This plucky and well-regarded festival opens tomorrow, with ten days of films, music, and events all around the Bay Area. It features a nice mix of both Asian and Asian-American films and filmmakers in a variety of genres and formats.
Highlights include the Joan Chen Spotlight (I’m hoping David Lynch will magically appear at one of the screenings); Cinema Asia, which includes films set in Burma and Tibet and some fabulously fabulist-looking work from the Philippines; and New Directions, which features the What’s Next in media. There is also a strong selection of films and events devoted to the performing arts, from breakdancing Hmong boys to Himalayan singers and Japanese avant-garde contemporary dance choreographers.
The 2012 SFIAAFF (whew!) runs from 8th-18th of March. Rush tickets on sale now. LF coverage starts tomorrow – stay tuned!
Leonine Films 