27th Asian American International Film Festival Wrapped!!!

The 27th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), the nation's oldest festival dedicated to artists of Asian descent, took place July 16 - 24 at the Asia Society and the ImaginAsian Theater, with additional screenings at the Cinema Arts Centre on Long Island from July 30 - August 1.

The AAIFF annually showcases the best and the brightest of Asian/Asian American cinema. This year, the Opening Night film GODDESS OF MERCY (YU GUAN YIN) by acclaimed and prolific director Ann Hui kicked off the 12-day festivities. Our Centerpiece Presentation TRAVELERS AND MAGICIANS by Tibetan lama Khyentse Norbu screened to two enthusiastic houses, and our Closing Night Presentation TOMORROW MAY NEVER COME (KAL HO NAA HO) was presented to a standing room only crowd.

Also included were special advanced screening of HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, where John Cho and Kal Penn were in attendance to do a Q&A with the audience; the premiere of over 80 shorts and features, a financing panel; an animation class; a Final Cut Pro HD workshop; a panel with HBO documentary programming executives; networking reception; an MTV filmmakers’ reception; and a staged screenplay reading of Mora Mi-Ok Stephen and Sharri Hefner’s latest GEORGIA HEAT by Mr. Miyagi Theater Company. Over 120 films and videos from all around the world, 11 panels workshops, classes, networking receptions, after parties, over 60 industry guests and filmmakers, and over 10,000 festival goers attended our twelve day festivities with enthusiasm.

Thanks to all the sponsors, supporters, members, film goers, filmmakers, ACV, Asia Society and ImaginAsian staff, interns and volunteers for making another year of festivities possible.

We hope to see you at the 28th AAIFF in July of 2005!

See more of the 04 AAIFF...