New York, NY (July 24, 2005) - Asian CineVision honored director Grace Lee with its fourth annual Emerging Director Award for THE GRACE LEE PROJECT at the 28th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF). The announcement was made by Festival Director Diana Lee at the festival's Final Cut party on Saturday, July 23, which took place at White Rabbit bar (145 E. Houston).

The ACV Emerging Director Award is an audience award honoring a first or second time feature filmmaker. An East Coast Premiere, THE GRACE LEE PROJECT screened to an enthusiastic audience July 16, 2005 at Asia Society.

"We screened BARRIER DEVICE at our festival in the past and welcome Grace's return with her first feature film. We're very proud of THE GRACE LEE PROJECT and are honored to present her with this year's Emerging Director Award, especially as this year we honor women in film," says Diana Lee, Festival Director.

A witty and concise cinematic essay, the film chronicles director Grace Lee's search for others with her namesake - after she learned that Grace Lee is one of the most common names given to Asian American girls. She sought to find women who broke the mold that their namesake bequeathed to them, and she succeeded.

Grace Lee graduated in 2002 with an MFA in Directing from UCLA Film School. Her thesis film BARRIER DEVICE, starring Sandra Oh, won a 2002 Student Academy Award, a Directors Guild of America Student Award and aired on the Sundance Channel. She recently directed BEST OF THE WURST a documentary essay about Berlin.

Other nominated directors include Francisco Aliwalas (BLUE HOUR), Yam Yam Mak (BUTTERFLY), Heesook Sohn (HAPPY FAMILY), Mystelle Brabbee (HIGHWAY COURTESANS), Joko Anwar (JANJI JONI), Adam Chin (MALADAPTIVE), Itthi-sunthorn Wichailak (THE OVERTURE), Yasmin Ahmad (SEPET), Zero Chou (SPLENDID FLOAT), Curtis Choy (WHAT¹S WRONG WITH FRANK CHIN), Julie Mallozi (MONKEY DANCE).

Asian CineVision, Inc. (ACV)
ACV is a non-profit national media arts organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Asian and Asian American film and video arts. Since 1978, ACV has annually presented the Asian American International Film Festival, the first and longest-running festival devoted to Asian/Asian American cinema in the United States. In addition to the festival, ACV's programs and services include film exhibitions, mentoring and educational outreach, training workshops, publications and a media archive.


For more information, please contact:
Asian CineVision
212.989.1422
info[at]asiancinevision[dot]org