The 45th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF45), presented by Citi, and a production of Asian CineVision (ACV) in association with Asia Society, announces its Closing Night, Special Presentations, and Media Award Recipient. The AAIFF45 Closing Night honors New York City's Chinatown and nods to ACV's roots with its “Chinatown Beat” programming.
Each film in this block is directed by an ACV alum filmmaker. The block includes the New York premiere of Curtis Chin's new documentary film, DEAR CORKY, which honors the legacy of ACV pioneer and community activist, Corky Lee who documented the APA community for over 50 years, the New York premiere of Patrick Chen's short film, A FATHER'S SON, a narrative tribute to the people and stories of NYC Chinatown, starring Tzi Ma and Ronny Chieng, and a screening of the groundbreaking documentary about AAPI activism in the 1970s, FROM SPIKES TO SPINDLES, by Christine Choy – one of ACV's founders.
AAIFF45 also honors Jean Tsien, a veteran documentary editor, executive producer, and story consultant who has been working in documentary film for 40 years. Her notable editing credits include: the 2001 Academy Award nominated film, SCOTTSBORO: AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY; three Peabody Award-winning films: MALCOLM X: MAKE IT PLAIN, TRAVIS, and SOLAR MAMAS; and the 2020 Primetime EMMY winner for Outstanding Documentary, THE APOLLO. Most recently, she was editor and producer of AAIFF45's Opening Night film, FREE CHOL SOO LEE, and producer of HIDDEN LETTERS, which premiered at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. She is also a member of American Cinema Editors and a Governor of the Documentary Branch of the Academy. For her courageous, visionary work, she is this year's recipient of The Asian American Media Award.
Since its start, AAIFF has played an important role in screening innovative cinema, encouraging socially conscious storytelling, and honoring APA independent artists. Honoring the Festival's 45th Anniversary, AAIFF45 features special presentation retrospective screenings with Third World Newsreel of THE CHINATOWN FILES, HERE TO STAY, and FRECKLED RICE, and co-presents an outdoor screening of MAN PUSH CART on August 11 with the Museum of the City of New York.
Rounding out the special presentations is the “Selective Memory Has No Bounds: Yes, Martial Law Did Actually Happen” program, guest-curated by visual and media artist, educator, and curator Angel Velasco Shaw. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos' declaration of martial law and the program includes two documentary films to educate and remind global citizens of this dark era in Philippine history.
As a longtime collaborator of Asian CineVision (ACV), Shaw reflects on her association with ACV: “AAIFF played a big role in raising my consciousness about racial and ethnic-based identity issues. Self-identification as an Asian American artist, filmmaker, and cultural activist became the greatest source of power from which I create from. Over the 37 years of working with ACV, AAIFF has continued to nurture and showcase talent from diverse Asian American independent filmmakers, actors, and producers generation after generation.”
Early Bird Presale – up to 65% off – for Online All-Access Passes, Cine Passes and Gold Passes are currently on sale at https://www.aaiff.org/ticketing for $45, $65 and $150 respectively through July 20.
Full line-up announcement will be on July 20 at AAIFF45's launch party. Link to RSVP to the launch party https://aaiff45launchparty.splashthat.com/.
About the Asian American International Film Festival
The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is proudly known as “The First Home to Asian American Cinema.” Organized by Asian CineVision, it is the first and longest-running festival dedicated to showcasing the moving image work by media artists of Asian descent for and about the Asian diaspora experience. The Festival takes place in New York City, the second-largest Asian-American market in the U.S. Every year, AAIFF attracts audiences from all five boroughs of New York City, the tri-state region, and around the world.
About Asian CineVision
Asian CineVision (ACV) is a media arts nonprofit devoted to the development, exhibition, promotion, and preservation of Asian and Asian American experiences through storytelling. Their mission is to nurture and grow the community of makers and lovers of Asian and Asian American independent film, television, and digital.
