40th VC Film Fest Announces Community Award Winners

May 24, 2024

Images (L-R): Filmmaker Sruchi Patel; a scene from PAPER MARRIAGE, directed by Jeff Man; a scene from WAKHRI, directed by Iram Parveen Bilal. All images courtesy of VC FILM FEST.

VC FILM FEST 2024 ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY AWARD
Filmmaker Sruchi Patel Wins Community Award
Paper Marriage and Wakhri Win Community Award

(May 24, 2024) Los Angeles, CA – VC Film Fest, the largest festival of its kind in Southern California, announced three winners of the festival’s  Community Award. This year VC Film Fest honored our beloved elder cultural workers, linking them to present and emerging artists who continue to empower our communities and challenge perspectives. 

In fact, the heart of this year’s festival artwork is Steve Tatsukawa; a beloved leader in the Visual Communications’ legacy.  

From the artists, Supernova Design: “At the artwork’s core is a portrait of Steve, holding a camera inspired by an old photograph of his, aptly capturing the essence of the festival. Life imitates art, and art imitates life. The filmmaker records the audience who looks back at the filmmaker, creating a fascinating loop of observation. It’s a reminder that every frame we capture—whether on film or in memory—holds layers of meaning and emotion. The filmmaker’s eye becomes a portal in this image, bridging the gap between the mundane and the extraordinary. Surrounding Steve are symbolic elements representing various festival pillars: archives, film reels, community, theater, audience, and artists. This portrayal reflects the festival’s immersive and celebratory nature, engaging and honoring its audiences through diverse offerings over the past 4 decades.”

Today, folks still remember Steve’s humor, and the positive influence he had on those around him. Through stories and shared memories, Steve Tatsukawa’s spirit continues to impact our communities. To  ensure that his legacy will be passed on for generations to come. VC Film Fest asked each festival artist to vote for one artist and one film that reflected a grounded sense of community and contributed to a joyful experience of the festival. This year’s winners are: 

• filmmaker Sruchi Patel; 
• PAPER MARRIAGE, directed by Jeff Man; 
• and WAKHRI, directed by Iram Parveen Bilal

As the year closes, Visual Communications continues its legacy as the first non-profit organization in the US dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian Pacific American peoples, communities, and heritage through the media arts. Audiences are encouraged to check out more films online in the VC Archives, one of the largest photographic and moving image archives on Asian Pacific experiences in America https://archives.vcmedia.org/