awards
Continuing its long tradition of discovering and promoting the visionary works of emerging artists, the AAIFF this year will hand out awards in eight competition categories. Many of the filmmakers will be making their film debut at the Festival. Remember that you heard about them here first. The awards will be presented at the AAIFF Closing Night Awards Ceremony on SATURDAY, JULY 28 at 9:30PM.
Emerging Director in Narrative Feature Award
Emerging Director in Documentary Feature Award
Audience Award for Narrative and Documentary Features
Excellence in Short Filmmaking
One to Watch Award
Best Music Video Award
Screenplay Competition
EMERGING DIRECTOR IN NARRATIVE FEATURE AWARD
The Emerging Director Award honors the best narrative feature film by a first- or second-time narrative feature filmmaker. The five finalist films, making their much-anticipated premieres at the 30th AAIFF, hail from three different countries and represent the creative spirit and singular vision that is the tradition of the AAIFF and ACV. Exploring a range of subjects from the American dream to alienation in Malaysia, these exciting filmmakers are reminders of the independent voice of Asian and Asian American filmmakers.
THE JURY
- HELEN KOH
Helen Koh is the associate director of cultural programs at the Asia Society. She has taught East Asian literature and Korean film at Columbia University, and has published articles on both Korean film and literature. Her Ph.D. is from the University of Chicago in East Asian languages and civilizations.
- PATRICK TAM
Patrick Tam, honoree of the 30th AAIFF tribute, first began as a TV director. In 1975, he attended a San Francisco-based film school. In 1978, he turned to directing features, making his debut with THE SWORD. He is widely recognized as one of the pioneers of the HK New Wave. He triumphantly returned to filmmaking after a seventeen-year absence with the award-winning AFTER THIS OUR EXILE.
- RYAN WERNER
Ryan Werner is vice president of marketing at IFC Entertainment where he oversees the marketing of all IFC Films releases and the marketing and publicity of all IFC First Take releases. Prior to IFC, Werner was head of theatrical distribution at Wellspring. Werner has been the programmer of the Woodstock Film Festival for the last five years. He received the 2006 Hollywood Reporter award for "Next Gen."
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EMERGING DIRECTOR IN DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD
This juried Award is presented to the best documentary feature film by a first-or-second-time documentary feature filmmaker. The six finalist films, making their debuts at our festival, unflinchingly tackle controversial and challenging topics, running the gamut from genocide to male hula dance, and illuminate the truth in their own ways.
THE JURY
- DAVID KWOK
David Kwok is the senior programmer for the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Kwok developed the Tribeca All Access program that supports and promotes the work of under-represented filmmakers. He is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts Cinema Studies program.
- MIKE MAGGIORE
Mike Maggiore, with Director Karen Cooper, programs the premieres for New York's Film Forum, an independent, non-profit cinema. Maggiore is also responsible for promoting these films. He has served on the committees of the Independent Spirit Awards' Truer Than Fiction Award and the Sundance Documentary Fund.
- JESSICA YU
Jessica Yu's BREATHING LESSONS: THE LIFE AND WORK OF MARK O'BRIEN won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. Her documentary feature, IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. Her latest documentary, PROTAGONIST, premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
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AUDIENCE AWARD FOR NARRATIVE AND DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
What do you think is the best film at this year's Festival? Which film exhibits the most independent spirit and innovative sensibility? You, the audience, get to judge. Your vote will decide which of the nineteen narrative feature films and seven documentary films will win the Audience Award for Narrative and Documentary Film. Your vote counts! Don't forget to submit your ballot after each screening.
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EXCELLENCE IN SHORT FILMMAKING AWARD
The art of the short film is a remarkable feat in that takes a director only ten minutes to stir in her audience the same excitement and intrigue that a feature film does in over an hour. What a short filmmaker can do with a single glance, word or angle proves her ability to alter the entire landscape of a film with perceptive subtleties. Which one of these five shorts will join the esteemed ranks of past winners such as POL POT'S BIRTHDAY (AAIFF 05) and STATIONERY (AAIFF 06).
THE JURY
- NUSRAT DURRANI
Nusrat Durrani is general manager of MTV World, a division of MTV. He also oversees World 2.0, a project that connects global youth. Prior to MTV, Nusrat was marketing manager for Honda Cars in Dubai. In 2007, Nusrat is running the ING New York Marathon to raise money for Team For Kids. If you would like to make a donation, you can log on to www.teamforkids,com. Nusrat's entry number is 168967.
- KEN LEUNG
Ken Leung appeared in the final season of THE SOPRANOS, as well as three films making the festival rounds: SHANGHAI KISS, FALLING FOR GRACE, and the rotoscope-animated YEAR OF THE FISH which is screening at the 30th AAIFF. He is based in New York City.
- JUSTIN LIN
Justin Lin's solo directorial debut BETTER LUCK TOMORROW was listed by many critics as one of the top five films of the year. After the film's success, Lin ventured into the studio world with ANNAPOLIS. He then directed THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT. His latest, FINISHING THE GAME, is the Opening Night film of the 30th AAIFF. Lin also serves on the board of directors for Visual Communications.
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BEST MUSIC VIDEO AWARD
From the indie realm to the international, music videos give voice to a youth subculture that is creative and inventive. This year's collection of talent pushes the boundaries of storytelling in very original and even ridiculous ways. Vote for your favorite and decide whose vision demands to be heard at the MUSIC VIDEO SHOW.
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ONE TO WATCH AWARD
Young filmmakers see things first. They often articulate what needs to be heard and remembered: a willingness to live earnestly and completely, and the courage to fight for the freedom to do so. Catch FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH and vote for your favorite, fiercest film.
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SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
ACV congratulates Michael Choi, winner of the 7th Annual Screenplay Competition with his entry Cranes! Selected from a final round of three scripts, Cranes will be staged by Pan Asian Repertory Theatre.
We also congratulate the other two finalists: CHINK by Koji Steven Sakai and YOU'RE A BIG GIRL NOW by Tze Chun.
Don't miss the CRANES Screenplay Reading on July 28, Saturday, 4PM.
THE JURY
- KARIN CHIEN
Karin Chien is an independent film producer based in New York City. Ms. Chien has produced five feature films: ROBOT STORIES (2002), MVP (2004), THE MOTEL (2005), UNDOING (2006), and SANTA MESA (2007). Ms. Chien's films have been distributed internationally; nominated for an Independent Spirit Award; and received other numerous awards, including the NHK/Sundance Filmmakers Award and the Humanitas Prize.
- MICHAEL KANG
Michael Kang's second film, WEST 32ND, just made its world premiere at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. His feature film debut The Motel was produced by indie veteran director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, internationally premiered at the Pusan Film Festival, and was nominated for "Best First Feature" at the Independent Spirit Awards. Most recently, Kang was awarded a fellowship with the ABC/DGA New Talent Television Directing Program. He also received the 2002 Geri Ashur Award in screenwriting through the New York Foundation for the Arts.
- ROSANNE MA
Rosanne Ma's writing/directing credits include Once Upon an Ever After and In the Eye of the Beholder, and short films, THE BAKERY. Currently, METRONOME starring Liza Weil is in post-production. As a performer, Ma was last seen onstage with the company of Jewtopia and is a familiar presence with Pan Asian Repertory Theatre having appeared in The Joy Luck Club, Rashomon, The Empress of China, and most notably as Anna May Wong in China Doll. Ma is a recipient of the Lilah Kan Red Socks Award.
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