The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), presented annually by Visual Communications (VC), Southern California’s leading showcase for new Asian Pacific American and Asian international cinema, announced today the program for the 38th edition of the festival. The festival returns May 5–13 in Los Angeles and will feature an exciting lineup of in-person programming, along with virtual programming for our audiences at home in Southern California and beyond. JANM is excited to be hosting some of the LAAPFF screenings again from Tuesday, May 10 - Friday, May 13.
As Visual Communications premiere annual event, LAAPFF continues to build connections between peoples and generations through the amplification of Asian and Pacific Islander film, video, and media.The festival celebrates Asian Pacific American filmmakers and Asian international artists with profound, important and entertaining films and content from the new voices of cinema while honoring the legends and leaders who keep this cultural movement going forward. Important themes of representation, authorship, responsibility and ethics are at the forefront of content creation. This year’s line up provides incredible examples of those ideas and themes from Asian Pacific artists who are committed to excellence in cinema in America and around the world.
Learn more and find tickets on the LAAPFF website.
JANM Members get a special discount code courtesy of Visual Communications. Email membership@janm.org for the code! Not a current member? Join or renew today!
Schedule
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Tue, May 10, 2022
World premiere of A LONG MARCH (Dir. TS Botkin)
Many Philippine migration stories, here in California and across the nation, are linked to the thousands of Filipino and Filipino American soldiers who went to war to defend the United States and the Philippines during World War II. In an honest and heartfelt directorial debut, TS Botkin follows Filipino American veterans as they emotionally trace their paths from war to erasure by the U.S. Government, marching from an obscured history to the Federal courts, right up to the steps of Congress in search of promises denied.
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Tue, May 10, 2022
LA premiere of CROSSINGS (Dir. Deann Borshay Liem)
In hopes of putting an end to the 70-year war that still does not have the peace treaty, a group of internationally renowned women peacemakers come together to plan a march to cross the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) from North to South Korea. Veteran documentarian, Deann Borshay Liem, tells an exquisitely touching and crucial story that advocates for peace.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Wed, May 11, 2022
Special celebration of FRAN ROCKSTAR
Journey down memory lane with a special retrospective of short films celebrating one of VC’s beloved veterans of the Digital Histories program, Frances Ito. Ito, who will celebrate her 90th birthday this year, will also celebrate the world premiere of her 12th film at this year’s fest.
Wednesday, May 11, 2022 | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Wed, May 11, 2022
From Visions to Reel Shorts Program
A legacy program with the film festival that has welcomed award-winning filmmakers early in their career. Experience a range of storytelling styles from the next generation. The future is now.
Thursday, May 12, 2022 | 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Thu, May 12, 2022
The LA premiere OMOIYARI: A SONG FILM BY KISHI BASHI (Dirs.: Justin Smith, Kaoru Ishibashi)
Combining music with filmmaking, musician Kishi Bashi provides viewers with a unique documentary experience which touches on his own familial history and how it relates to the current immigration issues involving American citizens today. Bashi incorporates his own violin compositions and performances with interviews and archival footage from Japanese-Americans during WWII to show how history can easily be repeated if we do not reflect on the past.
Friday, May 13, 2022 | 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Thu, May 12, 2022
The world premiere of 80 YEARS LATER (Dir. Celine Parreñas Shimizu)
On the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 that imprisoned Japanese Americans in World War II, 80 YEARS LATER captures how families continually grapple with the legacy of their experience. Beyond physical appearances, habits and tendencies, how does one inherit trauma across generations?
Screening with I FEEL WITH MY HEART
Friday, May 13, 2022 | 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM
Thu, May 12, 2022
The world premiere of I FEEL WITH MY HEART (Dir. Mitch Maki)
During World War II, Fernando Sosa Masuda enlists in the army and is sent to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Because he is different, he has a hard time being accepted by his fellow soldiers until two Nisei brothers give him the surprise of his life.
Screening with 80 YEARS LATER
Friday, May 13, 2022 | 5:00 PM - 6:45 PM
Fri, May 13, 2022
DIGITAL HISTORIES 2022 shorts program
Digital Histories is a mechanism for Asian and Pacific Islander older adults to use their unique voices and perspectives in sharing stories with the generations to come. Since its creation in 2003, Digital Histories has provided a professional and artistic work environment for underserved, ethnic-minority seniors in the Los Angeles-based Asian Pacific American community. Past documentary projects have focused on issues such as discovering and preserving family histories, coming to terms with a gay child, and senior love and dating.
Friday, May 13, 2022 | 7:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Fri, May 13, 2022
The world premiere of THE WORLD’S GREATEST (Dir. Judy Lei)
In Judy Lei’s directorial debut, we explore the angst of an NY Chinatown teenage loner who struggles to find real friendship, love, and acceptance. Lei, who also stars in the film, gives a powerful performance alongside Leonard Wu (Orus in the Netflix television drama series Marco Polo) who plays her brother. It’s an exclamation point on the quiet life of a teen, who just wants to get out of dodge.