Taqwacores nabs Grand Jury Prize!
At the closing gala for the 26th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival last night, attendees roared their approval when it was announced that "The Taqwacores" - a film about Punk Muslims - won the coveted Grand Jury prize.
I penned a review of the compelling narrative earlier this week which won multiple awards.
Post: 05/03/10
http://ijulian.blogspot.com/2010/05/taqwacorespunk-muslims-depicted-in.html
In addition to the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction Film, the rivetting feature nabbed honors for Best Director, Best Acting for an "Ensemble Cast" and the "Audience Award" for Favorite Film.
Bobby Naderi (the star of the film) and director Eyad Zahra trotted the red carpet at a star-studded premiere of Teddy Chan's - "Bodyguards and Assassins" - just shortly after they received the exiting news.
Needless to say, both were ecstatic.
In a day or so, video footage of a couple of their impromptu interviews with the paparazzi on the red carpet will be posted on my YouTube web site.
For those of you who missed "The Taqwacores" first-time out (the premiere screening sold out and disappointed filmgoers were turned away) there will be an opportunity to catch the award-winning flick this week-end at the Downtown Independent Theatre (a festival venue).
In fact, the orgaizers extended the festival two days (to May 8th), so that film buffs have the opportunity to take in the films that won coveted prizes at this year's 26th Annual event.
Screening dates and times are posted on the Festival's website.
http://asianfilmfestla.org/2010/films-events/schedule/
Best Screenplay Award went to Writer/Director Raul Jocson for SF STORIES.
Daniel Park received the Best First Feature Award for his webisode - KTOWN COWBOYS - which was a poplular favorite with fans @ the festival and sold out long before the screening date.
In the documentary Jury competition - LAST TRAIN HOME (Director Lixin Fan) - received two awards which included the Grand Jury Prize for Outstanding Documentary Feature and one for Best Cinematography.
Documentarian Deann Borshay Liem won The Festival's "Best Director Award" for her personal film titled "IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE".
The editor - VIVIEN HILLGROVE - received the Best Editing honors for the same doc.
S. Leo Chiang’s film - A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES - received the CALL TO ACTION prize and the "Audience Award" for Favorite Documentary
136 shorts were screened at the festival this year (2010).
I'll be posting reviews on a handful of the best shorts offered up.
Keep you eye out!
In the past, organizers have noted that oftentimes it is a short-film entry at the Festival that springboards an artist into the feature-length film arena.
BICYCLE (Dean Yamada) was the recipient of the Golden Reel Award.
TELEVISNU (directed by Prithi Gowda) snatched up the Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award.
The gala attracted a throng of excited filmgoers, who initially flocked in to catch the much-anticipated premiere of "Bodyguards & Assassins" (a review to follow) - then later - stayed on to sip exotic cocktails and nibble on scrumptious finger food at the high-profile after-party under a breathtaking night-sky in picturesque Japan Town until the witching hour.
If 'ya missed the glittering soiree, there's always next year, eh?
See 'ya at the Festival this week-end.
Best bets?
*Mao's Last Dancer
*The Actresses
*The Taqwacores
THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Visual Communications is the Southland’s premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema.
Since 1983, the Film Festival has presented over 3200 films and videos by Asian international and Asian American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards.
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Visual Communications (the nation's premier Asian Pacific American media arts center) was established in 1970.
The organization has established a track record of pioneering achievements in producing, presenting, and preserving more honest and accurate representations of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in America.
Visual Communications is also recognized as an incubator of emerging Asian Pacific American cinematic talent.
The organization's works have been exhibited in numerous venues and broadcast outlets around the world.
The mission of Visual Communications is to promote intercultural understanding through the creation, presentation, preservation and support of media works by and about Asian Pacific Americans.
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