5th San Diego Asian Film Festival Awards Top Films; Enjoys Successful Year

Another year is in the books, and the San Diego Asian Film Festival is counting its successes for a fifth straight year. Nearly 9,000 people attended, a number that continues to show the positive affect the grass roots festival has taken in its community. Filmmakers, movie watchers and other guests are raving about the festival that took place October 21-24.

“This was an extremely meaningful year for us, hitting a five-year milestone,” said Lee Ann Kim, SDAFF executive director. “ Based on the feedback, turnout, and quality of films, there's no doubt that the SDAFF is here to stay.”

The SDAFF jury awarded talented filmmakers for their work at the annual gala awards dinner. Winners include the following:
 Best Experimental Film: Balikbayan; directed by Larilyn Sanchez and Riza Manalo
 Best Music Video: Bad Thoughts; directed by Dino Ignacio
 Best Animated Film: Birthday Boy; directed by Sejong Park
 Best Short Documentary: Yellow Brotherhood; Tadashi Nakamura
 Best Narrative Short: Sangam; directed by Prashant Bhargava
 Best Feature Documentary: The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam; directed by Ann Marie Fleming
 Best Dramatic Feature: First Morning; directed by Victor Vu
 Grand Jury Prize: The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam; directed by Ann Marie Fleming

Filmmakers were recognized at the gala event and given digital camera, courtesy of Sony. Additional awards were not limited to these categories. For the first year, SDAFF teamed up with The San Diego Union-Tribune to organize a high school film critic competition. San Diego high school students screened Jack Neo’s film, Home Run, and submitted their review to be judged by Union-Tribune staff. The winner, Nick England, of San Dieguito Academy, won a $500 scholarship and saw his winning essay printed in the Union-Tribune.
Other contests included the “Live @ 5 Reel Short Film Competition.” It was a 55-second film competition with three requirements -- include San Diego, the number five, all within 55 seconds. The winner, whose film was voted on by gala attendees, was Maximillian Mark Medina, for Escape From San Diego Zoo. Lastly, SDAFF teamed up with Michelob short film contest, where entrants were required to promote the film festival. SDAFF veterans, Seven Oh Five, won the judges over with their slapstick humor, taking home top prize and a check for $1,000.
Plans are already in the works for 2005. For information about volunteering call SDAFF at 858-650-3459 or send e-mail to info@sdaff.org.
The San Diego Asian Film Festival, is a nonprofit event of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, located at 7969 Engineer Road, Suite 206, San Diego, CA 92111. For more information,