2012 Film Festival
2012 | 93 mins | Drama
Directed by Quentin Lee 10/25, 7:30pm |
Opening Night - White Frog (East Coast Premiere)Thursday, October 25, 7:30pm
Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge After the death of his popular brother Chaz (Harry Shum Jr. ), Nick (BooBoo Stewart), who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, struggles to carry on. Nick’s parents have their own problems coping with the loss, but Chaz’s best friend Randy (Gregg Sulkin) takes Nick under his wing. As Chaz’s family comes to understand his secret life, they will be forced to reconcile the boy they thought they knew with the man he really was. WHITE FROG is a universal story of the power of family, friendship and love positioned to appeal to a broad audience in the same way as ORDINARY PEOPLE and STAND BY ME. Guest Appearance and Q&A with Actor Booboo Stewart, Producer/Writer Ellie Wen and Executive Producer David Henry Hwang Special Lion Dance Performance by Wah Lum Martial Arts Academy |
2012 | 87 mins | Drama
Directed by Ernesto Foronda, Silas Howard |
Sunset Stories (New England Premiere)Friday, October 26, 5:00pm
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston May (Monique Gabriela Curnen, THE DARK KNIGHT; FINISHING THE GAME, Festival 2007), is a high-strung nurse based in Boston. She reluctantly returns to Los Angeles, her former home, to retrieve bone marrow for a transplant. Soon after her trip begins, her world turns upside down when past and present collide and she runs smack into rocker JP (Sung Kang from the FAST & FURIOUS series in full sensitive, cool, heartbreakingly handsome-mode), her former fiancé who she left five years earlier. Flustered, May loses the cooler containing the marrow. With only 24 hours remaining, the two embark on an AFTER HOURS-style journey up and down Sunset Boulevard, meeting a cast of eccentrics ranging from a transgender chanteuse at the Silverlake Lounge, a self-conscious young Mexican graphic artist, a struggling actor who takes any gig seriously (even if it’s dressed as a tube of toothpaste on the Hollywood Walk of Fame), and a bag lady who may just be Kevin Bacon's biggest fan. |
2011 | 98 mins | Comedy
Directed by Christine Yoo |
Wedding Palace
Friday, October 26, 7:00pm
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston Jason Kim, a 29-year old advertising executive (Brian Tee from THE FAST AND FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT), feels the pressure from his parents and other relatives to wed before his 30th birthday in order to avoid an ancient curse placed on his family. A visit from a Shaman, played by Margaret Cho, reminds Jason and his family that if he is not married before his 30th birthday, he will certainly die a horrible death. On a business trip in Seoul, Jason falls for businesswoman Na-Young, played by popular Korean star Hye-jung Kang (OLDBOY, WELCOME TO DONGMAKGOL). News of their budding online relationship gives Jason’s family hope, until the young bride to be touches down at LAX and she is not what Jason’s family, or for that matter, Jason himself, expected… In this day of virtual dating, are webcam sessions and phone calls enough to really know someone? Are Na Young and Jason the perfect match? Sit back and enjoy the ride in this rollicking family comedy where finding true love could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance of happiness, or a sure path to regret. Q&A with director Christine Yoo |
2012 | 74 mins | Horror
Directed by H.P Mendoza |
I Am A Ghost (Boston Premiere)
Friday, October 26, 7:00PM, 9:00PM
Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square, Somerville I AM A GHOST focuses on a woman named Emily (Anna Ishida), a ghost who is unaware of her present and past due to her current physical and mental state. Soon enough, another individual is introduced into the empty house she inhabits, a medium named Sylvia (Jeannie Barragoa). Sylvia makes an effort to communicate a few important points to Emily, as Emily searches for the answers of her own confusing state of existence. As Emily tries to find out about her own past, present and future, right when you think the story is about to end, something very strange happens. – Rochelle Lazada, LAAPFF Q&A with director H.P Mendoza and producer Mark Del Lima. Co-presented with the ShudderFest Horror Film Festival |
Fear Buffet: A Shorts Program
Friday, October 26, 9:30PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston Featuring DUMPLING (dir. Wesley Du), HOW WAR ENDS (dir. Scott Eriksson), FORTUNE COOKIE MAGIC TRICK (dir. Alex Chu), MR. NAKAMURA’S ADDICTION (dir. Scott Eriksson), BLOODTRAFFICK (dir. Jennifer Thym) and DOWN UNDER (dir. Ray Arthur Wang) Join us for some scary fun and sample tastes of horror, fear and other flavors of frightful situations in this interesting short film program. READ MORE>> Special Appearance by filmmakers Wesley Du (dir. DUMPLING), Scott Eriksson (dir. HOW WAR ENDS, MR. NAKAMURA’S ADDICTION), Ray Arthur Wang (dir. Down Under) |
2012 | 92 mins | Documentary
Directed by Mimi Chan |
Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer (New England Premiere)
Saturday, October 27, 2:00PM
Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge "Step into the extraordinary life of a Chinese immigrant who achieved the American dream. This biography follows a boy who learns the value of hard work and perseverance through kung fu training. He escapes the harshness of political oppression, bravely ventures out, and embraces opportunity in a new land.The highly recognized Grandmaster Pui Chan is one of the pioneers responsible for bringing traditional kung fu to America. He built the first kung fu temple here, and leads an international martial arts system. Pui’s daughter Mimi Chan confronts the challenges of trying to keep tradition alive in a modernized era." Special performance by Wah Lum Kung Fu Special guest appearance and Q&A by Mimi Chan and Grandmaster Pui Chan |
2012 | 94 mins | Drama
Directed by Lily Mariye |
Model Minority (New England Premiere)Saturday, October 27, 4:00PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston L.A. teenagers survive the treacherous world of peer pressure, drug dealers, juvenile hall and dysfunctional families. Kayla, an underprivileged Japanese American 16-year-old, endangers her promising future as an aspiring artist when she becomes involved with a drug dealer. Director Lily Mariye describes MODEL MINORITY as “a film about redemption, the struggles of the 21st century family and hope for the future.” |
2012 | 72 mins | Documentary
Directed by S. Leo Chiang |
Mr. Cao Goes To Washington (Boston Premiere)Saturday, October 27, 7:00PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston Rookie congressman Joseph Cao of Louisiana angers fellow Republicans by befriending President Obama, then he alienates the President by voting with the Republicans against Health Care Reform. Will bipartisanship reward or ruin his chances for re-election? Q&A with director S. Leo Chiang Co-presented with The Doc Yard Screening preceded by REAL TALK (directed by Patrick Ng), a short film about a friendship in a New York neighborhood. |
2012 | 80 mins | Drama
Directed by Richard Wong |
Yes, We're Open (Boston Premiere)Saturday, October 27, 9:00PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston Luke and Sylvia think of themselves as a modern couple – always in the know and open to new experiences. Enter Elena and Ronald – a provocative polyamorous couple that challenge Luke and Sylvia’s status in their circle of friends and with each other. With temptation right around the corner, Luke and Sylvia must figure out where they really stand on love, sex, and honesty. YES, WE'RE OPEN takes an intimate look at the unconventional world of San Francisco relationships, where promiscuity and fidelity aren’t always mutually exclusive. |
Afterparty @ ShojoSaturday, October 27, 11:00pm until 1:00am
9A Tyler St., Boston Come celebrate our film festival weekend and Halloween weekend with us! Meet new people, have some fun, get some mingling on. FREE admission. LIVE DJ! Light refreshments will be served, first come first serve. Dress up if you like for the spirit of HALLOWEEN! |
Reel Food: A Shorts ProgramSunday, October 28, 3:00PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston Featuring WONDER BOY (dir. Corrie Chen), PEOPLE AREN’T ALL BAD (dir. Matthew Hashiguchi), THE COMMITMENT (dir. Albert M. Chan), BLEACHED (dir. Jessica Dela Merced), CAFÉ ELEVE (dir. Kelly Li), MY 2009 EXPERIENCE (dir. Henry Ho), COMMITMENT (dir. Raahul Singh) and NANI (dir. Justin Tipping) A showcase of some of the finest short films by up-and-coming filmmakers who make cinematic forays into personal identity, family crises and everything else in life. Read more info here >> Special Appearance by filmmakers Henry Ho (dir. My 2009 Experience), Albert Chan (dir. The Commitment), and Kelly Li (dir, Café Eleve) |
2012 | 100 mins | Drama
Directed by Daniel Hsia |
Shanghai Calling (Boston Premiere)Sunday, October 28, 5:00PM
Bright Family Screening Room, The Paramount Center, 559 Washington Street, Boston SHANGHAI CALLING is a romantic comedy about modern-day American immigrants in an unfamiliar land. When an ambitious New York attorney is sent to Shanghai on assignment, he immediately stumbles into a legal mess that could spell the end of his career. But with help from a beautiful relocation specialist, a well-connected foreign businessman, a clever but unassuming journalist, and a street-smart assistant, Sam might just save his job, discover romance, and learn to appreciate the many wonders Shanghai has to offer. Q&A with director Daniel Hsia |
2012 Film Festival trailers
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