Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival 2019

By Le Anne Lindsay

The 2019 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, presented by Comcast runs

November 7-17, 2019.

 
Featuring over 90 films, the festival will include intimate discussions with filmmakers; celebrity chef catering; musical concerts; live theater performances by local Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) artists; and more. Special guests anticipated to attend include singer/songwriter Joe X. Jiang (guitarist of The Slants), National Protest Movement #TsuruForSolidarity Co-Chair Mike Ishii, Japanese American Rappers Aisha Fukushima and Miyachi, Chinese American Rappers Jason Chu and Leo Xia (of NITEMRKT), as well as dozens of filmmakers, musicians, and academics.

Post Update 11.11.19 – The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) 2019 has gotten underway! See highlights from opening night below.

PAAFF has made an offer to Tinsel & Tine Subscribers for $2 off any of the following upcoming screenings

the promo code is: tinsellovespaaff

(note: if you are a senior or student already eligible for discounted tickets, the code will still take an additional $2 off!)

Although the code is offered to T&T Subscribers you can still feel free to share with friends and family. The code applies to…

Friday, Nov 15 (6pm) – DRAGONMASTERS: A CULTURAL ODYESSY
Directed by Rik Zak and Jun Ren  – Purchase Tickets

Sat, Nov 16 (1:50pm) – QUEER JAPAN  – Purchase tickets
Directed by Graham Kolbeins

Sat. Nov 16 (2:20pm) SEADRIFT  – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Tim Tsai

Sat. Nov 16 (4:15pm) JERONIMO  – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Joseph Juhn

Sat. Nov 16 (4pm) FOR MY FATHER’S KINGDOM – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Vea Mafile’o and Jeremiah Tauamiti

This debut feature documentary offers a rich view of how contemporary secular families deal with the rigors of devout Christian tithing as well as a unique insight into traditional Tongan culture. Trailer on Facebook

Sun. Nov 17 (12:45pm) WHEN WE WALK – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Jason DaSilva

Sat. Nov 17 (2:30pm) HAPPY CLEANERS  – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Julian Kim and Peter S. Lee

Sun. Nov 17 (4:35pm) MAYOR ED LEE – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Rick Quan

Sun Nov 17 (6:15pm) – CHINATOWN RISING – Purchase Tickets
Directed by Harry Chuck and Josh Chuck

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Original Post 10/30/2019: This year’s theme focuses on the passage of time from reflections on the past to imaginations of the future of the Asian American movement.
The passage of time is central to many of the major titles in the 2019 film program, beginning with the Opening Night Film GO BACK TO CHINA a dramedy about a wannabe fashion designer named Sasha (played by actress, writer, and YouTube star Anna Akana), whose father forces her to work in his toy factory in Shenzhen after cutting off her trust fund. Returning to China with the sole ambition of getting her platinum card back, Sasha learns what it’s like to work for her money and reconnects with her estranged family.

Writer/Director Emily Ting is expected in attendance for a post-film Q&A.

Date: Thursday, November 7, 2019
Time: 7pm
Place: International House/LightBox Film Center ( 3701 Chestnut St, Phila, PA 19104)
PAAFF 2019 Opening Night Reception follows the Q&A

SEE THE FULL PROGRAM OF FILMS

SPECIAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE:

• “Has Asian American Studies Failed?” Academic Conference at University of Pennsylvania
• Revolution Remix: Historical Walking Tour by South Asian American Digital Archive
• Michelle Lopez Artist Talk at Institute of Contemporary Art
• 20^th Anniversary Screening of Three Seasons at Lightbox Film Center
• Philly Asian Histories Theater Showcase at Asian Arts Initiative
• Experimental Video Art Fest at Twelve Gates Arts
• Kyoto University’s Visual Documentary Project at Fleisher Art Memorial

Asian American Hip Hop Showcase at Asian Arts Initiative

Artist Bash at The Barnes Foundation

PAAFF Conference “Has Asian American Studies Failed?”

Presented in partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Asian American Studies Program, this year’s PAAFF Conference explores the controversial subject of “Has Asian American Studies Failed?” through three-days of panel discussions, workshops, paper presentations, and film screenings all completely free and open to the public. Conference programs take place Friday 11/8 at Institute of Contemporary Art and Saturday 11/9 – Sunday 11/10 at Café 58, Irvine Hall on Penn campus.

 Food Events

Dessert Happy Hour Pre-screening Event, Friday 11/8 5-6PM at Lightbox Film Center

Before the 6PM screening of Japanese documentary Le Chocolat de H, pastry chef Anna Chen of Chinatown’s beloved A La Mousse will be providing tasting portions of her award-winning pastries to ticketholders.

Artist Bash

Saturday 11/16 8-11PM at The Barnes Foundation

Since 2017 PAAFF has been a founding partner of the Barnes Foundation event series dedicated to showcasing performance artists of color within the museum space. Held three times a year, each event includes artists from a variety of communities working across disciplines. This event will feature multiracial Okinawan/Egyptian/Israeli musician Marina Murayama Nir, contemporary dance artist Kun-Yang Lin, and Queens-based DJ Roli Rho in addition to performers from other communities of color. Tickets can be purchased from the Barnes website.

The Festival Concludes with CHINATOWN RISING a feature documentary compiled over six decades detailing the history of activism in San Francisco Chinatown. Co-directed by father-son duo Harry and Josh Chuck, the documentary incorporates some of the 20,000 feet of film Harry shot from the 1960s-1980s as he joined the protests happening in his community. What resulted from this collaboration is a multigenerational portrait of an ever-changing Chinatown and the resilient community within that will continue to inspire future generations of activists.
Co-Director Josh Chuck is expected to be in attendance for a post-film Q&A

Date: Sunday, November 17, 2019
Time: 6:15pm
Place: Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine St, Phila, PA 19107)

PAAFF 2019 Closing Night Reception follows the Q&A

About the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

PAAFF is an entirely volunteer run nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to celebrate the Asian American experience through cinema. Programming content that counters negative stereotypes by providing authentic portrayals of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, PAAFF provides a convening space for these underrepresented communities while also educating the general public about the diversity of AAPIs.