East Coast Premiere Director: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson, and Kumu Hina Wong-Kalu 70 mins | Documentary | Tonga | English Leitis in Waiting is the story of Joey Mataele and the Tonga Leitis, an intrepid group of native transgender women fighting a rising tide of religious fundamentalism and intolerance in their South Pacific Kingdom. The film follows Joey, a devout Catholic of noble descent, as she organizes an exuberant beauty pageant presided over by a princess, provides shelter and training for a young contestant rejected by her family, and spars with American-financed evangelicals threatening to resurrect colonial-era laws that criminalize the Leitis’ lives. With unexpected humor and extraordinary access to the Kingdom’s royals and religious leaders, Joey’s emotional journey reveals what it means to be different in a society ruled by tradition, and what it takes to be accepted without forsaking culture and tradition. Leitis in Waiting is an inside story, created by a Polynesian transgender woman who once competed and won the crown in Joey’s beauty pageant.
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
US premiere Director: Kenichi Omori 91 mins | Documentary | Japan | Japanese As part of the celebrations to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Mihara Castle’s construction, the youth from the Yassa Daruman neighborhood have undertaken a glorious project: to spread the popularity of Yassa Daruman, Mihara City’s official mascot, around the country. Inspired by this example of youthful exuberance, the ordinary citizens of Mihara City join the struggle, and a wonderful adventure commences.
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Director: Henry Koster 133 min | Musical, Comedy, Romance | USA | English In this adaptation of the 1958 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, Chinese immigrant Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) is betrothed to nightclub boss Sammy Fong (Jack Soo), but he wants to marry showgirl Linda Low (Nancy Kwan). To get out of the arrangement, Sammy pawns her off to wealthy Master Wang (Benson Fong) as a fiancée for his son, Wang Ta (Victor Sen Yung). Mei Li falls in love with Wang, but he wants to pursue Linda, who takes advantage of his affections to test Sammy’s love.
Asian Arts Initiative | 81 mins This program of six narrative shorts explores a variety of perspectives on queer-ness, coming out, and embracing one’s identity both overseas and amongst the Asian immigrant generation in the US. Filmmakers expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Hoài (Ongoing/Memory) Director: Quyen Nguyen Le | 11 mins | USA A young Vietnamese American queer woman and her father cohabitate after her recent breakup, exploring themes of heartbreak from romantic relationships, to families, to nations. Salamagan Director: Elisa Oh | 12 mins | USA Ana fears that coming out to her Filipino Catholic mother would break her heart. But when her mother needs help cleaning a hoarder house, Ana enlists her secret girlfriend for the job. Straighten Out Director: Yung-Chieh Chang | 14 mins | Taiwan Sheng wakes up in a clinic with no memory of how he got there. When he discovers the truth, he faces a difficult choice: following his family’s religious beliefs or embrace his true identity. Rani Director: Hammad Rizvi | 14 mins | Pakistan A Pakistani transgender woman sets out to take care of an abandoned child. Hudson Director: Shae Xu | 10 mins | USA A young divorcee mother tries to find the right moment to tell her teenage son that the woman she lives with is actually her girlfriend. Uninvited Director: Seung Yeob Lee | 20 mins | South Korea When a closeted gay man’s mother comes for a sudden visit, he quickly hides evidence of his live-in boyfriend.
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Director: Prakash Angdembe 105 mins | Documentary | Bhutan, India, Nepal | Nepali Desh Khojdai Janda’s film documents the more than 120,000 forgotten Nepali-speaking Bhutanese citizens from Bhutan who spent two decades in refugee camps (some of whom are still living there) in Jhapa and Morang, Nepal. Their years of repatriation struggle to their homeland continues with the character Karbari Kaka. Producer Pralhad Gurung is expected in attendance for a post film Q&A.
East Coast Premiere Director: Kulap Vilaysack 106 mins | Documentary | Laos | English, Lao In her directorial debut, actor/writer/podcaster Kulap Vilaysack explores her tangled family tree to find out who she is. When Vilaysack was 14, she took her father’s side in an argument and her mother replied, “Why are you defending him? He’s not your real dad.” Twenty years later, she’s finally ready to learn what that means. Origin Story is a feature-length, international quest with stops in Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Laos for Vilaysack to meet the biological father she never knew. On the road unforeseen revelations strike both hilarious or heartbreaking—but rarely in between. Origin Story is a deeply personal but universally relevant tale of immigration, conflict, identity, and personal responsibility. Interviewees in the film include extended family, husband Scott Aukerman, and close friends, like Sarah Silverman, Casey Wilson, June Diane Raphael, and Howard Kremer.
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Director: Stephen Tringali 81 mins | Documentary | USA | English Get Tickets The image of the American hero is challenged in this heartfelt portrait of 9/11 Pentagon first-responder Isaac Ho’opi’i. A nationally recognized K9 Unit Officer, Isaac Ho’opi’i was responsible for saving numerous people from the Pentagon during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Countless articles were written about his heroism following 9/11, and he even ran the Olympic Torch on its way to Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Olympics. After the news cameras had been turned off and the lights dimmed, Isaac was left with the horrific images he had seen and the memory of those he was unable to save. Corridor Four is a feature-length documentary that illustrates Isaac’s story in the first-ever look at how the Pentagon handled mental health care in the aftermath of 9/11. Watch Trailer Officer Ho’opi’i is expected in attendance for a post film Q&A.
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Philadelphia Premiere Director: Dianne Fukami 60 mins | Documentary | USA | English Get Tickets A son of immigrants forced into a U.S. World War II concentration camp as a child, Norman Mineta became the first Asian American mayor of a major city (San Jose, California); enjoyed a distinguished 20-year career in Congress; was the first Asian American Cabinet member; served under two U.S. Presidents, a Democrat and Republican. Mineta never forgot his roots or the shame and humiliation he and his family felt during WWII and led the way for an apology from the U.S. government and redress for Japanese Americans. On September 11, 2001, his leadership as U.S. Secretary of Transportation would ensure that what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII did not happen to any other group based on ethnicity or religion. Secretary Mineta is expected in attendance for a post-film Q&A with director Dianne Fukami. Closing Reception 8:30-11:00pm | Asian Arts Initiative
You are cordially invited to PAAFF Dine-In Theater, our newest virtual fundraiser. Join us for dinner and a movie, PAAFF style! We’ve paired the ultimate all ages, feel-good documentary with your choice of Dinner for 2 from two of Philadelphia’s acclaimed Asian-owned restaurants. Choose a curated meal from either bāo•logy or Hardena/Waroeng Surabaya. Bao-logy showcases Taiwanese food, highlighting fresh, high quality ingredients. Bao-logy chef/owners Judy Ni and Andy Tessier were recently awarded the 2019 Starchefs award for sustainability. 2018 Beard Award semifinalist Hardena offers homestyle Indonesian dishes. As you enjoy the flavors and textures of authentic Asian cuisine, view the film that broke box office records in both Taiwan and Hong Kong. Hua Tien-hau’s Go Grandriders 不老騎士-歐兜邁環台日記 (2013) follows 17 “Grandriders” - whose average age is 81 - on a 1178 km motorcycle ride around Taiwan. Go Grandriders might just change your perspectives about the elderly! Bao-logy Menu: Taiwanese Fried Chicken Meal (finished with caramelized honey & our baology red pepper blend) - a whole 4# local, pasture-raised chicken butchered in-house - Egg Fried Forbidden Rice - Smashed Cucumber Salad *Vegetarian options will substitute the Fried Chicken with Taiwanese Fried Cauliflower *Allergens: Sesame oil, eggs, alliums *The meal is nut & gluten-free Hardena Menu: -jasmine rice -veggie corn fritter (contains gluten) -Beef Rendang (made with candlenut which is related to macadamia nut) -Collard Greens -Herbed Chicken -Egg & Tofu Curry (candlenut) -Cob Corn & fresh veggies -Potatoes in coconut milk (candlenut) *Vegetarian options will sub Rendang and Chicken with: -tempeh sautéed in sweet soy sauce (soy, gluten) -eggplant in red pepper sauce *Allergens: nuts, eggs, soy, & gluten
This year PAAFF will be livestreaming our Preview Party, and you’re invited! So kick off your shoes, slip into your sweats, pour yourself a glass of something special, and tune into our Facebook, Youtube, or Twitch channels on Thursday October 8, at 6:30PM ET for an exclusive sneak peek at our festival lineup. If you’re in the mood for movie munchies, we’ve partnered with Chatayee Thai to offer a very special (and specially priced) PAAFF Snackbox filled with delicious Thai appetizers (vegetarian/vegan option available)! You will be able to preorder for pickup at https://chatayeethai.com/ or order for delivery through DoorDash or Caviar. And if you want to make it a meal, their full menu will also be available for pickup or delivery. Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/PAAFF YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PhillyAsianAmericanFilmFestival/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PAAFF
PAAFF is hosting this brunch with our Queer Asian family: Queer Asian Social Club, Philly Asian and Queer, hotpot! Philly, and Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists Continuing our new tradition of Queer Brunch-ing during our festival, we are inviting everyone in our queer-identifying, Asian diasporic, film-loving community to join us in this virtual space to connect with one other and to appreciate all that is Queer Film! Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZItf-yrpzMiE9J-PbB5XDe16qWJgBZ_OnYH Make sure to check out some of our Queer Film Programs at the festival this year! Queer Futures: LGBTQ Shorts Program Centerpiece Narrative: Goodbye Mother
For our April meeting, we will be discussing Surname Viet Given Name Nam (1989). Vietnamese-born Trinh T. Minh-ha's profoundly personal documentary explores the role of Vietnamese women both historically and in contemporary society. Using dance, printed texts, folk poetry, and the words and experiences of Vietnamese women in Vietnam—from both North and South—and the United States, Trinh's film challenges official culture with the voices of women.A theoretically and formally complex work, Surname Viet Given Name Nam explores the difficulty of translation and themes of dislocation and exile, critiquing both traditional society and life since the war. You can access this documentary for FREE on Kanopy. Our April meeting is scheduled for April 17, at 3PM ET/12PM PT. We will send a meeting registration link soon! Sign up for our Film Club newsletter below! *Please make sure to check the "PAAFF Film Club" box when signing up!
Spring is in the air! And what better way to celebrate than with a romantic comedy? For the May meeting of PAAFF Film Club, we’ll be talking about writer-director Alice Wu’s 2004 debut Saving Face. Reviewing the film at the Toronto International Film Festival, David Rooney of Variety described the film as a “warmly observed, low-key charmer about a closeted Chinese-American lesbian and her traditionalist mother, both reluctant to go public with secret loves that clash against cultural expectations.” PAAFF Film Club will meet next on May 15 at 3PM ET/12PM PT. Saving Face is available on Amazon Prime Video. Sign up for our Film Club newsletter below! *Please make sure to check the "PAAFF Film Club" box when signing up!
After moving from Calcutta to New York, members of the Ganguli family maintain a delicate balancing act between honoring the traditions of their native India and blending into American culture. Although parents Ashoke (Irrfan Khan) and Ashima (Tabu) are proud of the sacrifices they make to give their offspring opportunities, their son Gogol (Kal Penn) strives to forge his own identity without forgetting his heritage. You can access The Namesake on Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, or you can rent the film for $3.99 on YouTube. Our June meeting is scheduled for June 19 at 3PM ET/12PM PT. We will send a meeting registration link soon! Make sure you join the PAAFF Film Club Discord server if you’re interested in continuing the conversation outside of our monthly meetings! Sign up for our Film Club newsletter below! *Please make sure to check the "PAAFF Film Club" box when signing up!
Before Jo Jo Rabbit and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, Taika Waititi wrote and directed Boy, the focus of our July PAAFF Film Club meeting. Part The 400 Blows, part Slumdog Millionaire, a pinch of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and all New Zealand, Boy offers a nostalgic coming-of-age narrative that seems made for summer viewing. During summer break in 1984, eleven-year-old Michael Jackson fanatic "Boy" has the adventure of his life. With his mother dead and father AWoL, Boy becomes the head of a household full of kids when his Nana leaves town for a funeral. It starts as just another few weeks of fruitless pining for classmate beauty Chardonnay, but then his Dad rolls up in a vintage car with his Crazy Horses gang, and Boy's life turns upside down. You can access Boy on Hulu, Vudu (free with account), and Amazon Prime Video ($3.99). Our next meeting is scheduled for July 17 at 3PM ET/12PM PT. Make sure you join the PAAFF Film Club Discord server if you’re interested in continuing the conversation outside of our monthly meetings! Sign up for our Film Club newsletter below! *Please make sure to check the "PAAFF Film Club" box when signing up!
Next month will be our last Film Club meeting of the year! We’ll be closing out our season with A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Ana Lily Amirpour's award-winning debut. With hints of homage to Iranian New Wave cinema, the film is more art film than vampire flick. Residents of an Iranian ghost-town, Bad City, encounter a skateboarding vampire who preys on men who disrespect women. You can access A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night on Kanopy and for rent on Amazon Prime Video ($3.99). Our next meeting is scheduled for August 21 at 3PM ET/12PM PT. Make sure you join the PAAFF Film Club Discord server if you’re interested in continuing the conversation outside of our monthly meetings! Sign up for our Film Club newsletter below! *Please make sure to check the "PAAFF Film Club" box when signing up!
The Rail Park
North & Noble Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Curious to know what's in our festival program this year? Join us at The Rail Park! PAAFF’s Annual Preview Party will be held outdoors at The Rail Park on 10/7 at 7PM. Come catch a glimpse of what we have in store for our 14th Annual Film Festival, connect with the community, enjoy the fresh air, and receive exclusive discounts on PAAFF festival badges. We can’t wait to welcome you back! FAQs: There are two entrances to The Rail Park: a wheelchair accessible entrance at Broad & Noble and a staircase on Callowhill between 11th and 12th. This event is free and open to the public, but because The Rail Park is functioning at a limited capacity, pre-registration for this event is required. The Rail Park is completely outdoors, but we encourage you to wear a mask. There is no food or drink offered in the park, but guests are welcome to bring your own snacks and beverages. The movie trailers shown at the Preview Party are suitable for all audiences. In the case of rain, this event will be cancelled. Pre-register for the PAAFF Preview Party 2021 here!
Asian Arts Initiative
1219 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA, United States
PAAFF 2021 kicks off with a limited-capacity in-person screening of our Opening Night film Americanish ! In Jackson Heights, Queens, sisters Maryam and Sam and their newly-immigrated cousin Ameera navigate the sometimes conflicting demands of romance, culture, work, and family. Serving both as a lighthearted but critical reimagination of the classic romantic comedy, Americanish tackles and celebrates the complexities of womanhood. Directed by Iman Zawahry Produced by Roy Wol, Paul Seetachitt, Iman Zawahry, and Aizzah Fatima Written by Aizzah Fatima and Iman Zawahry Americanish will have an in-person screening at Asian Arts Initiative and will also be available for a 24 hour rental starting on 11/4 at 7PM. There will be a LIVE Q&A with the cast and crew after the screening, followed by a small reception at Asian Arts Initiative. Buy your tickets here! Check out the rest of the PAAFF 2021 lineup here!
