Heads up. The Austin Asian American Film Festival is going down in exactly two weeks, November 12-15 at the Alamo Drafthouse South. This four-day festival features over 40 films from around the globe, free outdoor film screenings, Bollywood Dance Party, and more. Highlights include:
Thursday: Opening night party @ KTV Silhouette LoungeThe 2009 Festival kicks off Thursday, November 12th with the Opening Night screening of local filmmaker Ed Radtke's award-winning drama, Speed of Life, followed by the opening night party at KTV Silhouette Lounge. Some other fun film highlights include:
Friday: Bollywood Blowout party @ Malverde
Saturday: Free outdoor screening of Persepolis (Cannes Festival winner and Academy Award nominee) @ the Mexican-American Cultural Center 6pm
Saturday: JenRO Live (West Coast hip-hop rapper, featured on MTV and VH-1) @ The Music Gym 10pm
Tickets for all the films are on all sale now here. Want free tickets? Take the AAAFF Challenge! To fully experience the festival, I suggest purchasing an All Access Badge, which gives you admission to all screenings and events, guaranteed seating and a VIP goodie bag.White on Rice (Dave Boyle, 2009), a sleeper hit romantic comedy with lead actress Lynn Chen (Saving Face) in attendance Ramchand Pakistani (Mehreen Jabbar, 2008), a moving story of a young Pakistani boy imprisoned for accidentally crossing the India-Pakistan border Fruit Fly (H.P. Mendoza, 2009), the exuberant and wildly creative musical, which will also be accompanied by a "surprise" viewing Old Partner (Lee Chung-Ryoul, 2008), South Korea's highest grossing independent film of all-time, the heartbreaking and charming tale of an elderly man and his beloved ox Persepolis - A bonus screening - AAAFF is bringing this Oscar nominated and Cannes Festival winner for a one-time outdoor screening on Town Lake! This captivating animated film about an Iranian girl's journey from young punk rebel to outspoken political dissident will be accompanied by the delicious cuisines of three Austin favorites (Sushi-A-Go-Go, Satay Thai, and Get Sum Dim Sum), and will be preceded by the phenomenal Iranian band Tehranosaurus.
If you're headed to the festival, I do want to mention that I'll be there participating in a free panel discussion, Are You Angry Yet? with Dr. Nhi Lieu, professor of American Studies at UT Austin. It's happening on Thursday, November 12, 2:30pm at the University of Texas, Student Union Bldg, Santa Rita Suite.