International House Philadelphia
3701 Chestnut St, Philadelphia
Join PAAFF for the Opening Night Film & Reception celebrating the beginning of the 2016 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. Synopsis: Danny Pudi (NBC's Community) stars as Sami Malik, a young Indian man who immigrates to 1970s Chicago to become an engineer at a top firm. When his job falls through, he resorts to an elaborate charade with a band of misfit friends to convince his would-be father-in-law that he has made it big in America, woo the woman of his dreams, and live up to the legacy of his father - a legendary tiger hunter. Powerfully told through Pudi"s breakout leading man performance, The Tiger Hunter is a funny yet poignant reflection on the experiences of many first generation South Asian immigrants in the United States. Director Lena Khan and lead actor Danny Pudi are expected to attend for post-film Q&A. Film will be followed by the PAAFF'16 Opening Night Reception featuring Bhangra dance music spun by prolific NY-based DJ Rekha, a selection of Indian food, and complimentary wine and beer. Facebook Event Page
Lightbox Film Center
3701 Chestnut St, Philadelphia
This FREE program of five shorts involve various marginalized identities both in the US and abroad. A mixed program of Narrative and Documentary shorts, subjects include mixed ethnic identity, refugees, and racial profiling. Filmmakers expected in attendance. Chanthadeth Chanthadeth grew up with his Cambodian mother and no connection to his Lao father or relatives. This short doc explores his bicultural identity and the meaning of his name, ultimately learning the importance of acknowledging both sides of his cultural heritage. The Three Tales of a Coin A coin recounts its life story, changing hands between a diverse group of Singaporeans in three pivotal transactions. The Lookout This short documentary examines the treacherous boat ride across the Aegean Sea, just one of many hardships endured by Syrian refugees, through the eyes of an altruistic Israeli volunteer hoping to do what he can to ease their suffering. The FBI Blew Up My Ice Skates This animated short recounts the titular incident that happened to the director in the wake of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis. Red, White, and Beard Cartoonist Vishavjit Singh has a unique way of fighting intolerance in the post-9/11 US - walking the streets of New York City dressed as Captain Sikh America. This short doc poses a simple question - why can’t Captain America wear a turban? Facebook Event Page
Lightbox Film Center
3701 Chestnut St, Philadelphia
Synopsis: The gap in opportunities for different races in America remains extreme. Nowhere is this more evident than our nation"s top public schools. In New York City, where blacks and Hispanics make up 70% of the city"s school-aged population, they represent less than 5% at the city"s most elite public high schools. Meanwhile Asian Americans make up as much as 73%. This documentary follows a dozen racially and socio-economically diverse 8th graders as they fight for a seat at one of these schools. Their only way in: to ace a single standardized test. Tested includes the voices of such education experts as Pedro Noguera and Diane Ravitch as it explores such issues as access to a high-quality public education, affirmative action, and the model-minority myth. Directed by Curtis Chin, who is best known for his seminal film Vincent Who? about the killing of Vincent Chin, this feature doc offers an extensive look at the systemic inequalities facing students of color in NYC public schools. Facebook Event Page