Entertainment, Film Legends and Pioneers to be Honored at 6 San Diego Asian Film Festival

To celebrate its sweet 16th, the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is proud to welcome and pay tribute to entertainment and film legends and pioneers during its 10-day film festival, November 5-14, 2015. Presented by Pacific Arts Movement, the SDAFF is the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast with more than 130 films and programs from 20 countries.

This year, the SDAFF presents the West Coast premiere of documentary TYRUS, paying tribute and welcoming entertainment legend Tyrus Wong, a 105-year-old Chinese American artist who is best known for inspiring the artwork in Disney's original classic Bambi. The SDAFF also welcomes contemporary pioneers Ken Jeong (Dr. Ken, The Hangover) and Eugene Lee Yang (BuzzFeed) to San Diego, highlighting their contributions to the ever-changing entertainment industry.

The SDAFF will be at six venues across San Diego County including the film festival's home base of the UltraStar Mission Valley at Hazard Center, opening and closing night films at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCASD) in La Jolla, special programs at UCSD's Calit2 and the Museum of Photographic Arts, its gala and awards ceremony at San Diego Marriott, and its final day at the historic La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Opening Night Film: MISS INDIA AMERICA

San Diego Premiere- Nov. 5, 7:00 PM, MCASD Lily is a college-bound valedictorian with a gilded future, so beauty pageants are way below her. But when a case of sass strikes, she finds out what shes not above: some good ol fashioned competition. Thanks to a wily script and Tiya Sircar's knockout comedic performance, nobody is safe from Lilys schemes. Director Ravi Kapoor, cast and crew scheduled to attend

Centerpiece Film: SEOUL SEARCHING

San Diego Premiere- Nov. 7, 6:00 PM, UltraStar Don't you forget about 1986, when the Latin Lover collided with the punk and the pastor's daughter on a Seoul summer camp for overseas Korean youth to discover their roots. And by roots, we mean soju, laughs, and that weird science of young love. Director Benson Lee, cast and crew scheduled to attend

Closing Night Film: MADE IN JAPAN

San Diego Premiere- Nov. 13, 7:00 PM, MCASD Howdy neighbors! So says Tomi Fujiyama to her friends in the U.S. who are about to discover just what kind of neighbor she is. With cowboy hat and guitar, she's determined to re-take the Grand Ole Opry stage, where in 1964, she became the country music institution's first Japanese star. Film subject Tomi Tujiyama schedule to attend

DIGITAL PIONEER- BUZZFEED

Nov. 6, 5:00 PM, UCSD Atkinson Hall Auditorium The website BuzzFeed has become not only one of the most formidable presences on the internet, but also one of the most significant platforms for Asian American artists. We welcome BuzzFeed producer and performer Eugene Lee Yang and other members of the BuzzFeed team to talk about BuzzFeed Motion Pictures, changing demographics, and new opportunities for filmmakers. Eugene Lee Yang of BuzzFeed scheduled to appear

GETTING INTIMATE WITH DR. KEN

Nov. 7, 3:10 PM, UltraStar Join us for a probing, awkwardly intimate conversation with everyone's favorite doctor-turned-comedian Ken Jeong, star of Community, the Hangover films, and the new ABC sitcom Dr. Ken. Ken Jeong and co-star Suzy Nakamura scheduled to appear

TYRUS

West Coast Premiere- Nov. 7, 3:40 PM, UltraStar This enchanting documentary follows the Chinese American pioneer from his art school beginnings during the Depression to his years as a production illustrator leaving indelible brushstrokes on Hollywood history. Director Pamela Tom and Tyrus Wong scheduled to attend

GALA AWARDS NIGHT and AFTER PARTY

Nov. 7, 7:00 PM, San Diego Marriott Mission Valley More than 600 celebrities, community and business leaders will attend as the community leaders and celebrity presenters announce film award winners. Proceeds will benefit Pac-Arts' REEL VOICES, a documentary filmmaking program for high school students in the San Diego area and other year-round programs. Scheduled to emcee: comedian Jenny Yang (stand-up comedian known for Key and Peele and BuzzFeed videos) and actor Leonardo Nam (Fast and the Furious, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)

WORLD, US, AND WEST COAST PREMIERES OF MAJOR NEW TITLES

LOVE & PEACE (Sion Sono, Japan) (US premiere)

THE WHISPERING STAR (Sion Sono, Japan) (US premiere)

MOUNTAINS MAY DEPART (Jia Zhang-ke, China) (west coast premiere)

CEMETERY OF SPLENDOUR (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand) (west coast premiere)

REUNIFICATION (Alvin Tsang, USA) (world premiere)

THE ROYAL TAILOR (Lee Wonsuk, South Korea) (west coast premiere)

ZINNIA FLOWER (Tom Lin Shu-yu, Taiwan) (US premiere)

16th San Diego Asian Film Festival #SDAFF2015

November 5-14, 2015

Ultrastar Mission Valley at Hazard Center

(Main Theater & Box Office)

7510 Hazard Center Drive | San Diego, CA 92108

Tickets are available online for all shows. Tickets can also be purchased on-site at specific screenings one hour before show time. For all screenings at Ultrastar, tickets can be purchased at the Ultrastar Mission Valley box office (Member $9| General $12) starting October 30. Student/Military/Senior and Group discounts are available at the door. Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night tickets are $15 for General, $12 for Members. Limited All-Fest Passes are available for $250. For ticketing info, full film details, and schedule, please visit festival.sdaff.org or contact 619.400.5911 | info@pacarts.org

Major sponsors of the San Diego Asian Film Festival include Barona, AARP, Sharp Health Plan, McGregor & Associates, Wells Fargo, PROVEN Staffing, Qualcomm, The San Diego Union-Tribune, KPBS, and NBC7.

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac-Arts) is one of the largest media arts organizations in North America that focuses on Pan Asian cinema. Pac-Arts programs include the ann

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