DREAM WEAVERS - BEIJING 2008 wins award for Outstanding Achievement in Directorial Filmmaking from the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Director Jun Gu from Beijing accepted the award tonight at the festival for her documentary which chronicles over seven years the immense behind-the-scenes preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Jun Gu weaves the experiences of the athletes, ambitious construction projects, the extensive security training, and follows members of the community who volunteered to participate in the Beijing Olympics.

If you thought the 2008 Beijing Olympics was spectacular on television you should see what it was like getting ready for the big event.

Director Jun Gu flew in from Beijing to accept the award for Outstanding Achievement in Directorial Filmmaking tonight at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

Her documentary DREAM WEAVERS - BEIJING 2008 chronicles the immense behind-the-scenes preparation for the event.

Jun Gu spent seven years documenting the Olympic preparations. She weaves the triumphs and tragedies of athletes preparing for the Olympics, the ambitious construction projects, extensive security training, and follows members of the community who were volunteers at the Beijing Olympics.

DREAM WEAVERS: BEJING 2008 made its U.S. premiere tonight at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Jun Gu said her documentary is scheduled to be released in China in August, and is then expected to be distributed worldwide.

The world premiere of ECHO BEACH was tonight at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The documentary establishes 1980's Newport Beach as the center of the surfing industry and worldwide influencer of youth culture, music and fashion.

Danny Kwock was one of the pro surfers in the 80's who helped ignite the surfing industry globally.

Danny and his surfing buddies surfed along a one hundred yard stretch of sand between 52nd and 56th Streets in Newport Beach known as ECHO BEACH.

The revolutionary movement came together along this small stretch of sand with the surfers, photographers, surfboard shapers, magazines, and young surf companies such as Quicksilver, Stussy, and Rip Curl.

The world premiere of ECHO BEACH was tonight at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The documentary directed by former pro surfer Jeff Parker, establishes 1980's Newport Beach as the center of the surfing industry and worldwide influencer of youth culture.

Danny Kwock was one of the pro surfers in the 80's who helped to ignite the surfing industry globally.

Danny and his surfing buddies surfed along a one hundred yard stretch of sand between 52nd and 56th Streets in Newport Beach known as ECHO BEACH.

The revolutionary movement came together along this small stretch of sand with the surfers, photographers, surfboard shapers, magazines, and young surf companies such as Quicksilver, Stussy, and Rip Curl.

Director John Woo dreamed about making this film for years. Now, he stands proudly at the West Coast premiere of his epic RED CLIFF. The film opens in theaters nationally in November. AsianConnections will release its exclusive interview with John Woo next week.

It is China's most expensive feature film to date, and a project that director John Woo has wanted to make for years.

Now, finally, Red Cliff opens on screens nationally in November and its one heck of a blockbuster.

Once you have seen this epic movie, you will want to see the Asian version which was released in two parts, more than four hours long.

Director John Woo said he used the historical records of Three Kingdoms as the basis for the Battle of Red Cliffs during the end of the Han Dynasty. The film stars Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhang Fengyi, Chang Chen, Hu Jun, Lin Chi-ling and Zhao Wei. 

AsianConnections Suzanne Joe Kai spoke with director John Woo at the West Coast premiere.

Red Cliff premiered at the South Coast Plaza Regency Theater in Costa Mesa, California. The film was presented by the Orange County Film Society, part of the Newport Beach Film Festival organization.

The Red Cliff film premiere is part a two month celebration of Chinese arts and culture in Orange County, Ancient Paths Modern Voices . Many of the events are in partnership with Carnegie Hall, New York.

Hollywood's hot stars came out to honor CAPE, the Coalition for Asian Pacifics in Entertainment for its 17th years supporting APAs in Hollywood. AC's Jenny Woo and Suzanne Kai attended the star-studded event.

Awards shows and parties are in full swing in Hollywood, leading up to the Oscars March 7, 2010.

CAPE, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment did not hand out awards as it has in the past, instead Hollywood's hot stars came out to honor CAPE for its 18 years supporting APAs in Hollywood.

AC's Jenny Woo and Suzanne Kai attended the star-studded event in December.

Click on AsianConnections interviews below with some of the guests attending the CAPE party.

Tamlyn Tomita (The Joy Luck Club), Justin Chon (Twilight: New Moon), Leonardo Nam (He's Just Not That Into You), Patrick Gallagher (Glee), Julia Ling (Chuck), James Kyson Lee (Heroes), Alex Mapa (Ugly Bety), Karin Anna Chueng (Better Luck Tomorrow), and former NY Yankees pitcher Hideki Irabu.

Awards shows and parties are in full swing in Hollywood, leading up to the Oscars March 7, 2010.

CAPE, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment did not hand out awards as it has in the past, instead Hollywood's hot stars came out to honor CAPE for its 18 years supporting APAs in Hollywood.

AC's Jenny Woo and Suzanne Kai attended the star-studded event in December.