The Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon (MAMM) Gala - Sept 6 - 6:30pm

The Vancouver Asian Film Festival's "The Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon (MAMM)" contest premieres a record-breaking fifteen new short films, and rewards the top three, at a gala premiere screening and awards ceremony on Saturday, September 6.

Awards are courtesy of the Cineworks Independent Filmmakers’ Society, and the top three films will be screened on Shaw Multicultural Channel (SMC) as well as receive a spot in the lineup of this year’s upcoming 12th annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF) running November 6–9. The event is hosted by VAFF at Tinseltown, followed by a wrap party at Kentizen Fusion Lounge in the International Village.

“The contest was capped at fifteen teams, and fifteen entrants past the finish line is a record for us — people are responding to the direction we’re taking. From the quality and variety of story outlines shown at the pitch, we’re very excited to see the results,” says Grace Chin, MAMM Coordinator.

MAMM is the Lower Mainland’s only annual short film contest with a declared diversity angle. It entered its fourth successful year with a new, more serious filmmaking direction this August, by dropping random elements and compulsory themes, and by incorporating an adjudicated story concept pitch session; a shorter final film length; a longer contest duration that approximates the production timeline of a typical low-budget independent film shoot; and awards with a filmmaking community-building and educational focus.

At least two of each team’s key creative members must be from a visible minority, and at least one of the key creative team members and lead actors must be of Asian heritage. Otherwise, the evocatively abbreviated MAMM is an exhilarating, challenging filmmaking event that fosters local entertainment industry talent and gives independent filmmakers a focused opportunity to produce a film festival-ready short film. Past entries have been accepted in film festivals, screenings and for airing on cable television throughout North America.

From August 10 to August 26, filmmaking teams of 10 members or less had almost a month to produce a short film with a maximum 9-minute length, of a specific genre. The films were judged by a panel of experienced industry professionals, and scriptwriting mentorship was available to all teams.

The MAMM premiere screening and awards ceremony are at 6:30 pm on Saturday, September 6, followed by a wrap party at 9 pm. There will be a second screening of all films the same evening, at 9:45 pm. For a limited time, “combo” tickets are available at $20 in advance for both the first screening and the wrap party.

Visit www.vaff.org/events for more information and to purchase tickets.

This year’s Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon teams (alphabetically):

Team Name | Team Leader | Genre(s)

A.L. & Associates | Alphonse Leong | Action/Drama
alwaysfurther | Patrick Collins | Comedy
Band of Buddhas | Suzi Nitta Petersen | Comedy
Chubby Brothers | Vincent Ternida | Comedy
Darkhorse | Ian Tang | Comedy/Detective
Daydreaming | Krista Jang | Comedy
Eggroll Express | Victor Khong | Comedy
Eyelash King & His Illegal Aliens | Jonas Salzburg | Love/Comedy/Myth
Fuku Fun | Kana Sawamoto | Comedy
Fumbling Chopsticks | Byron Lee | Love/Comedy
Mad Rush | Alan Yu | Action/Drama
Maplewood | Erick Boychuk | Comedy/Romance
North Films | Jeff Chan | Romantic Comedy
SPAZZ | Lau Tin Pak | Romance
Stray Cat | Chris Tom | Comedy

Come and celebrate the art and accomplishment of some of our community’s best up-and-coming talent!

Visit www.vaff.org/events for more information and to purchase tickets.

TaiwanFest 2008 - Aug 30 to Sept 1

Plaza of Nations
750 Pacific Blvd, Vancouver

One Day Pass: $12.00

FREE for kids aged 12 and under, and seniors aged 65 and over.

Tickets are available during admission on the days of the festival.

Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Society was established in 1991, helping immigrants to adapt the Canadian society and promoting cultural harmony. This organization introduces Taiwanese culture through large-scale events such as hosting the annual award-winning Taiwanese Cultural Festival, and Lunar New Year in Taiwan Exhibition and other multicultural activities. With continuing effort, they are striving to make the Taiwanese Canadian voices heard.

http://www.taiwanfest.ca/events/tcf08/vancouver/programming.php

The Japan Film Show - Sept 20 - 1:15pm

The Consulate General of Japan presents
THE JAPAN FILM SHOW
A Double Feature Matinee

Saturday, September 20, 2008
at Pacific Cinematheque
1131 Howe Street, Vancouver

FREE ADMISSION
RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED
event@consuljpnvan.com

At 1:15 p.m.

Togenkyo No Hitobito (Shangri-La) 2002, 104 min. colour
(Japanese with English sub-titles)

When Umemoto's small printing company's biggest client, Uwazoko-ya goes bankrupt, he appeals to the president, Kourishima, for payment but is rebuffed. Consequently, he's about to lose everything and lands in a community of homeless called "SHANGRI-LA." There, after receiving some unconventional advice, a scheme to avenge Kourishima's treatment of him in an elaborate money con-game begins. This film is a collaboration between non-stop film machine, Takashi Miike, and the best selling comic book artist/novelist Yuji Aoki in an adaptation of his autobiographical novel. (unclassified)

At 3:10 p.m.

Shinkokyu no Hitsuyo (Breathe In, Breathe Out) 2004, 123 min., colour
(Japanese with English subtitles)

Seeking a fresh start in life, Hinami heads to a remote Okinawan island to work harvesting sugarcane and finds herself among four very diverse youths. Together, they must harvest 70,000 plants for the elderly plantation owners to avoid ruin. The hard labour, their foreman's leadership, and rising conflicts make the option of quitting attractive and the chance of a successful harvest doubtful. (unclassified)

Through the Lens of Japanese Canadian Redress - Aug 19 to Sept 21

An exhibition about Japanese Canadian internment and redress

Japanese Canadian National Museum presents
Re-Shaping Memory, Owning History:

Through the Lens of Japanese Canadian Redress

Nikkei Place, 6688 Southoaks Crescent. Burnaby, BC.

Japanese Canadian National Museum presents a unique history of Japanese Canadians to commemorate the 20th anniversary of redress. Violations of human rights were conducted against Canadians of Japanese ancestry, under the War Measures Act, between 1941 until 1949. The federal government’s acknowledgement of wrongdoing and compensation, on September 22, 1988, redressed the past. Layers of voices, drawn from government documents, newspapers, books, poetry, diaries, letters, and oral histories, together with poignant photographic images and memory-laden artifacts, speak to losses and absences, and of issues of community, identity, representation, and human rights.

VAFF's THE MIGHTY ASIAN MOVIEMAKING MARATHON 2008 - deadline Aug 8

The Vancouver Asian Film Festival presents the 2008 Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon

Choose a genre. Pitch your story. Make the film.
Free your creativity, keep it real, and have a blast making movies this summer! For the fourth year running, the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon raises the stakes.

MAMM is 17 days this year – running from August 10 to 26!

WHAT’S NEW FOR MAMM 2008?

Compulsory elements? What compulsory elements? Choose your genre, (almost) any genre, or combination of genres. That’s it. Pitch your story to a panel of industry professionals, just as you would have to if you were actually trying to get a film made (which you are). Shoot and edit a 9-minute film, a full minute shorter than in previous MAMMs – because less, is really more. Get awards (if you place in the top three) that help you develop as a filmmaker, and see a film project through from start to finish. Have your awarded film shown on television, aside from being screened at the West Coast’s premier Asian film festival. You just might get your own sixty seconds of fame by being interviewed by the media, while you’re at it.

DEADLINE:

Friday, August 8, 2008 – 6:00 PM

REGISTRATION FEE:

$50.00 per team
Fee must be submitted by Friday August 8, 2008, 6 PM

TEAM SIZE:

Each team can include up to 10 crew members
You can include as many actors or performers as you like

TEAM LIMIT:

Registration will be granted to the first 15 teams that apply, in the order applications are received
Hurry! Sign up now!

For detailed information:
http://www.vaff.org/home/sign-up-your-2008-mighty-asian-moviemaking-marathon-team

explorASIAN is a Community Partner of Vancouver Asian Film Festival

VACT Presents The Odd Couple - Aug 13 to 21

Latest VACT comedy asks: Can two polar-opposite Asian guys live together?

This summer, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT) is bringing a fresh and unique twist to the classic Neil Simon play, THE ODD COUPLE. In this hilarious version, the cast will be predominantly actors of Asian-heritage – and for the first time for the theatre company, all performances will include Chinese subtitles.

Tickets are available in advance online at www.vact.ca and at the door

VACT, now in its ninth season continues its run as Western Canada’s only theatre group devoted solely to staging cultural stories focusing on the modern Asian experience in North America. With its new production of Neil Simon’s 1965 smash hit, THE ODD COUPLE, VACT is hoping to bring several segments of the community together. “We really have an opportunity here to grow our audience base in a big way,” says producer and VACT president Joyce Lam. “This production appeals to our core audience of first generation and “Generation 2.0” young acculturated Asian Canadians, but we think we’ll also attract recent immigrant Chinese especially those living in Richmond, plus older Asian Canadians and parents especially those who are familiar with the works of Neil Simon, and then finally every one else who aren’t Asian Canadian but are looking for a unique and entertaining cross-cultural experience.”

THE ODD COUPLE, first performed in 1965, is about two men – one divorced and one estranged and neither quite sure why their marriages fell apart – move in together to save money for alimony and suddenly discover they’re having the same conflicts and fights they had in their marriages. Oscar is a messy, slovenly sportswriter who takes in Felix, a neurotic neat freak news writer. They skip the honeymoon phase of their new arrangement and go straight into the hilarious bickering.

THE ODD COUPLE is directed by actor/director Raugi Yu. Most audiences will recognize him as the hilarious gangster Kam Fong from the CBC Television series, jPod. Oscar is played by actor/journalist Ron Yamauchi and Jimmy Yi plays Felix. In the supporting roles as the poker buddies are Sean Cummings (Speed) and past Sex In Vancouver members Jono Lee (Murray), Tom Chin (Vinnie) and Ed Fong (Roy). And rounding out the cast as the sexy Pidgeon sisters are Carmine Bernhardt (Gwen) and Lissa Neptuno (Cecily).

The Odd Couple by Neil Simon

Roundhouse Performance Centre
Pacific Blvd & Davie (Yaletown), Vancouver

August 13 through 21
All evening performances at 8:00 PM, matinees at 2:00 PM
Tuesdays to Saturdays (evenings) + Sundays (matinees)

Ticket prices
$23 in advance (www.VACT.ca)
$25 by reservation (cash only, pickup at the door) (Phone 778-885-1973)
$25 at the door (cash only)

Service charges are included
Please call for Group Rates

For more ticket information please visit http://vact.ca

VACT (Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre) aims to produce quality plays in which Asian-Canadians take on culturally or artistically significant roles. VACT works to dispel Asian stereotypes by producing leading and/or supporting roles where Asian-Canadians are depicted realistically in the performing arts.

explorASIAN is a Community Partner of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre

SKETCH ON 2 the POWELL STREET FESTIVAL - Aug 3 - 8:30pm

At The Firehall Arts Centre, 280 East Cordova Street, Vancouver

Featuring Asian Sketch Comedy Groups:
SFUU MAN CHU - 2nd place Rice Bowl Winners in 2007 and
The Yangtzers - 2008 People's CHOYS Award Winner from the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre's annual SKETCHOFF!#$%!! sketch comedy competition.

SFUU MAN CHU and The Yangtzers will be presenting new sketches reflecting Japanese Canadians humour! Come laugh and celebrate Japanese Canadian heritage with us at The Powell Street Festival.

With Host Tom Chin and dancers from studioone.

14+ Content Level

Tickets $10 general admission, $5 students/seniors + service charges. Purchase ONLINE HERE or reserve by phone at 778.885.1973. At door $12 + $1 Firehall Endowment Fee, cash only. Don't miss out as seating is limited!