Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, 2019

MAY 2-10, 2019

LOS ANGELES, USA

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), earlier known as VC FilmFest, was established in 1983 to bring Asian Pacific American and Asian international cinema to the fore. Presented by Visual Communications, it promotes artistes who shift narratives and stories that challenge perspectives.

The 35^th edition of the festival will showcase over 200 films, with eight feature-film world premieres. For the first time in the history of the festival, LAAPFF will open and close with feature films written and directed by Asian Pacific American female filmmakers.  In addition, this year’s selections mark a milestone, with 24 women filmmakers. For the first time in the history of LAAPFF, a Filipina-American filmmaker will open the festival with the film Yellow Rose.

OPENING NIGHT

Yellow Rose

Directed by Diane Paragas, the film tells the story of a headstrong Filipino girl from Texas who fights to follow her dream of being a country musician despite facing a deportation threat. Eva Noblezada, Lea Salonga, Dale Watson, Liam Booth, Gustavo Gomez, Libby Villari and Princess Punzalan are part of this cast.

CLOSING NIGHT

Empty By Design

Written and directed by Andrea A Walter, the film is about Samantha and Eric, who move to Manila from the US and are trying to fit in with their new identities. The cast of the film is led by Rhian Ramos and Osric Chau.

Narrative Feature Competition

Come As You Are

Happy Cleaners

In A New York Minute

International Narrative Feature Competition

Cities Of Last Things

Eerie

House Of Hummingbird

Documentary Feature Competition

Eating Up Easter

Jaddoland

Origin Story

Special Presentations

Actress Wanted

In The Land Of Lost Angels

Leitis In Waiting

International Documentary Feature Competition

For Sama

Last Night I Saw You Smiling

Our Time Machine

Gala Presentations

Go Back To China

Ms Purple

Short Films Programs

Blooming Colors

From Visions To Reel: Finding Home

I Gotchu Fam, Always

Itsy Bitsy Shorts

Kids Shorts (Not the Kind You Wear)

#LIFE

Pacific Cinewaves

Reel Sports

The Space Between

The Tipping Point

WWYD (What Would You Do?)

Indian Connect

Curd

Difficult People

Halwa

C3: Conference For Creative Content

This segment is aimed at bringing together prominent media professionals in the realms of film, television, cable, digital and trans-media to discuss the ever-changing media industry. It will also enable them to network, celebrate and share best practices. This year’s theme of C3 is Future Forward.

REORIENT: Emerging Media

This section will showcase cutting-edge virtual reality, mixed reality and interactive installations. It is themed on exploring the intersection of art, technology and the future of storytelling. Films such as Ama’s Memento, Asian In America, Homestay, Girl Icon, Pacific Gateaway: Angel Island, Floodplain and Water Buffalo will be screened under this section.

– Titas Chowdhury