if you haven't yet, check out our photos from the last 7 days on our flickr site.

thanks to lia chang and all our photogs!

also, a special shout out to all the festival party people!

As long as we're handing out props, I'd like to buy Ron the manager of Forbidden City a cold one. Actually, he wouldn't need it - he was pouring himself plenty last night. Whenever we drink there, he's always willing to play with us, which just makes us that much thirstier.

Thanks, dudes!

Posted by elisa

AAIFF07 Flickr.com photos!

Smooth sounds of the 70’s rocked the Gala reception as the cast of Game judged our 70’s costume contest. Somehow a Maoist Red Guard beat out a rollergirl. Go figure. Cathay Pacific mixed the cocktails, and our various restaurant friends brought out the tasty treats. Did anyone have that beef tataki with ponzu? Damn good! Tons of red faces and good times.

Posted by mchee

justin at the press line

FINISHING THE GAME afterpartay
THURSDAY, July 19, 10:30pm
Forbidden City
212 598 0500
212 Avenue A b/w 13th + 14th Streets
L to 1st Ave @ 14th St. (walk along 14th Street 1 block toward Ave A, turn right on Ave A, then walk ½ block)
4,5,6, N,R,W to Union Square (walk along 14th Street 3 blocks toward Ave A, turn right on Ave A, then walk ½ block)

After the Opening Night presentation + gala at Asia Society, the M.A.T.H. Club party starts downtown at Forbidden City. Ching chong dang! FREE – invite your friends!

Need xtra credit?: buy 1 sake, beer, or specialty cocktail and get 1 free (11p-midnight).

Saturday, 7/21, 10:30pm
UNDOING afterparty
White Rabbit
212 477-5005
145 E. Houston b/w Eldridge + Forsyth Streets
F to 2nd Ave @ Houston (walk along Houston 1 block toward Eldridge)

Marlboro – yes. Pinkberry – no!
The M.A.T.H. Club is glad it’s finally Saturday! We’re celebrating with Chris Chan Lee and Sung Kang of UNDOING, a stylish film noir set in L.A.’s Koreatown featuring cigarettes, guns + the Koreans who wield them. Put down those protractors and raise your (eye)glasses. FREE!

Buy tix to the screening and Q&A here:
http://aaiff.org/2007/films/film_detail.php?i=196

Also check out Museum of Chinese in the Americas’ Chinatown Film Project party:
Saturday, 7/21, 10:00pm
If you have problems reading this, go to www.koreanx.net/moca
The Museum of Chinese in Americas (MoCA), with New York's premiere event promoters, Elements Nightlife, invite you to celebrate the launch of the MoCA's exciting Chinatown Film Project. Join our hosts, star actors Sung Kang, of the upcoming Undoing and previously of Too Fast Too Furious and Roger Fan, of the upcoming Finishing the Game and previously of Annapolis as we kick off this exciting initiative. Proceeds from the event will benefit MoCA/Chinatown Film Project. Come celebrate on July 21st at Jade Terrace with our hosts and special guests Chris Chan Lee, director of Undoing and Phil Yu of the influential AngryAsianMan.com <http://www.angryasianman.com/> .
WHERE: Jade Terrace (top floor of China Club)
268 West 46th Street at 8th Avenue
WHEN: Saturday, July 21st, 10:00pm - closing
WHO: Ladies/Guys 21+
GUESTLIST: Ladies free before 11pm/$10 before midnight
Guys $10 before 11pm/$15 before midnight

RSVP to angela@sixnyc.com or eubin@sixnyc.com for reduced guestlist by July 19th at 5pm. Questions? Please call 212.619.4785 x 106.

Thursday, 7/26, 10:30pm
DARK MATTER / YEAR OF THE FISH afterparty
Forbidden City
212 598 0500
212 Avenue A b/w 13th + 14th Streets
L to 1st Ave @ 14th St. (walk along 14th Street 1 block toward Ave A, turn right on Ave A, then walk ½ block)
4,5,6, N,R,W to Union Square (walk along 14th Street 3 blocks toward Ave A, turn right on Ave A, then walk ½ block)

Revenge of the M.A.T.H. nerds!
Tonight, we rule. Celebrate the New York Premieres of DARK MATTER and YEAR OF THE FISH: surreal stories of alienation + Cinderella dreams. FREE!

Buy tix to the Centerpiece screening of DARK MATTER, Q&A, + Reception here:
http://aaiff.org/2007/films/film_detail.php?i=124

Buy tix to the YEAR OF THE FISH screening + Q&A here:
http://aaiff.org/2007/films/film_detail.php?i=207

Saturday, 7/28, 10:30pm
NEVER FOREVER afterparty
White Rabbit
212 477-5005
145 E. Houston b/w Eldridge + Forsyth Streets
F to 2nd Ave @ Houston (walk along Houston 1 block toward Eldridge)

Never Forever! KIT! Have a great summer!
Following the Closing Night presentation of NEVER FOREVER, the M.A.T.H. Club closes out the 30th festival with a bang (and a “slosh,” and probably an “oops,” too). FREE!

Buy tix to the Closing Night Screening + Reception here:
http://aaiff.org/2007/films/film_detail.php?i=160

The Opening Night Presentation + Gala is now SOLD OUT! A rush line will form tomorrow (7/19) at 6:30pm - tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis depending on availability. Cash only.

Are you excited?

CineVue was privileged to speak with Cheng Yu-Chieh, an up-and-coming filmmaker whose multiple award-winning debut, DO OVER, will make its New York Premiere at our Festival.

CINEVUE: Please introduce your film and occupation if not a full-time filmmaker.
CYC: My film is titled DO OVER.

CINEVUE: Where you are based?
CYC: I am based in Taiwan.

CINEVUE: Would you please describe your film?
It's five stories set in the new year, all about doing things over.

CINEVUE: Why filmmaking? What’s so compelling about it?
It allows me to connect with many people through filmmaking. Film enables us to share our lives.

CINEVUE: How many films have you made?
CYC: I've made three: two shorts and one feature-length.

CINEVUE: Who or what are your biggest creative influences?
CYC: Now - my actors.

CINEVUE: What has been one blessing and one curse during your film's production?
CYC: We took each curse as a blessing alhough sometimes a curse is still a curse.

CINEVUE: What is the Asian or Asian American film that has had the most significant impact on you?
CYC: TAMPOPO by Juzo Itami.

CINEVUE: What do you look most forward to at the 07 AAIFF?
CYC: Every one going to the festival having a really good time.

Catch DO OVER at 11:30 am on Sunday, July 22nd at Asia Society.

CineVue had a quick chat with Melina Leon, a filmmaker pursuing a degree in film from Columbia University. Her short GIRL WITH A WALKMAN is a poignant consideration of self-worth and renewal.

CINEVUE: What is your occupation if not a full-time filmmaker, and where you are based?
ML: I am a full-time film student based in NY.

CINEVUE: What attracted you to filmmaking? What do you feel is so special about it?
ML: Films have the best potential to represent life: the mix of beauty and horror needs to be registered somehow before it's over.

CINEVUE: How many films have you made?
ML: I've directed 5 short films.

CINEVUE: What is your current film? Could you please describe its main theme?
ML: My short film is is titled GIRL WITH A WALKMAN ; it is a reflective musing on suicide and resurrection.

CINEVUE: Who or what are your biggest influences, creatively?
ML: Musicians like Vivaldi, poets like José Watanabe, painters like Van Gogh and filmmakers like Kitano.

CINEVUE: What was one blessing and one curse during the production of your film?
ML: Dichotomy of a great crew vs no money.

CINEVUE: What is the one Asian or Asian American film figure that has had the most substantial impact on you?
ML: Takeshi Kitano has had a tremendous impact.

CINEVUE: What are you excited about for 07 AAIFF?
ML: Meeting artists.

Catch GIRL WITH A WALKMAN in the shorts program SHE'S YOUR QUEEN on Thursday July, 26th at Asia Society.

CineVue enjoyed the chance to speak with Leste Chen, an accomplished filmmaker whose critically-acclaimed film, ETERNAL SUMMER, is making its long-awaited New York premiere at our Festival.

CINEVUE: Could you tell us about yourself?
LC: I am a full-time director. I work out of Taipei

CINEVUE: What is the title of your film?
ETERNAL SUMMER

CINEVUE: Could you sum up the main idea of your film?
LC: No soul was born to be alone.

CINEVUE: Why do you make films? What’s special about it for you?
LC: I have tried other jobs before, from visual to art design, for example. I find they lack a sense of fulfillment. I realized only as a director could I combine the many skills I’ve learned; it's very challenging.

CINEVUE: How many films have you made?
LC: I have directed six shorts and three feature-length films.

CINEVUE: Who or what are your biggest influences, creatively speaking?
LC: My parents and Michelle Yeh.

CINEVUE: Please describe a blessing and an obstacle from the production of your film?
LC: Financing is the most difficult problem. But I'm glad that my previous experiences in filmmaking have developed me more in terms of maturity when facing

CINEVUE: What would you choose as the Asian/Asian American film be that has had the greatest impact on you?
LC: Sam Sei Goon (English Title: Justice, My Foot!), starring Stephen Chow and directed by Johnny To.

CINEVUE: Are you looking forward to ‘07 AAIFF?
LC: I hope more Americans could have the chance to watch this film at the AAIFF screening.

Showtime for ETERNAL SUMMER is 2:30 pm on Saturday, July 28th Date at Asia Society.

Check out the trailer below:

CineVue was privileged to speak with Eurie Chung, a filmmaker whose film METRO ES PARA TODOS is featured in the shorts program SHE'S YOUR QUEEN.

CINEVUE: Won’t you please tell us a little about yourself? Are you a filmmaker full-time? Where are you based?
EC: I am an editor, based primarily in L.A.

CINEVUE: Would you describe your film in brief?
EC: METRO ES PARA TODOS is about a badass Korean Grandma who organizes in Koreatown, Los Angeles.

CINEVUE: What is special about filmmaking for you?
I like that films reach across all sorts of boundaries.

CINEVUE: How many films have you made?
EC: I have just the one, and it came to be petty much by accident.

CINEVUE: Who would you say are your biggest creative influences and why?
EC: My parents. Having creatively frustrated immigrant parents makes me want to do something with the freedom and opportunities I have.

CINEVUE: Please describe one blessing and one curse during the production of your film?
EC: A very great blessing was befriending Grandma Kim.
A very great curse was having to edit 8 hours into 10 minutes.

CINEVUE: What is the one Asian/Asian American film that has had the biggest impact on you?
EC: WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN? by Christine Choy and Renee Tajima-Pena.

CINEVUE: What are you looking forward to at the 07 AAIFF?
EC: Cringing in the back of the theater, hoping people will like my film (if I make it out to NY for the
screening!)

Catch METRO ES PARA TODOS in the shorts program SHE'S YOUR QUEEN on Thursday July, 26th at Asia Society.

CineVue spoke with speak with Alaric Tay, an actor-filmmaker from Singapore whose short film, WHEN WE WERE BENGS , is a riff on comic-book slapstick.

CINEVUE: What is your occupation if not a full-time filmmaker, and where you are based?
AT: I have been an actor for the last eleven years, though making movies has always been a dream. I am based in Singapore.

CINEVUE: What is the title of your film?
WHEN WE WERE BENGS .

CINEVUE: Could you briefly describe your film?
AT: Two idiotic brothers, Heng & Bee, live in a comic-book world where the neighborhoods are rough. One day, a notorious gangster kidnaps Bee; while trying to rescue his brother, Heng finds himself in the middle of a ridiculous ‘Mexican’ standoff.

CINEVUE: Why attracted you to filmmaking? Whatdo you find rewarding about it?
AT: I’m always inspired by good stories, and I aspire to pass them on. Through making movies, I hope to inspire others in the same way.

CINEVUE: How many films have you made?
I have made 5 short films since the year 2000.

CINEVUE: Who or what would you say are your biggest creative influences?
AT: I’m not quite sure. I pretty much research and innovate as I progress through the creative stages (writing and production planning phases) of making my films. Steven Spielberg's early films have always provided me with that special touch of magic. And Bruckheimer's productions inspire me to make them "look as good as the stories within them”.

CINEVUE: Could you describe one blessing and one curse during the production of your film?
AT: As an actor, I knew talented actors, assistants, crew, stylists and artists who were willing to help me out. However, the tropical weather in Singapore is unpredictable, making it a real pain when we have to adhere to actors’ very tight schedules. And mind you, we are talking about working actors doing me a favor here.

CINEVUE: What is the one Asian/Asian American film that has had the biggest impact on you?
AT: It wouldn’t be a film per se. However, Jackie Chan’s work has had a great impact on me, simply because of the kind of person he is: diligent, pioneering and very charismatic. His innovation with kung fu comedy has changed my outlook on the possibilities of my own career. I’m sure it’s been said before, but the guy rocks!

CINEVUE: What are you looking forward to most at the upcoming '07 AAIFF?
AT: The opportunity to meet other Asian filmmakers from across the world, and understanding their perspective on life through their films will prove to be an interesting experience for me.

For more on Alaric and his work please visit www.alarictay.com

Catch WHEN WE WERE BENGS on July 28 at 11:30am in AAIFF's Part of This Complete Breakfast program.

Who is this mustached Elisa Paik? M.A.T.H. Club member extraordinaire, drinking buddy loyalist...

Name: Elisa Paik

Current occupation: Not really

Have you worked at the festival? Yes

If so, in what positions? Website, Filmmaker and Industry Liaison (2005); Special Events Coordinator (2002)

What are some memorable moments of working on staff?
- Hosting the "holistic fasting weekend," a.k.a. staff retreat, at the apartment Sonjia + I shared years ago. About eight of us agreed to fast for 48 hours to cleanse impurities before diving into the festival. Since we were all smokers + highly stressed, however, we did permit cigarettes. So, we ate nothing, smoked nonstop, and looked sullen; it was more a Supermodel Bootcamp than anything else - but man, did we bond!

- I've known Sonjia for 16 years + only ever heard her cuss out a superior twice - once was in junior high in a church van, and the last time was at the 2002 festival. Both times were so frightening that we've never really talked about them since.

Why should people come to the Festival?
Shall I be completely honest? Meeting crush-worthy boys + girls.

What are some memorable films you've seen at the Festival?
TRAVELLERS AND MAGICIANS (2003, Bhutan) was one of that country's first features. It was smart and heartfelt - not to mention lush and majestic. The MUSIC VIDEO SHOW program is always exciting - the crowd goes apesh*t! They videos are consistently innovative, and watching the voting is fun.

What do you think sets AAIFF apart from the other Asian American film festivals?
We are a classic New York story. We're scrappy (run on a shoe-string budget), indie (always encouraging emerging talent via networking events, workshops, and youth programs), and seasoned (the longest-running Asian American festival), but still manage to create a wonderful sense of home.