WRAP-UP

Looking Back At The 2003 VC FILMFEST – by Mark Dayao

VC's Leslie Ito with FILMFEST awardees, Ham Tran (left) and Gene Sung (right) As the first night of the VC FilmFest began to unfold, one could already feel the sense of excitement that was in the air. The grand lobby of the Directors Guild of America was filled with the rumble of discussion, conversation, and cheer, all in anticipation as Visual Communications was set to kick off its annual showcase of films with Asian American film talent from around the world. The VC FilmFest has become known as the premier showcase for Asian American and Asian international works in Southern California with over 100 films, videos, and shorts presented throughout the eight-day festival. Karin Anna Cheung, Roger Fan and Parry Shen, the stars of “Better Luck Tomorrow”, were on hand to officially launch the festival with the presentation of the opening film, “Long Life, Happiness, and Prosperity”, directed by Mina Shum. This year’s line-up offered festival goers a wide array of films, including experimental, documentary, narrative, and animation which were all unique in their own way and pleased everyone’s taste. The spectrum of films ranged from documentaries such as Noel “Sonny” Izon’s “Untold Triumph: America’s Filipino Soldiers”, which includes untold stories of Filipino war veterans and achievements during World War II to Darryl Fong’s parody of Hollywood martial arts films, “Kung Phooey!” Highlights of the event also include various workshops like the Independent Filmmakers Seminars and An Afternoon with A Director – The Director’s Spotlight, which was co-presented by the Director’s Guild of America. This year’s spotlight director was Academy Award winner Jessica Yu. Other panels and seminars offered audiences insight into the craft and perspectives of Asian Americans who make movies, such as “Fight Cinema: The Impact of Martial Arts on Film” with Diana Lee Inosanto, James Lew, Phillip Rhee, and Robin Shou and “Cutters: Voices From the Editing Room,” with Tim Chau sound editor of “The Joy Luck Club”, Richard Chew “Star Wars”, Bill Hoy “Dances With Wolves”, and Maysie Hoy “Smoke”. The 2003 edition of VC FilmFest culminated with the presentation of the Golden Reel Award to Ham Tran’s “The Anniversary” and the festival’s New Director, New Vision Award going to Gene Sung and his film, “Revolve”. The VC FilmFest proved once again to be an important vehicle in maintaining and support for new and diverse filmmakers with talent, not only locally, but also globally. Visual Communications aim of bringing Asian American cinema and talent to the forefront and the mainstream showed proof that “keepin’ it reel” was definitely part of VC’s agenda with its endless support and guidance of diverse filmmakers from around the world. This year’s VC FilmFest not only provided audiences with opportunities to view the creative forces of new talent but also provided a unique forum and event where people came together to share in the cultural beauty that only the Asian American community can provide. Special thanks go to our sponsors and friends for their continued support of Visual Communications: Director’s Guild of America, National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council, City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, State Farm Insurance, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Variety, ABC, Fox, Los Angeles Times, Sony Pictures, Hitachi, Citibank, JACCC, Union Bank of California, Cherry Sky Films, Verizon, Screen Actors Guild, The Korea Times Los Angeles, Anheuser Busch, Ching, Creative Floral Designs, KSCI-TV, Red Bull, Nonya, Relaxtation, Chivas Regal, Wahoo’s Fish Taco, Progressive Beverages, Via Café, Cherrystones, Black Bush, Variety, Giant Robot, LA Weekly, Cathay Pacific, ArcLight Cinemas, screenplay.com, Zhen, Production HUB. Ikon, LTSC, EWP, American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc. AnimeAction, Inc., Arab American Action Network, Asian Pacific Crossroads, Asian Pacific Exchange, Asian Pacific Gays & Friends, Barangay, Belmont High School, Black NIA Force, Cal Arts, CAP Program, California Youth Connection (CYC), The Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), Chinatown Tech Post, Cultural Unity, Downtown Community Television Center (DCTC), Erasto R. Batongmalaque (ERB), Fil-Am Arts, Filipino American Library, Filipino American National Historical Society (FAHNS), Filipino American Network (FAN), Filipino American Service Group (FASGI), Gay Asian Pacific Support Network, Harvard-Westlake School, Human Rights Campaign, Indegenous Action Media, Indo-American Cultural Center, InnerCity Struggle, InterTribal Council of California, Khmer Girls in Action, Korean American Coalition, Korean Youth Cultural Center, LA Central City Neighborhood Youth Project, Lodestone Theater, Mindullae, Paper Tiger Television, REACH LA, Red Dragon, Revolution Out of Truth and Struggle (ROOTS), Rooselvelt High School, Search to Invovle Pilipino Americans (SIPA), Third World Majority, UCLA Mien Student Union, Young Women United, Youth Health Empowerment Project, Youth Organizing Communities, youTHink, Jacqueline Agtuca, Dr. Jenny L. Batongmalaque, Enrique & Prosy De La Cruz, Fritz Friedman, Gabriela Ibanez, Eric Lachica, Jun Melchor, Ed Ramolete, Meg Thornton, Casimiro & Jennifer Tolentino, California Civil Liberties Fund, Academy for Educational Development/Ford Foundation, Ahmanson Foundation, California Institute of the Arts, CAPs Digital Arts Network, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation/PACT, Weingart Foundation, National Film Preservation Foundation, NAATA Media Fund, Getty Grant Program – Multicultural Internship Program, George & Sakaye Aratani, Corporate & community donations, Adobe Systems, Inc., Screenplay Systems, Inc., The Collective Mobile Unit/Ahmanson Foundation, Michael Lee, Shockwave Creations, Yau-Gene Chan, Philip and Barbara Ito, Ken & Ellen Minami