Die Laughing Casting Call
November 9, 2010 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
CASTING for LEAD ACTOR in the TIMOTHY LINH BUI film “DIE LAUGHING”
Action Drama filming in Saigon, Vietnam February 2011
A broken-hearted pho cook teams up with a cold-blooded female assassin. Together, they must deliver a mysterious briefcase from Saigon to Da Nang in 36 hours.
Seeking: Vietnamese Speaking Actor (mid to late 30s).
Character description:
MINH: Male Lead, Mid to late 30s. He is Vietnamese and a charismatic dreamer who is inspired to create the ultimate pho recipe. He sees this as a way to understand his late mother. He sees himself as an artist experimenting with different ingredients. He likes to reverse engineer a recipe to understand why a good aroma makes one feel bliss. But in the real world, most see him as an unassertive loser. When he’s not in the kitchen, he moonlights as a cab driver to save enough money to one day have his own restaurant.
Ability to speak in both English and Vietnamese is REQUIRED.
Audition scenes will be in both languages.
Interested in AUDITIONING?
Please send a CURRENT PHOTO and a RESUME with all contact information
via email to:
Rene Haynes Casting
rene@rhcasting.com
in the subject line - please put:
“MINH AUDITION REQUEST”
Also - in your email - please let us know what part of the country you live in. If you are not in an area where we will be seeing actors - we can send you the audition material and you are welcome to send back an audition tape.
PLEASE respond before November 14, 2010
Important: MINH is the only role we are seeking. If you do not fit the MINH description - please do not apply at this time. - Thank you!
Past Panel Discussions
April 10, 2009 by quyen · Leave a Comment (Edit)
Past PANEL DISCUSSIONS @ ViFF 2009
Crossing Boundaries: Female Filmmakers and Questions of Genre and Gender
Moderated by Lan Duong, Ph.D. (from Center for Women in Coalition, UC Riverside)
Panelists: Doan Hoang, Tammy Nguyen Lee, Tien Nguyen, Kim Spurlock, and Kim-Trang Tran
SUNDAY, April 5th
2:00pm-3:30pm
Humanities Instructional Building
(HIB) 100, UC Irvine
“Crossing Boundaries: Female Filmmakers and Questions of Gender and Genre” brings together a vibrant group of women filmmakers who have shaped and continue to shape the emergent body of work that is Vietnamese American filmmaking. The panelists include Kim-Trang Tran (”Blindness” Series), Kim Spurlock (Down in Number 5), Doan Hoang (Oh, Saigon), Tammy Nguyen (Operation Babylift) and Tien Nguyen (Fortunate Son). We will be speaking about issues related to genre, funding, production and the reception of women’s films, especially within the Vietnamese American film context. This panel aims to explore the opportunities that are offered to women filmmakers and producers today and the struggles that they face in making films.
Combating HumanTrafficking: How YOU Can Help
Moderated by Tu-Uyen Nguyen, Ph.D., M.P.H.(Assistant Professor, CSUF)
Panelists: Mirabelle Ang (Director, Match Made); Suzie Xuyen Dong-Matsuda, PsyD, MSW, LCSW (Service Chief of Adult Mental Health Services, Orange County Health Care Agency), Thang Dinh Nguyen, Ph.D. (Executive Director, Boat People SOS), and Tammy Tran (President, VietACT).
SUNDAY, April 5th
6:15pm-8:00pm
Humanities Instructional Building (HIB) 135, UC Irvine
Human trafficking refers to the recruitment, transportation, and harboring of persons for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or other illicit activities. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. The International Labor Organization of the United Nations (UN) estimates that there are approximately 12 million women, men, and children enslaved throughout the world at any given time, being deprived of their basic human rights. Since 2001, over 600,000 Vietnamese persons have been trafficked to over 20 different countries; 80,000 additional Vietnamese individuals continue to be exported and forced into slavery each year. What can be done to fight this global injustice? The speakers on this panel will share their experiences as activists working to bring attention to this important topic. Come learn what we all can do to inform ourselves, raise community awareness, and take action to make a difference in combating and stopping human trafficking.
When Autumn Sunlight Comes
April 8, 2009 by quyen · Leave a Comment (Edit)
(Khi Nắng Thu Về)
Vietnam 2007
97 min / 35mm color
Vietnamese with English subtitles
*Contains mature contents.
Viewer discretion advised
In this gripping tale based in modern-day Vietnam, director Bui Trung Hai takes the audience on a
journey full of unexpected twists and turns, as he brings to life the characters of young people who
struggle with the familiar themes of love, betrayal, friendship, dysfunctional family dynamics, and a
host of other trappings within a frantic, often cut-throat society.
Khi Nắng Thu Về centers around Trung (played by Vu Huy Trinh), an ambitious recent university graduate,
who just cannot seem to shake a string of unfortunate events that had forced him away from a
promising career as a broadcast journalist to the mean streets of Hanoi as a xe ôm operator. As his
professional career falters, so does his personal life, as he has to cope with an ailing mother, an
irresponsible younger brother, and a girlfriend who has left him in his darkest hours.
As quickly as he loses love, Trung finds it again in the most unlikely of circumstances when he meets Ha
(played by Kieu Anh), the owner of the bar where he frequents. Things finally seem to take a turn for
the better as Ha helps Trung get back on his feet. But as luck would have it, happiness again does not
last long for Trung when yet another tragic event intervenes, this time striking Ha.
Nominated for a Golden Kite Award in Vietnam, Khi Nắng Thu Về is Bui Trung Hai’s directorial debut
following his long and celebrated career as a cinematographer. With a provocative storyline,
combined with cutting-edge camera techniques and the distinctive style of a director who is not
afraid to chart his own path, this film will leave the audience talking long after the curtains come down.
- Tran Tuong Huy
PRODUCER:
Vietnam Feature Film Company
DIRECTOR / WRITER:
Bui Trung Hai
CINEMATOGRAPHER:
Pham Vi Linh
SOUND:
Banh Bac Hai
MUSIC:
Trong Dai
EDITOR:
Nguyen Thuy Binh
MAIN CAST:
Vu Huy Trinh, Nguyen Kieu Anh
Touch to Open in San Jose on March 9th and Orange County on March 16th
February 13, 2012 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
LOS ANGELES - Touch, an independent film written and directed by Minh Duc Nguyen, is slated for release in selected cities, starting with San Jose on March 9th and Orange County on March 16th, showing exclusively at AMC Eastridge 15 and AMC Block 30.
Touch is a romantic drama. A mechanic looking to save his faltering marriage strikes up an unlikely friendship with a shy Vietnamese-American manicurist, who not only cleans his greasy hands but also gives him advice about his love life. This sensual film explores the sense of touch and its emotional impact - how with just a simple touch, we can reveal our deepest longings and even heal a wounded soul.
Making her cinematic debut in Touch, actress Porter Lynn will pleasantly surprise audiences with her mature poise and unassuming strength in portraying Tam. Her moving performance won her Best Actress award at Boston International Film Festival. She is costarring with John Ruby, Melinda Bennett, Long Nguyen (Journey from the Fall), and Hiep Thi Le (Heaven & Earth).
During its film festival tour, Touch has captured numerous awards: Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at Vietnamese International Film Festival; Best Actress, Best Story Line, and Best Cinematography at Boston International Film Festival; Best First Feature at Santa Rosa International Film Festival; Jury Award at Atlanta Asian Film Festival.
In America, 75% of the nail salons are owned and operated by Vietnamese. The nail salon industry provides countless job opportunities for Vietnamese immigrants, but their stories have never been told on-screen. For the first time, we have a film that poignantly depicts the lives of women working in a typical nail salon. This is the inspiration for the story, written by Minh Duc Nguyen (also making his directorial debut), who sees the nail salon as the perfect setting to tell a multicultural story. But the movie also touches on universal themes such as love, loss, and the importance of human contact.
For more info, contact mellissa@touchthemovie.com, minh@touchthemovie.com, or visit touchthemovie.com.
Bộ Phim Touch Ra Mắt Tại San Jose, ngày 9 tháng 3, và Orange County, ngày 16 tháng 3
LOS ANGELES - Touch - bộ phim đầu tay của đạo diễn Nguyễn Đức Minh, sẽ phát hành tại một số thành phố, bắt đầu tại San Jose, ngày 9 tháng 3, và Orange County, ngày 16 tháng 3, ở rạp AMC Eastridge 15 và AMC The Block 30.
Touch là một bộ phim lãng mạn. Một anh thợ sửa xe mong cứu vãn cuộc hôn nhân đang lâm vào tình trạng bi đát. Anh tình cờ làm bạn với một cô thợ làm móng tay nhút nhát gốc Việt, và cô không những làm sạch đôi bàn tay nhớp nhúa của anh mà còn cho anh những lời khuyên về tình yêu. Bộ phim gợi cảm này khai thác sự tác động sâu sắc của những động chạm và cảm xúc - tưởng là đơn giản mà có thể bộc lộ sâu xa nhất khát vọng của con người và chữa lành được một tâm hồn đang bị tổn thương.
Lần đầu tiên xuất hiện trong bộ phim Touch, nữ diễn viên Porter Lynn sẽ làm khán giả ngạc nhiên thích thú với cách diễn chững chạc và tự nhiên trong vai Tâm. Diễn xuất của cô đã được ghi nhận qua giải Nữ Diễn Viên Xuất Sắc Nhất tại Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Quốc Tế Boston. Cô cùng đồng diễn với John Ruby, Melinda Bennett, Long Nguyễn (Vượt Sóng) và Hiệp Thị Lê (Heaven & Earth).
Phim Touch đã đoạt được nhiều giải thưởng quan trọng tại một số đại hội điện ảnh: Giải Thưởng Khán Giả Bình Chọn tại Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Việt Nam Quốc Tế (ViFF); Nữ Diễn Viên Xuất Sắc Nhất, Câu Chuyện Hay Nhất, và Giải Hình Ảnh Quay Đẹp Nhất tại Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Quốc Tế Boston; Phim Đầu Tay Xuất Sắc Nhất tại Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Quốc Tế Santa Rosa; và Giải Giám Khảo tại Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Á Châu Atlanta.
Tại Mỹ, người Việt Nam làm chủ khoảng 75% các tiệm làm móng tay. Ngành làm móng tay đã tạo ra rất nhiều công ăn việc làm cho người dân di cư gốc Việt, nhưng những câu chuyện của họ chưa bao giờ được kể lại trên màn ảnh. Đây là lần đầu tiên chúng ta có một bộ phim nói về đời sống của những người phụ nữ làm việc trong một tiệm móng tay bình thường. Đây là nguồn cảm hứng giúp Nguyễn Đức Minh hoàn thành kịch bản phim Touch. Đối với đạo diễn Nguyễn Đức Minh, tiệm làm móng tay là một bối cảnh tuyệt vời để kể một câu chuyện đa văn hóa, và đồng thời bộ phim cũng đề cập đến những chủ đề chung như tình yêu, sự mất mát và tầm quan trọng của sự giao tiếp giữa con người.
Để biết thêm chi tiết, xin vui lòng liên hệ với mellissa@touchthemovie.com, minh@touchthemovie.com, hoặc vào trang web tại www.touchthemovie.com.
Save The Date: Sunday, April 22nd.
February 1, 2012 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
Save the date for Cinema Symposium 6: Shifting Scenes taking place Sunday, April 22nd.
BUSAN West Asian Film Festival
November 10, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
BUSAN WEST ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2011 LINE-UP
Feng Xiaogang’s “AfterShock” Named Closing Night Film
Festival Welcomes the North American Premieres of
Oh Seong-yun’s “Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild” and Loy Arcenas’ “Niño”
Orange, CA (October 31, 2011) - Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, recognized as one of the premiere film schools in the United States, in continued partnership with South Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), Asia’s largest film festival, today announced the official program for the upcoming Busan West Asian Film Festival, November 11-13 in Orange, Calif.
Busan West 2011 will feature eleven feature films from five countries: China, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Three of those films will make their North American premiere at Busan West including Bong Joon-ho’s “The Host 3D,” the Korean animation feature “Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild” directed by Oh Seong-yun and Filipino drama “Niño” directed by Loy Arcenas, winner of the New Currents Award from BIFF 2011.
Celebrated writer/director Bong Joon-ho (Mother, Memories of Murder), will receive the Busan West Icon Award and present his hit film “The Host 3D” to open Busan West on Friday, November 11th, following the Icon award ceremony. Bong Joon-ho will also participate in an exclusive Busan West Master Class where he will discuss writing and directing with Dodge College students and offer Q&A’s with the audience.
Award-winning director Feng Xiaogang’s (Assembly, If You Are the One, A Sign) Chinese drama “AfterShock” will close Busan West on Sunday, November 13th, following the closing night reception.
Over the course of three days, Dodge College will host a showcase of contemporary Asian films selected primarily from the 2011 Busan International Film Festival by Dodge College Professor Nam Lee, an expert in Pan-Asian film. The Busan West program features a special opening night event and a closing night reception, all designed to showcase Korean and Asian culture through food, music, and décor.
The official Busan West 2011 lineup is comprised of the following films:
► AFTERSHOCK (Country: China / Director: Feng Xiaogang)
► BARKING DOGS NEVER BITE (Country: Korea / Director: Bong Joon-ho)
► FLOATING LIVES (Country: Vietnam / Director: Nguyen Phan Quang Binh)
► LEAFIE, A HEN INTO THE WILD (Country: Korea / Director: Oh Seong-yun)
► MEMORIES OF MURDER (Country: Korea / Director: Bong Joon-ho)
► NINO (Country: Philippines / Director: Loy Arcenas)
► POSSESSED (Country: Korea / Director: Lee Yong-Ju)
► SECRET REUNION (Country: Korea / Director: Jang Hun)
► SUNNY (Country: Korea / Director: Kang Hyong-chul)
► THE HOST 3D (Country: Korea / Director: Bong Joon-ho)
► WHEN LOVE COMES (Country: Taiwan / Director: Chang Tso-chi)
Busan West is a unique filmmaker showcase that brings select Asian films and filmmakers from BIFF to the U.S. to create a new platform for heightened recognition outside of Asia. Constantly working to be a hub of cinematic education and exploration in Southern California, this is just one of many steps for Dodge College to bring one-of-a-kind opportunities to students and other film enthusiasts in the area. By celebrating the cinematic accomplishments of the vibrant and emerging Asian cinema, the school aims to contribute to the growth of international understanding among nations.
The event marks the second venture between Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts and BIFF to introduce the culture, look and feel of Asia’s largest film festival to an American audience and celebrate the vibrant and emerging Korean and Pan-Asian cinema. In 2009 the two parties united for the inaugural “Pusan West.”
Busan West 2011 events will be held at Marion Knott Studios on Chapman University’s campus in Orange, CA. For more information on the event and to obtain tickets please visit www.busanwest.com.
About Chapman University:
Chapman University, founded in 1861, is one of the oldest, most prestigious private universities in California. Chapman’s picturesque campus is located in the heart of Orange County - one of the nation’s most exciting centers of arts, business, science and technology - and draws outstanding students from across the United States and around the world. Known for its blend of liberal arts and professional programs, Chapman University encompasses seven schools and colleges: Wilkinson College of Humanities and Social Sciences, George L. Argyros School of Business and Economics, Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, Schmid College of Science, College of Performing Arts, School of Law and College of Educational Studies. Named to the list of top universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review, Chapman University enrolls more than 6,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students.
Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts:
One of the premier film schools in the country, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts offers students the unique opportunity to learn filmmaking in a hands-on environment modeled on a working studio. The college is comprised of the Sodaro-Pankey Undergraduate School of Film and Media Arts, offering degrees in film production, film studies, screenwriting, creative producing, television and broadcast journalism, public relations and advertising, and digital arts; and the graduate Conservatory of Motion Pictures, offering M.F.A. degrees in film production, film and television producing, production design, and screenwriting, and an M.A. in film studies. Two joint M.F.A. degrees in producing are also offered in conjunction with the business (M.F.A./M.B.A.) and law (M.F.A./J.D.) schools. Dodge College is housed in Marion Knott Studios, a state-of-the-art, 76,000-square-foot studio and classroom building that provides students with 24-hour access to sound stages, edit bays, Dolby surround mixing, a motion capture stage and more. With an Oscar and Emmy-award winning full-time faculty that boasts more feature film credits than any other film school, Dodge College is where students learn the entertainment business from the inside out.
# # #
Press Contact:
Dennis Dembia
Rogers & Cowan
Phone: 310.854.8114
ddembia@rogersandcowan.com
Alice Chung
Rogers & Cowan
achung@rogersandcowan.com
Phone: 310.854.8226
Saigon Electric
October 8, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
September 25, 2011 Contact: Kathy Nguyen
(714) 501-9481
Saigon Electric
108 minutes
Color, Stereo Sound
Vietnamese with English Subtitles
Orange County, Ca - Regal Garden Grove 16, Edwards Irvine University Village
San Jose, Ca - Camera 12 cinemas
Seattle, Wa - AMC Southcenter 16
San Diego, Ca - AMC Mission Valley 20
Houston, TX - AMC Loews Fountains
Dallas, TX - AMC Firewheel 16 , AMC Park Arlington
Washington, DC - Regal Ballston Commons, Falls Church
Berkeley, Ca - Landmark Shattuck Cinemas
Atlanta, Ga - Regal Chamblee
The film, SAIGON ELECTRIC, is a timeless tale of a friendship between two young women: Mai, a ribbon dancer from the countryside, and Kim, a street smart hip hop dancer from Saigon. Utilizing urban culture in Vietnam, the film intertwines the relationship between the two girls with Hip Hop as a middle ground, while capturing the budding street culture in modern Vietnamese youth.
About SAIGON ELECTRIC
“Energetic… A Crow pleaser” hails Variety and “Inspirational” by the Seattle Weekly, SAIGON ELECTRIC is the latest award winning feature from Southern California based director, Stephane Gauger. The film premiered at the San Francisco Asian Pacific Film Festival in March and is an official selection of over 20 film festivals including opening night film for the Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF), and prestigious festivals such as Seattle International Film Festival, Heartland Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Berlin Asian Film Festival, Hong Kong International Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Chicago Asian American Showcase, San Diego Asian Film Festival, NY Asian American Film Festival, Asian Film Festival of Dallas and many more. SAIGON ELECTRIC will be released in U.S. select cities starting October 7th.
For more info, visit http://www.saigonelectric.com.
About STEPHANE GAUGER
Born in Saigon,, Gauger has been working on various film projects with Vietnamese-American filmmakers including THREE SEASONS and THE REBEL, before directing his award winning feature debut film OWL AND THE SPARROW, which was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award and won the Audience Award at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2007. Other awards and nominations includes Emerging Filmmaker Award at the 2007 Star Denver Film Festival, nomination for Breakthrough Director at the 2007 Gotham Awards, and the John Cassavetes Award, a non-profit organization dedicated to independent filmmakers, at the Independent Spirit Awards in 2008.The essence of Saigon Electric was made to capture the Hip Hop lifestyle and “to give the teenagers a voice and present to an international audience a fresh new look at the dreams and struggles of Asian youth.” For further information please visit http://www.saigonelectric.com.
Thông cáo báo chí Liên lạc
Ngày 25 tháng 9 năm 2011 Kathy Kiều-Diễm Nguyễn 714 501 9481
Saigon Electric
108 phút
Phim nhựa màu, âm thanh nổi
Phim tiếng Việt cùng phụ đề tiếng Anh
Orange County, Ca - Regal Garden Grove 16, Edwards University Village
San Jose, Ca - Camera 12 cinemas
Seattle, Wa - AMC Southcenter 16
San Diego, Ca - AMC Mission Valley 20
Houston, TX - AMC Loews Fountains
Dallas, TX - AMC Firewheel 16 , AMC Park Arlington
Washington, DC - Regal Ballston Commons, Falls Church
Berkeley, Ca - Landmark Shattuck Cinemas
Atlanta, Ga - Regal Chamblee
Bộ phim Saigon Electric kể về tình bạn của cô bạn trẻ tên Mai, diễn viên múa lụa từ miền Tây và Kim, vũ công hip hop đường phố ở Sài Gòn. Tận dụng văn hóa đô thị, đạo diễn Stephane Gauger đan xen tình bạn giữa hai cô gái với văn hóa hip hop đường phố trong bối cảnh Việt Nam hiện đại.
Về bộ phim Saigon Electric
“Năng động, làm hài lòng cả đám đông.” “Rất nhiều cảm hứng,” là những lời khen ngợi dành cho bộ phim từ tạp chí Variety and Seattle Weekly. Saigon Electric là bộ phim mới nhất từ đạo diễn đến từ miền Nam California, Stéphane Gauger. Bộ phim được công chiếu lần đầu tiên tại Liên Hoan Phim Châu Á Thái Bình Dương San Francisco vào tháng 3 năm 2011 và được chọn chiếu trong đêm khai mạc của Đại Hội Điện Ảnh Việt Nam Quốc Tế (Vietnamese International Film Festival - ViFF). Bộ phim cũng là một trong 20 lựa chọn chính thức được chọn tham gia những liên hoan phim quan trọng như Liên Hoan Phim Quốc Tế Seattle, Liên Hoan Phim Heartland, Liên Hoan Phim Quốc Tế Hawaii, Liên Hoan Phim Châu Á Berlin, Liên Hoan Phim Quốc Tế Hồng Kông, Liên Hoan Phim Châu Á Thái Bình Dương Los Angeles, Liên Hoan Phim Châu Á Chicago, Liên Hoan Phim Châu Á San Diego, Liên Hoan Phim Châu Á New York và nhiều liên hoan phim khác. Saigon Electric sẽ được công chiếu vào các thành phố được chọn ngày 7 tháng 10 năm 2011.
Để tìm hiểu thông tin của bộ phim, xin truy cập trang web chính thức: http://www.saigonelectric.com.
Về đạo diễn Stéphane Gauger
Được sinh ra ở Sài Gòn với bố người Mỹ và mẹ người Việt, Gauger thường xuyên về thăm quê hương từ 15 năm nay, làm việc với nhiều dự án phim như Dòng Máu Anh Hùng và bộ phim đầu tay Cú và Chim Se Sẻ đã nhận được nhiều lời khen và giải thưởng Tinh Thần Làm Phim Độc Lập và Giải Thưởng do Khán Giả Bầu Chọn ở Liên Hoan Phim Quốc Tế Los Angeles 2007. Các giải thưởng khác Gauger nhận được bao gồm Nhà Làm Phim Nổi Bật tại Liên Hoan Phim Ngôi Sao Denver 2007, đề cử cho Đạo Diễn Mới Xuất Sắc tại Giải Thưởng Gotham 2007 và Giải Thưởng John Cassavetes, một tổ chức phi lợi nhuận dành cho những nhà làm phim độc lập tại Giải Thưởng Tinh Thần Tự Do năm 2008. Saigon Electric được làm để nắm bắt nhịp sống Hip Hop sôi động và “tặng cho giới trẻ một tiếng nói và giới thiệu khán giả quốc tế một góc nhìn mới mẻ cũng như những khó khăn mà giới trẻ châu Á đang gặp phải.”
Để tìm hiểu thông tin của bộ phim, xin truy cập trang web chính thức: http://www.saigonelectric.com.
ViFF 2011 Wrap-Up
June 1, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
4,000+ Attendees Makes ViFF 2011 the Most Well-attended ViFF Yet!
IRVINE - The 5th biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) ended with an exciting closing night at UC Irvine in which awards were presented for best feature, best short film, and, for the first time, best actor and best actress. The eight-day film festival drew over 4,000 audience members, making it the well-attended ViFF yet. Filmmakers from Australia, Canada and Vietnam were present at ViFF which has been a unique forum showcasing works of filmmakers of Vietnamese descents from all over the globe since 2003.
Highlighted events at ViFF 2011 include the jam-packed opening night featuring SAIGON ELECTRIC (Directed by Stephane Gauger), the Spotlight Night honoring Vietnamese Australian filmmaker, Khoa Do, and presenting his award-winning film, MOTHER FISH. ViFF High School Day at Bowers Museum welcomed more than one hundred students from Westminster High School and a panel discussion on “Expanding the Audience Base” gave audience members an opportunity to dialogue openly about the film industry with prominent, international filmmakers and producers. The sold-out sneak preview of TOUCH (Directed by Minh Duc Nguyen) was an audience-favorite and the Closing Day capped off the stellar film festival with powerful films FLOATING LIVES (Directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh) and BI, DON’T BE AFRAID! (Directed by Phan Dang Di).
The Awards presented at ViFF 2011:
Grand-jury Trống Đồng Award for best feature film:
BI, DON’T BE AFRAID! (BI, ĐỪNG SỢ!) - directed by Phan Dang Di
Grand-jury Trống Đồng Award for best short film:
Phía Sau Cái Chết (Behind Death), directed by Ta Nguyen Hiep
Audience Choice Award for best feature film:
TOUCH (directed by Minh Duc Nguyen)
Audience Choice Award for best short film:
Fading Light (Theo Hướng Đèn Mà Đi), directed by Thien Do
Things You Don’t Joke About, directed by Viet Nguyen
Spotlight Award
MOTHER FISH (directed by Khoa Đỗ)
ViFF is presented by the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and UCLA’s Vietnamese Language and Culture (VNLC). ViFF was established in October 2003 to showcase Vietnamese and Vietnamese Diaspora filmmakers. The mission of ViFF is to support, celebrate, and project a diversity of visions and voices from filmmakers of Vietnamese descent and films by, for, and about the Vietnamese people and culture.
ViFF 2011 was made possible by the generous sponsorship/support of:
PRESENTING SPONSOR: WELLS FARGO
UC IRVINE: School of Humanities, Community & Government
Relations, UCI Advancement, Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors
(VACA) - an Alumni Chapter, Department of Film and Media Studies,
Department of Asian American Studies, International Center for Writing
and Translation (ICWT), UC Irvine Libraries Southeast Asian Archive,
Cross Cultural Center, Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC), Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA), and UCI Continuing Education, Distance Learning, and Summer Session.
UCLA: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Asian American Studies Center, ORL
Bowers Museum, Access Group Media, Macy’s, Union Bank, N’Vive, DirecTV, Anhoi.com, White Knight International Inc., Brodard Restaurant, Phans55 Restaurant, Pholicious, Live 20 Group, Asahi, Saigon Beer, A2Z Printing and Promotions, Social Bliss, Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS), Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA), Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (VACOC), SnapItStudio, www.onevietnam.org.
MEDIA SPONSORS:
Nguoi Viet Daily News, Viet Bao Daily News, Vien Dong Daily News, Viet Herald Daily News, VNCR, Little Saigon T.V., Saigon T.V., Viet Face T.V., VHN-TV, 13 Minutes Magazine, Làng Văn Productions.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Asian American Business Women Association, Asian American Professional Association, Asian Pacific Alumni (APA), University of California Los Angeles, Asian Pacific American Legal Center-Orange County, Asian Pacific Islander (API) Equality-Los Angeles, Asian American Studies Program, California State University Fullerton, California Young Women’s Collaborative (CYWC), Club O’ Noodles, Delhi Center, East West Players Theater, Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), Khmer Girls in Action, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
Project MotiVATe, San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), The Cambodian Family, The Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation, Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation (VACF), Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (VACOC), Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA) at UC Irvine, and Vietnamese Traditional Arts Development Organization (VTADO).
Phan Dang Di receives the grand-jury Trống Đồng award from Screening Chair Lan Duong (left) and Co-Director Ysa Le.
Do Thi Hai Yen receives the Best Actress Award for her role in Floating Lives from Kieu Chinh.
Eliza Ngo, on behalf of director Minh Duc Nguyen, accepts the Audience Choice Award from professor Linda Vo.
Thien Do receives the Audience Choice Award for his short film Fading Light from Mai Bui (Executive member, Access Group Media)
Kieu Chinh presents the Spotlight Award to Khoa Do for his feature Mother Fish.
SAIGON ELECTRIC
April 28, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
Hip Hop, or Hip Hop as it was during its inception in the projects of New York City, has long been co-opted, commercialized and bastardized out of recognition, but in the harsh urban confines of Saigon, Hip Hop thrives in the emerging youth movement in Vietnam with the urgency and relevance of a 1979 South Bronx block party. Disenchanted inner city youth, while caught between rapid modernization and the demands of traditional ideals, adopted the now global but still distinctly U.S. form of expression. From rap music, to its graffiti street art and most prominently in Stephan Gauger’s (award winning writer/director of OWL AND THE SPARROW) energetic SAIGON ELECTRIC, its dance form, Hip Hop as a vital and emblematic lifestyle has now been embraced by Vietnamese youth.
SAIGON ELECTRIC leaves everything on the dance floor and that makes for one gratifying entertainment experience. It is a film that offers all that a paying audience could ask for as conflicts and tension arise from every single angle, but in the end it all comes down to genuine human relationships and the overwhelming and cathartic need to dance. There’s the country girl looking to make it in the city. The talented yet volatile and complicated B-Girl. The B-Boy with a big heart and a heartbreaking past. There’s the washed up impresario. The rich boy conflicted between his allegiance to his father and the girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Love is found and love is lost. Friendships are challenged. And of course, there’s the heartless land developer threatening to tear down the beloved community center and displacing the dance crew. Throw that all together along with an attractive and charismatic cast, a banging Vietnamese Hip Hop soundtrack, plenty of exhilarating dance sequences and you have one irresistible film.
A vibrant 80’s throwback approach to Vietnam’s modern youth culture while instilling an abundance of contemporary bluster, SAIGON ELECTRIC is the ultimate mash of current dance films (HONEY, SAVE THE LAST DANCE) with a healthy dose of BEAT STREET and a nod to BREAKIN’ 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO. A stylish and highly charged film filled with gentle moments while never relinquishing its drive to move you in your seat.
Synopsis written by: Joel Quizon
Article Credit
High School Day
Day of the Bruins
April 12, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
Filmmakers’ Panel Discussion
April 9, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
The Vietnamese International Film Festival Kicks Off with Saigon Electric
April 5, 2011 by vaalastaff · Leave a Comment (Edit)
The 5th Biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival’s first weekend kicks off on Thursday, April 7th with the rest of the weekend’s line-up packing a punch.
www.VietFilmFest.com
Westminster, CA- The 5th Biennial Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) opens on Thursday at 7pm with feature film, Saigon Electric, by Stephane Gauger (Owl and the Sparrow). The Opening Night film about hip hop and the fierce energy of youth culture on the streets of Saigon will be shown at the Edwards University Town Center 6 Theatres in Irvine, CA followed by the Opening Gala Reception at Steelhead Brewing Company. Tickets to the screening are $20.00 while admission to the screening and gala are $50.00.
A visually stunning film, Saigon Electric follows Mai, a ribbon dancer from the countryside, in her move to Saigon to audition for a dance school. Mai soon meets and befriends Kim, a b-girl who introduces her to the hip hop entrenched side of Saigon life and her dance crew, Saigon Fresh. Meanwhile, Kim navigates a new relationship with a Saigon socialite who challenges her tough exterior while the crew attempts to save their community center from hotel developers. The storyline gathers around the intense rivalry between Saigon Fresh and North Killaz and culminates in an all-out battle royale on the dance floor - all set against the vibrant backdrop and energy of present-day Saigon.
Stephane Gauger presents a triple threat as Writer, Director and Cinematographer. His first feature Owl and the Sparrow (2007), which premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival and won over fifteen awards at international film festivals, was released theatrically in the U.S. in January 2009. On his inspiration behind exploring the burgeoning hip hop scene in Vietnam on film: “I started noticing it in Saigon on the streets a little,” said Stephane Gauger, “I also saw dance clips on line with Big Toe from Hanoi and Big South in Saigon. That was very inspiring. I thought it would be great to capture on film and show a youth movement in Vietnam.”
In addition to a diverse array of short film sets, the first weekend of ViFF (April 7 to 10) will also include
• Senior Citizens Day at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. All screenings free to anyone 65+ years old with I.D.
• The Spotlight Night Award on Saturday, April 9th at 6:00pm presented to Australian-Vietnamese filmmaker, Khoa Do (Footy Legends). The program will also include Khoa Do’s film, Mother Fish, the inspiring story of refugees fleeing Vietnam told through the remnants of a survivor’s memory as she relives her extraordinary journey.
• A special 11:00pm screening of Birdemic: Shock and Terror on Saturday which hearkens to a cult classic tribute a la Rocky Horror Picture Show.
• A Filmmakers’ Panel Discussion: Expanding the Audience Base on Sunday, April 10th at 2:00pm. A panel of Vietnamese filmmakers discusses opportunities as well as the challenges in present-day filmmaking in specific areas such as theatrical distribution, studio trends, new technology that may help cut costs, and alternative ways to release and promote films. The audience will also have the opportunity to mingle with panelists.
For full program listing, schedule and locations, please visit www.vietfilmfest.com
More information on ViFF
Reel Momentum is the theme of ViFF 2011, which reflects the fast and steady movement of Vietnamese filmmaking by established as well as emerging filmmakers of Vietnamese descent from around the world. Through the universal language of cinema, ViFF
uniquely showcases films made by Vietnamese and Vietnamese diasporas filmmakers including but not limited to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Poland, United States and Vietnam. Screenings will be held at UC Irvine, Edwards University Town Center 6 (in Irvine), UCLA in Los Angeles and the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA,
ViFF is presented by the Vietnamese American Arts and Letters Association (VAALA) and UCLA’s Vietnamese Language and Culture (VNLC). ViFF was established in October 2003 to showcase Vietnamese and Vietnamese Diaspora filmmakers. The mission of ViFF is to support, celebrate, and project a diversity of visions and voices from filmmakers of Vietnamese descent and films by, for, and about the Vietnamese people and culture.
ViFF is made possible by sponsorships/support of:
PRESENTING SPONSOR: WELLS FARGO
UC IRVINE: School of Humanities, Community & Government
Relations, UCI Advancement, Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors
(VACA) - an Alumni Chapter, Department of Film and Media Studies,
Department of Asian American Studies, International Center for Writing
and Translation (ICWT), UC Irvine Libraries Southeast Asian Archive,
Cross Cultural Center, Vietnamese American Coalition (VAC), Vietnamese Student Association (VSA), Asian Pacific Student Association (APSA), and UCI Continuing Education, Distance Learning, and Summer Session.
UCLA: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Asian American Studies Center, ORL
Bowers Museum, Access Group Media, Macy’s, Union Bank, N’Vive, DirecTV, Anhoi.com, White Knight International Inc., Brodard Restaurant, Phans55 Restaurant, Pholicious, Live 20 Group, Asahi, Saigon Beer, A2Z Printing and Promotions, Social Bliss, Association of Asian American Studies (AAAS), Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA), Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (VACOC), www.onevietnam.org.
MEDIA SPONSORS:
Nguoi Viet Daily News, Viet Bao Daily News, Vien Dong Daily News, Viet Herald Daily News, VNCR, Little Saigon T.V., Saigon T.V., Viet Face T.V., VHN-TV, 13 Minutes Magazine, Làng Văn Productions.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS: Asian American Business Women Association, Asian American Professional Association, Asian Pacific Alumni (APA), University of California Los Angeles, Asian Pacific American Legal Center-Orange County, Asian Pacific Islander (API) Equality-Los Angeles, Asian American Studies Program, California State University Fullerton, California Young Women’s Collaborative (CYWC), Club O’ Noodles, Delhi Center, East West Players Theater, Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF), Khmer Girls in Action, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
Project MotiVATe, San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), The Cambodian Family, The Vietnamese American Heritage Foundation, Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation (VACF), Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County (VACOC), Vietnamese American Community Ambassadors (VACA) at UC Irvine, and Vietnamese Traditional Arts Development Organization (VTADO).
ViFF greatly appreciates the generous support of its Sponsors! For Sponsorship Info, Call (714) 893-6145
