Asian Cinevision Announces Tentpole Films “RAGING GRACE” and “JAMOJAYA” as part of 46th Asian American International Film Festival Programming
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2023
Media contact:
press@asiancinevision.org
JUNE 23, 2023, NEW YORK – The 46th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), known as the “First Home of Asian American Cinema,” will take place from July 26 – August 6. This year continues the dedicated showcasing of moving image work by media artists of Asian descent for and about the Asian diaspora experience.
Asian CineVision (ACV) is excited to reveal the AAIFF46 branding, which is a reflection of what the Festival hopes to represent: a freedom of expression, the encouragement of artistic possibilities without boundaries, and a reminder to aim for progress instead of perfection.
On this year’s branding, Harmonie Tsai, the Creative Manager at ACV, says, “The creative team’s goal for this year’s branding was to develop a bold visual that celebrated a positive freedom of expression intertwined with unyielding tenacity. It’s imperfect and loud, but authentic to AAIFF’s mission to take our community on a cinematic journey that embraces diversity, empowers voices, and heralds a new era of fearless storytelling.”
The Festival will open with the East Coast premiere of Justin Chon’s film, JAMOJAYA, on Wednesday, July 26 at the Museum of the Moving Image. It will be followed by a 20 minute Q&A session and opening reception. The narrative feature explores what happens when James (Rich Brian), an up-and-coming rapper at the crossroads of his career, decides to let go of his manager, who is also his father (Yayu A.W. Unru). This decision forces them to confront the past and figure out what they want from one another.
Justin Chon is a Korean-American director, writer, and actor. In 2017, Chon made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film GOOK, winning the Audience Award and the Next Innovator Award at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Chon has screened other films at previous AAIFFs, including BLUE BAYOU in 2021 (AAIFF44), MS. PURPLE in 2019 (AAIFF42), and GOOK in 2017 (AAIFF40).
The Festival will close its in-person festivities with the East Coast premiere of RAGING GRACE on Sunday, July 30 at Quad Cinema. This bold, coming-of-rage story follows Joy, a Filipina immigrant, and her daughter, Grace, as they encounter a darkness that threatens all they have worked for. The film previously premiered at SXSW, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival, and the Sydney Film Festival.
RAGING GRACE is the debut feature film from Paris Zarcilla, a British Filipino BIFA nominated film and television director-writer, who aims to create meaningful, profound, and genre-bending stories.
Kris Montello, Programming Manager at ACV, shared insight into why these two films were selected as spotlight films for AAIFF46, “Justin Chon’s latest film, JAMOJAYA, is full of sound and fury that deserves to be seen big and loud. The larger-than-life performances from Rich Brian and Yayu A.W. Unru are a true highlight. And, RAGING GRACE is a thought-provoking horror movie, and is uniquely the first British-Filipino feature in history. We’re thrilled for our audience to experience its chilling twists and turns.”
As demonstrated by its selection of opening and closing programs, AAIFF continues to honor and support the community of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers and their stories by encouraging diversion from expected Asian storylines to showcase other real-life experiences that may be overlooked in mainstream media.
Individual tickets for JAMOJAYA ($80) and RAGING GRACE ($70) can be purchased now at https://www.aaiff.org/program. More in-person events and the full lineup of AAIFF46 will be announced on Thursday, July 6 at its annual Launch Party hosted at Muses 35 from 6-8pm.
Early bird Gold and Cine Pass are on sale today, June 23, at https://www.aaiff.org/ticketing. The limited-time discount pricing ends on July 9, 2023. Follow ACV’s social media channels to stay updated.
About the Asian American International Film Festival
The Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is proudly known as “The First Home to Asian American Cinema.” Organized by Asian CineVision, it’s the first and longest-running festival dedicated to showcasing the moving image work by media artists of Asian descent for and about the Asian diaspora experience. The Festival takes place in New York City, the second-largest Asian-American market in the U.S. Every year, AAIFF attracts audiences from all five boroughs of New York City, the tri-state region, and around the world.
About Asian CineVision
Asian CineVision (ACV) is a media arts nonprofit devoted to the development, exhibition, promotion, and preservation of Asian and Asian American experiences through storytelling. Our mission is to nurture and grow the community of makers and lovers of Asian and Asian American independent film, television, and digital.
Films submitted and screened at the festival are eligible to participate in our National Tour program, bringing Asian diaspora stories to broader audiences across North America through a rental service for cultural and educational institutions.
Thank You
THE 2023 ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MARY LI HSU CHARITABLE TRUST, MAYOR’S OFFICE OF MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT, NYC AND COMPANY, TAMIMENT LIBRARY ROBERT F. WAGNER LABOR ARCHIVE, NYU SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, ASIAN/PACIFIC/AMERICAN INSTITUTE AT NYU, SAG-AFTRA, CUNY AAARI, CUNY GRADUATE CENTER, AND THE MANY FRIENDS OF ACV.
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