The ID Film Fest - a unique cultural experience - will launch next week with Los Angeles premieres of three critically-acclaimed films -"Fog" by Kit Hui (starring Terrence Yin and Eugenia Wan), Hirokazu Koreeda's much-ballyhooed art masterpiece "AIR DOLL", and Ian McGruder's "THE THINGS WE CARRY" (closing night).
The festival circuit-pleaser - an eclectic mix of films presented by the Japanese National Museum - is slated to complete its full run at the Los Angeles National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Little Tokyo) October 8th thru October 10th.
In essence, the founders - Quentin Lee and Koji Steven Sakai (both filmmakers in their own right) - envisioned a sparkling venue (a mini-fest, of sorts) where promising Asian/American celluloid pieces could be showcased and singled out before high-profile centerpiece projects (with big budgets) blew into town and snatched up all the media attention.
In its third year, the ID Film Fest continues to build steam and garner attention.
To the credit of the organizers, the film community views the annual event as a festival "by and for" filmmakers, who have created a compelling forum for Asian-American content and/or those of Asian descent.
"Los Angeles is a postmodern collage of cultures and identity," underscored founder/filmmaker Quentin Lee.
"The ID Film Fest is proud to present contemporary works that examine, explore or celebrate the identity crisis in our diverse global Asian community," beamed Lee, an articulate artist I first met this past year at the Asian Pacific Film Festival Director's Guild screening of his film - "The People I've Slept With."
"Everyone's struggle with identity is totally unique, but at the same time there are many commonalities," added co-founder/filmmaker Koji Sakai,
"What Am I? Am I Japanese American? Am I Asian American? Am I American?" - he wondered aloud at a recent press junket in town.
"ID Film Fest is meant to explore those similarities and differences; and through both, my hope is that everyone will be able to answer the basic question: 'What are you?'"
Previous filmmakers and artists who have participated at the ID Film Fest include Justin Lin, Michael Aki, Eric Nakamura, Margaret Rhee, Tony Huang, Ann Kaneko, Chris Chan Lee, Tad Nakamura, Jason Tobin, Rea Tajiri and Ming Lai.
This year's ID Film Fest boasts the appearances of high-calibre talents such as PJ Raval, Jessica Sanders, Brent Anbe, William Lu, Feodor Chin, James Huang, Kerwin Berk, Hirokazu Koreeda, Kit Hui, Ming Lai, Eugenia Wan and Terrence Yin.
Undoubtedly, two of the main highlights will be screenings of:
"BATTLE OF THE PITCHES 2" & "The API PILOT SHOOT OUT"
In the latter, filmmakers will get a chance to participate in a live screenwriting pitch session with industry execs, while finalists for the "API PILOT SHOOT OUT" will be invited to screen trailers of their work in competition.
The Centerpiece film - "AIR DOLL" (from Hirokazu Koreeda) - is based on the popular manga series Kuuki Nigyo.
The wild plot-line revolves around a middle-aged man whose closest friend is a life-sized doll.
The doll is played by multi-talented Bae Donna ("The Host").
Shades of "Lars and the Real Girl"?
Take in the flick and find out for yourself!
Tickets & Info
http://www.marginfilms.com/idff/2010/
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