HBRFF 2021

13th Annual Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival
November 19-21, 2021

The Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival has officially announced that the 13th edition of the festival will take place November 19-21, 2021, in Los Angeles. The festival will open with the North American Premiere of Aly Muritiba’s Deserto Particular/Private Desert. The film, produced by Grafo Audiovisual and Fado Filmes, was selected as the official submission to represent Brazil for Best International Feature at the Oscars® and had its World Premiere in Venice where it won the People’s Choice Award. The Opening Night screening will take place at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. 

The festival will also feature the US Premieres of Madalena, directed by Madiano Marcheti, Meu Nome é Bagdá/My Name is Baghdad, directed by Caru Alves de Souza and Segredos do Putumayo/Secrets from Putumayo, directed by Aurélio Michiles and the Los Angeles Premieres of Cabeça de nêgo/A Bruddah’s Mind, written and directed by Déo Cardoso and Todos os Mortos/All the Dead Ones, directed by Caetano Gotardo and Marco Dutra. 

“I am thrilled and honored that the festival is able to showcase the best in Brazilian cinema and portray the magnificent and complicated facets of the Brazilian people,” said Talize Sayegh, founder of the Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival. “The festival also provides an opportunity to remind U.S. audiences that Brazilian filmmakers are a part of the Latinx community and should be included in the conversation.”  

This year’s sponsors include the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles, Copa Airlines and Santos Lloyd Law Firm. 

Tickets to the festival screenings are now available and can be purchased at HBRFEST.com. All festival screenings will be held in accordance with the latest CDC guidelines on COVID-19 and proof of vaccination and face coverings are required for entry. 

THE FILMS AT THE FESTIVAL

Deserto Particular (Private Desert)

After he is fired for violence, a policeman searches the country for his online lover who unexpectedly disappeared.

North American Premiere

Cabeça de Nêgo/A Bruddah’s Mind

After reacting to an insult from a classmate and being expelled, an introvert geek blames the entire educational system for the situation and undertakes a lonely occupation in his precarious school until justice is done.

Los Angeles Premiere

Madalena

In a small rural town in the middle of acres and acres of soy fields, bodies keep turning up. The latest is the body of a trans woman Madalena (Chloe Milan). The lives of three people seem obscurely affected by the event and are told as separate vignettes.

US Premiere

Meu Nome é Bagdá/My Name is Baghdad

Baghdad is a 17-year-old female skater who lives in a working-class neighborhood in São Paulo, skating with male friends and spending time with family. When she meets a group of female skateboarders, her life suddenly changes.

US Premiere

Segredos do Putumayo/ Secrets from Putumayo

In 1910, Roger Casement undertook an investigation of crimes committed against indigenous communities by the British registered Peruvian Amazon Company. Excerpts from his Journal trace the harrowing picture of an extractive system based on killings and slave labor.

US Premiere

Todos os Mortos/All the Dead Ones

In Brazil, 1899, shortly after the abolition of slavery, the ghosts of the past still walk among the living. For the women of the Soares family, the task of giving up their privilege and adapting to a middle-class reality drives them to the brink of madness. For Iná Nascimento, a former enslaved woman, the struggle to reunite her loved ones in a hostile new world forces her to face the truth about herself. Between Brazil’s troubled past and fractured present, these women feel the ground shifting beneath their feet as they try to create a future of their own.

Los Angeles Premiere

AFI FEST 2021

AFI FEST 2021 - November 10-14
TCL Chinese Theatre

The full lineup for AFI FEST 2021 is here! Featuring 115 titles, this year’s film festival will showcase internationally acclaimed and award-winning films, including Sony Pictures Classics’ PARALLEL MOTHERS, written and directed by Academy Award® winner Pedro Almodóvar, which will screen as a Red Carpet Premiere at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre on Saturday, November 13. The film joins the previously announced Red Carpet Premiere titles which include Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda’s tick, tick…BOOM!, Reinaldo Marcus Green’s KING RICHARD starring Will Smith, Academy Award® winner Halle Berry’s directorial debut BRUISED and Academy Award®  winner Benjamin Cleary’s feature directorial debut SWAN SONG.

The complete AFI FEST program represents 50 countries and includes six World Premieres, and of the 115 titles, 51% are directed by women, 40% directed by BIPOC filmmakers and 13% are directed by LGBTQIA+ filmmakers.

Passes and tickets for in-person and virtual screenings are now available at FEST.AFI.com. With health and safety being top priority, AFI FEST 2021 will require all festival-goers who attend in-person events and/or screenings to be fully vaccinated. AFI members receive exclusive discounts and benefits to the film festival. 

Returning filmmakers to FEST include Hany Abu-Assad (HUDA’S SALON), Andrea Arnold (COW), Jacques Audiard (PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT), Sean Baker (RED ROCKET), Michel Franco (SUNDOWN), Miguel Gomes (THE TSUGUA DIARIES), Mahamat-Saleh Haroun (LINGUI, THE SACRED BONDS), Céline Sciamma (PETITE MAMAN), Apichatpong Weerasethakul (MEMORIA), and Zhang Yimou (ONE SECOND).

NBC News’ Meet the Press Film Festival at AFI FEST, now in its fifth year, will spotlight 15 compelling short documentaries about pressing issues facing our society. Since its launch, the Meet the Press Film Festival has showcased nearly 100 issue-based short films from nine countries, including more than a dozen Oscar® and Emmy® nominees. This year’s festival will feature five program tracks spotlighting issues from racial and gender equality, immigration and democracy to identity, criminal justice and police reform among others. Films include BREE WAYY: PROMISE WITNESS REMEMBRANCE by 2021 AFI DOCS Charles Guggenheim Symposium honoree Dawn Porter about art as a means of protesting and healing; CODED: THE HIDDEN LOVE OF J.C. LEYENDECKER about legendary early-20th century gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker; and THE TRAIN STATION about the Lejac Indian Residential School by Lyana Patrick. The screenings of the films will be followed by conversations moderated by NBC News correspondents and anchors, including Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd.

 

AFI FEST 2021 Full Lineup

RED CARPET PREMIERES

A celebration of the most anticipated films of the year, showcasing excellence in the art form.

BRUISED

Marking the directorial debut of Academy Award® winner Halle Berry, BRUISED is a triumphant story of a fighter who reclaims her power, in and out of the ring, when everyone has counted her out. DIR Halle Berry. SCR Michelle Rosenfarb. CAST Halle Berry, Adan Canto, Adriane Lenox, Sheila Atim, Valentina Shevchenko, Lela Loren, Nikolai Nikolaef, Danny Boyd, Jr., Shamier Anderson, Stephen Henderson. USA. World Premiere.

KING RICHARD

Based on the inspiring true story, KING RICHARD follows the journey of a family whose unwavering resolve and unconditional belief ultimately deliver two of the world’s greatest sports legends – Venus and Serena Williams. DIR Reinaldo Marcus Green. SCR Zach Baylin. CAST Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Jon Bernthal, Tony Goldwyn. USA

PARALLEL MOTHERS

Two women, Janis and Ana, are both single mothers that meet in the hospital before giving birth to their daughters. Their bond quickly becomes complicated in the latest drama from Spanish auteur Pedro Almodóvar. DIR Pedro Almodóvar. SCR Pedro Almodóvar. CAST Penélope Cruz, Melina Smit, Israel Elejalde, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, Rossy de Palma, Julieta Serrano. Spain

THE POWER OF THE DOG

Written and directed by Academy Award® winner Jane Campion, THE POWER OF THE DOG stars Benedict Cumberbatch as a brutally beguiling rancher in this psychological drama set in the American West. DIR Jane Campion. SCR Jane Campion, Adapted from Thomas Savage’s novel by the same name. CAST Benedict Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Thomasin McKenzie, Genevieve Lemon, Keith Carradine, Frances Conroy. USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand

SWAN SONG

Cameron (two-time Academy Award® winner Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness, is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor to shield his family from grief. DIR Benjamin Cleary. SCR Benjamin Cleary. CAST Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Glenn Close, Awkwafina. USA. World Premiere.

TICK, TICK…BOOM!

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his feature directorial debut with tick, tick…BOOM!, an adaptation of the autobiographical musical by composer and playwright Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of “Rent.” DIR Lin-Manuel Miranda. SCR Steven Levenson. CAST Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Vanessa Hudgens, Joshua Henry, Bradley Whitford, Tariq Trotter, Judith Light. USA. World Premiere.

 

WORLD CINEMA

The best in contemporary cinema from renowned storytellers and new voices from across the globe.

AHED’S KNEE

Filmmaker Y has just arrived in the remote Arava Valley to introduce a retrospective of his films at the local library when librarian Yahalom presents him with a waiver restricting certain topics. DIR Nadav Lapid. SCR Nadav Lapid. CAST Avshalom Pollak, Nur Fibak, Avshalom Pollak, Nur Fibak, Yoram Honig, Lidor Ederi, Yonathan Kugler, Yehonathan Vilozni, Naama Preis. Israel

ALI & AVA

In this working-class romance filled with rich performances, Ali and Ava must navigate the emotional turmoil of their pasts to keep their newfound passion alive. DIR Clio Barnard. SCR Clio Barnard. CAST Claire Rushbrooke, Adeel Akhtar. UK

CASABLANCA BEATS (HAUT ET FORT)

A group of young students in Morocco begin a passionate journey of self-discovery and artistic expression by practicing rap as they confront the social issues explored in their lyrics. DIR Nabil Ayouch. SCR Nabil Ayouch with Maryam Touzani. CAST Meryem Nekkach, Anas Basbousi, Nouhaila Arif, Ismail Adouab. Morocco, France

CINEMA SABAYA

Rona is an Israeli teaching a film class to a diverse group of eight women. The class becomes the catalyst for deeper discovery as these women bond over their shared experience. DIR Orit Fouks Rotem. SCR Orit Fouks Rotem. CAST Dana Ivgy, Joanna Said, Amal Murkus, Ruth Landau, Yulia Tagil, Marlene Bajali, Aseel Farhat, Orit Samuel, Liora Levi, Khawlah Hag Debsy. Israel

COMPARTMENT NO. 6

Escaping an enigmatic love affair by boarding a train to the arctic port of Murmansk, a young Finnish woman unexpectedly encounters a larger-than-life Russian miner and faces major truths about human connection. DIR Juho Kuosmanen. SCR Andris Feldmanis, Livia Ulman, Juho Kuosmanen. CAST Seidi Haarla, Yuriy Borisov, Dinara Drukarova, Julia Aug, Lidia Kostina, Tomi Alatalo, Viktor Chuprov, Denis Pyanov, Polina Aug. Finland, Germany, Estonia, Russia

COSTA BRAVA, LEBANON

In this feature debut from Lebanese filmmaker Mounia Akl, a whimsical, close-knit family eludes the political and environmental crises of Beirut by isolating in the remote mountains – until their peaceful days are disrupted. DIR Mounia Akl. SCR Mounia Akl, Clara Roquet. CAST Nadine Labaki, Saleh Bakri, Nadia Charbel, Ceana and Geana Restom, Yumna Marwan, Liliane Chacar Khoury, François Nour. Lebanon, France, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Qatar

DRIVE MY CAR (DORAIBU MAI KÂ)

Based on a Haruki Murakami short story and awarded Best Screenplay at Cannes, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s epic explores what is left behind when a love is lost and a city is decimated. DIR Ryusuke Hamaguchi. SCR Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe. CAST Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Masaki Okada, Masaki Okada, Reika Kirishima, Park Yurim, Jin Daeyeon. Japan

THE GIRL AND THE SPIDER

Lisa is moving out of the apartment she shares with Mara. Friends and neighbors arrive to assist and unspoken tensions simmer just beneath the surface. DIR Ramon Zürcher, Silvan Zürcher. SCR Ramon Zürcher, Silvan Zürcher. CAST Henriette Confurius, Liliane Amuat, Ursina Lardi, Flurin Giger, André M. Hennicke, Ivan Georgiev, Dagna Litzenberger Vinet, Lea Draeger, Sabine Timoteo, Margherita Schoch, Seraphina Schweiger, Birte Schnöink. Switzerland

GOOD MADAM (MLUNGU WAM)

In Jenna Cato Bass’ psychological thriller steeped in remnants of postcolonialism and apartheid, Tsidi moves in with her estranged mother Mavis, a housekeeper under the spell of her mysterious and reclusive Madam. DIR Jenna Cato Bass. SCR Jenna Cato Bass, Babalwa Baartman, Chumisa Cosa, Nosipho Mtebe, Kamvalethu Jonas Raziya, Sanda Shandu, Khanyiso Kenqa, Chris Gxalaba, Peggy Tunyiswa, Sizwe Ginger Lubengu, Siya Sikawuti, Steve Larter. CAST Nosipho Mtebe, Chumisa Cosa, Kamvalethu Jonas Raziya, Khanyiso Kenqa, Sanda Shandu, Sizwe Ginger Lubengu, Siya Sikawuti, Peggy Tunyiswa, Chris Gxalaba. South Africa

GREAT FREEDOM (GROSSE FREIHEIT)

Winner of Cannes’ Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, this unlikely love story by director Sebastian Meise depicts the engrossing life of Hans, a man in postwar Germany who is continuously imprisoned for being gay. DIR Sebastian Meise. SCR Thomas Reider, Sebastian Meise. CAST Franz Rogowski, Georg Friedrich, Anton von Lucke, Thomas Prenn. Austria, Germany

HAPPENING (L’ÉVÉNEMENT)

Winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, Audrey Diwan’s timely adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s autobiographical novel depicts a young woman caught between her ambitions and an unexpected pregnancy in 1960s France. DIR Audrey Diwan. SCR Audrey Diwan and Marcia Romano. CAST Anamaria Vartolomei, Kacey Mottet-Klein, Luàna Bajrami, Louise Orry Diquiero, Louise Chevillotte, Pio Marmaï, Sandrine Bonnaire, Anna Mouglalis. France

HIT THE ROAD (JADDE KHAKI)

An endearing yet frenzied family of four embarks on a mysterious road trip to an unknown destination in this distinctive and surprising debut from Panah Panahi, the son of acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. DIR Panah Panahi. SCR Panah Panahi. CAST Hassan Madjooni, Pantea Panahiha, Rayan Sarlak, Amin Simiar. Iran

HOLY EMY (AGIA EMY)

Living in Athens and keeping to themselves, Emy and Teresa live a simple life centered around attending mass, working in a fish market and avoiding the locals, but the outside world soon encroaches. DIR Araceli Lemos. SCR Araceli Lemos, Giulia Caruso. CAST Abigael Loma, Hasmine Kilip, Angeli Bayani, Ku Aquino, Michalis Siriopoulos, Irene Inglesi. Greece, France, USA

HUDA’S SALON

Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker and AFI FEST alum Hany Abu-Assad (OMAR; PARADISE NOW) portrays the harrowing experience of a Palestinian mother who is blackmailed one fateful day at Huda’s Salon. DIR Hany Abu-Assad. SCR Hany Abu-Assad. CAST Ali Suliman, Maisa Abd Elhadi, Manal Awad, Kamel El Basha, Samer Bisharat, Omar Abu Amer. Palestine, Egypt, Netherlands

ÎNTREGALDE

The mission of three humanitarian aid workers is diverted when they offer a ride to an elderly man along the side of the road and find themselves suddenly stranded. DIR Radu Muntean. SCR Radu Muntean, Răzvan Rădulescu, Alexandru Baciu. CAST Maria Popistașu, Alex Bogdan, Ilona Brezoianu, Luca Sabin. Romania

JOCKEY

An aging jockey hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But the years – and injuries – have taken a toll on his body, throwing into question his ability to continue his lifelong passion. DIR Clint Bentley. SCR Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar. CAST Clifton Collins Jr., Molly Parker, Moises Arias. USA

LINGUI, THE SACRED BONDS (LINGUI)

Despite abortion being illegal in Chad and forbidden in Islam, Amina is determined to support her teenage daughter’s decision to end her pregnancy and must navigate the fragile fabric of female support within a patriarchal society. DIR Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. SCR Mahamat-Saleh Haroun. CAST Achouackh Abakar Souleymane, Rihane Khalil Alio, Youssouf Djaoro, Briya Gomdigue, Hadjé Fatimé Ngoua. Chad, France, Germany, Belgium

MEDUSA

Anita Rocha da Silveira (KILL ME PLEASE) returns to AFI FEST with a horror-satire that fiercely critiques evangelical fanaticism, focusing on a virtuous Christian girl gang that is hellbent on publicly shaming sinful women. DIR Anita Rocha da Silveira. SCR Anita Rocha da Silveira. CAST Mari Oliveira, Lara Tremouroux, Joana Medeiros, Felipe Frazão, Bruna G. Brazil

MEMORIA

While visiting Bogotá, Colombia, Jessica (Tilda Swinton), a Scottish orchid farmer grappling with deep existential unease, becomes tormented by a sound only she can hear. DIR Apichatpong Weerasethakul. SCR Apichatpong Weerasethakul. CAST Tilda Swinton. Colombia, Thailand, UK, Mexico, France

ONE SECOND

Master Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou crafts a charming celebration of cinema in this epic story of an escaped prisoner bonding with an orphan and a village projectionist. DIR Zhang Yimou. SCR Zhang Yimou, Zou Jingzhi. CAST Fan Wei, Liu Haocun, Zhang Yi. China

  

PARIS, 13TH DISTRICT (LES OLYMPIADES, PARIS 13E)

A response to a roommate ad and a case of mistaken identity blossoms into a complex web of love and friendship in this modern, panoramic tale by director Jacques Audiard. DIR Jacques Audiard. SCR Jacques Audiard, Lea Mysius, Céline Sciamma, Adrian Tomine. CAST Noémie Merlant, Geneviève Doang, Jehnny Beth, Line Phé, Stephen Manas. France

PETITE MAMAN

In Céline Sciamma’s (PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE) enchanting and poetic coming-of-age story, eight-year-old Nelly – mourning the recent death of her beloved grandmother – meets a girl building a tree fort, like her mother once did. DIR Céline Sciamma. SCR Céline Sciamma. France

PLEASURE

In this raw and powerful debut feature, Bella arrives in Los Angeles from Sweden to pursue her dreams of stardom – in the adult film industry.DIR Ninja Thyberg. SCR Ninja Thyberg, Peter Modestij. CAST Sofia Kappel, Revika Anne Reustle, Evelyn Claire. Sweden, Netherlands, France

PRAYERS FOR THE STOLEN (NOCHE DE FUEGO)

This devastating narrative debut from documentary filmmaker Tatiana Huezo set in the mountains of Mexico follows Ana and her two best friends who live under the constant threat of kidnappings and drug cartel violence. DIR Tatiana Huezo. SCR Tatiana Huezo. CAST Mayra Batalla, Marya Membreño, Ana Cristina Ordoñez Gonzalez. Mexico

RED ROCKET

In Sean Baker’s bold and provocative new film, Simon Rex gives a hypnotic performance as an adult film star and hustler returning to his hometown in search of a fresh start. DIR Sean Baker. SCR Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch. CAST Simon Rex, Suzanna Son, Bree Elrod, Brenda Deiss, Ethan Darbone, Brittney Rodriguez, Judy Hill. USA

SUNDOWN

Opting to stay on permanent vacation instead of tending to family, wealthy heir Neil Bennett quietly fights to control his life in a world where violence and leisure are one and the same. DIR Michel Franco. SCR Michel Franco. CAST Tim Roth, Iazua Larios, Charlotte Gainsbourg. Mexico

THE TSUGUA DIARIES (DIÁRIOS DE OTSOGA)

Friends Crista, Carloto and João are building a greenhouse for butterflies, cleaning out an above-ground pool and participating in spontaneous dance parties when there is a sudden global virus outbreak. DIR Maureen Fazendeiro, Miguel Gomes. SCR Maureen Fazendeiro, Miguel Gomes, Mariana Ricardo. CAST Crista Alfaiate, Carloto Cotta, João Nunes Monteiro. Portugal, France

UNCLENCHING THE FISTS (RAZZHIMAYA KULAKI)

In a remote mining town, Ada is coming of age in a deeply dysfunctional family isolated by the men that surround her. The welcome attentions of a local boy present the possibility of new experiences, and a potential escape. DIR Kira Kovalenko. SCR Kira Kovalenko, Anton Yarush, Lyubov Mulmenko. CAST Milana Aguzarova, Alik Karaev, Soslan Khugaev, Khetag Bibilov, Arsen Khetagurov, Milana Pagieva. Russia

VERA DREAMS OF THE SEA (VERA ANDRRON DETIN)

Reeling from her husband’s suicide, sign language interpreter Vera (Teuta Ajdini) must summon untapped strength when her inheritance is violently challenged by a male in-law in deeply patriarchal Kosovo. DIR Kaltrina Krasniqi. SCR Doruntina Basha. CAST Teuta Ajdini, Alketa Sylaj, Astrit Kabashi, Refet Abazi. Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania

WHAT DO WE SEE WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SKY?

Alexandre Koberidze’s Berlinale FIPRESCI Prize winner follows Lisa and Giorgi who fall in love at first sight, only for a curse to strike the pair, leaving them unrecognizable to one another. DIR Alexandre Koberidze. SCR Alexandre Koberidze. CAST Giorgi Bochorishvili, Ani Karseladze, Oliko Barbakadze, Giorgi Ambroladze, Vakhtang Fanchulidze. Georgia, Germany

WILDHOOD

Link, an indigenous Mi’kmaw teen, and his younger half-brother go on a journey to find Link’s long-lost mother. Joining their trek, Pasmay, a two-spirit teen, awakens something new inside of Link. DIR Bretten Hannam. SCR Bretten Hannam. CAST Phillip Lewitski, Joshua Odjick, Avery Winters-Anthony, Michael Greyeyes. Canada

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD

This modern dramedy chronicles four years in the life of Julie, a young woman navigating love and life in Oslo. DIR Joachim Trier. SCR Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt. CAST Renate REINSVE, Herbert Nordrum, Anders Danielsen Lie. Norway, France, Sweden, Denmark

  

DOCUMENTARIES

The most engaging and powerful real-life stories depicted in global nonfiction cinema that enlighten, educate and entertain.

BERNSTEIN’S WALL

Director Douglas Tirola documents the life of composer Leonard Bernstein (WEST SIDE STORY) from his early life in New England, to his early orchestral career, his work on television and his constant advocacy of worthy causes. DIR Douglas Tirola. USA

CITIZEN ASHE

Filmmakers Rex Miller and Sam Pollard (MLK/FBI) honor the life and enduring impact of groundbreaking tennis champion, civil rights activist and humanitarian Arthur Ashe in this stirring documentary. DIR Rex Miller, Sam Pollard. USA, UK

COW

A mother. A provider. A cow. AFI Alumna Andrea Arnold’s first-ever documentary is a visceral, up-close portrait of Luma, a singular dairy cow who despite her tenacity is subject to the whim of others. DIR Andrea Arnold. UK

THE FIRST WAVE

In early 2020, New York City is the number one hotspot for COVID-19 in the United States. Academy Award®-nominated documentary filmmaker Matthew Heineman takes a poignant look at the turmoil and resilience on the hospital frontlines. DIR Matthew Heineman. USA

JUICE WRLD

This intimate documentary explores the life and death of the young hip hop star Juice WRLD. DIR Tommy Oliver. FEATURING JuiceWRLD, The Kid Laroi, Lil Bibby, Polo G, G Herbo, Benny Blanco, Rex Kudo, Hit-Boy, Cole Bennett, Trippie Redd. USA. World Premiere.

JULIA

Highlighting delightful, never-before-seen clips from Julia Child’s public television show, veteran filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy West explore the trailblazing career of a culinary icon. DIR Julie Cohen, Betsy West. USA

A NIGHT OF KNOWING NOTHING

In Payal Kapadia’s semi-fictionalized experimental documentary, the diary of a student to her absent lover recounts a period of political upheaval in India, her own heartbreak reflecting that of a generation of students. DIR Payal Kapadia. SCR Payal Kapadia, Himanshu Prajapati. France, India

PROCESSION

Robert Greene’s poignant documentary chronicles six men using drama therapy to process childhood sexual abuse and explores their journey to create something truly beautiful out of horrible trauma. DIR Robert Greene. USA

THE REAL CHARLIE CHAPLIN

This uniquely crafted portrait of iconic silent film comedian Charlie Chaplin features rare insights and never-before-heard recordings by those closest to the mercurial film legend, introducing characters previously written out of the narrative.  DIR Peter Middleton, James Spinney. USA

SIMPLE AS WATER

Oscar-winning director Megan Mylan documents a handful of courageous refugee families affected by the Syrian civil war and the efforts to rebuild their lives in new surroundings around the world. DIR Megan Mylan. USA

TO WHAT REMAINS

This powerful documentary follows Project Recover, an organization with a mission to bring home missing-in-action World War II veterans from forgotten South Pacific battlefields. DIR Chris Woods. SCR Mark Monroe. USA. World Premiere.

WHO WE ARE: A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA

Filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler chronicle ACLU lawyer Jeffrey Robinson’s essential deep dive into America’s 400-year history of white supremacy and anti-Black racism. DIR Emily Kunstler, Sarah Kunstler. SCR Jeffery Robinson. USA

COLCOA 2021

 25th COLCOA FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL

EMMANUEL CARRÉRE’S BETWEEN TWO WORLDS

STARRING JULIETTE BINOCHE TO OPEN

THE 25th ANNUAL COLCOA FRENCH FILM AND SERIES FESTIVAL

55 Films and Series to be Screened at the Festival Taking Place Live 
at the DGA Theater Complex November 1-7, 2021

 

The opening film of the 25th Annual COLOCA French Film and Series Festival will be the North American Premiere of writer/director/author Emmanuel Carrère’s BETWEEN TWO WORLDS, starring Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche. The film will screen on November 1, kicking off the Festival as a live week-long event taking place at the DGA Theater Complex in Los Angeles.

The Festival is back in-person to celebrate a silver anniversary with strict COVID rules in place, including proof of vaccination and mandatory wearing of masks. The event takes place from November 1 to November 7, at the Director’s Guild of America, COLCOA’s home for 25 years. Dates continue to offer a unique platform to promote French Films and series in Hollywood at the beginning of Awards Season.

This year’s program will include 55 films and series, as well as 19 shorts, most of which are International, North American, U.S. and Los Angeles premiere presentations. Thirty of these films will be up for COLCOA Cinema Awards, including the following selections:

COLCOA 2021 FILM SELECTION:

            

OPENING FILM, Monday, November 1:  BETWEEN TWO WORLDS. Based on French investigative journalist Florence Aubenas’ best-selling non-fiction book, The NightCleaner, BETWEEN TWO WORLDS recounts the adventures of Marianne Winckler (Academy Award winner Juliette Binoche), a celebrated author who goes undercover as a cleaning lady to write a book on job insecurity in the gig economy. This very touching film, whose authenticity is underscored by an amazing performance from non-professional actors, opened the Director’s Fortnight in Cannes this year and just nabbed the Audience Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival. It will be released in France and in the U.S. in 2022 by Cohen Media Group.

CLOSING FILMS, Sunday, November 7:  LOST ILLUSIONS, which recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival (presented with Music Box Films), is writer/director’s Xavier Giannoli’s Balzac adaptation,and ONODA, 10,000 NIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE, written and directed by Arthur Harari and the opening film of Un Certain Regard Competition in Cannes 2021.        

  

Full Feature film lineup also includes:

• A TALE OF LOVE AND DESIRE (West Coast Premiere) - Drama, romance by Leyla Bouzid

• ANOTHER WORLD (North American Premiere) - Drama by Stéphane Brize

• AUTHENTIK (North American Premiere) - Audrey Estrougo’s biopic about the birth of famous rap group Suprême NTM

• BLACK BOX,(North American Premiere) - Yann Gozlan’s film noir starring Pierre Niney

• BYE BYE MORONS (Los Angeles Premiere) -  Albert Dupontel’s multi-Cesar Award-winning comedy including Best film.

• EIFFEL (North American Premiere) - Martin Bourboulon’s epic romance drama about the famous French engineer and the reason why he created the world famous tower.

• FRENCH TECH (North American Premiere) - Comedy by Bruno Podalydès      

• GAGARINE (West Coast Premiere) - Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s first feature

• IBRAHIM (West Coast Premiere) - First drama by actor Samir Guesmi 

• LOVE SONGS FOR TOUGH GUYS (North American Premiere) - Dark comedy by Samuel Benchetrit

• LOVERS (North American Premiere) - Thriller by veteran writer, director, actor Nicole Garcia

• MAGNETIC BEATS (North American Premiere) - D’Ornano-Valenti Award winner by Vincent Maël Cardona

• NIGHT RIDE (Special Screening) - A first feature, thriller by Frederic Farucci

• OLGA (North American Premiere and Official Entry from Switzerland to Academy Awards 2022     for Best international Feature) - Drama from Elie Grappe

• ROBUST (West Coast Premiere) - Constance Meyer’s 2021 Critic’s Week opening

• THE BIG HIT (West Coast Premiere) - Dramedy Emmanuel Courcol

• THE NIGHT DOCTOR (U.S. Premiere) - Film Noir by Elie Wajeman

• THE RESTLESS (North American Premiere) - Drama w/d Joachim Lafosse

• THE UNSOPHISTICATED LADY (U.S. Premiere) - Comedy by Anthonin Peretjatko

• THE YOUNG LOVERS (North American Premiere) - Drama, Romance  by Carine Tardieu, starring Fanny Ardant

 

In addition to Cohen Media Group’s BETWEEN TWO WORLDS and Music Box Films’ LOST ILLUSIONS, COLCOA is working with several U.S. distributors to present films in Hollywood before their U.S. release, including:

• BLOODY ORANGES (West Coast Premiere) - Dark Star Pictures’ horror/comedy by Jean-Christophe Meurisse. screening will be presented as an After 10 show on Saturday night only for audiences 18+. 

• FRANCE (West Coast Premiere) - Kino Lorber’s the new comedy/satire by Bruno Dumont starring James Bond’s actor Lea  Seydoux

• MY BEST PART (West Coast Premiere) - Altered Innocence’s first comedy/drama by actor Nicolas Maury ( CALL MY  AGENT)

• SIMPLE PASSION (West Coast Premiere) - Strand Releasing’s film by Danielle Arbid

• THE ROSE MAKER - Music Box Films’ feel-good comedy by Pierre Pinaud

• THE SUMMIT OF THE GODS -  A special screening of Netflix’s anticipated animated film by Patrick Imbert.

 

For the first time, two films already released in the US will be part of the competition for the COLCOA Cinema Awards and presented as a free special screening:

• TITANE by Julia Ducournau, released in the U.S by Neon Films

• THE MAD WOMEN’S BALL by Melanie Laurent. In association with Amazon Studios, This film will have it theatrical U.S. Premiere at the Festival.

COLCOA CLASSICS:

Presented out of competition, the free COLCOA CLASSICS series will pay tribute to writer/director Bertrand Tavernier with rare theatrical screenings of THE JUDGE AND THE ASSASSIN and CAPTAIN CONAN, writer Jean-Claude Carriere and a special screening of award winner THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE, and actor Jean-Paul Belmondo with the presentation on the big screen of LE MAGNIFIQUE, followed by a discussion with actor Jacqueline Bisset and writer Francis Veber. Finally, a digitally restored version of Jacques Rivette’s GANG OF FOUR will have its International Premiere at  COLCOA.

 

Documentary film lineup:

Climate change, immigration, transgender inclusion, holocaust revelations, centenary celebration …. These and many more contemporary and historical topics are explored in the diverse and exclusive documentary lineup scheduled to premiere at the 25th Annual COLCOA French Film & Series Festival. Six feature documentary films and one TV documentary make up the non-fiction part of the program. These films will also be eligible for the 2021 COLCOA Best Documentary Award. 

Above Water / Marcher sur L’eau (North American Premiere) – Fourteen-year-old Houlaye lives in Tatiste, Niger and travels several kilometers every day to fetch water. The village got together to obtain construction of a well. This is the promise of a new life for these men and women who have literally been walking on water since birth. Written and directed by Aïssa Maïga. Presented in association with Orange Studio.

Birds of America (North American Premiere) – At the beginning of the 19th century, the discovery of the wide-open spaces of the United States and its incredible wildlife was key in the political development of the country. Intent on painting all the birds of America, John-James Audubon became a central figure of America’s national identity. But as these birds started disappearing with the dawn of the industrial age, so did the original American dream. In this “river movie” shot along the banks of the Mississippi, political, environmental and human rights issues are interwoven with the tales, myths and ghosts of these now extinct birds. Written and directed by Jacques Loeuille. Presented in Association with MK2 Films.

From Where They Stood / A Pas Aveugles (North American Premiere) – A handful of prisoners in WWII camps risked their lives to take clandestine photographs and document the hell the Nazis were hiding from the world. In the vestiges of the camps, director Christophe Cognet retraces the footsteps of these courageous men and women in a quest to unearth the circumstances and the stories behind their photographs, composing as such an archeology of images as acts of defiance. Presented in Association with U.S. distributor Greenwich Entertainment.

Gallant Indies / Indes Galantes (North American Premiere) – This film documents a first for 30 break, hip hop, krumping and voguing dancers; a first for director Clément Cogitore and choreographer Bintou Dembélé; and a first for the Opéra de Paris. By creating a dialogue between urban dance and lyrical song, together they reinvent Rameau’s baroque masterpiece, Les Indes Galantes. From rehearsals to public performances, it is a human adventure and a meeting with the political issues we follow. Can a new generation of artists take the Bastille today? Written and directed by Philippe Béziat. Presented in association with Pyramide International.

Jane By Charlotte (West Coast Premiere). The spare, delicate portrait of a fascinating, now-75-year-old mother (singer Jane Birkin) by a daughter (actor/singer Charlotte Gainsbourg), who clearly cherishes her. A very frank portrayal of two very human, insecure, talented women, as they take stock of both the joys and the tragedies they have shared over the years. Presented in association with U.S. distributor Utopia.

Little Girl / Petite Fille (Special Presentation COLCOA Awards) – Seven-year-old Sasha has always known she was a little girl, even though she was born a boy. As society fails to treat her like the other children her age – in her daily life at school, dance lessons or birthday parties – her supportive family lads a constant battle to make her difference understood and accepted. Written and directed by Sebastien Lifshitz. Presented in association with U.S. distributor Music Box Films.

All About Yves Montand / Montand est a nous (North American Premiere). Celebrating the centenary of iconic singer-actor-public figure Yves Montand, the film is a touching homage by writer/director Yves Jeuland full of restored and unpublished archives, concerts and film extracts. It plunges us into a 50-year career of probably the most popular after-war French artist in the world. The film was part of the Official Selection of the last Cannes Film Festival. Written and directed by Yves Jeuland. Presented in association with Zelig Films.

 

COLCOA AWARDS:

The COLCOA audience will be invited to vote in the three categories: Cinema, Television and Shorts..

For the 13th year, LAFCA will partner with COLCOA Cinema for the Critics’ Awards.

For the fourth year, a student jury made of high school and college students, will vote for the COLCOA AMERICAN STUDENTS’ AWARD.

A professional jury will vote for the Best Short Film.

The complete recipient list of the 2021 Awards will be announced on Monday, November 8 by the Franco-American Cultural Fund.  Awards will be given to recipients in Paris (France) during a special ceremony on November 16.

The COLCOA AWARDS are presented in association with, TV5 Monde USA, and AIR TAHITI NUI.

COLCOA will also continue its popular COLCOA High School Screenings program with the premiere of OWNING IT (Les Héritières), written by Johanna Goldschmidt and Laure-Elisabeth Bourdaud and directed by Nolwenn Lemesle.

VENEZIA 2021

 78th Venice Film Festival Winners

COMPETITION

Golden Lion

L’Evénement, directed by Audrey Diwan

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize

The Hand Of God, directed by Paolo Sorrentino

Silver Lion, Best Director

Jane Campion, The Power Of The Dog

Volpi Cup Best Actress

Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers

Volpi Cup Best Actor

John Arcilla, On The Job: The Missing 8

Best Screenplay

Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter

Special Jury Prize

Il Buco, directed by Michelangelo Frammartino

Marcello Mastroianni Award for for Best New Young Actor or Actress

Filippo Scotti, The Hand Of God

ORIZZONTI

Best Film

Pilgrims, directed by Laurynas Bareisa

Best Director

Eric Gravel, A Plein Temps

Special Jury Prize

El Gran Movimiento, directed by Kiro Russo

Best Actress

Laure Calamy, A Plein Temps

Best Actor

Piseth Chhun, White Building

Best Screenplay

Ivan Ostrochovský, Peter Kerekes: 107 Mothers

Best Short Film

Los Huesos, directed by Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña

Audience Award Armani Beauty

The Blind Man Who Did Not Want To See Titanic, directed by Teemu Nikki

LION OF THE FUTURE 

Luigi De Laurentiis Award For Best Debut Film

Imaculat, directed by Monica Stan, George Chiper Lillemark

QUEER LION

Best Film

La dernière séance (The Last Chapter) directed by Gianluca Matarrese

VENICE VR EXPANDED

Grand Jury Prize for Best VR

Goliath: Playing With Reality, directed by Barry Gene Murphy, May Abdalla

Best VR Experience

Le Bal De Paris De Blanca Li, directed by Blanca Li

Best VR Story

End Of Night, directed by David Adler

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT GOLDEN LION

Roberto Benigni

Jamie Lee Curtis

Oscar Entries 2021

Submissions to the 94th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film

Submissions are open now to the 94th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. Last year there were 93 submissions from around the world. The Oscar went to Denmark's Another Round directed by Thomas Vinterberg. 

The category was previously called the Best Foreign Language Film, but this was changed in April 2019 to Best International Feature Film, after the Academy deemed the word "Foreign" to be outdated.

The deadline for submissions is extended until November 2021. The Academy is scheduled to announce a list of eligible submissions in November 2021 from which 15 finalists will be shortlisted on December 21, 2021. The final five nominees will be announced on February 8, 2022. The winner will be announced on March 27, 2022 at the Oscar ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

The submissions to the 94th Academy Awards: 

• Albania - Three Lions Heading to Venice
• Algeria - Héliopolis ★★
• Argentina - The Intruder ★★★
• Armenia - Should the Wind Drop ★★★★
• Australia - When Pomegranates Howl
• Austria - Great Freedom ★★★★
• Azerbaijan - The Island Within
• Bangladesh - Rehana
• Belgium - Playground ★★★
• Bhutan - Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom ★★★★
• Bolivia - The Great Movement
• Boznia & Herzegovina - The White Fortress ★★★
• Brazil - Private Desert ★★★★
• Bulgaria - Fear ★★★
• Cambodia - White Building
• Cameroon - Hidden Dreams
• Canada - Drunken Birds ★★★
• Chad - Lingui ★★★
• Chile - White on White ★★★
• China - Cliff Walkers ★★
• Colombia - Memoria ★★★★
• Costa Rica - Clara Sola ★★★
• Croatia - Tereza37 ★★★
• Czech Republic - Zátopek ★★★★
• Denmark - Flee ★★★★
• Dominican Republic - Holy Beasts ★★★
• Ecuador - Sumergible
• Egypt - Souad ★★★
• Estonia - On the Water ★★★
• Finland - Compartment No. 6 ★★★
• France - Titane ★★★★
• Georgia - Brighton 4th ★★★
• Germany - I'm Your Man ★★★
• Greece - Digger ★★★
• Haiti - Freda
• Hong Kong - Zero to Hero ★★
• Hungary - Post Mortem
• Iceland - Lamb ★★★
• India - Pebbles ★★★★
• Indonesia - Yuni
• Iran - A Hero ★★★★
• Iraq - Europa
• Ireland - Shelter (Foscadh) ★★
• Israel - Let It Be Morning ★★★★
• Italy - The Hand of God ★★★★★
• Japan - Drive My Car ★★★★
• Jordan - Amira ★★★
• Kazakhstan - Yellow Cat ★★★
• Kenya - Mission to Rescue
• Kosovo - Hive ★★★
• Kyrgyzstan - Shambala ★★★
• Latvia - The Pit ★★★
• Lebanon - Costa Brava, Lebanon ★★★★
• Lithuania - Isaac ★★★
• Luxembourg - Io sto bene ★★★
• Malawi - Fatsani: A Tale of Survival
• Malaysia - Hail, Driver! ★★
• Malta - Luzzu ★★★
• Mexico - Prayers for the Stolen ★★★
• Montenegro - After the Winter ★★★
• Morocco - Casablanca Beats ★★★
• Netherlands - Do Not Hesitate ★★★
• North Macedonia - Sisterhood
• Norway - The Worst Person in the World ★★★
• Palestine - The Stranger ★★★
• Panama - Plaza Catedral ★★★
• Paraguay - Nothing But the Sun
• Peru - Powerful Chief
• Poland - Leave No Traces ★★★★
• Portugal - The Metamorphosis of Birds ★★★★
• Romania - Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn ★★★
• Russia - Unclenching the Fists ★★★
• Saudi Arabia - The Tambour of Retribution
• Serbia - Oasis ★★
• Singapore - Precious is the Night
• Slovakia - 107 Mothers ★★★★
• Slovenia - Sanremo ★★
• Somalia - The Gravedigger's Wife
• South Africa - Barakat
• South Korea - Escape from Mogadishu ★★
• Spain - The Good Boss ★★★
• Sweden - Tigers ★★★★
• Switzerland - Olga ★★★
• Taiwan - The Falls ★★★
• Thailand - The Medium ★★
• Tunisia - Golden Butterfly
• Turkey - Commitment Hasan ★★★★
• Ukraine - Bad Roads ★★★
• United Kingdom - Dying to Divorce
• Uruguay - The Broken Glass Theory
• Uzbekistan - 2000 Songs of Farida ★★★
• Venezuela - The Inner Glow
• Vietnam - Dad, I'm Sorry

 

LA Asian Pacific Film Festival 2021

37th Annual Asian Pacific Film Festival
September 23 - October 2, 2021

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), presented annually by Visual Communications (VC), has announced the complete lineup for the 37th edition of the Festival, which is set to take place September 23 to October 2, 2021. The Festival, which announced dates last week along with the first set of confirmed films, is pleased to present over 139 films during the 10 day Festival. This year’s productions celebrate the creative and nuanced storytelling of Asians & Pacific Islanders in America and around the globe. LAAPFF film presentations will be in-person events at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center’s Aratani Theatre, the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at the Japanese American National Museum, and Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center. 

“The Festival returns to connect our artists and communities in person,” says Francis Cullado, Executive Director of Visual Communications. “We are excited about our lineup of filmmakers whose work have the capacity to influence change in the world, as well as truly represent us. With our incredible narrative features, our non-fiction slate, and our live action, documentary, and animated shorts, this year’s LAAPFF will be one of our most exciting editions. We are all living in a time where anti-Asian hate crimes have risen. It is our hope that this year’s Festival will bring together not only our Asian & Pacific Islander communities, but all of our communities. We invite everyone to come experience art as entertainment, healing, and bridge building.”

 

Feature film highlights include:

●      The World Premiere of SILENT RIVER, from director Chris Chan Lee (YELLOW). Starring West Liang and Amy Tsang, this film takes you into a strange world, where one man’s struggle to reconcile with his wife becomes a journey for three strangers to return home.

●      The Los Angeles Premiere of Jeff Mizushima’s WHO IS LUN*NA MENOH?, which follows the life and work of the extraordinary Japanese artist, Lun*na Menoh. From her early career in Japan to the underground music scene in L.A., her uniquely individual artistic career and expressionism are explored.

●      The Special Presentation of LIST OF A LIFETIME, directed by Roxy Shih, an alumnus of Visual Communications’ Armed With a Camera Fellowship. Starring Kelly Hu (FINDING OHANA), Sylvia Kwan (GREY’S ANATOMY), Patricia Velasquez (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT), Jane Sibbett (FRIENDS), and Shannen Doherty (CHARMED), the film follows a woman diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, who is determined to track down the daughter she gave up for adoption. LIST OF A LIFETIME will have its world broadcast premiere on Sunday, October 10th at 8pm on Lifetime.

●      The West Coast Premiere of Kazem Mollaie’s THE BADGER, a powerful narrative from Iran.  The film begins right before a woman’s second marriage, when her 11-year-old son is kidnapped. Starring Iranian actress Vishka Asayesh, this film explores the unspoken challenges faced by a family on the verge of new beginnings.

●      The West Coast Premiere of Bee Thiam Tan’s TIONG BAHRU SOCIAL CLUB, a comedic odyssey from Singapore that takes you through the Tiong Bahru Social Club, a data-driven project to create the happiest neighbourhood in the world. 

●      The Los Angeles Premiere of Patricio Ginelsa’s LUMPIA WITH A VENGEANCE, a nostalgic follow-up to Ginelsa’s directorial debut LUMPIA in 2003. The action-packed comedy, starring April Absynth, MMA artist Mark Muñoz, and Danny Trejo (MACHETE), made its world premiere at the Hawaii International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature.

●      The Los Angeles Premiere of Oscar® winning filmmakers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s latest film THE RESCUE, a thrilling look at the 2018 rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach trapped deep inside a flooded cave. 

●      Fresh from winning the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary and the Albert Maysles Award for Best First Documentary Feature at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, Jessica Kingdon’s ASCENSION will make its Los Angeles Premiere at LAAPFF, in collaboration with MTV Documentary Films. The film examines the contemporary “Chinese Dream” through staggering observations of labor, consumerism, and wealth. 

●      Following its screening at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival, Evan Jackson Leong’s narrative debut SNAKEHEAD will make its Los Angeles Premiere ahead of a nationwide release from Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions. Set in New York’s Chinatown, the crime thriller follows a woman's rise in the international underworld of human smuggling, and stars Shuya Chang, Sung Kang, and Jade Wu.

 

On October 1, LAAPFF kicks off Filipinx American History Month with a curated selection of films by Filipinx filmmakers, including:

 

●      The Encore Presentation of Mallorie Ortega’s THE GIRL WHO LEFT HOME, the award-winning musical about a young Filipina on the brink of Hollywood stardom, who is pulled back into her past life and family obligations. The cast boasts charming performances from Emy Coligado (CTRL), Paolo Montalban (CINDERELLA), and Haven Everly. The film made its world premiere during the 2020 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, where Ortega won an Emerging Filmmaker Award.

●      The World Premiere of Randal Kamradt’s NO DOGS, set against the backdrop of the Watsonville race riots that set Central California ablaze in 1930. 

●      The Los Angeles Premiere of Dante Basco’s directorial debut THE FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS, which he also stars in and co-wrote alongside his siblings. Told in four unique vignettes, this film is a romantic comedy following four Filipino American brothers and their lovers in the events leading up to a controversial Filipino wedding.

●      The West Coast Premiere of ISLANDS, the SXSW award-winning film by Martin Edralin. Starring Rogelio Balagtas, who won a Special Jury Mention at SXSW, the film follows a shy middle-aged Filipino immigrant, who has lived in the comfort of his parents’ home his entire life. As their health declines, he longs for a partner, terrified of being alone after they pass.

The largest festival of its kind in Southern California, LAAPFF is also a proud Academy Award® - qualifying film festival for the Short Film Awards. LAAPFF’s programming hopes to mobilize and engage audiences towards social activism and civic engagement, a cornerstone that is part of the Festival’s foundation. This year’s productions by Asian & Pacific Islander artists from around the world amplify themes that include race, immigration, gentrification, economic security, and more. 

From the short film lineup, select highlights include:

 

●      F1-100, directed by Emory Chao Johnson, combines video, illustration, and animation into an intimate portrait of an international art student studying abroad in the United States. Drawing on artist profile and gender journey films, F1-100 is a transnational meditation through time and space of a young artist carrying a heavy burden. The film received the Loni Ding Award in Social Issue Documentary at CAAMFest. F1-100 will screen in the “Point of Entry” shorts program.

●      The Los Angeles Premiere of ʻĀina Paikai’s HAWAIIAN SOUL, based on the true story of Hawaiian hero George Jarrett Helm Jr., a musician who gained the support of elders to protect the island of Kahoʻolawe from military bombing. This film is a tribute to the legacy of a leader and artist who used his voice to inspire a revolution of consciousness. HAWAIIAN SOUL will screen as part of the “Pacific Cinewaves Shorts” program, which represents LAAPFF’s commitment to amplify Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities from Hawaiʻi, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Guåhan (Guam), Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Samoa, and throughout the Pacific region.

●      The World Premiere of Sharmila Ray’s DEVOTEE, a textured drama that follows a man as he encounters a guru and her group of devotees. The film features powerful performances from Kausar Mohammed and David Huynh, and will screen as part of the “Taking Space” shorts program.

●      The Los Angeles Premiere of the animated short BLUSH, from Emmy winning director Joe Mateo. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, and is the inaugural short film from Apple Original Films and Skydance Animation.

LAAPFF is proud to debut the works from Visual Communications’ Digital Histories program, designed for Asian & Pacific Islander older adults to use their unique voices and perspectives to share stories with the generations to come. Since its creation in 2003, Digital Histories has provided a professional and artistic work environment for underserved, ethnic-minority seniors. This year, Digital Histories will debut non-fiction works that feature immigration histories, unique artist profiles, and more. The 2021 Digital Histories films include: DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN (dir. George Wada), DO YOU LOVE ME? (dir. Teresa Matsushima), EYE OF THE NEEDLE (dir. Joe Virata), KAERU (dir. Don Bannai), PUTTING THEM WHERE THEY COULD DO NO HARM (dir. Steve Nagano), FRAN (dir. Robert Shoji), EATING TAMALES WITH CHOPSTICKS (dir. Jeff Chop), LAURIE LEWIS - "MANZANAR" (dir. Jeff Chop), PAPER SON (dir. Patty Fong), THE CONVERSATION (dir. Joe Virata), and YEAR OF THE PLAGUE (dir. Fran Ito).

Visual Communications founded the Armed With a Camera (AWC) Fellowship for Emerging Media Artists to develop the next generation of Asian & Pacific Islander artists and connect communities through the power of storytelling. The Fellowship boasts alumni including Christopher Yogi (I WAS A SIMPLE MAN), Erin Li (KEPLER X-47, currently on Amazon Prime Video’s Etheria), and Roxy Shih (LIST OF A LIFETIME). This year, LAAPFF will host encore presentations of the 2020 Armed With a Camera films: AFTERIMAGES (dir. Bryan Sih), A CURE FOR ALL THINGS (dir. Katherine Chou), BACK TO THE SOURCE (dir. Sandra Carbonell-Kiamtia), COFFEE TALKING OUT OF COFFINS (dir. NamQuyen Le), CRASHING WHEELS ON CONCRETE (dir. So Young Shelly Yo), ETA (dir. Justin Ricafort), HERSELVES (dir. Kristy Choi), HOME (dir. King Lu), MANGO BABY (dir. Serena Violet Hodges), and THANK YOU, COME AGAIN (dir. Nirav Bhakta). 

 
Narrative Features include:

A SHOT THROUGH THE WALL (dir. Aimee Long)

A Chinese American police officer's life unravels after he accidentally shoots an innocent Black man. Facing trial, he wades through his guilt as he navigates the complicated worlds of media, justice, racial politics, and his own morality.

AMERICANISH (dir. Iman Zawahry) - Los Angeles Premiere

Career-driven sisters and their newly-immigrated cousin must navigate the conflicting demands of romance, culture, work, and family. Serving both as a lighthearted reimagination of a classic romantic comedy, AMERICANISH tackles and celebrates the complex intersectionalities of womanhood.

 

DEFINITION PLEASE (dir. Sujata Day) - Los Angeles Premiere

In 2005, eight-year-old Monica Chowdry was on top of the world as champion of the Scribbs National Spelling Bee. In present day, an adult Monica is still living at home in Pennsylvania with her ailing mom, and things get complicated when her estranged brother returns. 

 

I WAS A SIMPLE MAN (dir. Christopher Makoto Yogi) - West Coast Premiere

A ghost story set in the pastoral countryside of the north shore of O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Told in four chapters, this film is a story of an elderly man facing the end of his life, who is visited by the ghosts of his past.

 

ISLANDS (dir. Martin Edralin) - West Coast Premiere

Joshua, a shy middle-aged Filipino immigrant, has lived in the comfort of his parents’ home his entire life. As their health declines, he longs for a partner, terrified of being alone after they pass.

LISA MANIA (dir. Shaun Vivaris) - World Premiere

Dom, a real estate businessman going through a mid-life crisis, sees his therapist about suspicions he has about his wife Lisa. With what looks like mounting evidence of Lisa's infidelity, a bad mix of drugs, and hell being raised by a succubus demon, Dom's problems seem to only worsen.

 

LIST OF A LIFETIME (dir. Roxy Shih)

 When a woman is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, she becomes determined to track down the daughter she gave up for adoption as an infant.

 

LUMPIA WITH A VENGEANCE (dir. Patricio Ginelsa) - Los Angeles Premiere

In this action comedy, the lumpia-armed avenger returns to Fogtown! Teenager Rachel finds herself tangled up with a crime syndicate selling drugs masked as food. She teams up with the crime fighter to prevent a mysterious crime boss from destroying her town and her parents' dream wedding.

 

MARVELOUS AND THE BLACK HOLE (dir. Kate Tsang) - Los Angeles Premiere

A teenage delinquent befriends a surly magician who helps her navigate her inner demons and dysfunctional family with sleight of hand magic. A coming of age comedy that touches on unlikely friendships, grief, and finding hope in the darkest moments.

SILENT RIVER (dir. Chris Chan Lee) - World Premiere

Desperate to reconcile with his estranged wife, Elliot stops at a desert motel to await her call. He encounters Greta, an uncanny woman on the run from a mysterious past. Compelled to help, Elliot soon discovers her secret — and faces a choice between her longing or his own survival.

SNAKEHEAD (dir. Evan Jackson Leong) - Los Angeles Premiere

Sister Tse's brought to New York by a snakehead, a human smuggler. Her survival instincts gain her favor with the matriarch and she rises the ranks. Soon, Tse must reconcile her success with her real reason for coming to America, drawing on the strength she's found, transforming victimhood into power. 

THE BADGER (dir. Kazem Mollaie) - West Coast Premiere

Right before Soodeh Sharifzadegan's second marriage, her 11-year-old son Matiar is kidnapped. Soodeh is forced to ask for the ransom money from her ex-husband Peyman. After Matiar's release, Soodeh realizes that it was all her son's plan to provide the grounds for his father's return.

 

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF MRS. WU (dir. Anna Chi) - West Coast Premiere

Eager to repair the strained relationship with her adult daughter and help her shy granddaughter Emma find her voice, irascible Wu family matriarch Lily persuades longtime friend Charlotte, Emma, and Emma's best friend to go on a wild road trip with her - without telling the girls' parents.

 

THE FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS (dir. Dante Basco) - Los Angeles Premiere

Told in four unique vignettes, this film is a romantic comedy following four Filipino American brothers and their lovers in the events leading up to a controversial Filipino wedding.

 

THE GIRL WHO LEFT HOME (dir. Mallorie Ortega)

In the wake of her father’s sudden passing, Christine must put her career on pause to return to her childhood home. Met with her past and the possibility of losing the family restaurant, Christine must decide to stay and support her family, or leave to pursue her lifelong dreams.

 

THE MONSTERS WITHOUT (dir. Randal Kamradt) - World Premiere

When a rogue monster threatens existence, only the scrappy multi-national team P.H.A.S.E. can stop him. But their newest recruit holds a stunning secret. Against impossible odds, this lonely, conflicted, difficult, and altogether human team must band together to save the world.

 

TIONG BAHRU SOCIAL CLUB (dir. Bee Thiam Tan) - West Coast Premiere

Ah Bee goes on a comedic odyssey through Tiong Bahru Social Club, a data-driven project to create the happiest neighbourhood in the world. Little by little, Ah Bee’s encounters with the neighbourhood’s residents reveal the absurdity of life.

 

WATER LIKE FIRE (dir. Mitchel Viernes) - Los Angeles Premiere

While surfing helps mend the emotional wounds of her parent’s death, Chanel still struggles to connect with her drug-addicted brother, Caleb. When Caleb is injured in a hit-and-run accident, Chanel vows to help her brother heal his physical injuries and his drug problem.

 

 

Documentary Features include:

ACCEPTED (dir. Dan Chen) - West Coast Premiere

Four high school seniors in rural Louisiana attend T.M. Landry, a controversial school made famous for sending its graduates to elite universities. Each senior is forced to contend with uncomfortable truths about their school and the college admissions system, and decide what they are willing to do to be accepted.

 

ASCENSION (dir. Jessica Kingdon) - Los Angeles Premiere

ASCENSION examines the contemporary “Chinese Dream” through staggering observations of labor, consumerism and wealth. In cinematically exploring the aspiration that drives today’s People’s Republic of China, the film plunges into universal paradoxes of economic progress.

 

CANE FIRE (dir. Anthony Banua-Simon) - Los Angeles Premiere

An examination of the past and present of the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi, interweaving four generations of family history, numerous Hollywood productions, and troves of found footage. This film is a kaleidoscopic portrait of the economic and cultural forces that have cast indigenous and working-class residents as “extras” in their own story.

 

FACELESS (dir. Jennifer Ngo) - U.S. Premiere

Following characters simply known as the Daughter, the Believer, the Student, and the Artist, FACELESS documents the stories of the individuals whose lives are upended as protests against a controversial extradition bill engulf Hong Kong.

 

FANNY: THE RIGHT TO ROCK (dir. Bobbi Jo Hart)

The untold story of a self-founded, 1960s garage band — which included Filipina American and queer bandmates — that morphed into the ferocious rock group Fanny, the first band of women to release an LP with a major record label (Warner/Reprise, 1970).

 

LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE & TIMES OF BEN FONG-TORRES (dir. Suzanne Joe Kai) - West Coast Premiere

LIKE A ROLLING STONE is a documentary of journalist, broadcaster, and author Ben Fong-Torres, the legendary writer and original editor in charge of Rolling Stone magazine’s music coverage. At the tiny San Francisco start-up with barely room for four desks, Ben helped propel its meteoric rise into popular culture.

 

MANZANAR, DIVERTED: WHEN WATER BECOMES DUST (dir. Ann Kaneko) - Los Angeles Premiere

From the majestic peaks of the snow-capped Sierras to the parched valley of Payahuunadü, “the land of flowing water,” MANZANAR, DIVERTED: WHEN WATER BECOMES DUST poetically weaves memories of Native Americans, Japanese American WWII incarcerees, and environmentalists, who form an unexpected alliance to defend their land and water from Los Angeles.

 

OPHIR (dir. Alexandre Berman, Olivier Pollet)

A poetic yet dramatic ode to the indelible thirst for freedom, culture, and sovereignty, OPHIR sheds light on the biggest conflict of the Pacific since WWII, revealing the visible and invisible chains of colonisation and its enduring cycles of physical and psychological warfare in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.

 

THE CELINE ARCHIVE (dir. Celine Parreñas Shimizu)

In 1932, Celine Navarro was buried alive by her own community of Filipino Americans in Northern California. Grief-stricken filmmaker Celine Parreñas Shimizu, finding kinship with Navarro’s long-lost story, exhumes her tragic life while trying to unravel the mystery of her murder.

 

THE RESCUE (dirs. E. Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin) - Los Angeles Premiere

THE RESCUE chronicles the dramatic 2018 rescue of 12 Thai boys and their soccer coach, trapped deep inside a flooded cave. Oscar®-winning directors/producers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin reveal the perilous world of cave diving, the bravery of the rescuers, and the dedication of an entire community that made great sacrifices to save these young boys.

TRY HARDER! (dir. Debbie Lum) - Los Angeles Premiere

With humor and heart, TRY HARDER! takes us to the reality of the American college application process and the intersection of class, race, and educational opportunity at the top public high school in San Francisco, where a majority of the student body is Asian American.

 

WE ARE FROM THERE (dir. Wissam Tanios)

Two Syrian brothers in their mid 20's take a leap of faith and start their lives from scratch in new cities. They leave everything behind except their passion for life, determination, sense of humor, and hope for a better future.

 

WHO IS LUN*NA MENOH? (dir. Jeff Mizushima) - Los Angeles Premiere

This film follows the life and work of the extraordinary Japanese artist, Lun*na Menoh. From her early career in Japan to the underground music scene in LA, from fashion show runways featuring her sculptural designs to art galleries showing her fantastical work, Lun*na's edgy, witty, and beautiful creations are explored.

 

WUHAN WUHAN (dir. Yung Chang) - Los Angeles Premiere

Documenting life at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic during the lockdown in Wuhan, China, WUHAN WUHAN includes portraits of a couple expecting a baby, quarantined families in a byzantine shelter, dedicated medical workers, and a psychologist facing her own family crisis while helping patients with the unknown threat.

Ticketing for the general public will be available starting Monday, September 13, 2021 at 12:00pm PT. For program information, please visit https://festival.vcmedia.org

The Festival is proud to be partnering with our following screening venues across Los Angeles:

●      Aratani Theatre @ Japanese American Cultural & Community Center – Little Tokyo (DTLA): 244 S San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

●      Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ Japanese American National Museum: 111 N Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

●      Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center: 1000 W Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015