New York Asian American International Film Festival Turns 30

New York Asian American International Film Festival Celebrates 30 Years - July 19-28, 2007

The New York Asian American International Film Festival turns 30 this July.

"We are proud to be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the New York Asian American International Film Festival," said Acting Executive Director John Woo. "As the longest-running festival devoted to screening the works by and about the Asian and Asian American communities, we have been able to introduce audiences to many highly regarded directors, and our mission is to remain one of the premier festivals for spotlighting the work of rising filmmakers."

Presented by Asian CineVision, in association with the Asia Society, AAIFF takes place July 1928, 2007, at the Asia Society (725 Park Avenue, at 70th St) in New York.

"Asian CineVision is marking its 30th anniversary with a phenomenal line-up of cutting edge films," said Rachel Cooper, Asia Society's Director of Cultural Programs. "The Asia Society is thrilled to continue our longstanding partnership and congratulate Asian CineVision on this milestone anniversary."

This year's diverse line-up includes 25 new exciting features; more than 90 short films and music videos; the Screenplay Competition; the 72-Hour Film Shootout screening; the Comics Writers panel; a 70s theme party; and much much more to honor the festivals 30th anniversary. Justin Lin's Finishing the Game opens the festival. Starring Roger Fan and James Franco, the film is a comedic faux documentary about the search by opportunistic Hollywood film producers to replace martial arts star Bruce Lee, following his death on the set of Game of Death . The Centerpiece Presentation is the film debut of renowned theater and opera director Chen Shi-Zhengs Dark Matter , starring Meryl Streep, Aidan Quinn, and Liu Ye. Based on true events, the film follows a Chinese university student studying for his Ph.D. at a top American university who enacts a violent revenge when his career ambitions are crushed by his departmental colleagues. Gina Kims Sundance Film Festival critically acclaimed hit Never Forever closes the festival. Starring Vera Farmiga, Jung-woo Ha, and David McInnis, the film follows an American woman, married to a successful but sterile Korean American lawyer, who begins an affair with an undocumented Korean immigrant in order to have a child.

Fans of Hong Kong New Wave director Patrick Tam are in for a special treat when AAIFF conducts a One on One live stage conversation with Patrick in person and pays tribute to the trailblazing director whose first film in 17 years, After this Our Exile , swept all the major awards at the recent HK Film Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. Our retrospective includes two rarely-seen classics that helped launch the HK New Wave, The Sword (1978); and Nomad (1982) and an early TV movie he directed called Seven Women (1976).

Asian CineVision, founded in 1976, is a nonprofit media arts organization dedicated to promoting and preserving Asian and Asian American media expressions. ACV is committed to developing and supporting both emerging and experienced Asian American film and video makers and other media artists working in a range of genres and styles; and to ensure that the full spectrum of Asian and Asian American media works reach diverse audiences in Asian American communities and beyond. For more information, visit AsianCineVision.org.

Visit AAIFF.org for a complete schedule of films and showtimes.