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
Colin Hearts Kay (Dir. Sebastian Ho Conley) 7:30-9:30PM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St)
When Brooklyn-based cartoonist Colin Jenson breaks up with longtime girlfriend Kay Ho, he pulls out all the stops to win her back, including dragging her into his world of illustrated cartoons.
Emmy winning writer/director Sebastian Ho Conley scheduled to attend
(FREE Catered Party with Open Bar afterwards!)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22nd
SPECIAL SCREENING AT COMCAST CENTER – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
Shorts 1: Blood Ties 5-7PM
Comcast Center (1701 JFK Blvd)
Notable new works from the Asian American film community. Films include: Crocodile, Televisnu, The Golden Pin, Journey of a Paper Son, Empire Corner, Wu is Dead & Frog in the Well.
Several filmmakers expected to attend
(You MUST be on our list to attend otherwise you cannot get past security)
FRIDAY NIGHT FEATURE – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
The House of Suh (Dir. Iris K. Shim) 7:30-9:30PM
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107)
A brother murders his sister’s boyfriend, shocking the Korean-American community. THE HOUSE OF SUH paints the portrait of a boy raised to be loyal and his sister who manipulates his family bond. (Contains strong language and violence)
WINNER of the PAAFF’10 Best Documentary Award
(After party at Tazia (11th & Arch Street)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23rd
SHORTS PROGRAM – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
Shorts 2: Visions 1-3PM
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Chinatown)
Fiction and nonfiction glimpses into the strengths and complexities of Asian American families. Films include: Mister Green, Works of Art, Chase Thompson: A Film by Chase Thompson, Kosher Pig, Karma – A Very Twisted Love Story, The Call Center & Takeo. (Contains strong language and violence)
Several filmmakers expected to attend
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
Wo Ai Ni Mommy (Dir. Stephanie Wang-Breal) 3:15-5PM
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Chinatown)
Wo Ai Ni Mommy explores what happens when an older Chinese girl is adopted into an American family. This film reveals the complicated gains and losses that are an inherent aspect of international, transracial adoption.
Producer Ursula Liang is scheduled to attend
SPECIAL FREE LIVE EVENT
A Conversation with Greg Pak 6-7:30PM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St)
PAAFF is excited to present a free special event with Greg Pak, award-winning director of “Robot Stories” and Marvel Comics writer (”Hulk”). Greg will be in attendance for live Q&A and will also be receiving the PAAFF’10 Emerging Voice Award.
Moderated by Lorraine Ballard Morrill – Clear Channel Radio
CENTERPIECE FILM – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
Raspberry Magic (Dir. Leena Pendharkar) 8-10PM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St)
Told through a child’s eye view, 11 year old Monica (the very sweet newcomer, Lily Javaherpour) encounters difficult life lessons in writer/director Leena Pendharkar’s new film about an Indian family living an American suburban existence.
Producer Megha Kadakia scheduled to attend
(Co-presented with the Philadelphia Film Festival)
-Join us for the afterparty at City Tap House (3925 Walnut Street)
SUNDAY OCTOBER 24th
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
Ninoy Aquino and the Rise of People Power (Dir. Tom Coffman) 1-3PM
Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Chinatown)
Previously Gandhi had used nonviolence to drive the British from India. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had used nonviolence to broaden the civil rights of African-Americans. Through People Power, Benigno Aquino made nonviolence into a method for driving out national dictators and strengthening the cause of democracy. He set off a wave that rippled around the planet.
NARRATIVE FEATURE – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
SF Stories (Dir. Raul Jocson) 3:30-5:30PM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St)
There are nine separate stories in the film which focus on different characters, but taken together they show the burgeoning relationship between MICHAEL, a 30-something Chinese American man who harbors a fetish for Asian women, and WENDY, a 25 year-old Japanese American woman who is intelligent and strong-willed but secretly afraid of the world.
WINNER of the PAAFF’10 Best Narrative Feature Award
Director Raul Jocson scheduled to attend
CLOSING NIGHT FILM – CLICK TO BUY TICKETS
The People I’ve Slept With (Dir. Quentin Lee) 6-8PM
Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut St)
A promiscuous woman finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy and needs to figure out who the baby daddy is…NOW.
Producer Koji Steven Sakai scheduled to attend
(FREE Catered Party with Open Bar afterwards!)
Presented by Comcast


