Asian CineVision in association with the Asia Society presents the 26th Asian American International Film Festival June 20-29 in New York City. The festival opens with Mani Ratman's "A Peck on the Cheek," closes with Mina Shum's "Long Life, Happiness, and Prosperity," and screens Greg Pak's "Robot Stories" as its Centerpiece Presentation.
AsianAmericanFilm.com is co-presenting the festival's Works-In-Progress screening, a workshop event during which brave filmmakers show works in progress to get feedback from each other and the audience. This year's participants include "Fillumstar: The Peter Patel Story" by Rehana Mirza and "Kunqu Workshop" by Sen-I Yu. The event takes place June 21 at 4:45 p.m.
For more information about the festival and its offerings, visit the official festival website. For more information about the festival's featured films, read on:
FRIDAY, JUNE 20
OPENING NIGHT FILM AND GALA
A PECK ON THE CHEEK (KANNATHIL MUTHAMITTAL) - NEW YORK PREMIERE
A film by Mani Ratnam
"Why did you abandon me? Did you touch me even once after I was born?" Nine-year-old Amudha wants to ask her birth mother after finding out on her ninth birthday that she was adopted. Amudha heads to war-torn Sri Lanka to find her birth mother and through her eyes we see a ravaged Sri Lanka impacted by twenty years of struggle. An idyllic country that is torn apart by the sudden bursts of violence and terror. The cries of anguish and the agony of tragedy. This film is a melodrama depicting the brutal, human costs of war by two-time Academy Award nominee veteran director MANI RATNAM.
Producer SRINIVASAN and lead actor R. MADHAVAN to attend. Sponsored by JP Morgan Chase
$50 Asia Society/Asian CineVision members; $75 nonmembers (includes gala reception)
TICKET ORDERS: Buy tickets online; box office 212 517-ASIA (as of June 1)
THURSDAY, JUNE 26
CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION
ROBOT STORIES - NEW YORK CITY PREMIERE
A film by Greg Pak
In his first feature, director GREG PAK use a minimalist multicultural science fiction approach to tell stories about love, death, family…and robots. In “My Robot Baby,” a couple must care for a robot baby before adopting a human child; in “The Robot Fixer,” a mother tries to connect with her dying son by completing his toy collection; in “Machine Love,” an office worker android learns that he, too, needs love; and in “Clay,” an old sculptor must choose between natural death and digital memory.
Writer/Director Greg Pak to attend.
$8 Asia Society/Asian CineVision members; $10 nonmembers
TICKET ORDERS: Buy tickets online; box office 212 517-ASIA
CENTERPIECE PARTY
After the screening of ROBOT STORIES, come back to AAIFF’s exclusive Festival spot for an intimate gathering with award winning filmmaker Greg Pak and special guests. How to get there: 4/5/6 to Union Square
$8 ACV/Asia Society members
$10 non-members
SUNDAY, JUNE 29
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
LONG LIFE, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY - NEW YORK PREMIERE
A film by Mina Shum
Twelve-year-old Mindy Ho is Tao magic-obsessed pre-teen bent on changing the fate of her single mother, an overworked and underpaid waitress at a local dim sum restaurant with little time for affection for her daughter. But Mindy’s inexact experiments with Taoist magic spells cause a series of unintended mishaps: an aging man loses his job as a security guard, a butcher wins the lottery, and several romance entanglements also occur. Oblivious to the disorder she’s initiating, Mindy strives again and again until something does happen. Set in the Cantonese-Canadian community of Vancouver, this latest film by MINA SHUM is a multi-layered narrative gem. Stars SANDRA OH, VALERIE TAN, and TSAI CHIN.
Director MINA SHUM to attend.
Sponsored in part by Canadian Consulate General
$20 Asia Society/Asian CineVision members; $30 nonmembers (includes closing night reception)
TICKET ORDERS: Buy tickets online; box office 212 517-ASIA (as of June 1)
