2016 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival - Program Guide

a VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS production

LOS ANGELES

ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL presented by

No. 32 | APRIL 21 – 28, 2016

PROGRAMCALENDAR THURSDAY, APRIL 21 ARATANI 7:00 PM

THE TIGER HUNTER

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 TATEUCHI 5:00 PM

DTIND 6:30 PM TATEUCHI 7:00 PM ARATANI 8:30 PM DTIND 9:00 PM TATEUCHI 9:30 PM DTIND 11:30 PM

UPON THE FRAGILE SHORE and REFLECT|ON People, Places, and Things BREATHIN’: THE EDDY ZHENG STORY THE UNBIDDEN BITCOIN HEIST Quietus VAMPARIAH

SATURDAY, APRIL 23 TATEUCHI 11:30 AM JANM 12:00 PM

DTIND 1:30 PM TATEUCHI 2:00 PM JANM 2:00 PM

ARATANI 3:30 PM JANM 3:30 PM

DTIND 4:00 PM TATEUCHI 4:30 PM DTIND 6:30 PM TATEUCHI 7:00 PM ARATANI 8:00 PM DTIND 9:00 PM TATEUCHI 9:30 PM

From Visions to Reel 2016 Conference for Creative Content: SAG-AFTRA SIGNS OF REMARKABLE HISTORY FORGETTING VIETNAM Conference for Creative Content: F This Weekly Podcast PERSONA NON GRATA Conference for Creative Content: WGA/west OUT RUN THE DOG Love?

THE GREAT SASUKE TYRUS GRASS New Student Movements, Asians On Campus

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 JANM 12:00 PM TATEUCHI 12:30 PM DTIND 1:00 PM

ARATANI 2:00 PM

JANM 2:00 PM TATEUCHI 3:00 PM JANM 3:30 PM

DTIND 3:30 PM TATEUCHI 5:30 PM

DTIND 6:00 PM ARATANI 8:00 PM TATEUCHI 8:00 PM DTIND 8:30 PM

Conference for Creative Content: MPEG Generations REBEL WITH A CAUSE: THE LIFE OF AIKO HERZIG YOSHINAGA Digital Histories 2016: Let Me Tell Ya’ a Story Conference for Creative Content: DGA DAZE OF JUSTICE Conference for Creative Content: YOMYOMF.com FAMILY INGREDIENTS SA-I-GU: FROM KOREAN WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVES THE LAST TOUR VC Digital Posse, ver. 2016 HOOLIGAN SPARROW COMFORT

All programs are subject to change or cancellation without prior notice.

For updated program information please visit: www.vconline.org/festival 2

MONDAY, APRIL 25 CGV 2 4:30 PM

TATEUCHI 4:30 PM CGV 3 6:45 PM CGV 2 7:00 PM TATEUCHI 7:00 PM DTIND 7:00 PM TGC 8:00 PM TATEUCHI 9:15 PM CGV 3 9:15 PM CGV 2 9:30 PM DTIND 9:30 PM

Encore: BREATHIN’: THE EDDY ZHENG STORY Encore: THE GREAT SASUKE MOTHER CHINESE COUPLETS LOEV I Got Your Back TOP 8 Connect/Disconnect What’s In A Name What Have I Done to Deserve This?

TEN YEARS

TUESDAY, APRIL 26 CGV 2 4:30 PM TATEUCHI 4:30 PM

CGV 3 6:45 PM CGV 2 7:00 PM TATEUCHI 7:00 PM DTIND 7:00 PM CGV 3 9:15 PM CGV 2 9:30 PM TATEUCHI 9:30 PM DTIND 9:30 PM

Encore: THE LAST TOUR Encore: REBEL WITH A CAUSE: THE LIFE OF AIKO HERZIG YOSHINAGA MANANG BIRING DREAM LAND “Fresh Off The Show” The Unready Hero Daughters Rule the World CRUSH THE SKULL: THE FEATURE See U See Me DISTANCE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 CGV 2 4:30 PM TATEUCHI 4:30 PM

DTIND 6:30 PM CGV 1 7:00 PM CGV 2 7:00 PM TATEUCHI 7:00 PM TATEUCHI 9:15 PM CGV 1 9:30 PM CGV 2 9:30 PM DTIND 9:30 PM

Encore: GRASS SILENCE BROKEN: KOREAN COMFORT WOMEN ZEN AND BONES Program TBA A COPY OF MY MIND PEOPLE ARE THE SKY Program TBA BAD RAP REACH FOR THE SKY THE KIDS

THURSDAY, APRIL 28 DGA 7:00 PM

PALI ROAD

THEATER AND VENUE LEGEND ARATANI

Aratani Theatre @ Japanese American Cultural & Community Center

CGV

CGV Cinemas

DGA

Directors Guild of America

DTIND

Downtown Independent

TGC

The Great Company

JANM

Aratani Central Hall @ Japanese American National Museum

TATEUCHI

Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ Japanese American National Museum

FESTIVALGAL AS The 2016 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival’s Gala Presentations are one-of-a-kind events not to be missed. Slated for the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles Little Tokyo and the Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, we celebrate the best and brightest of new Asian American & Pacific Islander cinema, as these works take us on a journey to vistas previously untraveled by Festival audiences. From the excitement of the Opening Night Celebration and Festival Centerpiece Presentation, to the anticipation of the Festival Closing Night and Filmmaker Awards Ceremony, we urge you to make time to check out this stellar line-up of remarkable selections.

FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION THURSDAY, APRIL 21 • 7:00 PM • ARATANI THEATRE

THE TIGER HUNTER (U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Lena Khan

SCREENING & GALA RECEPTION: $50 / VC, JACCC MEMBERS $45

We’re pleased to welcome UCLA Film School alum Lena Khan as she teams with many of the creators of past Festival faves RASPBERRY MAGIC (Festival 2010) and MISS INDIA AMERICA (Festival 2015) to bring her feature debut THE TIGER HUNTER to Festival Week 2016. In it, well-known movie and television personality Danny Pudi stars as Sami Malik, a young South Asian man who travels to America to become an engineer hoping to impress his childhood crush. When Sami's job unexpectedly falls through, he ends up in a tiny co-op with two oddball roommates, resorting to an elaborate charade with misfit accomplices in hopes of convincing his sweetheart that he's far more successful than he truly is. Together, Sami and his rag-tag group must work together while meeting the usual host of obstacles — the "usual," that is, if back-alley brawls, trips to prison, or catastrophic LSD-related misunderstandings are just your usual, everyday fare.

94 minutes, color

FESTIVAL CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION SATURDAY, APRIL 23 • 8:00 PM • ARATANI THEATRE

TYRUS (U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Pamela Tom

CENTERPIECE SCREENING & RECEPTION: $20 / VC, JACCC MEMBERS $16 (includes admission to the Saturday Night Celebration Party)

Visual Communications and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival welcomes back past VC staffer Pamela Tom as she presents her debut documentary feature TYRUS. Fresh off its triumphant World Premiere at the 2015 Telluride Film Festival, TYRUS celebrates the life and art of Tyrus Wong, a legendary Chinese American painter, production illustrator, lithographer, and kite builder best known for his concept art for Walt Disney's feature animated film BAMBI. Beginning with the achievement of BAMBI to his game-changing later career as a production concept artist for Warner Bros. Studios, Wong’s strikingly beautiful concept paintings and sketches continue to influence the work of generations of animators and production designers. TYRUS celebrates not only the beauty of his art but reveals to a larger audience a lesser known part of the Chinese American experience — that of its artists and creators.

75 minutes, color and B&W

FESTIVAL CLOSING NIGHT THURSDAY, APRIL 28 • 7:00 PM • DIRECTORS GUILD of AMERICA

PALI ROAD (U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Jonathan Lim

SCREENING & GALA RECEPTION: $50 / VC, DGA MEMBERS $45

Join us at the world-class Directors Guild of America as we close out Festival Week 2016 with the Los Angeles Premiere of Jonathan Lim’s PALI ROAD. Director Lim brings together a stellar international cast including Chinese rising star Michelle Chen, Sung Kang, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Sung, and Tzi Ma for this stylish romance mystery.

Lily (Chen), a Chinese doctor, is doing her residency in a Hawaiian hospital under Dr. Kayne (Kang). She has fallen in love with schoolteacher Neil (Rathbone) — at least, this is what she remembers. After a terrible car accident, Lily wakes up to discover, in horror, a married life with Dr. Kayne, including a 5-year-old son she has never seen. With everyone around her denying Neil's existence, Lily begins to question her sanity, as recurring memories of Neil force her to embark on a journey to retrace her past and discover the truth.

92 minutes, color

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V IS UA L CO M M UNIC AT IONS Since 1970, Visual Communications has created award-winning productions, nurtured and given voice to our youth and seniors, promoted new artistic talent, presented new cinema, and preserved our visual history. We have served a complex, diverse constituency by providing innovative, effective, and socially responsible programs and services to meet the changing needs of our communities. Our mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American & Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists who empower communities and challenge perspectives.

VC programming includes: the annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and year-round screenings; the Armed With a Camera Fellowship for Emerging Media Artists; the Digital Histories video production and digital storytelling program for seniors; and the Conference for Creative Content (C3). Visual Communications is also home to the VC Archives, one of the largest photographic and moving image archives on the Asian Pacific experience in America.

We see media as a powerful tool to create and share meaningful perspectives, and our programs ensure that the AAPI community has access to the resources to tell our unique stories.

BECOMEAVCMEMBER Attend the 2016 Festival as a VC Member, and get premier insider benefits, discounts, and special invitations to events.

Purchasing a VC Membership is a rewarding way to show your support for VC. Our VC Members are a community of filmmakers and filmgoers who champion the spirit of diverse, independent Asian Pacific American voices in film and media. There are various VC Membership levels to suit your ability to give, and a portion of each contribution is tax-deductible.

Sign up at www.vconline.org/membership or call (213) 680-4462.

VC SUPPORTER $40

VC FILMMAKER $100

VC BENEFACTOR $1000

(100% of your donation is tax deductible)

($60 of your donation is tax deductible)

($650 of your donation is tax deductible)

BASIC BENEFITS: • Discount on all VC merchandise and event admission, such as the LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL, LAAPFF seminars, and all VC production training workshops for one year • Donor recognition on vconline.org and LAAPFF Program Catalog • Invitations to Members-only screenings and special events

BASIC BENEFITS, plus: • 4 complimentary LAAPFF regular screening tickets ($48 value) • Eligibility for fiscal sponsorship • One-on-one fundraising consultations • LAAPFF Entry fee waived (one per year, $35 value) • 25% discounted access to the Media Resource Library, facilities, video editing lab, and production equipment rental for your production needs

BASIC BENEFITS, plus: • 2 complimentary tickets to VIP Reception at the LAAPFF Opening Night gala ($200 value) + 2 VIP goody bags • 2 complimentary tickets to the LAAPFF Closing Night gala ($80 value) • 10 complimentary LAAPFF regular screening tickets ($120 value) • Complimentary LAAPFF Program Catalog

VC FRIEND $60

VC SPONSOR $250

VC DIRECTOR $2500

($40 of your donation is tax deductible)

($100 of your donation is tax deductible)

($1850 of your donation is tax deductible)

BASIC BENEFITS, plus: • Advance ticketing to LAAPFF programs before going on sale to the general public • 2 complimentary LAAPFF regular screening tickets ($24 value)

BASIC BENEFITS, plus: • 2 complimentary tickets to the LAAPFF Opening Night gala ($100 value) • 6 complimentary LAAPFF regular screening tickets ($72 value)

BASIC BENEFITS, plus: • 2 complimentary tickets to VIP Reception at the LAAPFF Opening Night gala ($200 value) + 2 VIP goody bags • 2 complimentary tickets to the LAAPFF Closing Night gala ($80 value) • 2 Festival Passes - complimentary access to all general LAAPFF screenings ($400 value) • Complimentary LAAPFF Program Catalog

VC PATRON $500 ($250 of your donation is tax deductible) BASIC BENEFITS, plus: • 2 complimentary tickets to the LAAPFF Opening Night gala ($100 value) • 2 complimentary tickets to the LAAPFF Closing Night gala ($80 value) • 8 complimentary LAAPFF regular screening tickets ($96 value)

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C3CONFERENCE The only event of its kind, the Conference for Creative Content (C3) brings together foremost media professionals in film, television, cable, digital, and transmedia to create a dialogue on the everchanging media industry, share best practices, network, celebrate and build a collective vision for our community.

We’re again ecstatic to bring the 6th edition of C3 to the opening weekend of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday April 24th at the Japanese American National Museum, located in the historic Little Tokyo district of Downtown Los Angeles.

Building off of our previous C3 Conferences, the way we view, consume, and create content continues to shift and evolve rapidly – it’s our goal to dive in and hear from the forerunners of this change, especially from Asian Americans leading the way.

A R A N G E O F PA N E L S W I L L I N C LU D E :

UTILIZING EMERGING TECHNOLOGY TO ENHANCE YOUR STORYTELLING Presented by DGA WRITING FOR DIVERSE VOICES IN FILM AND TELEVISION Presented by WGA/w EDITING: THE LAST REWRITE Presented by MPEG

PRESENTED BY:

SPONSORED BY:

THE GREAT EQUALIZER: HOW NEW MEDIA GETS YOU NOTICED Presented by SAG-AFTRA

Sony Pictures Entertainment

SAG-Producers Industry Advancement Cooperation Fund; Nielsen; Writers Guild of America/west; Directors Guild of America; Motion Picture Editors Guild; Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

THE NEW INDIE CINEMA: OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIVERSE FILMMAKERS IN THE DIGITAL WORLD Presented by YOMYOMF

>> Complete line-up details will be available at www.vconline.org/festival

WOMEN FOR THE WIN - TRANSCENDING THE INCLUSION CRISIS AND GENDER GAP IN HOLLYWOOD Presented by F This Weekly Podcast

T R A N S M E D I A A V E N U E

Place-based collaborative, FORM follows FUNCTION (FfF), joins Visual Communications in unveiling a spatial, interactive multi-media presentation that celebrates the diverse histories and viewpoints that make up the downtown Los Angeles community, Little Tokyo. Using virtual reality (VR) storytelling techniques and historic site-specific projection, FfF Interactive Little Tokyo! aims to bring new interest on Little Tokyo’s rich legacy, stories of which are often overlooked.

The project will tell spatial stories through immersive technologies intended to broaden perceptions of the Little Tokyo neighborhood. The first installation, 312 Azusa Street, will be a site-specific video map projection in Little Tokyo. The public exhibition will be located in the JACCC Plaza, adjacent to Azusa Alley, the original site of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) and birthplace of Pentecostalism. Audiences will experience the piece as it is projected on the land originally owned by Bridget “Biddy” Mason, former slave, FAME Church Founder, and one of the first African American women to purchase land in Los Angeles.

The second installation will be a VR documentary viewable via VR headsets on a mobile kiosk throughout various locations of the festival.

The short documentary, Walking with Grace, will highlight places and streets of Little Tokyo through the perspective of Grace Chikui, a blind woman and long-time resident.

Both exhibitions will be presented in April 2016 at the 32nd Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival; it will be a first-time VR presentation for the film festival, and will be the launch of a new VR doc series for FfF focusing on women’s perspectives of places. This presentation is powered

by FfF Interactive, an initiative aimed to use immersive technology to highlight the history of neighborhoods through local perspectives. For more information and to support this project please visit: fffmedia.com.

FRI, APR 22 • 5:00 PM • TATEUCHI

UPON THE FRAGILE SHORE

and RE FLECT|O N

As a prelude to the Film Festival’s highly anticipated debut of Form follows Function’s INTERACTIVE LITTLE TOKYO, we are pleased to present a special screening/performance of acclaimed stage director Giovanni Ortega’s UPON THE FRAGILE SHORE (U.S.A., 2015, 12 minutes), a lyrical tone-poem that explores issues of connection and dissonance. On the same bill: REFLECT|ON (U.S.A., 2015, 5 minutes) by Angela Jihyun Han; a talk-back session with directors Ortega and Han will follow the presentation.

VARIOUS VENUES DURING FESTIVAL WEEK

RICERCA (U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Yo-Yo Lin A man embarks on a search through life, traveling through different memories and worlds to find something he has lost or what was never his to begin with in the first place. First realized as a site-specific multi-screen installation, director Yo-Yo Lin’s mesmerizing multimedia work is now re-imagined as an immersive virtual-reality experience, and will complement our additional transmedia presentations UPON THE FRAGILE SHORE and “Interactive Little Tokyo.”

12 mins.. color, experimental narrative, virtual-reality presentation

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ARTIST‘SSPOTLIGHT DAI SIL KIM-GIBSON Unwavering in her staunch clarity of artistic vision and embracing of the realities and possibilities of a multi-ethnic America, Dai Sil Kim-Gibson’s filmography offers both an expansive world-view of historical and contemporary issues affecting Asian diasporic communities, and an unflinching perspective honed by years as an educator, grants officer, and arts advocate. On the occasion of the Los Angeles Premiere of her latest feature documentary PEOPLE ARE THE SKY, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival casts a much-overdue spotlight on the career of this one-of-akind talent, at age 78 still surprisingly perceptive and feisty as ever.

SUN APR 24 • 5:30 PM • TATEUCHI

WED APR 27 • 4:30 PM • TATEUCHI

WED APR 27 • 7:00 PM • TATEUCHI

SA-I-GU: FROM KOREAN WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVES

SILENCE BROKEN: KOREAN COMFORT WOMEN

PEOPLE ARE THE SKY

(U.S.A., 1993) Dir.: Dai Sil Kim-Gibson, Christine Choy

(U.S.A., 1999) Dir.: Dai Sil Kim-Gibson

April 29 marks the 24th anniversary of the acquittal of four policemen who assaulted an African-American, Rodney King, which sparked the L.A. Rebellion in 1992. During the four days of rioting, arson, and looting, Korean Americans suffered $420 million in property damage. In the days and weeks that followed, media coverage of the upheaval was extensive but rarely presented the conflating Black/ Korean conflict as the cause of the crisis, not a symptom. SA-I-GU (literally, April 29), presents the perspectives of Korean women shopkeepers and offers an alternative to mainstream media’s inability to present the voices of victims in human terms.

A powerful and emotional documentary about Korean women forced into sexual servitude by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II, SILENCE BROKEN dramatically combines the testimony of former comfort women who demand justice for the “crimes against humanity” committed against them, along with contravening interviews of Japanese soldiers, recruiters and scholars who deny their existence or claim that these victims “did this for money.” In the film, these women demand an official apology, admission of moral and legal guilt, as well as compensation from the Japanese government. They want human dignity and justice restored to them. Combined with archival footage and dramatized images, SILENCE BROKEN shatters a half-century of silence, creating a collective story filled with soulful sorrow and amazing resilience of the human spirit.

36 minutes, color, documentary, in English and Korean w/E.S. The screening of SA-I-GU will be followed by an artist’s talk with director Dai Sil Kim-Gibson and special guests.

88 minutes, color, documentary, in English and Korean w/E.S.

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(U.S.A., /DPRK, 2015) Dir.: Dai Sil Kim Gibson

Dai Sil Kim-Gibson is an independent filmmaker/writer widely known for championing the compelling but neglected issues of human rights, and her works carry her imprint of humanizing the storytellers and inventive formats. Born in North Korea, Kim-Gibson crossed the 38th parallel in 1945 and grew up in Seoul until she came to the U.S. to study in 1962. She subsequently married an Iowan farm boy-turned-historian. Thus, her story has two sides: North and South, Korean and American. In 2009, after losing her husband, Don, Kim-Gibson makes a pilgrimage to her place of birth in North Korea for the first time in nearly 70 years, to explore if it is still home. Dai Sil Kim-Gibson’s eighth and most personal film connects two ideas: the search for home, and the nature of ordinary people, while exploring the evolution of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in relation to the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the U.S.A. 94 minutes, color, documentary, in English and Korean w/E.S.

SPECIALPRESENTATIONS The latest edition of LAAPFF welcomes the latest films from talented veteran women filmmakers whose works have radically altered the landscape of Asian American & Pacific Islander cinema. Examining issues of family, transnationalism, and advocacy, their works help us revisit and reframe our individual and collective heritage, and highlight its significance in validating our place in American society. We also welcome a “revisit” from a recent hit on the indie film festival circuit, as well as a new, entertaining look at an important subcultural phenomenon. With a varied slate of works, this year’s Special Presentations give an additional dimension to our collective image.

M A S TER S : AS I AN AMER IC AN WOME N PIO NE E RING DIRECTO RS

MON APR 25 • 7:00 PM • CGV 2

SAT APR 23 • 2:00 PM • TATEUCHI

CHINESE COUPLETS

FORGETTING VIETNAM

(U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Felicia Lowe

(Vietnam/U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Trinh T. Minh-ha

Shaped by the revelation of her mother's illegal immigration to America during the period of Chinese exclusion, Felicia Lowe uncovers the web of secrecy and shame underlying her mother's assimilation and achievement of the American Dream. CHINESE COUPLETS reveals the complex and contradictory nature of our national character: an America that embraces and welcomes immigrants, while at the same time being profoundly xenophobic and exclusionary to successive waves of ethnic and racial newcomers.

FORGETTING VIETNAM filters through four thousand years of Vietnamese history as a resilient nation — through wars, calamities, and colonization — to ponder its current dual iteration as a fast-growing economy and a booming tourist destination. While illustrating the current phenomenon of “Vietnam fever,” FORGETTING VIETNAM commemorates the 40th anniversary of the end of the war while offering a reflexive dimension on D-cinema and its creative potential.

91 minutes, color, documentary

57 minutes, color and B&W, documentary

SUN APR 24 • 1:00 PM • DTIND TUE APR 26 • 4:30 PM • TATEUCHI

REBEL WITH A CAUSE: The Life of Aiko Herzig Yoshinaga (U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Janice D. Tanaka

The latest documentary feature by prolific Visual Communications alumni Janice D. Tanaka chronicles the life of Aiko Herzig Yoshinaga, whose discovery of premeditated governmental misconduct during the war, was essential to the landmark 1987 coram nobis cases of Gordon Hirabayashi, Fred Koramatsu, and Minoru Yasui; and the National Council for Japanese Americans Redress (NCJAR) lawsuit of 1983. REBEL WITH A CAUSE offers an intimate portrait of an unassuming woman and her impact on a national movement.

83 minutes, color, documentary

RE W IND...

SUN APR 24 • 3:30 PM • DTIND

WED APR 27 • 9:30 PM • CGV 1

TUE APR 26 • 9:30 PM • CGV 2

FAMILY INGREDIENTS

BAD RAP

CRUSH THE SKULL

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Ty Sanga

(U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Salima Koroma

Following in the footsteps of director Ty Sanga’s pilot installment of the food and culture series FAMILY INGREDIENTS (Festival 2014), the Film Festival is pleased to present the ongoing adventures of food and lifestyle advocate Ed Kenney. From Kenney’s own unique relationship to taro, Hawaii’s indigenous plant and with poi, its most famous by-product; to a portrait of Tiara Hernandez and the dishes that inform her Puerto Rican heritage, FAMILY INGREDIENTS delves deeper into food and its unique relationship to family,

BAD RAP spotlights four Asian American rappers embarking on their dreams of succeeding in the mainstream, selling out huge venues, hearing themselves on the radio, and becoming household names – all while facing cultural expectations to fulfill the model minority stereotype. Through a colorful soundtrack, gritty visuals, these musicians share their experiences of fear, perceived failure, and hopes of triumph. Through interviews with other accomplished Asian American rap artists (Far East Movement), pop stars (Jay Park), YouTube celebrities (Traphik), and industry insiders, BAD RAP asks: Do people know or care about Asian-American rappers?

(U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Viet Nguyen

culture, and traditions.

60 mins, color, documentary

Ollie and Blair earn a living by breaking into upper-class homes. After falling into debt, they decide to pull another effortless job of robbing a secluded vacation home in the mountains. While performing the heist, the crew is immediately trapped inside, while an unseen killer stalks them from the shadows.

This seemingly innocuous home is actually a sadistic torture den, with a mind-screwing maze of dead-ends and wrong turns. Winner, “Nightfall” Award, 2015 L.A. Film Festival.

80 minutes, color, narrative

82 minutes, color, documentary

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NARRATIVEFEATURES If there is one word to describe the 2016 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival’s roster of Narrative Competition features, that word would possibly be “whimsical.” Indeed, stories driven by childhood aspirations, dreams and (sometimes) nightmares, supernatural entities, and even some, ahem, controlled substances rule the day in a line-up that welcomes both reliable returnees to Festival Week as well as remarkable discoveries from first-time feature filmmakers. Prepare to be challenged, enlightened, shocked, and above all entertained as we proudly roll out this year’s slate of narrative feature nominees.

SUN APR 24 • 8:30 PM • DTIND

SAT APR 23 • 9:00 PM • DTIND | WED APR 27 • 4:30 PM • CGV 2

COMFORT

GRASS

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: William Lu

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Tanuj Chopra

Cameron (Chris Dinh) is a nighttime courier with a heart of gold and a secret. From dusk to dawn, he makes deliveries all over the Los Angeles area. As a skilled chef, he's saving for his food truck but remains too busy taking care of other people to put his dreams first. When his next pickup turns out to be Jasmine (Julie Zhan), the attractive, headstrong daughter of a longtime client, the ensuing chemistry lights up the night sky. Will this chance encounter be just another delivery, or will it change his life forever?

Cam is struggling to complete a favor for her fiancé: deliver a large bag of weed to an unknown buyer. Loyal to her partner, yet tired of feeling like a mule, she embarks on a daylong adventure in which she and her stoner best friend Jinky ruminate on relationships, the meaning of life, and pizza, all while increasingly blazed as the minutes tick by. The latest work by Tanuj Chopra deviates from his career-long examination of Desi male insecurities, turns the whole conversation, figuratively and literally, on its head.

103 minutes, color

66 minutes, color Preceded by:

WEEKDAY GIRLS (U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Jeff Mizushima | 14 mins., narrative

SUN APR 24 • 6:00 PM • DTIND | TUE APR 26 • 4:30 PM • CGV 2

THU APR 28 • 7:00 PM • DGA

THE LAST TOUR

PALI ROAD

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Ryun Yu

(U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Jonathan Lim

Jun, a burned-out Gulf War veteran, is kidnapped, flown to North Korea, and pressed into service to watch over a hostage as Jun’s employers extract a confession from the prisoner. Through a crisis of conscience and a daring escape, this international prison drama takes a turn into the wild and weird. Equal parts EL MARIACHI, PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, and HOMELAND, the feature directorial debut by actor Ryun Yu (THE MIKADO PROJECT) brings together alumni of the renegade Lodestone Theatre Company and mainstays of the blog YOMYOMF.com.

Narrative Competition selection PALI ROAD by Jonathan Lim is the Film Festival’s Closing Night Presentation. For a complete program description, please see page 3

72 minutes, color Preceded by:

N. KING (U.S.A., 2014) Dir.: Kali Kasashima 11 mins., narrative 8

NARRATIVEFEATURES

THU APR 21 • 7:00 PM • ARATANI

FRI APR 22 • 8:30 PM • ARATANI

THE TIGER HUNTER

THE UNBIDDEN

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Lena Khan

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Quentin Lee

Narrative Competition selection THE TIGER HUNTER by Lena Khan is the Film Festival’s Opening Night Presentation. For a complete program description, please see page 3

A mystery novelist named Lauren Lee (Tamlyn Tomita) is haunted by the ghost of a tortured, bloodied man. She tries to forget the apparition’s terrifying warnings by hosting brunch with her best friends (Julia Nickson, Elizabeth Sung). Unexpectedly, a mysterious young man arrives brandishing a gun and announces that one of them is his mother. He holds the women hostage to get to the truth of why they had all conspired to murder. The young man thinks that he’s come for revenge and truth, but there are brutal twists to the dark secret that he’d never imagined.

83 minutes, color Preceded by:

CARNAL ORIENT (U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Mila Zuo | 9 mins., narrative

FRI APR 22 • 11:30 PM • DTIND

VAMPARIAH (U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Matthew Abaya

Mahal is a member of an elite squad of skilled hunters responsible for keeping the world safe from creatures of the night. Her mission becomes compromised when she sets out on a quest to destroy a dangerous female creature known as an aswang (a self-segmenting vampire). Forcing her to choose sides, she realizes that she has more in common with the aswang than her employers, who actually seek her destruction. VAMPARIAH is an expansion of director Matthew Abaya’s 2004 LAAPFF selection BAMPINAY, using elements of Asian folklore and horror as a vehicle to explore race, sexuality and identity.

83 minutes, color

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D O C U M E N TA R Y F E AT U R E S This year’s Film Festival Documentary Competition is distinguished by new artists with exciting untold stories, along with festival veterans making triumphant returns with innovative, hot-button content. Offering views of the world both local and global in scope, this new octet offers stories of spirituality, literacy, revolution, immigrant rights, as well as political, sexual, and moral equality. Our Documentary Competition slate presents a full range of stories as observed and produced by our communities’ intrepid and committed documentarians.

FRI APR 22 • 7 PM • TATEUCHI | MON APR 25 • 4:30 PM • CGV 2

SUN APR 24 • 3:00 PM • TATEUCHI

BREATHIN’: THE EDDY ZHENG STORY

DAZE OF JUSTICE

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Ben Wang

(U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Michael Siv

After serving over 20 years behind bars for a robbery he committed at age 16, Chinese American community leader Eddy Zheng now faces deportation to China. Since his release from prison, Eddy has dedicated his life to preventing youth violence and delinquency through his work at the Community Youth Center, Community Response Network, and many other SF Bay Area organizations. BREATHIN’: THE EDDY ZHENG STORY is a documentary that provides a complex and honest portrayal of its subject, highlighting a critical human rights issue facing the U.S. today: an alarming increase of Asian immigrants and refugees being incarcerated and deported.

What happens when a 1.5-generation Cambodian American seeks answers about the Khmer Rouge — the reign of terror under Pol Pot’s brutal regime? Michael Siv, a former documentary subject in Spencer Nakasako’s film REFUGEE (2003), finds himself behind the camera as he follows a feisty professor who corrals survivors to travel from California to Cambodia to testify in the Khmer Rouge Trials. The documentary takes an unexpected turn when the son of a high-profile convicted war criminal, who oversaw the killings of thousands, joins the Cambodian American refugees on their journey for justice.

66 minutes, color, in English and Khmer w/E.S.

60 minutes, color

SAT APR 23 • 7 PM • TATEUCHI | MON APR 25 • 4:30 PM • TATEUCHI

SUN APR 24 • 8:00 PM • TATEUCHI

THE GREAT SASUKE

HOOLIGAN SPARROW

(Japan/U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Mikiko Sasaki

(PRC/U.S.A., 2016) Dir.: Nanfu Wang

THE GREAT SASUKE chronicles the one life-changing year in the career of a regional Japanese wrestler and local politician known as The Great Sasuke. Sasuke describes wrestling as his tenshoku — a lifework assigned by God and considers himself an entertainer and a public servant. Set in the suburb of Morioka City in northern Japan, his story begins when Sasuke, now in his 40s, marks his 20th anniversary as a wrestler. Despite dwindling attendance at his performances and declining health, Sasuke faces his adversity by climbing back into the wrestling and political arena for a final battle royale.

Intrepid young filmmaker Nanfu Wang follows maverick activist Ye Haiyan (a.k.a Sparrow) and her band of colleagues to Hainan Province in southern China to protest the case of six elementary school girls who were sexually abused by their principal. Marked as enemies of the state, the activists are under constant government surveillance and face interrogation, harassment, and imprisonment.

Sparrow, notorious for her advocacy work for sex workers rights, continues to champion girls and women’s rights and arms herself with the power and reach of social media. With smuggled footage, Wang is able to tell the story of Sparrow’s journey with her fellow activists, and their seemingly impossible battle for human rights.

70 minutes, color

84 minutes, color, in English and Mandarin w/E.S.

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D O C U M E N TA R Y F E AT U R E S

SAT APR 23 • 4:00 PM • DTIND

SAT APR 23 • 1:30 PM • DTIND

OUT RUN

SIGNS OF REMARKABLE HISTORY

(Philippines/U.S.A., 2016) Dirs.: S. Leo Chiang, Johnny Symons

(U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Maryam Kashani

The latest documentary by longtime Festival artist S. Leo Chiang (with Johnny Symons) follows a trio of dynamic transgender women as they lead the Philippines’ only LGBT political party on a historic quest to win the nation’s Congressional seats. Bemz and her campaign leaders Santy and Bhuta face the challenge of convincing voters that transgenders are acceptable not only as hairstylists, beauty contestants, and sex workers, but also as congressional members. Their story illustrates the emerging prominence of the transgender community and their work towards LGBT equality.

“Read/Recite in the name of your Lord” is the first revealed verse of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad. SIGNS OF REMARKABLE HISTORY examines the intimate relationship between young Muslims and their deeply engaged relationship with the sacred texts of the Qur'an. Asked to recite a text that has meaning for them, a diverse group of American Muslims chooses verses ranging from the Qur’an and 9th-century Islamic texts to Oscar Wilde and Pablo Neruda poems. The film’s close attention to its subjects creates an intimate reality within this performative moment, being both a collaboration and challenge to overly determined interpretations.

75 minutes, color, in English and Tagalog w/E.S. Preceded by:

LIFE STORIES (U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Benjamin To | 5 mins., documentary

79 minutes, color

SAT APR 23 • 8:00 PM • ARATANI

TYRUS (U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Pamela Tom

Documentary Competition selection TYRUS by Pamela Tom is the Film Festival’s Centerpiece Presentation. For a complete program description, please see page 3.

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INTERNATIONALSHOWCASE The Film Festival’s popular showcase of international Asian feature-length productions continues our long-standing observation of emerging Asian “tigers” as Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam; and offers new, younger perspectives from Japan, Mainland China and Hong Kong. Bolstered by highly-lauded new works from Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, and other nations, our International Showcase reflects the mood and tenor of Asian societies for these uncertain times we live in, and offer Festival Week audiences a glimpse into worlds that are not much different than the ones we ourselves live in.

WED APR 27 • 7:00 PM • CGV 2

A COPY OF MY MIND (Indonesia/South Korea, 2015) Dir.: Joko Anwar

Sari works as a facial specialist in a dingy beauty salon in Jakarta. Tired and unhappy with her routine, she discovers films on cheap pirated DVDs. Fed up with the horrendous quality of the films’ Indonesian subtitles, she meets and falls in love with an overworked subtitler, Alek. With the political turmoil surrounding the upcoming presidential elections swirling alongside their romance, their idyllically calm relationship gets a rude awakening when Sari steals a DVD from a client in prison. Mistaken for a monster movie, the DVD reveals highly sensitive information regarding one of the presidential candidates.

116 minutes, color, narrative, in Indonesian w/E.S.

FRI APR 22 • 9:00 PM • DTIND

BITCOIN HEIST (Sieu Trom) (Vietnam, 2016) Dir.: Ham Tran

To catch Interpol's most-wanted hacker, Special Agent Dada must assemble a team of elite criminals that includes Jack (The Trickster); Vi (The Hacker); Luhan (The Forger); Linh (The Cat Burglar); and Phuc (The Inside Man). The latest feature by Festival fave Ham Tran, BITCOIN HEIST is a flashy “action comedy” set in the world of international intrigue and crime. Riffing on such all-star ensemble blockbusters as IT’S A MAD MAD MAD WORLD and OCEAN’S ELEVEN, BITCOIN HEIST features an all-star cast including Vietnam’s reigning hip-hop queen Suboi as well as Teo Yoo, of Benson Lee’s period romcom SEOUL SEARCHING. 112 minutes, color, narrative, in Vietnamese w/E.S.

TUE APR 26 • 9:30 PM • DTIND

DISTANCE (Zài jian, zài yě bù jian) (PRC/Singapore/Thailand, 2015) Dirs.: Shijie Tan, Sivaroj Kongsakul, Yukun Xin

Exploring life themes of kinship, friendship, and love, DISTANCE depicts three interlocking stories in different cities, traversing across the boundaries of China, Singapore, and Thailand. In one story, a conflicted manager on a business trip is intrigued by an elderly worker and investigates his life. In another, a young father receives a letter that brings him to a foreign land, where old emotions come unburied. Finally, a visiting professor from overseas sets a student's heart fluttering, while having to deal with his own.

Different characters, different relationships, the same humanity: stories about the distances between one another and how we live with them.

108 minutes, color, narrative, in Chinese w/E.S.

SAT APR 23 • 4:30 PM • TATEUCHI

THE DOG (PRC, 2015) Dir.: Lam Can-zhao

Director Lam Can-Zhao, age 20, leads a small film crew as they shoot a film about a stray dog in the streets of Guangzhou, leading the viewer into an unpredictable, peculiar and incredible journey. Shot documentary-style while employing characteristics of hybrid cinema, THE DOG’s low-tech, casual style reveals a wealth of stories that reflects both the authenticity and occasional absurdity of the living situations of migrant workers and of those who otherwise live “below the line.” As the debut feature film directed by Lam, THE DOG reads more like a lonely rebel's exploration and revelation to the world.

88 minutes, B&W, narrative, in Mandarin w/E.S.

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INTERNATIONALSHOWCASE

TUE APR 26 • 7:00 PM • CGV 2

DREAM LAND (Cambodia/U.S.A., 2015) Dir.: Steve Chen

A single woman in the developing metropolis of Phnom Penh, Lida sells modern and upscale real estate developments to the growing middle and upper class in contemporary Cambodia. Unable to escape the heartache over her deteriorating relationship with her photographer boyfriend, nor the trauma and prison of her interior monologue, she travels to the quiet beach town of Kep, Cambodia with her close companions. It is there that Lida discovers that the specters from the past haunt in sublime and beautiful ways.

90 minutes, color, narrative, in Khmer w/E.S. Preceded by:

IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT (Singapore, 2015) Dir.: Sanif Olek | 14 mins., narrative, in Malay w/E.S. WED APR 27 • 9:30 PM • DTIND

THE KIDS (Xiao hai) (Taiwan, 2015) Dir.: Sunny Yu

Bao-Li has just started 8th grade, when he comes to the rescue of Jia-Jia, an older girl he immediately falls in love with. When Jia-Jia becomes pregnant with their daughter, Bao-Li drops out of school to support his new family and tries to earn Jia-Jia a nicer home, but discovers that his mother has gambled away all their savings. After a heated argument, Jia-Jia admits that she is having an affair, and takes their daughter away with her. Hoping to win Jia-Jia back, Bao-Li starts selling drugs to make money, realizing there are many difficulties in life he must face…

90 minutes, color, narrative, in Mandarin and Taiwanese w/E.S.

MON APR 25 • 7:00 PM • TATEUCHI

LOEV (India, 2015) Dir.: Sudhanshu Saria

When hot-shot Wall Street dealmaker Jai thinks of putting some pleasure into his 48 hour business trip to Mumbai, his young musician friend Sahil drops everything, including his boyfriend, to help him execute the perfect getaway. Hiking the hills and canyons of the Western Ghats, amidst half-attempted conversations and sudden silences, skype calls and comfortable jokes, the friends discover there’s more than time-zones keeping them apart.

LOEV looks at a bigger and more complicated picture that foregrounds human desires and fears rather than focusing solely on gay relationships, patriarchy and its power dynamics unfold between two male characters.

89 minutes, color, narrative, in Hindi w/E.S.

TUE APR 26 • 6:45 PM • CGV 3

MANANG BIRING (Philippines, 2015) Dir.: Carl Joseph Papa

Winner of the coveted Best Picture Award at the 2015 Cinema One Originals Film Festival, MANANG BIRING is an innovative animated comedy-drama about a feisty but terminally ill old lady who has learned to accept her imminent demise – until one day when she receives a letter from her long-estranged daughter abroad announcing her return for the holidays. Despite declining health, Biring will go to great lengths to prolong her life and gift her daughter and grandson a Happy Christmas.

88 minutes, B&W, rotoscope animation, in Tagalog w/E.S. Preceded by:

FABRIC COSMOS (South Korea, 2015) Dir.: Jung Seung-hee | 11 mins., stop-motion animation MON APR 25 • 6:45 PM • CGV 3

MOTHER (Moor) (Pakistan, 2015) Dir.: Jami Mahmood

When his wife dies unexpectedly, Wahid, a poor train stationmaster in Pakistan, must come to terms with not only her death and his childhood personal demons, but also his complicity in the events that led up to it. As he observes his estranged son caught in a similar conflict, the promise of a more comfortable life presents itself to Wahid in a web of corruption involving his elder brother which would threaten to destroy his beloved work and morals. Set against the backdrop of the railways system in Pakistan, MOOR is about the meaning of loyalty – to one’s land, one’s family, and one’s principles.

119 minutes, color, narrative, in Urdu w/E.S.

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INTERNATIONALSHOWCASE

SAT APR 23 • 3:30 PM • ARATANI

PERSONA NON GRATA (Sugi hara moto tazuneru chi se une) (Japan, 2015) Dir.: Cellin Gluck

PERSONA NON GRATA tells the story of Chiune Sugihara, a Japanese diplomat who issued over 2,000 visas to Jewish refugees in Kaunas, Lithuania, saving the lives of over 6,000 people. Sugihara came face to face with the plight of the European Jews as they tried to escape the onslaught of the Nazi's rapidly advancing German army. Following Sugihara’s life from his early days in Manchuria, PERSONA NON GRATA captures the internal conflicts of a man caught between the unbending policies of his country, now bound by treaty with Nazi Germany, and his awakening moral responsibilities which, many years later, would brand him a hero.

139 minutes, color, narrative, in English, Japanese, German, Lithuanian, Hebrew, and Yiddish w/E.S.

WED APR 27 • 9:30 PM • CGV2

REACH FOR THE SKY (Gong-bu-un Na-ra) (South Korea/Belgium, 2015) Dirs.: Choi Wooyoung, Steven Dhoedt

Every year, on the 2nd Thursday of November, the entire country of South Korea is put to the test. That day, more than half a million senior high school students take part in the National University Exam, better known as Suneung. REACH FOR THE SKY tells the story of several South-Korean high school students, their families and teachers, as they prepare for the annual National Exam. The exam will not only determine where the high school seniors will attend university but ultimately also their status in the Korean hierarchical society.

91 minutes, color and B&W, documentary, in Korean w/E.S.

MON APR 25 • 9:30 PM • DTIND

TEN YEARS (Jyutping) (Hong Kong, 2015) Dirs.: Ng Ka-leung, Jevons Au, Chow Kwun-Wai, Fei-Pang Wong, Kwok Zune

TEN YEARS is a thought-provoking five-part speculative omnibus feature that imagines what Hong Kong would be like ten years from now. In “Extras,” two genial low-level gangsters are hired to stage an attack, but they’re mere sacrificial lambs in a political conspiracy. “Rebels” strive to preserve destroyed homes and objects as specimens in the mesmerizing Season of the End. In “Dialect,” a taxi driver struggles to adjust after Putonghua displaces Cantonese as Hong Kong’s only official language. An act of selfimmolation outside the British consulate ignites protests in “Self-Immolator.” And in “Local Egg,” a grocery shop owner worries about his son’s youth guard activities, and where to buy eggs after Hong Kong’s last chicken farm closes down.

104 minutes, color, narrative, in Cantonese w/E.S.

WED APR 27 • 6:30 PM • DTIND

ZEN AND BONES (Henry Mittwer zen to hone) (Japan, 2015) Dir.: Takayuki Nakamura

Born 1918 in Yokohama to an American father, Henry Mittwer immigrated to the United States at the age 22 and was detained as a U.S. citizen in a Japanese internment camp at the start of World War II. He returned to Japan in 1961 and became a Zen Buddhist priest in Kyoto. After falling ill in 2012, a documentary crew helps Henry in his greatest passion and dream to make a film. With Henry unconscious, the team continues to film, uncovering evidence and gathering testimonies about his extraordinary past from movie moguls, U.S. government files, and Zen masters.

123 minutes, color, documentary, in English and Japanese w/E.S.

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SHORTSPROGRAMS The Film Festival’s complement of short film programs ranges over a wide scope of stories and expressions. From stories of distinctly local flavors to tales from faraway worlds, our short form narratives offer a variety of urban, rural and alternative perspectives. So take a chance on our stellar programs — one day real soon, you just might be seeing some of these fine filmmakers back here at the Film Festival with first, second or even third features. The box office is now open…

MON APR 25 • 9:15 PM • TATEUCHI

TUE APR 26 • 9:15 PM • CGV3

CONNECT/DISCONNECT

DAUGHTERS RULE THE WORLD

Stories of yearning, love, and loss — the basis of how we relate to each other — lie just beyond the usual introspection and political allegory of science fiction. This selection explores how we connect — or disconnect — with people through the lens of technology. —

John Mayer sang it (#daughters). Toni Morrison wrote it. Grace Lee boggs lived it. For the womyn, her journey is arduous because she is salt of the earth. These cinematic daughters flaunt how they survive and thrive. — Kristen Lee

TRT: 98 mins.

Quincy Surasmith

STILL BETTER THAN LOVE Dir.: Diane Kang • THE SWEETENING Dir.: Grace Rowe • SOCIOPATHS Dir.: Takeshi Asai • FROZEN EXPECTATIONS Dir.: Shinichi Kudo • ASO-ETERNAL GRASSLAND- Dir.: Hiroshi Iwanaga

TRT: 86 mins.

SOPHIE Dir.: Alexandra Hsu • ALL MEN ARE FLOWERS Dir.: Shirley Kim-Ryu • AUTUMN LEAVES Dir.: Saman Hosseinpuor • THE LASTING PERSIMMON Dir.: Kei Chikaura • MIDNIGHT DANCE Dir.: Mia Lu • PARACHUTE GIRLS Dir.: Alex Rubens

SAT APR 23 • 11:30 AM • TATEUCHI

SUN APR 24 • 2:00 PM • ARATANI

DIGITAL HISTORIES 2016: LET ME TELL YA’ A STORY

FROM VISION TO REEL 2016

My approach to leading the 2016 Digital Histories program was this: the filmmakers’ tools may change, but the storytelling principles stay the same. My goal was not to show the group how to use the latest camera gear, but to sharpen and harness their innate storytelling skills. In my (ahem) not-so-humble opinion, the results are amazing! — Gary Gabisan

While reels may not be the choice of media for young filmmakers today, visions are often turned to reality by exploring the places we come from and connecting it to our identities today. This year's program takes us to the indigenous community in the Philippines to the struggle of being an undocumented Filipino American. We will march the streets alongside Viet Rainbow of Orange County, and reclaim a Laotian birth name too difficult for teachers to pronounce. We will challenge stigmas of domestic violence and mental illness within South Asian communities, and find joy in the darkness of Guamanian legends. — June Kaewsith

TRT: 75 mins.

71° 10' 21" N (LAND OF THE NORTHERN STAR) Dir.: Frances Ito • NOT JUST GARDENING... Dir.: Cathy Uchida • FANTASY COME TRUE: PETER LAI’S JAPANESE VILLAGE Dir.: David Osako • I AM AN AMERICAN Dir.: Robert Shoji • IT AIN’T HEAVEN, BUT CLOSE ‘NUFF Dir.: Michi Tanioka • COOK IT YOURSELF Dir.: NJ Nakamura • A TIME OF WAR: WEST OF JAPAN, EAST OF IRAN Dir.: Glen Kanemoto • TORRANCE KENDO DOJO Dir.: George Takaki • THE WATTS RIOTS: THE DAYS OF RAGE, FEAR, AND SURVIVAL Dir.: Gerald Chow • WHAT IS LITTLE TOKYO? Dir.: Steve Nagano

TUE APR 26 • 7:00 PM • TATEUCHI

TRT: 75 mins. + Performances

PANGANDOY: THE MANOBO FIGHT FOR LAND, EDUCATION, AND THEIR FUTURE Dir.: Hiyasmin Saturay • TET (NEW YEAR) Dir.: Peterson Pham • CHANTHADETH Dir.: Joseph Mills, Chanthadeth Chanthalangsy • US Dir.: Seth Ronquillo • WORDS LEAVE SCARS TOO Dir.: Sahara 2015 Youth Ensemble • OBSESSED Dir.: Michelle Zhao • DEPRESSION Dir.: Len Killeen • DUENDES GONE BAD Dir.: FYI Guam Youths

FRESH OFF THE SHOW TRT: 55 mins., plus post-screening talk

To celebrate the recent announcement that ABC's FRESH OFF THE BOAT has been renewed for Season 3, come join Angry Asian Man (Phil Yu) and actor/writer/comedian Jenny Yang in screening this transcendent comedy! We’ll be showing that night’s episode and the following week’s episode! As an added bonus, cast and crew will be joining in for a Q&A after the screening. — Milton Liu For more program details: www.vconline.org/festival

15

SHORTSPROGRAMS MON APR 25 • 7:00 PM • DTIND

SUN APR 24 • 12:30 PM • TATEUCHI

GENERATIONS

I GOT YOUR BACK

TRT: 96 mins.

The bonds of our family, whether natured or nurtured, reveal the core of our human soul. These relationships test the limits of our love, the boundaries of our actions, and the depth of our compassion. These films look at humanity through the lens of the people that we love, or should love the most. — Kirby Peñafiel EL CAMINO Dir.: Alexander Lee • THE BOARDWALK Dir.: Ougie Pak • FATA MORGANA Dir.: Amelie Wen • BA Dir.: Leandro Tadashi • COME, THE LIGHT Dir.: Chao Koi-Wang

SAT APR 23 • 6:30 PM • DTIND

TRT: 99 mins.

When life bears down on you, it’s natural to lean on a trusted friend, a family member, or even a loved one. As this collection of new works clearly spell out, “having one’s back” isn’t a guarantee of anything. A crisis of conscience, a moment of clarity, even an acknowledgement of utter futility can lead to a mind-altering, lifechanging, and even spiritual epiphany. — Abraham Ferrer MOTHERLAND Dir.: Dew Napattaloong • THE DISAPPOINTMENT TOUR Dir.: Erica Liu • JAYA Dir.: Puja Maewal • DIAN Dir.: Tamara Shogaolu • VENOM THERAPY Dir.: Steven Murashige • SONG ON CANVAS Dir.: Keo Woolford

SAT APR 23 • 9:30 PM • TATEUCHI

LOVE?

NEW STUDENT MOVEMENTS, ASIANS ON CAMPUS

What happens after that first blush of romance? If you follow your heart, where will it take you? This program explores the possibilities, featuring directors from across the globe, each with a fresh and powerful point of view. With each film, ask yourself, “is this love?” — Eseel Borlasa

As the per student public spending for University of California students decreases, the enrollment of “international” undergraduates has increased dramatically. What impact do these large student migrations have on how art and film are taught on public university campuses? What can student films made within a visual art program tell us about a changing “Asia America”?

Highlighting recent student work produced in the Department of Visual Arts at UC San Diego, this program explores the unique creative junctures that can happen in such contexts. — Erica Cho

TRT: 84 mins.

TRT: 77 mins.

GOLDEN GOLDEN Dir.: Erica Cho • THREE WHEELS Dir.: Neang Kavich • FISH Dir.: Saman Hosseinpuor • METAMORPHOSIS Dir.: Elaine Xia • EMPTY SPACES Dir.: Erin Lau • ALWAYS IN MIND Dir.: Lin Xujian

FINGER RUNNING Dir.: Diana Li • CHOHEE PARK Dir.: Chuxin Huo • STATUS Dir.: Eun Lee • DIFFERENT COLOURFUL DESIGNS Dir.: Sindhu Thirumalaisamy • INSIDE THE BATIK Dir.: Tiffany Kurnia • EXCERPT: FENCES Dir.: Vincent Hoang • GROWING UP RED Dirs.: George Fu, Emily Zheng • TEARS OF ZHANG YIMOU Dir.: Sabrina Wang

FRI APR 22 • 6:30 PM • DTIND

PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS

QUIETUS

A longtime strength of the Film Festival, real-life stories of ordinary people and the extraordinary things they accomplish or overcome makes for a heartening movie-going experience. This meeting of both Festival veterans and newcomers yield moving, contemplative, and even whimsical portraits of people and places that we willingly want to make time to know. — Abraham Ferrer

The concept of death is abstract and cerebral. The fear of death, though, is visceral and innate. These films tear into the visceral and drag to the forefront the existential fears of our own mortality.

Through their terror, they bring about the catharsis for us to face these fears. — Kirby Peñafiel

TRT: 102 mins.

NOODLE DELI Dir.: David Liu • MADRAS GOOD OL’ MADRAS Dir.: Mukesh Vidyasagar • I HATE BIG PHONY Dir.: Milton Liu • GAYSIANS Dir.: Vicky Du • BE ABOUT IT Dir.: Christopher Wong

16

FRI APR 22 • 9:30 PM • TATEUCHI

TRT: 98 mins.

FÜR ELISE Dir.: Albert Ventura • MITSUJU Dir.: Nao Nakazawa • FAMILY BONDS Dir.: Takashi Yamamoto • THE GHOST Dir.: Chang-Hao Hsu

SHORTSPROGRAMS

TUE APR 26 • 9:30 PM • TATEUCHI

SEE U SEE ME

MON APR 25 • 8:00 PM • THE GREAT COMPANY

TOP 8

TRT: 94 mins.

The sense of self is a dynamic journey. Sometimes one can be distracted trying to manage perceptions of others, rather than focusing on their own personal growth. Watch how these characters gracefully stand tall, leaning on inner strength and integrity. — Eseel Borlasa THE LOBSTER KID Dir.: Joseph Chen-Chieh Hsu • ROBO SAINTS Dir.: Peter Wonsuk Jin • THE CHICKEN OF WUZUH Dir.: Sungbin Byun • PAPER TIGER Dir.: Chu-Jen Wu • FOR OFELIA, Dir.: Christopher de las Alas • OLD SEAFARER Dir.: Cheng Yu-chieh

The #WeOwnthe8th Short Film Program

Birthed from the #WeOwnThe8th movement, in conjunction with the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, TOP 8 is a program of short films showcasing works from API filmmaking talent nationwide. Submissions are now open for the 2016 TOP 8 program, and MUST be received for consideration by 11:59 PM on April 1, 2016. The program line-up will be announced on April 8, 2016 at #WeOwnthe8th.

For entry guidelines to TOP 8: weownthe8th.com; Twitter: #The8th For directions to The Great Company, please see page 19 or write: info@thegreatcompany.com

TUE APR 26 • 7:00 PM • DTIND

SUN APR 24 • 8:00 PM • ARATANI

THE UNREADY HERO

VC DIGITAL POSSE, VER. 2016

A nostalgic throwback to weekend action television, this lineup brings together exciting stories of unready heroes. Join them as they embark on journeys armed with bold visual direction, a flair for homage, and just enough determination to take on their challenges, even if they’ve yet to get their lives together. — Quincy

Stories of intriguing personalities, dubious connections, and one whopper of a fairy tale are on tap as Visual Communications and UCLA’s Center for Ethnocommunications reconvene for the fourteenth edition of our popular showcase of emerging and “on the verge” cinematic artists. Inventive and resourceful in equal measure, the “VC Digital Posse” is once again poised to set the stage for exciting things to come, so please make it out, and do stay tuned… — Abraham Ferrer

TRT: 95 mins.

Surasmith

LOVE, WORK & OTHER DEMONS Dir.: Gorby Shih • GENGHIS KHAN CONQUERS THE MOON Dir.: Kerry Yang • HIMIKO THE GODSLAYER VS. THE DAEMON LEGION OF AZURE DRAGONS Dir.: Hikaru Tsukuda • HERO SHOW Dir.: Takumi Kondo • SUMO ROAD ~ THE MUSICAL~ Dir.: Ken Ochiai

TRT: 57 mins.

BEHIND THE MASK: THE STORY OF NATHAN PHUONG Dir.: Andy Ta • MASTER OF THE SKY: THE LIFE AND ART OF SAM KOJI Dir.: Sumiko Braun • 100 HUMMINGBIRDS Dir.: Jess Chen • FAMILY PORTRAIT Dir.: Tulica Singh • HEART OF MIND Dir.: Sumiko Braun • HOME IS WHERE THE SUNSETS Dir.: Kayla Tong • HAND FART Dir.: Stanley Wong • HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CLAIRE Dir.: Conrad Lihilihi • NUOC Dir.: Quyen Nguyen-Le • SAMEER AND THE GIANT SAMOSA Dir.: Faroukh Virani MON APR 25 • 9:15 PM • CGV3

MON APR 25 • 9:30 PM • CGV 2

WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?

WHAT’S IN A NAME

Sometimes, the comings and goings of our friends and significant “others” are simply out of our control — the people we date, the people we love, even the people we party with. We can’t even control what happens in chance encounters and blind dates. Meet five souls, each negotiating their own challenges and random opportunities. For each, let’s hope for happy endings… — Abraham Ferrer

Naming is historical and cultural. It is carefully prayed over and researched. However, it’s not etched in stone. Rather a name evolves from experiences. Discover these fictional and documentary stories of people articulating their fate. — Kristen Lee

TRT: 82 mins.

SOUNDS WE HAVE NO LETTER FOR Dir.: Bernard Badion • BRITNEY-HOLICS ANONYMOUS: A SPEAR-ITUAL AWAKENING Dir.: Jerell Rosales • MOVE OUT NOTICE Dir.: Leon Cheo • NIGHT OUT Dir.: Jeff Man • JOHN HUGHES RUINED MY LIFE Dir.: Milton Liu

TRT: 107 mins.

A PLACE CALLED HOME Dir.: Xiaoxiao Chen • FROM TONGA Dir.: Huay-Bing Law • BRUCE TAKES DRAGON TOWN Dir.: Emily Chao • -IN-WAITING Dir.: Atsuko Okatsuka • FALL SEVEN TIMES, GET UP EIGHT: THE JAPANESE WAR BRIDES Dir.: Karen Kasmauski, Kathryn Tolbert, Lucy Craft

17

G E N E R A L I N F O R M AT I O N All programs are subject to change and/or cancellation without prior notice. For updated program and event information, please check our website at www.vconline.org/festival.

ALL WORKS PRESENTED IN THE FESTIVAL ARE UNRATED. PLEASE CONSULT PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS CONTAINED INSIDE. PARENTAL GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTED.

For information on the Festival, or to obtain a Festival calendar of events, please visit www.vconline.org/festival or call the Film Festival hotline at (213) 680-4462 x68.

NOTE: Please arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled program. Seating cannot be guaranteed for ticket holders who arrive after the program begins. Empty seats may be resold; no refunds will be issued.

TICKET INFORMATION C3: CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE CONTENT:

ADMISSION:

The Conference for Creative Content (C3) panels are slated for the weekend of April 23 & 24 at the Aratani Central Hall @ the Japanese American National Museum.

$14 - General $13 - Students & Seniors $12 - Members of VC

$40 – General (April 23 & 24) $35 – Students, Seniors, & Members of VC & JANM (April 23 & 24) $25 – General (One day only) $20 – Students, Seniors, & Members of VC & JANM (One day only)

SPECIAL PROGRAM PRICES: OPENING NIGHT at the Aratani Theatre @ the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center $50 - Screening & Gala Reception $45 - Students, Seniors, & Members of VC/JACCC

TICKET PACKAGES: $100 (member) / $110 (non-member) - Festival 10-pack

FESTIVAL CENTERPIECE at the Aratani Theatre @ the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center: $20 - Screening & Party* SCREENING ONLY:

10-pack vouchers can be redeemed for all ticketed programs EXCEPT for Opening Night, Closing Night, Centerpiece, and C3 Conference. No limit per program. Ticket packages must be redeemed in advance; vouchers do not function as an admission ticket. Ticket package sales end FRIDAY, April 15.

$16 - General $15 - Students & Seniors $14 - Members of VC/JACCC

FREE PROGRAMS: “UPON THE FRAGILE SHORE + REFLECT|ON” (Transmedia) Friday, April 22, 5 PM, Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ the Japanese American National Museum

*Includes admission to Saturday Night Celebration party @ Mumford Brewing

CLOSING NIGHT at the Directors Guild of America: $50 - General (Screening & Gala Reception) $45 - Students, Seniors, & Members of VC/DGA

“FROM VISION TO REEL 2016” (Youth Media) Saturday, April 23, 11:30 AM, Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ the Japanese American National Museum

DIGITAL HISTORIES at the Aratani Theatre @ the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center: $10 - suggested donation

Free to the Public. Tickets are required for admission into the theatre and will be distributed online and at the Box Office. First come, first served.

GROUP DISCOUNTS:

RUSH TICKETS:

REFUND/EXCHANGE POLICY:

Bring your friends and save! Discounts for groups of 10 or more people are available in advance; cost is $10 per person. Deadline is FRIDAY, APRIL 15 for group orders. To order, call (213) 680-4462 x59.

In the event of a sold-out program, a limited number of seats may become available immediately prior to screening. A Rush Line will be formed next to the Box Office. Seating and pre-purchased tickets are not guaranteed for late arrivals.

All Sales Are Final. No refunds or exchanges will be given except for program cancellations.

HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS: 1. ONLINE: The quickest and easiest way to purchase your tickets is by ordering online. Tickets will be available for purchase online beginning MONDAY, MARCH 14 (VC Members only) and MONDAY, MARCH 21 (general public). Online ticket sales for individual programs end one (1) hour prior to its screening.

2. PHONE: From MARCH 21 to APRIL 20, you may also order tickets by calling the 2016 Festival Ticket Line at (213) 680-4462 x59, Monday – Friday, 12pm – 5pm.

NOTE: Service fees apply to online and phone orders.

3. IN-PERSON: Tickets available for all shows can be purchased at the following locations during the Festival.

FESTIVAL HQ @ Far East Lounge April 22 – April 24 Aratani Theatre April 21 – 24 Japanese American National Museum April 22 – April 27 Downtown Independent April 22 – April 27

Aratani Central Hall April 23 – April 24 CGV Cinemas April 25 – April 27 The Great Company April 25 Directors Guild of America April 28

Box Office opens one (1) hour prior to the first show of the day. Please purchase tickets early as programs may sell out.

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VENUE&PARKINGINFORMATION ARATANI THEATRE at the JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTER 244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012

TATEUCHI DEMOCRACY FORUM at the JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM 111 N. Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012

ARATANI CENTRAL HALL at the JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTER 100 N. Central Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012

DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT

PARKING Several pay lots available in Little Tokyo.

Metered street parking is also available.

PARKING Several pay lots available in Little Tokyo.

Metered street parking is also available.

PARKING Several pay lots available in Little Tokyo.

Metered street parking is also available.

PARKING Several pay lots available in Downtown LA. 24-hour parking lot behind the theater (enter on Spring Street or Harlem Lane).

251 S. Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90012

PARKING Parking: CGV parking available at the Madang site through an entrance on Manhattan Street. Parking tickets validated by CGV grant 3 hours of free parking at the Madang parking complex. Please arrive early to access parking.

CGV CINEMAS 621 S. Western Ave. (between 6th and Wilshire Blvd.)

Los Angeles, CA 90005

Otherwise, pay lots are available in the surrounding areas.

THE GREAT COMPANY

PARKING Street parking is available; please be aware of parkingrestrictions and red zones.

1917 Bay Street Los Angeles, CA 90021

DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA 7920 Sunset Blvd (at Hayworth, one block west of Fairfax Ave.) West Hollywood, CA 90046

PARKING Option #1: Underground parking structure beneath DGA (entrance on Hayworth Ave.) Option #2: Overflow parking structure across Hayworth, beneath Sunset-Lofts development. There is a designated parking level for DGA patrons.

Please arrive early to access complimentary parking. Otherwise, pay lots are available at 8000 Sunset Blvd. LAAPFF requests that all patrons DO NOT park in the surrounding residential areas.

>> For more information, please visit www.vconline.org/festival

FESTIVALPARTIES&AFTERHOURS Whether it be a post-screening Gala or happy hour meet-up after a long day of Festivaling, we have an enticing line-up of parties, meet-up, and networking events for those seeking a live "community" to compare notes on this year's screenings.

Be sure to check back, more info to come!

LAAPFF + AAM FESTIVAL KICKOFF PARTY SAT APR 2 @ 7PM $20 (free for invited Guests) USC Pacific Asia Museum 46 North Los Robles Ave Pasadena, CA 91101

FILMMAKER FRIDAY presented by HBO (invited Filmmakers & Guests only) FRI APR 22 @ 8PM Señor Fish 155 S Main St, Los Angeles

DIGITAL HISTORIES RECEPTION (invited Guests only) SUN APR 24 @ 4-5:30PM JACCC Garden Room 244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles

OPENING NIGHT GALA THU APR 21 @ 9-11PM $25 (free for badge holders & ticket holders) JACCC Plaza 244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles

FESTIVAL BRUNCH presented by FilmLA (invited Filmmakers & Guests only) SAT APR 23 @ 10AM Far Bar 347 E First St, Los Angeles

AWC + C3 RECEPTION SUN APR 24 @ 5-7PM (for invited Guests & C3 ticket holders only) Far Bar 347 E First St, Los Angeles

OPENING NIGHT AFTER PARTY THU APR 21 @ 11PM-close Far Bar 347 E First St, Los Angeles

SATURDAY NIGHT CELEBRATION SAT APR 23 @ 10PM-12AM $10 (free for badge holders) Mumford Brewing 416 Boyd St, Los Angeles

FESTIVAL AWARDS CEREMONY THU APR 28 @ 5-6:30PM Directors Guild of America – Atrium 7920 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles

CLOSING NIGHT GALA THU APR 28 @ 9-11PM $25 (free for badge holders & ticket holders) Directors Guild of America 7920 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles FESTIVAL PUB HUBs: Little Tokyo FRI APR 22 – WED APR 27 @ 5PM-close (specials for badge holders & ticket holders) Far Bar 347 E First St, Los Angeles Koreatown MON APR 25 – WED APR 27 @ 5PM-close (specials for badge holders & ticket holders) Beer Belly 532 S Western Ave, Los Angeles 19

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U . S . P O S TA G E

120 Judge John Aiso Street, Basement Level Los Angeles, California 90012

P A I D LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

PERMIT NUMBER 34005

vconline.org

THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Festival Sponsors:

PRESENTING: Lexus • PLATINUM: Comcast NBCUniversal; Sony Pictures Entertainment • GOLD: Directors Guild of America; HBO; Nielsen; Wells Fargo • SILVER: FilmLA; Pechanga • BRONZE: Go Little Tokyo; SAG-Indie • STAR: Metro; Motion Pictures Editors Guild; SAG-AFTRA; Simple DCP; Writers Guild of America/west • GOVERNMENT: California Humanities; Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Arts Commission; National Endowment for the Arts • FOUNDATION: Aratani Foundation; Asian Pacific Community Fund; M.A. & Josephine R. Grisham Foundation; James Irvine Foundation; SAG-P IACF • MEDIA: Angry Asian Man, Form follows Function; International Documentary Association; LA-18 KSCI-TV; Myx TV; TRAKTIVIST.com • VENUE: CGV Cinemas; Directors Guild of America; Downtown Independent; Far Bar; Far East Lounge; Japanese American Cultural & Community Center; Japanese American National Museum; Mumford Brewing; Señor Fish; The Great Company; USC Pacific Asia Museum • RECEPTION: AFC Soy Foods; Asahi; Bruce Tea; Creme Caramel LA; Far Bar; First Street Catering; Found Coffee; Kirin; Holding Thumbs Wine; LA18 KSCI-TV; Maze Wines; NBCUniversal; Maison Akira; Peter Ly, Martell Brand Ambassador; Pop'd Up; Señor Fish; Stella Artois; The Boba Truck; The Park's Finest; Twinkle Brown Sugar • IN KIND: FestPro; HBO; Meiji; Mendocino Farms; Piehole; Shiftboard.com; Telepath Corporation; The Park's Finest

VENUE SPONSORS:

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MEDIA SPONSORS: