San Diego Asian Film Festival features 150 films from around the world
Rosemead is part of the San Diego Asian Film Festival Photo by Lyle Vincent Joss DeGennaro loves music Everything from rock to jazz So when the Poway High School senior heard that the San Diego Asian Film Festival included a participant venture she applied to be in the competition She knew exactly what her movie would be about The effect is Punk Kids a documentary on the local punk rock scene that DeGennaro filmed herself It was just like the the bulk captivating thing to me she commented Because when I think of adocumentary just what I wished to document the the majority was perhaps just the local music scene because it s so cool The festival now in its th year runs through Nov with screenings and events at La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas Southwestern College Performing Arts Center in Chula Vista and Ultrastar Cinemas in Mission Valley More than films from more than countries in different languages will be screened this year Films will be shown from Argentina China Hong Kong Japan Portugal Qatar South Korea Singapore Spain Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand and Vietnam among others Highlights include Magellan which follows the famed Portuguese explore played by Gael Garcia Berna through his final days in what is now the Philippines Acclaimed director Park-Chan-wook will be featured with the screening of his latest film No Other Choice about a Japanese middle manager who loses his job and desperately tries to reclaim his life This year s lineup is as breathtaking as it is eclectic noted Brian Hu the longtime artisticdirector of the festival Asian American filmmakers push the boundaries of what it means to represent communities and histories and filmmakers from Asia continue to be the trailblazers for all of world cinema We re proud to bring these films to San Diego theaters and invite filmmakers to meet our audiences View this post on Instagram The festival highlights Asian film as the genre continues to enjoy success In the film Crazy Rich Asians made more than million at the box office and a sequel is beingplanned In South Korean director Bong Joon Ho s Parasite won the Academy Awardfor Best Picture This summer the animated musical Kpop Demon Hunters became a pop beliefs sensation It was a hit on Netflix and three of its songs hit the Billboard Hot DeGennaro is one of the emerging filmmakers from San Diego highlighted in the Reel Voices scholar operation Her film follows three bands that performed in San Diego this past summer She s hoping the band members will attend the screening along with her family and friends It s really exciting honestly noted DeGennaro I ve never been to a film festival so I mexcited for that experience obviously Just to be able to be there But it s also cool to know that your film is going to be on the big screen Levi Alam a senior at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego made a film about a family of Syrian immigrants I m happy with how my film turned out noted Alam There s several things I wish I couldchange but at the end of the day it s still the same story being shared and that s what mattersmost The thought of having my film shown at the festival is a bit nerve wracking but alsoreally exciting I can t wait to see everyone s reactions and conclusively being able to share this project with everyone who s supported me throughout the process A screening of the documentaries in the Reel Voices activity will take place Nov at Southwestern College Performing Arts Center and Nov UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley General admission for screenings starts at A six pack of tickets costs
