43rd Asian American International Film Festival Puts Over 100 Filmmakers in the Spotlight

September 28, 2020

The 43rd Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) has officially announced its full lineup for its October event, which is being presented online for the first time by Asian CineVision.

Actors Ron Yuan, Alain Uy, and Mykel Shannon Jenkins as The Three Tigers. Photo by Mark Malijan

The event: The film festival will take place online from Oct. 1-11.

It will showcase feature films, 52 short movies, digital content and other happenings at the event, including a roundtable, Q&A, workshops and panels.
Viewers of the event can expect to see over three hours of live-streamed panels every day of the festival and will introduce a “two-part conversational series on the urgent issue of anti-racism in storytelling – Anti-Racism: Storytelling in Education and Awareness and Online Activism Campaigns.”
The festival will also showcase two special presentations: the 72 Hour Shootout Top Ten Selection, a worldwide competition where filmmakers will only have 72 hours to complete a short movie; and the CUNY Shorts Showcase, a special presentation of short movies made by college filmmakers.
Music Night Out and Comedy Night will also return at this year’s festival, according to the latest update on the festival’s website.
The nine winners of the festival will be determined by an extensive list of Asian jurors, including actor/producer Sung Kang from “Fast and Furious,” actress Rosalind Chao from “Star Trek” and “Mulan,” filmmaker Bao Nguyen in “Be Water.”
Tickets can be purchased from AAIFF’s website, ranging from $10 for regular admission to one viewer and one specified program to $150 for the Gold Pass, which will give admission to all of AAIFF’s programs, priority access, exclusive VIP virtual events and a discount for next year’s AAIFF event.
There is also a “Pay-As-You-Wish” package for selected screenings and other livestream events.

MODEL directed by Ran Jing. A Chinese architect cares for her younger brother while he recovers from Hepatitis C as a way to obtain a work visa in the U.S.

About AAIFF: The AAIFF was first established by Asian CineVision in 1978 and it is the “nation’s first and longest-running festival of its kind and the premier showcase for the best independent Asian, Asian diaspora and Pacific Islander cinema.”

This year’s AAIFF will continue the effort to bring communities together, motivate civic engagement and activate change.
“Within the total of 17 titles, the feature lineup highlights 10 women-directed films and 9 first or second features from emerging directors,” the festival added. “Additionally, the feature lineup consists of 2 special presentations, 9 international films, 2 World premieres, 5 East Coast premieres, and 2 New York City premieres.”

“Definition Please” directed by Sujata Day. A former Scripps Spelling Bee champion must reconcile with her estranged brother when he returns home to help care for their sick mother.

Featured Image via AAIFF

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