BAAFF IN THE NEWS (2012)‘Twilight’ werewolf in town for film festival OCTOBER 23, 2012
By Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein | GLOBE STAFF
Attention “Twilight” fans: Actor Booboo Stewart, who plays Seth, the youngest werewolf in the vampire franchise, will be in town on Thursday for the Boston Asian American Film Festival, which runs Thursday through Sunday at the Paramount Center, the Brattle Theatre, and Somerville Theatre. The Asian American Resource Workshop, which produces the festival, sent out the list of visiting talent on Tuesday, and it includes Stewart and Ellie Wen, who produced Stewart’s film “White Frog,” which also stars Tyler Posey of MTV’s “Teen Wolf” and Kelly Hu, of “The Vampire Diaries.” (Worth noting is that none of the actors play supernatural creatures in “White Frog,” a drama about a boy who deals with a family tragedy.) Also in town for the festival will be legendary martial artist Pui Chan. He’ll be there for Saturday’s screening of “Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer.” "Enemy Alien" Free Screening Tuesday 10/9
BAAFF co-presents Enemy Alien at the Boston Palestine Film Festival Tuesday, 10/9 at 8pm | Director Konrad Aderer will be present for Q&A http://www.bostonpalestinefilmfest.org/bpff-event/enemy-alien/ Enemy Alien follows the fight to free Farouk Abdel-Muhti, a Palestinian-born human rights activist detained in a post-9/11 sweep of Muslim immigrants. Through the eyes of the young filmmaker, whose Japanese-American grandparents were interned, Enemy Alien fuels the ongoing public conversation about the human rights of immigrants and refugees in the US. Boston Premiere THE 2012 BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES LINE UP,
OCTOBER 25-28 AT THE BRATTLE THEATRE AND ARTSEMERSON: THE WORLD ON STAGE Fourth Edition Celebrates the Best in Asian American Cinema With Nine Features, Two Short Film Programs and Filmmaker Guests Boston, MA —The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF), a production of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW), announces a provocative and entertaining program of independent cinema highlighting recent, significant works by and/or about Asian Americans and the Asian diaspora. The festival takes place October 25th to 28th in Boston at Emerson College’s Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center; in Cambridge at the Brattle Theatre; and in Somerville at the Somerville Theatre. This fourth edition of the festival features more than five Boston/New England premieres, exclusive Q&As with filmmakers and various co-sponsored events around Boston. “This year’s selection includes an energetic, thought-provoking range of contemporary films which speak to the breadth and depth of Asian American cinema as it stands today, and we are proud to continue to present these works to the Boston area,” say Festival Director Susan Chinsen. “From romantic comedies to thoughtful documentaries, to serious dramas and innovative short films, the festival celebrates the power of cinema to inspire, provoke and educate our diverse audiences.” The festival opens on October 25th, 7:30pm at the Brattle Theatre in Cambridge with Quentin Lee’s WHITE FROG, a twist on the coming-of-age genre film. Starring some of film and television’s most acclaimed and recognizable actors – including Booboo Stewart, Joan Chen, B.D. Wong, and Harry Shum, Jr. – WHITE FROG is an incisive look at the modern American family centered on a young autistic boy coping with the death of his older brother, and ultimately a universal story of the power of family and friendship in the face of difference and tragedy. The film festival weekend continues with gems from the festival circuit, including Ernesto Foronda (producer, BETTER LUCK TOMORROW) and Sila Howard’s SUNSET STORIES, a quirky tribute to Los Angeles; WEDDING PALACE, a comedy and debut feature by Christine Yoo; Lily Mariye’s devastating teen drama MODEL MINORITY; YES, WE’RE OPEN, a flirtatious take on love and relationships by Richard Wong and H.P. Mendoza (COLMA: THE MUSICAL, FRUIT FLY); and SHANGHAI CALLING, Daniel Hsia’s expat romantic comedy. This year, the festival will present two powerful documentaries which each have a unique relevance to the Boston community. BAAFF’s timely Centerpiece Presentation during this primary election season is MR. CAO GOES TO WASHINGTON, a film by acclaimed documentary filmmaker S. Leo Chiang (A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES). The film is a compelling portrait of rookie congressman Joseph Cao who traverses party lines in the pursuit of his ideals and beliefs, and is a refreshing and thoughtful look at how personal choices can affect the community at large. PUI CHAN: KUNG FU PIONEER, the debut documentary film by actress and martial arts master Mimi Chan (best known as the model for Disney’s MULAN), is the ultimate tribute to one of the men who brought Chinese martial arts to the United States. Grandmaster Pui Chan’s Wah Lum Kung Fu Academy and Athletic Association has since become the most important and well-established martial arts system in the United States, and this film hopes to draw in enthusiasts, students and filmgoers alike to a celebration of shared cultural heritage. The 2012 BAAFF will feature two specially curated short film programs. FEAR BUFFET is a set of six short films that offer different takes on all things frightful, and REEL FOOD offers eight family-friendly shorts about the lighter sides of life. On Friday October 26, 7pm at the Somerville Theatre, BAAFF will be co-sponsoring a special screening of I AM A GHOST with Boston’s Shudder Fest Horror Film Festival. H.P. Mendoza’s piercing thriller deftly demonstrates the versatility of the Asian-American horror feature film and is the winner of Best New Horror Director by SF Weekly. Tickets to the 2012 BAAFF can be purchased at the door or online by visiting baaff.org. Individual tickets for each film (excluding the Opening Night film) are $10 for General Admission, and additional member and student rates may be available and vary depending on venue. Tickets to the Opening Night film at the Brattle Theatre are $25 for General Admission or $20 for Early-Birds purchased by October 18. For more information and updates on the 2012 Boston Asian American Film Festival, visit http:// www.baaff.org/ or contact us at baaff@aarw.org. THE 2012 BOSTON ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAM LINE-UP THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012 7:30pm, Brattle Theatre, Cambridge -- OPENING FILM Boston Exclusive! Guest Appearance and Q&A with Producer and Writer Ellie Wen With Special Lion Dance Performance by Wah Lum Martial Arts Academy WHITE FROG USA | 2012 | 93 min | Color | Drama Directed by Quentin Lee 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. Please note: David Henry Hwang is the Executive Producer of WHITE FROG, and his play “Chinglish” will be opening at the Lyric Stage Company of Boston in November. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2012 5:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston SUNSET STORIES USA | 2012 | 87 min | Color | Drama Directed by Ernesto Foronda, Silas Howard May (Monique Gabriela Curnen, THE DARK KNIGHT) 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), 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. -- Anderson Le, LAAPFF 7:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston Q&A with director Christine Yoo WEDDING PALACE USA & Korea | 2011 | 98 min | Color | Comedy Directed by Christine Yoo 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. - Vera Devera, LAAPFF 7:00pm, Somerville Theatre, Somerville SPECIAL CO-PRESENTATION with Shudder Fest Horror Film Festival – BOSTON PREMIERE! Q&A with director H.P. Mendoza I AM A GHOST USA | 2012 | 74 min | Color | Horror Directed by H.P Mendoza 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 9:30pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston Special Appearance by filmmakers Wesley Du (dir. DUMPLING) and Scott Eriksson (dir. HOW WAR ENDS, NAKAMURA’S ADDICTION) FEAR BUFFET: A Shorts Program 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), BLOOKTRAFFICK (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. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2012 2:00pm, Brattle Theatre, Cambridge NEW ENGLAND PREMIERE – Special performance by Wah Lum Kung Fu! Special Guest Appearance by Mimi Chan and Grandmaster Pui Chan PUI CHAN: KUNG FU PIONEER USA | 2012 | 92 min | Color | Documentary Directed by Mimi Chan 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. 4:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston MODEL MINORITY USA | 2012 | 94 min | Color | Drama Directed by Lily Mariye 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.” 7:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION – BOSTON PREMIERE! Q&A with director S. Leo Chiang MR. CAO GOES TO WASHINGTON USA | 2012 | 72 min | Color | Documentary Directed by S. Leo Chiang 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? Please note: Screening preceded by REAL TALK (directed by Patrick Ng), a short film about a friendship in a New York neighborhood. 9:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston BOSTON PREMIERE YES, WE’RE OPEN USA | 2012 | 80 min | Color | Drama Directed by Richard Wong 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. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2012 12:30pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston ENCORE PRESENTATION Special Guest Appearance by Mimi Chan and Grandmaster Pui Chan! PUI CHAN: KUNG FU PIONEER USA | 2012 | 92 min | Color | Documentary Directed by Mimi Chan 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. 3:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston REEL FOOD: A Shorts Program 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), THE 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. 5:00pm, Bright Family Screening Room in the Paramount Center, Boston CLOSING FILM - BOSTON PREMIERE! SHANGHAI CALLING USA/China | 2012 | 100 min | Color | Drama Directed by Daniel Hsia 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. --------- For screeners and interviews contact chanel.kong@gmail.com. About Boston Asian American Film Festival The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. BAAFF is a production of Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW); funded in part by Tufts Medical Center, Wellesley Toyota, The Lyric Stage Company of Boston and MA Cultural Council; supported by ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage, Comcast and Rule Boston Camera; in partnership with Boston Asian American Student Intercollegiate Council, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Kollaboration Boston and National Association of Asian American Professionals- Boston. About Asian American Resource Workshop The mission of the Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) is to work for the empowerment of the Asian Pacific American community to achieve its full participation in the U.S. society. AARW is a member-based organization that seeks to document the diverse Asian Pacific American histories, experiences, and social conditions. Our resource and activities are used to respond to current Asian Pacific American issues and to promote Asian Pacific American identity. Additional funding is provided by Community Works. About ArtsEmerson: The World On Stage ArtsEmerson was established by Emerson College to program the beautifully restored 590- seat Paramount Mainstage; the versatile, intimate Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre (“The Jackie”), which can seat up to 150 people; the state-of-the-art 170-seat Bright Family Screening Room (all located within the new Paramount Center, a cornerstone in the revitalization of downtown Boston); and the beloved, historic 1,186-seat Cutler Majestic Theatre in the heart of the Theatre District, fully restored by Emerson in 2003. Under the leadership of Rob Orchard, ArtsEmerson gives Boston audiences a new level of cultural choice, bringing professional American and international work to its four distinct venues. In addition to its acclaimed theatre works, ArtsEmerson presents adventurous, independent and repertory films on weekends, and offers a diverse music program including cutting edge indie rock and world music. For more information, visit artsemerson.org. About Emerson College Located in Boston, Massachusetts, opposite the historic Boston Common and in the heart of the city’s Theatre District, Emerson College educates individuals who will solve problems and change the world through engaged leadership in communication and the arts, a mission informed by liberal learning. The College has 3,453 undergraduates and 837 graduate students from across the United States and 50 countries. Supported by state-of-the-art facilities and a renowned faculty, students participate in more than 80 student organizations and performance groups. Emerson is known for its study and internship programs in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., the Netherlands, London, China, and the Czech Republic. The College has an active network of 32,000 alumni who hold leadership positions in communication and the arts. For more information, visit www.emerson.edu. ### |
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