Visual Communications Presents the 36th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival September 24 to October 31, 2020

September 1, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: PRESS@VCMEDIA.ORG

Highlights Include:
World Premiere of THE GIRL WHO LEFT HOME
U.S. Premiere of THE PAPER TIGERS
Special Screenings of FINDING YINGYING, I’LL MEET YOU THERE,
DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL and A THOUSAND CUTS

September 1, 2020 – (Los Angeles, CA) The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), presented annually by Visual Communications (VC), announced today that the 36th edition of the Festival will take place online from September 24 to October 31, 2020.

Originally slated to take place in May 2020, the Festival postponed its in-person spring presentation due to COVID-19, and shifted to present the first Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Virtual Showcase. The organization felt it was important to showcase Asian American and Pacific Islander stories during that time, due to the rise in anti-Asian American sentiment and violence.

VC continues to move forward, and as part of their commitment to create spaces for expression, engagement, and empowerment, the 36th edition of LAAPFF moves forward from September 24 to October 31,and will virtually present the works of more than 225 filmmakers across five weekends.

“Visual Communications is grateful for these storytellers who believe in the power of media to build and connect communities,” said Francis Cullado, Executive Director of Visual Communications. He added, “VC thanks these artists and community members for utilizing their creative powers to oppose racism and amplify change.”

The online Festival will showcase the long awaited World and Local premieres of  I’LL MEET YOU THERE (dir. Iram Parveen Bilal); ONE MEAL (dir. Yuechen Hao); ACCEPT THE CALL (dir. Eunice Lau); THE GIRL WHO LEFT HOME (dir. Mallorie Ortega); FINDING YINGYING (dir. Jiayan “Jenny” Shi); and THE CELINE ARCHIVE (dir. Celine Parreñas Shimizu).

LAAPFF will also present the timely stories of Ramona S. Diaz’s A THOUSAND CUTS; Baljit Sangra’s BECAUSE WE ARE GIRLS; and Ursula Liang’s DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL.

Join LAAPFF for kick-ass narratives like THE PAPER TIGERS (dir. Bao Tran),along with international cinema selections DEATH OF NINTENDO (dir. Raya Martin) and PATUTIKI: THE GUARDIANS OF MARQUESAN TATTOO (dirs. Christophe Cordier & Heretu Tetahiotupa).

In the lead-up to Election Day, the Festival aims to present diverse and important American stories. Watch Larissa Lam’s FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH, Kelly Ng & Hui Tong’s CURTAIN UP!, and Jason DaSilva’s WHEN WE WALK.

As part of an ongoing partnership with HBO® and their commitment to magnify emerging filmmakers, the Festival is excited to premiere the winners of this year’s HBO APA Visionaries Short Film Competition: Tiffany So’s FINE CHINA, Johnson Cheng’s LONELY BLUE NIGHT, and Thomas Percy Kim’s SI. With the theme of “Breaking Barriers,” this year’s competition drew a record number of film submissions that provided a unique lens into the challenges and victories of overcoming obstacles. The evening of these premieres will have appearances from 2020 HBO APA Visionaries Ambassador Shannon Lee, performing artist NIKI, and more.

Additionally, the Festival is proud to debut the works of VC’s own ARMED WITH A CAMERA Fellows and DIGITAL HISTORIES artists. LAAPFF will also spotlight the next volume of PACIFIC CINEWAVES, reflecting experiences of Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders.

“I am proud to continue VC’s legacy with this Festival,” said Eseel Borlasa, Programmer & Festival Operations Director of Visual Communications. “As we navigate through this unprecedented year, we utilize new tools and resources to keep uplifting stories that reflect our diverse AAPI perspectives and the many talents in our communities. I’m especially proud that we can align these stories to amplify the work of our partner organizations in the community.”

The Festival will continue partnerships spotlighting works from the UNDOCUMENTED FILMMAKERS COLLECTIVE, OKAERI, and KAYAMANAN NG LAHI.

LAAPFF has long prided itself in creating spaces for creators to connect and converge. In this edition, C3:CONFERENCE will become a virtual space for artists to conversate and celebrate each other.

Little Tokyo has long served as the Festival home. LAAPFF is grateful for the local partners who have provided spaces for the Festival to gather. Because attendees are unable to connect in person, LAAPFF will present LT@Home, a series bringing stories of Little Tokyo to viewers’ homes. The series kicks off with the world premiere of THE ATOMIC CAFE: THE NOISIEST CORNER IN J-TOWN (dirs. Akira Boch & Tadashi Nakamura).

ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Visual Communications’ mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists who empower communities and challenge perspectives. Founded in 1970 with the understanding that media and the arts are powerful forms of storytelling, Visual Communications creates cross cultural connections between peoples and generations.

The organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Join us on December 1, 2020 for PAST//FORWARD, a virtual presentation to celebrate VC’s past, present, and future by (re)connecting with people and communities who make great things happen. Learn more at vcmedia.org.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
The 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), presented by Visual Communications, runs online from September 24 – October 31, 2020 and features an exciting lineup of productions by Asian American & Pacific Islander artists from across the globe. The largest festival of its kind in Southern California, LAAPFF is also a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for the Short Film Awards. For program and ticket information, please visit festival.vcmedia.org.

Visual Communications is supported by:

PLATINUM
Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences
Aratani Foundation
California Arts Council
California Civil Liberties Public Education Program
Comcast NBCUniversal
Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles
Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts
National Film Preservation Foundation
SAG-AFTRA Producers Industry Advancement & Cooperative Fund
Sony Pictures Entertainment

GOLD
California Community Foundation
HBO
J. Paul Getty Trust Foundation
Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture
National Endowment for the Arts
Nielsen
Sundance Institute
WarnerMedia

SILVER
Alaska Airlines
ARRAY
Asian Pacific Community Fund
California Humanities
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Japanese American National Museum
Little Tokyo Service Center
BRONZE
Annenberg Foundation
California Wellness Foundation
City National Bank
Directors Guild of America
Friends of Linda Mabalot
GIDRA
IW Group
Keiro
Kondo Wealth Advisors
MUFG Union Bank
National Geographic
Paramount Pictures
Pechanga
The Famous Group
Warner Bros.

STAR
Chinatown Firecracker
Counsel for Creators
Flash Cuts
Flipcause
Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council
Japanese American Citizens League
Little Tokyo Community Council
Motion Picture Editors Guild
Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress
Okura Mental Health Leadership Foundation
Pacific Islanders in Communications
SAGindie
UCLA Asian American Studies Center
UCLA’s Community Archives Lab supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Writers Guild of America West

IN-KIND
Asahi
Cafe Dulce
E-Tech Rentals
FilmLA
Final Draft
King’s Hawaiian
Passion Planner
Spitz
The Park’s Finest
West One Music Group

MEDIA
Angry Asian Man
This Filipino American Life (TFAL)

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