By Maria Esteves - July 21, 2008

The 31st Annual 2008 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF08) Closing Awards Ceremony was held at Asia Society, New York, Saturday, July 19, 2008, 9:00 pm. AAIFF08 Closing Night New York Premiere of PING PONG PLAYA, directed by Jessica Yu preceded the awards ceremony.

The award acknowledges the best in filmmaking and emerging directors of Asian descent. The awards were announced by AAIFF08 juror Jimmy Tsai, co-producer/screenwriter/actor, PING PONG PLAYA.

Since 1987, AAIFF founded by Asian Cinevision, Inc. (ACV), is a non-profit national media arts organization that annually presents international films of Asian descent. ACV staff and board members are John C. Woo, William Phuan, Sonjia Hyon, Irene Cifra, Mimi Wong, Alex Boucher, Dora Kwong, David Shaw, Sebastien Haizet, Greg Chew, Lucy Chow, Roger Garcia, Terence Lam, John Shin, and Harry T.Y. Tai.

This year's film festival included 19 premieres, 10 features, 9 documentaries, and 62 shorts as well as filmmaker's panel discussions, workshops, special events, music video show, and gala parties.

AAIFF08 presenters were Asia Cinevision (ACV) with Asia Society and Toyota (2009 Matrix). The proud sponsors are Michelob Ultra, Asian/ Pacific/American Institute (a/p/a), Southwest Airlines, CBS Television, The New York Times, Lentini, New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), National Endowment for the Arts, JA, Sigha Beer, PBS Point of View (POV), Asian American Film Lab, MOCA, ARRI CSC, Mr. Miyagi's Theatre Company, Maysles Cinema, Hyphen, AngryAsianMan.com, Theme, ITO EN, Poketo, Seize sur Vingt, and Tracy Ryans Agency.

2008 AAIFF ceremony included six awards within four categories. The awards were presented to the following winners:

One to Watch Award, presented by AAIFF festival coordinator Mimi Wong, to director Lou Nakasacko for BATMAN NOT CHINESE. AAIFF accepted the award on behalf of director L. Nakasacko. 

Excellence in Short Film Award, presented by AAIFF08 Juror Jimmy Tsia, to director Mark Reyes for GOD ONLY KNOWS. AAIFF accepted the award on behalf of director M. Reyes.           

Narrative Feature Audience Award, presented by actor Ken Leung (Rush Hour, Sopranos), to director Amyn Kaderali for KISSING COUSINS.       

Narrative Documentary Audience Award, presented by actor Ken Leung (Rush Hour, Sopranos), to director Risa Morimoto for WINGS OF DEFEAT.    

Emerging Director Documentary Feature Award, presented by filmmaker Jessica Yu (Ping Pong Playa), to director Ann Kaneko for AGAINST THE GRAIN: AN ARTIST'S GUIDE TO SURVIVING PERU. Music composer Johnny Wilson accepted the award on behalf of director A. Kaneko.      

Emerging Director Narrative Feature Award, presented by actress Michelle Krusiec (Saving Face), to director Jennifer Phang for HALF-LIFE. Co-producer Alan T. Chan accepted the award on behalf of director J. Phang.  

AAIFF08 Narrative Documentary Audience Award winner, director Risa Morimoto, WINGS OF DEFEAT, (left), with AAIFF Juror/award announcer, Jimmy Tsai, co-producer/screenwriter/actor, and director Jessica Yu, PING PONG PLAYA.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Risa Morimoto - 2008 AAIFF Award Winner

Risa Morimoto, producer/director, second-generation Japanese American, lives in New York. She studied at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. She is an NYU graduate in film and education where she served as the Associate Director of the Asian/Pacific/American Studies Program and Institute. Morimoto has produced, written and directed for film and television. In 1998, she produced the feature film, The LaMastas, and the award-winning program Cinema AZN, a half-hour show on Asian film. From 2002-2006, Morimoto served as Executive Director of Asian CineVision, a non-profit media arts organization. She is President of Edgewood Pictures Inc., a motion picture production company. Morimoto's feature documentary film WINGS OF DEFEAT received the 2008 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival Special Jury Award, and 2008 Asian American International Film Festival Narrative Documentary Audience Award. http://www.wingsofdefeat.com