When presented with this opportunity, Asians on Film Festival Programmer Scott Eriksson said, "This is very exciting for us since the program has produced some amazing 5-minute films in the past and we will be able to screen the best from 2013!"
"We are very pleased that fantastic film festivals both on the East and West Coasts will honor our filmmakers as we continue to collaborate to empower Asian Americans and other filmmakers of color," commented Film Lab President, Jennifer Betit Yen.
About the Asians on Film Festival
Asians On Film Festival promotes Asian and Asian American cinema and is currently accepting submissions for its upcoming film festival. The Asians on Film Festival is also a proud sponsor of the Asian American International Film Festival ("AAIFF") in New York, which premiered the top films of the Film Lab's 9th annual 72-Hour Shootout on July 27, 2013.
About Asian American Film Lab and the 72-Hour Shootout
The Film Lab began in 1998 as collaborative of New York-based filmmakers whose goals were to hone their craft and to share their knowledge, experience, and resources. The membership has grown to comprise professionals, artists, and other talented individuals who all share the common goal of creating great film and promoting Asian-American filmmakers and other filmmakers of color, and the visibility of their stories and characters in film and television. The Lab now runs monthly programs to promote gender and ethnic diversity in film and television.
The Film Lab is run under the direction of President Jennifer Betit Yen. Board members include Aaron Woolfolk, James Kyson, Bea Soong, Erik Lu, Peyton Worley, Eric Lin, and John Woo. The management team includes Daniel Finley (Industry Spoltight and Production Arm); David Dennis (Connections); Lorna Nowve (Unfinished Works); and Aurora Betson (Grants & Fundraising).
The Film Lab's programming includes filmmaking workshops with industry professionals, screenwriting contests, and film competitions, including the annual 72-Hour Film Shootout (the "Shootout"). This annual competition, now in its ninth year, has inspired hundreds of filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career. 2013 marks the 9th year Asian CineVision will partner with FilmLab to promote the Shootout at the 36th annual Asian-American International Film Festival ("AAIFF"). AAIFF is New York's leading festival for independent Asian and Asian American film and video, and the first and longest-running U.S. festival of its kind. It will be the first time the winning Shootout films will screen at film festivals in both New York City and Los Angeles.
As an integral part of AAIFF, the Shootout celebrates the creativity and genius of the directors and their casts and crews as they share stories by, about, and for Asian Americans and other filmmakers of color with the world. AAIFF has played a vital role in discovering and nurturing such acclaimed talent as Wayne Wang (THE JOY LUCK CLUB), Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON; BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Mira Nair (THE NAMESAKE), Zhang Yimou (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS), Christine Choy (WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN?), Steven Okazaki (THE MUSHROOM CLUB), Jessica Yu (PING PONG PLAYA), and Justin Lin (FAST FIVE).
The Asian-American Film Lab is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.