Five reasons to check out this year's Vancouver Asian Film Festival
Credit to Author: Shawn Conner| Date: Tue, 05 Nov 2019 19:08:46 +0000
23rd Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival
When: Nov. 7-10
Where: Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas except where otherwise noted
Tickets and info: vaff.org
1. In a New York Minute. This year’s Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF), now in its 23rd year, presents nearly 40 feature-length films and shorts. All of the festival’s spotlight features are from female directors, including opening night presentation In a New York Minute. “This film is a personal journey for me because it explores one’s identity and true self,” first-time feature director Ximan Li told an interviewer. “It’s easy to lose one’s way in a busy city like New York and each of the three main characters are lost in their own way, whether it be one’s identity, being caught between two lives or a societal outcast.”
2. Yellow Rose. Eva Noblezada stars as a Filipino immigrant who dreams of country-music stardom. Set in the Austin music scene, it features original songs by actors Noblezada and filmmaker Diane Paragas. Sony Pictures recently bought worldwide rights to Yellow Rose, which received both the Grand Jury Award and the Breakout Performance Award (for Ms. Noblezada) at this year’s Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
3. Crouching Tiger and Beyond. Tan Dun conducts the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra through selections from the three soundtracks he has composed for martial arts movies, including Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. (Orpheum)
4. Empty by Design. After years of being away, a student and a stuntman find themselves back in the Philippines in Andrea A. Walter’s feature.
5. The World is Bright. Richmond-based filmmaker Ying Wang’s documentary follows the quest of an elderly couple from Beijing to find out the truth about what happened to their son, who died in Vancouver.