The Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
The Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and supporting emerging and established Asian and Asian-American filmmakers and sharing the rich diversity of Asian culture through the medium of cinema.
Since its creation in 2002, the annual film festival has grown to become the South’s largest showcase of Asian and Asian American cinema. Over the last ten years, the festival has provided opportunities for nearly 400 Asian and Asian American filmmakers and documentarians to share their vision, often providing the only venue for their films to be shown in Dallas. The films have also allowed festival goers a chance to experience other lives and cultures without leaving their seats.
This year, AFFD was proud to celebrate its 11th Annual Film Festival, from July 12-19, at Landmark’s Magnolia Theatre. As they do every year, they featured films from across the world, including films from Asian filmmakers right here in the USA.
Best Documentary Feature: CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT
In central China, a Master coach recruits poor rural teenagers and turns them into Western-style boxing champions. The top students face dramatic choices as they graduate — should they fight for the collective good or for themselves? A metaphor for the choices everyone in the New China faces now.
Best Narrative Feature: LOVABLE
Special Jury Prize for Cinematography: PEARLS OF THE FAR EAST
Based on stories by award-winning author Nguyen Thi Minh Ngoc, Pearls of the Far East explores forbidden desire and true love in this cinematically stunning debut feature.
Special Jury Prize for Acting: Yoo Hae-Jung, LOVABLE
Special Jury Prize for Advocacy Filmmaking: GIVE UP TOMORROW
Scary!
Special Jury Mention: GOLDEN SLUMBERS
Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Performance: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS
San Francisco-based musician Goh Nakamura (playing himself) is at the height of his career. With a national tour on the horizon and his song being featured in a national TV commercial, Goh has the life he always wanted. When his long-distance girlfriend Erika (AYAKO FUJITANI) breaks up with him over Skype, Goh feels lost, as though no one could ever heal his broken heart. One night in San Francisco, he meets a fellow indie musician, Yea-Ming (playing herself). Unexpectedly, Goh experiences a special connection with Yea-Ming and finds himself on a road trip with his cousin Mike (MICHAEL AKI) to see her in Las Vegas.
Asian Film Festival of Dallas is proud to announce the short film award winners:
Best Narrative Short: MODERN FAMILY
Special Jury Prize: LOVE LIKE ALIENS
In a future not too far from now, Humanity has advanced to a point where the line between Homo sapiens and Androids have blurred completely. This has occurred so that the species could survive. Technology has allowed humans to travel into deep space to colonize other planets and galaxies deep in the universe because Earth has become uninhabitable. One of the many unfortunate results of this robotic Darwinism is that human behavior and consciousness has also changed over the years. Much of what makes one human — love, family, intimacy etc., have all become things of the past.
Special Jury Award for Acting: GUEST