A remote archipelago of hundreds of tiny volcanic islands in the western Pacific, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an independent nation of 100,000 citizens and a protectorate of the United States. In recent years, the country has become a “recruiter’s paradise” for the US military, especially since 9/11. Yet they have lost fives times more soldiers, per capita, than any US state. The film captures a tightly knit island community — a microcosm of economic, social and political change—as the high price for military service in a foreign nation’s wars cuts deep. Through an intricate web of the personal journeys undertaken by Pacific Islander soldiers, the film illustrates the larger story of a remote region whose interests are caught in the ever-changing tides of international politics. Who are these virtually unknown foreign soldiers fighting America’s wars? What does it mean for the United States to use, and practically discard, foreign citizens from their military? What happens to Micronesian veterans, and their families, when they return home and cannot access their benefits (healthcare, treatment for PTSD, loans, etc)? What is the future of these islands that exist at the mercy of foreign superpowers and strategic military interests? Director Nathan Fitch expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

PAAFF is excited to present a selection of home movies collected in the San Francisco Bay Area spanning 1920s-1970s and featuring Chinese American families. Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) Executive Director Stephen Gong will narrate this program, which will also include live musical accompaniment by Chinese multi-instrumentalist Qin Qian and her band. If memories are food for the soul, home movies are the breadcrumbs we drop to find our way back. Unfortunately for many Asian American families who immigrated in the early 20th century or earlier, there is very little home movie footage that shows their unique experiences in this country. CAAM’s Memories to Light project is an effort to collect, digitize, and exhibit Asian American home movies from the bygone film era. PAAFF is also collecting home movies on behalf of the Memories to Light project in the formats of 8mm, Super-8, and 16mm. Films will be digitized at no cost to the owner. If you have questions about adding your films to the collection, please contact: Wing So at [email protected]. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by James Q. Chan Forever Chinatown is the story of self-taught 81-year-old artist Frank Wong, who spent the past four decades recreating fading memories of the San Francisco Chinatown of his youth by building extraordinarily detailed miniature models. A meditation on memory, community, and preserving one’s own legacy, Frank’s three-dimensional miniature dioramas become rare portals into a historic neighborhood and a window to the artist’s filtered and romanticized memories and emotional struggles. In his compromise with immortality, Frank announces plans to cremate his exquisite works with him upon his death in order to ‘live inside them forever’ in his afterlife. This film takes the journey of one individual and maps it onto a rapidly changing urban neighborhood from 1940s to present day. Philadelphia Chinatown community leaders expected in attendance to lead a group discussion after the film. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Ludwig Berger, Michael Powell, Tim Whelan & Alexander Korda One of the most spectacular fantasies ever made, this color film pioneer was at the forefront of cinematic technique when released. Inspired by The Arabian Nights and cited as a major influence on Disney’s Aladdin, Sabu Dastagir co-stars as Abu the thief in this epic adventure. When Prince Ahmad (John Justin) is blinded and cast out of Bagdad by the nefarious Jaffar (Conrad Veidt), he joins forces with the scrappy thief Abu (Sabu, in his definitive role) to win back his royal place and the heart of a beautiful princess (June Duprez). With its luscious Technicolor, vivid sets, and unprecedented visual effects, Thief of Bagdad has been charming viewers of all ages for decades. Perhaps the only Indian national to achieve A-list celebrity status in mid 20th century Hollywood, Sabu is best known for his role in the original, live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book. While it is somewhat problematic that he race-bends as Arab in the role of Abu, this is arguably his strongest performance in a Hollywood film, as he spends nearly an hour of the film as the lead protagonist. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Nadine Truong depressed foster youth named Ben is bullied and consequently gets into a car accident. His recovery process is slow until he meets Adrienne, a fellow wheelchair-bound patient at the hospital. Adrienne breathes hope into his life and introduces to him her grandfather, Taekwondo Master Kang. Master Kang not only teaches Ben how to walk and get back up on his feet but also how to take charge of his own life. PAAFF alumna Nadine Truong (Someone I Used to Know) uses the martial arts backdrop to tell a classic coming-of-age story complemented by a beautiful score and meticulously crafted cinematography. Based in part on the true story of Master Kang’s Old Greenwich Taekwondo dojang. Nadine and Producer Brian Yang (Linsanity, Snakehead) expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Robin Lung Documentary filmmaker Robin Lung investigates Li Ling-Ai, the uncredited female producer of KUKAN, a landmark color film about the atrocities committed by Imperial Japan in China. Lost for decades, KUKAN helped shift public support against Japan in the lead up to WWII and was the first American feature documentary to receive an Honorary Academy Award in 1941. Lung discovers the sole surviving copy of the film and pieces together the inspirational tale behind its production and complex identity of the woman who made it. Filmmaker Robin Lung expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

Live Performance AAFF is excited to present for the first time a staged reading of a new original play by Steven de Castro (Fred Ho’s Last Year). The play is based on the true story of Corporal David Fagen, an African American soldier serving in the 24th regiment of the US Army in the Philippines-American War. While serving, Fagen defected to the Filipino army and joined in their rebellion against US colonial rule. Earning the rank of Captain in the Filipino Army, Fagen became the FBI’s most-wanted criminal. Ultimately his fate is shrouded in mystery, some claiming to have found his partially decomposed remains, while others believe he married a Filipina woman and lived out the rest of his life peacefully in the Philippine mountains. Bringing together two underrepresented communities in the retelling of a little known story of mutual resistance, this groundbreaking piece will feature local African American and Asian American theater artists sharing the stage for the first time. Tickets

Directed by Jonathan Cianfrani Fermentation is an ancient and mysterious food preservation technique whose story can be traced back to the origins of our species. How did this practice give rise to what the culinary world calls “the hottest food trend across the globe?” Join chef/author Ed Lee on a journey to understand how the process of fermentation is used in modern cuisine throughout the US and abroad—exploring the shared techniques used to produce cheese, bread, beer, charcuterie, kimchi, kombucha, and more. Providing a glimpse into how tradition can give rise to a contemporary trend, this film offers point of entry into the deep dark world of fermentation … and what it means to human. Co-presented by Reading Terminal Market, this special after-hours market event will highlight the many market vendors whose products involve or employ fermentation. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Robert Florey Anna May Wong stars as the daughter of a wealthy Chinese American merchant whose father is found dead after refusing to do business with a human trafficking operation. To uncover the truth about her father’s death, Wong goes undercover in a Central American nightclub where she begins to unravel a much larger conspiracy. Korean American actor Philip Ahn plays a strong supporting role as Kim Lee, a US government agent trying to crack the human trafficking case and love interest to Wong. Born in Los Angeles as the son of influential Korean Independence activist Ahn Chang-ho, Ahn is the first Korean American to achieve mainstream recognition in Hollywood, working well into the 1970s. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Ewald André Dupont Actress Anna May Wong stars as a young Chinese woman working in the kitchen at a London dance club. Given the chance to become the club’s main act, she finds herself embroiled in a plot of betrayal, forbidden love, and murder. Born in Los Angeles, Wong had only acted in a few supporting roles before landing her big break in this British silent film. Although she continued acting in Hollywood films throughout the 1930s-1940s, Wong was unable to secure roles of an equal caliber due to the prevalent racism of that era. Despite her somewhat tragic career, Wong is remembered as the first Chinese American leading lady. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Shinpei Takeda Veteran filmmaker and visual artist Shinpei Takeda (Hiroshima Nagasaki Download) returns with this punk musical documentary. Follow two American musicians, two Mexican artists, and one Japanese filmmaker from experimental Punkformance unit Ghost Magnet Roach Motel as they struggle with addiction and an existential crisis on the US-Mexico border. With a soundtrack to match their madness, this film offers a compelling look at the somewhat blurred line between chemical dependency, mental illness, and creativity. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Te Arepa Kahi Poi E is titled after Patea Maori Club’s iconic 1984 song, which gave hope and a renewed spirit to a suffering community during New Zealand’s economic recession. This film recounts the unexpected roller coaster ride on which bandleader Dalvanius Prime and the group found themselves as their song climbed the charts and topped off as the number one hit single for four weeks straight. The song “Poi E” remains relevant today, having reentered the Top 10 in New Zealand in 2009 and 2010. The rich history of this song and its roots in indigenous Maori culture are uncovered through archival footage and interviews with Prime, surviving Patea Maori Club members, and other notable figures in New Zealand media. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Michael Faulkner Shodekeh, a beatboxer and vocal percussionist from Baltimore, has spent his life mastering new sounds and fostering unlikely musical collaborations. After a chance meeting with traditional Tuvan throat singers Alash Ensemble, Shodekeh embarks on a journey to the Republic of Tuva as a guest musician chosen to participate in the International Xoomei (throat singing) festival. A sensory experience of music and landscape, this film takes the viewer on a journey through the vastness of Central Asia and the sounds that emerge as musical cultures combine. Tickets Festival Pass

This shorts program explores the Four Pillars of Hip Hop and the various Asian American communities that have immersed themselves in them. Short film subjects include the Filipino turntablist scene in 1980s San Francisco, the integration of traditional Chinese theater technique into breakdance routines by Mark Wong of Hip Hop Fundamentals, and a graffiti artist navigating the sometimes violent street art world. The fourth pillar of emceeing will be incorporated through a special live performance by acclaimed Korean American rap duo Year of the Ox. Year of the Ox According to the Zodiac, the Ox is attributed with traits of strength and familial loyalty. Nevertheless, they can be stubborn with their ideals and quick to snap at anybody who might violate tradition. Hailing from Virginia, Lyricks and JL exemplify these characteristics. They are artists who regularly speak on the struggles of the Everyman yet are quick to welcome any challengers, treating them like the bonus stage in Street Fighter. It’s a breath of fresh air in an era when rappers spit freestyles off their phones and mumble from the bottom of styrofoam cups. In 2016, the tag team released “Seven Rings,” garnering millions of views while definitively answering the question, “Can Asians rap?” TAG Director: Patrick Green, Steve Tirona | 6 mins | USA A colorful day in the secret life of a graffiti artist looking to make a mark. The Street Pearls Mixtape Director: Aidan Un | 15 mins | USA Street Pearls is a site-specific performance that was presented at Pearl Street Block Party in October 2015, directed and performed by b-boy crew Hip Hop Fundamentals. Filmmaker Aidan Un captures their dynamic use of b-boy culture to explore themes of identity, individuality, and ancestry. Flip the Record Director: Marie Jamora | 15 mins | USA This film takes us into the beat of an aspiring Filipino American DJ crew in 1984 San Francisco. Vanessa, sick of the the constraints and boring piano lessons in her conservative household, starts teaching herself how to scratch on her older brother’s turntables. Watch as she discovers her talents and place in the local music scene of the era. Tickets Festival Pass

A documentary about a free-spirited chef born of a strict culture. “Kakehashi” is the vision that Chef Nobuo Fukuda’s father had for him, to bridge the gap between Japan and the rest of the world. Facing the challenges of a strict environment and emigrating to a new one, Chef Nobuo unexpectedly bridged the gap through his cuisine. In 2007, Chef Nobuo was awarded the James Beard Awards for Best Chef: Southwest. Preceded By Pool to Table Tim Cheng -  3 mins Tiny, circular “fishing floats,” attached to baited lines bob on the water like wayward mini-beach balls. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Saila Kariat Neal Kumar, an immigrant entrepreneur working in the high-octane technologically driven culture of Silicon Valley, seeks answers to lingering questions about his daughter’s suicide. As he journeys deeper into his daughter’s mental-health odyssey, the fractured nature of his interior life becomes apparent to himself and those around him. The Valley explores the struggle of one family to survive intact amidst a culture in which relationships and human connection are almost impossible to maintain. It also addresses the secrecy and lack of understanding that surrounds mental health issues like depression and anxiety, which are the root cause of most suicides. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Sahra V. Nguyen Deported follows Philadelphia-based advocacy group 1Love Movement and its sister organization 1Love Cambodia over the course of five months as they head to Phnom Penh to meet with representatives of the Cambodian government. The goal: to halt deportations and renegotiate the 2002 repatriation agreement that allows the US to deport refugees back to Cambodia. Told over the course of five chapters, this film follows the cases of several deported refugees, documenting the impact that separation has had on their lives and their families. Shedding light on the plight of Cambodian refugees caught in the school-to-prison-to-deportation pipeline, this insightful documentary underscores the historical imbalance of US-Cambodia relations. Co-presented by 1Love Movement, who will be present for a post-film discussion with director Sahra V. Nguyen. Tickets Festival Pass