24Hours.com has run a brief article about the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, which is taking place even as we chat. Here's an excerpt:

The 10th edition of the festival is a five-day affair featuring 40 short and feature-length films from Asians hailing from all across North America.

"People are starting to get it," [festival founder Barbara] Lee told 24 hours.

"I think it's because of the influence that Asian films are having on Hollywood and we are saying you don't have to go to Asia to find great stories, filmmakers with a unique perspective ... I see these festivals as the festivals of the future as many other bigger name ones are being taken over by Hollywood - we really have a sense of independence in our programming."