10th Annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Philadelphia Asian American Film and Filmmakers (PAAFF) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to educate and expose the Philadelphia region to films by and about Asian Americans bringing year round awareness with exciting events that include tastings, mixers, meet & greets, cultural experiences, and of course, screenings.
Their largest event is the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, an annual film festival in Philadelphia that shows feature films and short films by and about Asian Americans. The main festival program takes place over a 10-day period in November, with additional screenings held year-round.
Hokkaido was on hand at the festival on Opening Night, sampling our locally-sourced Japanese craft beer. We were so happy to be able to support this event as a sponsor this year, and plan on doing the same in the future.
We had almost every US-distributed beer available for visitors at the PAAFF, with the White, Lager, Ale and Stout from our Otaru line, and our Cherry & Berry, Honey Apple, Lemon, Peach, Pear, and Yuzu from our fruit beer line.
Call Her Ganda
Director PJ Raval
A must-see is Call Her Ganda, winner of the jury-selected Best Documentary Feature as well as the Vijay Mohan Social Change Award winner.
When a transgender Filipina woman is found dead in a motel room and the leading suspect is a U.S. Marine, grassroots activists demand accountability. The ensuing case lays bare political tensions between the United States and the Philippines. The documentary tells a nuanced, heartbreaking story about the Filipino trans community and U.S. military oppression that's still unraveling today.
In the Life of Music
Directors Caylee So and Sok Visal
Another big winner at the festival was the feature film, In the Life of Music, bringing home the Jury-Selected Best Narrative Feature and Audience Choice for Best Narrative Feature.
In the Life of Music tells the story of how one song "Champa Battambang," a song made famous by Sinn Sisamouth (the King of Khmer Music), plays a role in the lives of three different generations. It is a feature narrative told in 3 chapters during 3 different decades, depicting the lives of people whose world is inevitably transformed by the emergence of the Khmer Rouge Regime. It is a powerful intergenerational tale that weaves through 37 years of Cambodia's ever-changing landscape.
An American Story: Norman Mineta & His Legacy
Director Dianne Fukami
A son of immigrants and forced into a U.S. World War II concentration camp as a child, Norman Mineta became the first Asian American mayor of a major city (San Jose, California); leading to a distinguished 20-year career in Congress; the first Asian American Cabinet member, serving two U.S. Presidents, a Democrat and Republican.
He never forgot his roots or the shame and humiliation he and his family felt during WWII, and led the way for an apology from the U.S. government and redress for Japanese Americans. On September 11, 2001, his leadership as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, would ensure that what happened to Japanese Americans during WWII did not happen to any other group based on ethnicity or religion.
At the festival, Norman Mineta received a Lifetime Achievement Award, and this documentary won the Audience Choice for Best Documentary Feature at the PAAFF.
Awards
Staff Selected Awards
Vijay Mohan Social Change Award
Call Her Ganda - Director PJ Raval
Rising Star Award
Ellen Wong (In the Life of Music, Glow, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World)
Lifetime Achievement Award
Norman Mineta (An American Story: Norman Mineta & His Legacy)
Audience Choice Awards
Best Narrative Feature
In the Life of Music - Directors Caylee So and Sok Visal
Best Documentary Feature
An American Story: Norman Mineta & His Legacy - Director Dianne Fukami
Jury Selected Awards
Best Narrative Feature
In the Life of Music - Directors Caylee So and Sok Visal
Best Narrative Short
Besieged - Director Mengchen Niu
Best Documentary Feature
Call Her Ganda - Director PJ Raval
Best Documentary Short
Moving Walls - Director Sharon Yamato
Best Experimental Short
AFTEREARTH - Director Jess X. Snow