CineWomen on Screen: A NYWIFT Series
April 27, 2010 6:30 PM
The New Filmmakers Anthology
32 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10003
Guest curators: Alison McMahan and Ylana
This month, CineWomen on Screen: A NYWIFT Series salutes Asian Pacific Heritage Month with a selection of three short films that take a sharp look at cultural identity.
A complete program, in the form of a pdf brochure, can be downloaded at the end of this message.
There will be a Q&A following the screening, and an after-party to follow, with Cash Bar and complimentary food @: Dempsey's Pub, 61 2nd Avenue, between 3rd and 4th Streets.
THE FILMS
Sharon Yamato, Alison McMahan, Ylana, Josefa Jaime
Out of Infamy: Michi Nishiura Weglyn
17 mins.
Michi Nishiura Weglyn (1926-1999) gave up a successful career as costume designer for the popular Perry Como Show to write a book that was to set the record straight about the forced incarceration of more than 120,000 Americans of
Japanese descent during World War II.
Weglyn’s interest in the subject was personal: she was a victim of the war as a teenager held in a camp and later married to a German Jew who had narrowly escaped Hitler’s Holocaust. Her research was meticulous, her tenacity unswerving, and her passion legendary.
Written, directed and produced by Nancy Kapitanoff and Sharon Yamato. Narrated by Sandra Oh.
Animation from Underpass
Underpass
15:33 minutes
Mary Posatko and Larry Bryant, Producers
Rain Breaw, Director / Writer
Andy Huang, Animation
Starring: Tony LaThanh, Mony Sing, Jenn Wong, Vanessa Born, David Mersault and Mirron Willis
Synopsis:
1992, San Diego. A family that survived the Cambodian Khmer Rouge has rebuilt their lives over the past 15 years, operating a donut shop and establishing themselves in the community.
The son, Sann, is still tormented by his memories of the killing fields of Cambodia. He copes with his anger and confusion by painting elaborate and violent graffiti murals on a city underpass.
When his mother reaches out to a young illegal immigrant from Central America, Sann’s anger and fears rise to the surface, and he must confront them head-on without destroying his own family.
He learns that true forgiveness and healing must begin with himself.
Underpass was filmed by Charlene Sun. Read more about Charlene here.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
Rain Breaw, Director / Writer
Rain is an independent filmmaker and web developer. Rain’s most recent filmmaking efforts include Mr. Sadman, a feature that she produced with Cindy Fang (in post production now), and a PSA for the Los Angeles Youth Network (find out more on Rain’s personal website, www.rainbreaw.com, where you can also watch her reel).
Underpass is a story very close to Rain’s heart because it is loosely based on her experiences during high school and inspired by a few amazing individuals who offered her support when it seemed they had nothing left to give.
The production of Underpass was largely made possible by the honor of three awards, a sizable grant from The Caucus Foundation, a scholarship from the National Theater Owner’s Association, and the Samuel & Lorenza Gary Finishing Fund. It was also made possible through the generosity and support of Alison McMahan of Homunculus Productions, who recently made the film Bare Hands and Wooden Limbs, a story of healing and recovery in post-Khmer Rouge Cambodia. Rain Breaw’s web development company, SunRain Productions, is responsible for numerous websites and focuses primarily on non-profit organizations and film/filmmaker sites.
Monkey Dance
65 minutes
Julie Mallozzi, Director/Camera/Editor
Rebecca Sherman, Writing Consultant
Shondra Burke, Editing Consultant
Jorrit Dijkstra, Composer
Starring: The Angkor Dance Troup - Samnang Hor, Linda Sou, Sochenda Uch
Synopsis:
Three Cambodian-American teenagers come of age in a world shadowed by their parents’ nightmares of the Khmer Rouge. Traditional Cambodian dance links them to their parents’ culture, but fast cars, hip consumerism, and new romance pull harder. Gradually coming to appreciate their parents’ sacrifices, the three teens find a balance between their parents’ dreams and their own.
Monkey Dance is produced in association with the Independent Television Service, the Center for Asian American Media, and WGBH-TV with funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional support was provided by Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities, and LEF Moving Image Fund. Fiscal agent: Center for Independent Documentary.
www.monkey-dance.com
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:
Julie Malozzi
Director / Cinematographer / Editor
Julie Mallozzi is a documentary filmmaker based in Boston, Massachusetts, who combines observational camerawork and in-depth interviews to tell strong, character-driven stories. Her films explore the interactions between cultures thrown together by history, and between politics and personal experience.
Mallozzi grew up with a Chinese-American mother and an Italian-American father in rural Ohio. Her debut film, Once Removed, tells the story of meeting her mother’s family in China and learning about their involvement in China’s complicated political history. It premiered at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, won awards at several festivals, and aired on public television.
Monkey Dance is Mallozzi’s second feature film. She also freelances as a producer, cameraperson, and editor on documentaries and videos for community organizations. Mallozzi studied filmmaking at Harvard University, where she currently teaches.
NYWIFT SCREENING PROGRAM COORDINATORS:
Josefa Jaime and Maria Pusateri
New York Women in Film & Television
6 East 39th Street
Suite 1200
New York, NY 10016.0112
(212) 679-0870
www.nywift.org [email protected]
The New Filmmakers Anthology
Barney Oldfield, Series Producer
Bill Woods, New York Director
Eddy Pagan, New York Latino Programming
Moniere, New York Middle East Programming
Victoria Kereszi, New York Women’s Programming
www.newfilmmakers.com
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