Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

Author name: Jacqui Sadashige

PAAFF Parties!

News, Party, Uncategorized /

  In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, PAAFF will be throwing a very special After Party Saturday 11/18 at La Peg Braserie. The party will feature two well known names from Philadelphia’s dance music scene: P@KEO (Pat Keo) of WhiteRice and ILY (Will Hoover) of Left Rite. PAAFF caught up with the djs to find out more about the men, their music, and what they have in store for us tonight. Pat “P@KEO” Keo started djing in 1999 when he was living in the Washington DC area. After a brief hiatus, he began pursuing music again around 2015. In 2016 Pat teamed up with fellow dj Bruce Petaccio to form WhiteRice—a due known for Flaunt, a monthly party that showcases some of Philly’s best techno and house producers and djs. Pat describes his style of dance music as “deep soulful house” and cites both 90’s jackin’ house and UK garage (2-step) as two other regional house styles that are often present in his sets. When I asked him if he had any musical influences that might surprise people, he mentioned that R&B, Hip-Hop, and Soul Music been mainstays in his track selection from the very beginning. When asked, “What is your dream venue?” not surprisingly, he said he’d love to play the Smart Bar in Chicago, adding, “The energy there is something else!”   “A lot of the djs and promoters in the scene regularly mingle at each other’s parties and support each other.” Like Pat, Will “ILY” Hoover is another longtime dj. Citing, deep Pennsylvania roots, Will noted that he grew up in central PA where “there wasn’t too much going on at the time,” As a result, Will started his music career both organizing and playing parties. When I asked him how those days compare to Philadelphia now, he had nothing but praise for the Philly dance music scene: “A lot of the djs and promoters in the scene regularly mingle at each other’s parties and support each other. People frequently cooperate on events too, which helps everyone to throw really great parties and maintain such a wonderfully diverse and vibrant scene.” In fact, Will is part of an electronic music collective in Philly called Left Rite that throws parties featuring house and techno djs every 1st Friday at Irish Pol in Old City and every 3rd Friday at Kung Fu Necktie in Northern Liberties. I’ve often attended parties where djs will disappear to chill between sets, so I couldn’t help but ask both Will and Pat if they like to dance. Will answered with an enthusiastic, “I love dancing!” Pat not only expressed the same sentiment, but he also offered up a fun fact: “I used to dance semi-professionally while living in DC. Dance culture is what actually introduced me to the underground dance music scene.” Le Peg Brasserie is known for its dramatic views, meticulously sourced menu, and extensive craft beer selection. And PAAFF is thrilled that they will be hosting our party.

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Image of red carpet

May We Have the Envelope Please?

Art, Comedy, Documentary, Drama, Local Philly, News /

On November 20, we celebrated a wildly successful 9th annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival with much fanfare, food, and a strong sense of community. We are thrilled to announce the award winners from PAAFF16. Thank you to all who participated and supported our festival, and CONGRATULATIONS to our winners!   Best Narrative Feature – The Tiger Hunter Dir. Lena Khan: The Tiger Hunter is a funny yet poignant reflection on the experiences of many first generation South Asian immigrants in the United States.   Best Documentary Feature – Tyrus Dir. Pamela Tom: Tyrus tells the unlikely story of 105-year old Chinese American artist Tyrus Wong, whose unique style combined Chinese calligraphic and landscape influences with contemporary Western art to define the stylistic look of Disney”s Bambi.   Best Narrative Short – I Won’t Miss You Dir. Bernard Badion: 17-year-old Janey’s best friend Tim begins to appear in her bedroom at night after dying in a car crash and their awkward undeclared feelings begin to surface.   Best Documentary Short – Noodle Deli Dir. David Liu: From China to Los Angeles, an immigrant chef continues one of the world’s fabled culinary traditions — the art of making noodles.   Audience Choice Narrative – The Last Smile Dir. Shankey Srinivasan: Inspired by true events, this film chronicles the struggles of a bereaved father searching for answers to explain the untimely demise of his adult son.   Audience Choice Documentary – Mele Murals Dir. Tadashi Nakamura: Mele Murals is a compelling feature documentary about a young generation of Native Hawaiians who are reclaiming their indigenous culture through the transformative power of graffiti art.   Vijay Mohan Social Change Award – Dear Thalia Dir. Rex Moribe: Dear Thalia offers a firsthand look into the lives of a family living on the streets of Kakaako, Oahu.   Rising Star Award – Danny Pudi: Perhaps best known for his role as Abed Nadir on the NBC/Yahoo! comedy series Community, PAAFF honored Danny Pudi for his leading man-making performance in this year’s Best Narrative Feature, The Tiger Hunter.  

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Vinage Postcards

Hau’oli la Homebrew: Closing Night Beer Tasting

Documentary, Events, Local Philly, News /

  On Sunday November 20th, PAAFF ’16 will close our 9th annual film festival with a Hawaii-themed Closing Night Party. The evening kicks off with a screening of Mele Murals, a stunning documentary highlighting the power of art to inspire, transform, and connect. In addition to the screening, this event will feature a live mural painting, catering by Poi Dog Snack Shop, a limited-edition flavor ice cream by Little Baby’s, and tastings by five of Philadelphia’s most creative home brewers and members of HOPS (Homebrewers of Philadelphia & Suburbs), the area’s oldest homebrew club.     Two of the beers we’ll be sampling are ales. Matt Johnson—an archaeologist by training and currently a writing instructor at the University of Pennsylvania—is a recent addition to the HOPS club. He will be pouring his Akamu Ale. Akamu means “red earth” in Hawaiian, and this ale derives its russet hue from the addition of 1.5 oz of dried hibiscus flowers during the brewing process. Matt describes his beer as “light, refreshing ale with a bit of tart, fruit-like flavor.” Our second ale artist and tap master, Jeremy Hancher, works as an environmental consultant. But he’s also an award-winning brewer. Most recently, Jeremy won first place awards in the highly competitive HOPS BOPS for both his Milk Stout and German Schwarzbier. This Sunday Jeremy will be unveiling a British pale ale he’s dubbed PAAFF Pale Ale. We’re particularly thrilled that Jeremy has chosen to name this brew in honor of our film festival, as he took first prize in the 2010 War of the Worts in the English Pale Ale category.     Nothing says “the tropics” like fresh fruit. But fruit is only one reason we’re so excited about Tyler Flynn’s contribution to our party. Although he is a specialist in U.S. History at Eastern University, Tyler has brewed Mango Saison—a multigrain, Belgian-style farmhouse ale with a touch of mango—to pair with Poi Dog’s Pacific-fusion snacks. Considered one of the area’s rising stars in home brewing, Tyler has won numerous awards at both Philly Beer Week’s Extreme Homebrew Challenge and HOPS BOPS. Tyler has also written artfully about his journey from “ale consumer to ale producer.” Michael Soo began brewing when his wife bought him a homebrewing kit from Home Sweet Homebrew for Christmas. Eight years and countless brewing medals later, this “breakaway star” in beer brings his knowledge as a doctoral candidate in Biochemistry at the University of Pennsylvania to his brewing. While sour beers have only recently taken off in the Philadelphia area, connoisseurs have long prized sour ales, in part, because brewing them entails considerable time and a deft hand with tricky microorganisms. So make sure to sample Michael’s Sour Grapes of Wrath, a sour Flemish-style Brown Ale (Oud Bruin) fermented with concord grapes.     Finally, PAAFF is honored to be offering Blood on the Tracks—a hefeweizen/IPA hybrid using Mandarina Bavaria hops and a touch of blood-orange puree—brewed by Philadelphia’s own beer legend, George Hummel. Both George and his wife Nancy Rigberg are the owners of Home Sweet Homebrew, and they have been award-winning writers, speakers, and homebrewers since 1986. They are the founders of HOPS and have been recognized for their part in making Philadelphia “the best beer city in America.” And in case sampling inspires you to try your hand at brewing, click on the keg for more information on HOPS and Home Sweet Homebrew.   PAAFF would like to thank all the brewers for generously donating their time and their talents. We offer special thanks to George and Nancy for allowing us to borrow their beer-serving equipment.

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Triptych photo of performers

PAAFF First Friday at the Barnes – A Closer Look

Art, Events, Indonesia, Japanese, Live Performance, Local Philly, Music, News, Sci-Fi, Short Films, South Asian, Tibetan /

On Friday May 6th, the Barnes Foundation will celebrate Asia-Pacific American Heritage Month with Asia Fantasia, a First Friday fusion of art and performance. Asia Fantasia represents PAAFF’s first collaboration with the Barnes. The event will showcase the rich diversity of traditional and contemporary Asian and Asian American artistic engagement while shedding light on the fertile artistic dialogue between east and west. Throughout the evening, visitors will be treated to live performances varying from a traditional Tibetan yak dance by the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia to the fresh sounds of Anthony Brown’s Asian American Jazz Trio. Tibetan culture features a number of animal-themed dances—including the snow lion and the deer—but the yak dance is particularly suited to this occasion. Not only is the dance traditionally performed as a welcoming, but the yak itself also symbolizes the rugged strength and playfulness of the Tibetan people. Far from the snowy heights of Tibet lies the home of the angklung, a percussive instrument made from bamboo tubes mounted to a frame. The angklung creates a unique, almost “raindrop-like” sound and has been recognized by UNESCO as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Based in Washington D.C., the House of Angklung helps to preserve and promote this Indonesian art form through educational outreach and performances. Though their Angklung Goes to School program, the House of Angklung has introduced young people in over twenty schools in the D.C. area to Indonesian music and culture. And in July 2011 they took part in a Guinness world record-breaking ensemble of angklung players (click on the image to view video from event). Fast-forwarding to the twentieth century and beyond, Dr. Anthony Brown will be bringing his Asian American Jazz Trio (an offshoot of his larger Asian American Orchestra) from San Francisco. While the Asian American Jazz Trio features original compositions that blend traditional Asian instruments and concepts with the improvisational qualities of post-modern jazz, Brown has promised to include the work of John Coltrane, “Philadelphia’s most revered jazz musician, one who was profoundly influenced by Asian music and spirituality.” As both a musician and a scholar, Brown is attuned to the histories and influences that underlie Asian American jazz. He points out that—like Latin American jazz—Asian American jazz is infused with traditionally non-jazz instruments, in the case of his trio, the shakuhachi and the sheng. Yet, as with jazz and blues, early Asian American jazz was inspired by “the life experiences of its working-class creators who musically conveyed their stories of Asians on American soil.” Brown himself was recently featured in Don’t Lose Your Soul, a documentary dedicated to Brown, fellow jazz pioneer Mark Izu, and their 30+ year collaboration. Finally, hold onto your seatbelts for Faroukh Virani’s sci-fi short Vimana. Released almost a year before The Martian, Vimana focuses on Pankaj and Naaz, two South Asian astronauts who must land their vessel and settle an alien planet in the wake of their captain’s untimely demise. Although set in deep space, the story “could be a human emotional moment anywhere,” according to Virani. Asia Fantasia will also feature a short lecture on Japanese art and commodities in the 19th century, glass painting sponsored by Blue Moon Brewing Company, as well as light refreshments and beverages for purchase. Tickets are available through the Barnes Foundation.

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photo of Eddie Traffic

Philadelphia Premiere of Truckin’

Documentary, Environment, Local Philly, News, Uncategorized, Women /

  Just a few days shy of Christmas 2013, the back gate on a truck bound for a slaughterhouse flew open. A young pig leapt off the truck, only to land on Interstate 80 in New Jersey. Due to the quick thinking of truck driver Paul “Ed” Waller, who witnessed the event, the pig survived both the fall and the traffic. Through a fortuitous series of events and a touch of Christmas magic, the young pig—now known by the name “Eddie Traffic”—ended up at Indraloka Farm Sanctuary in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania, where he will spend the rest of his days. Established in 2005, Indraloka Farm Sanctuary houses nearly 200 animal residents that include cows, chickens, turkeys, and, of course, pigs. Sanctuary founder Lahiri has a lifelong history of rescuing and nursing animals in need. In addition to managing the sanctuary (which is named after the Hindu god Indra), engaging in educational outreach, and cofounding a network for sanctuary owners called Global Coalition of Farm Sanctuaries, Lahiri maintains a blog about the Indraloka’s many residents. Eddie’s story, like many others, is written in vivid first person. In it, Lahiri imagines what might have motivated the young pig’s “leap of faith”: Operation 303: Freedom Awaits. Due to the dramatic nature of Eddie’s escape and the feel-good end to his journey, local news was quick to pick up the story. Photographer Joel Anderson has since created a limited edition portrait of the local celebrity. And this past year, filmmaker and Indraloka Creative Director Johnny Braz released a feature-length documentary about the celebrity pig called Truckin’,The Story of Eddie Traffic. When asked why he chose Eddie’s story, he noted, “Being a filmmaker I see everything as a potential film idea. But his story was so perfect.” The film, which Lahiri and Braz premiered at the 2015 Farm Animal Rights Movement National Conference, was well received. Although Braz feels that the true test lies in how Truckin’ will appeal to a more mainstream audience, he already has a sequel in mind: Truckin’ Part 2 will focus on a group of chickens that fell off a speeding truck near the sanctuary. Truckin’: The Story of Eddie Traffic Sunday April 3 1 pm The Rotunda 4014 Walnut St Philadelphia, PA 19104 Truckin’ The Eddie Traffic Story premieres in Philadelphia this Sunday at The Rotunda. The screening is hosted by the AnimalACTivists of Philly and is free and open to to the public. The film will be followed by a Q&A with film director Johnny Braz. Drinks and snacks will be provided. Find Out More

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