The San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase kicks off tonight with acclaimed independent filmmaker Mina Shum’s Meditation Park. Sixty year old Maria (Cheng Pei-pei) is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. When she discovers a pair of women’s underwear in her husband’s pocket, Maria embarks on a quest to confirm her husband’s infidelity. Once she observes her husband with a younger woman, Maria’s quest for independence gives her the opportunity to establish a strong bond with several of her neighbors and strengthening a relationship she has with her daughter Ava, played by acclaimed actress Sandra Oh. Meditation Park screens Thursday Aprill 19th at 7:00 p.m. at the UltraStar Mission Valley. Along with Mina Shum, 24 and Rush Hour actor Tzi Ma will be in attendance.
This year’s showcase will feature more than a dozen female directors from the United States to Taiwan, and includes only the third U.S. retrospective on Malaysian director Yasmin Ahmad. Titled Falling for Angels: The Films of Yasmin Ahmad, three of her works will screen on Sunday April 22nd. Concluding the day will be Edmund Yeo’s Yasmin-San (Japan/Malaysia), a documentary dedicated to Ahmad’s impact on the world.
Along with Yasmin-San, Love Education (China) directed by Sylvia Chang; Kiko Boksingero (Philippines) directed by Thop Nazareno; and Take Me to the Moon (Taiwan) directed by Hsieh Chun-yi will make their North American premieres.
The week long festival brings back a fan favorite tomorrow night with Mystery Kung Fu Theater, a secret screening of an unknown classic kung fu film.
Pacific Arts Movement is a non-profit arts organization in San Diego which brings Asian and Asian American cinema to viewers throughout California’s second largest city. One of the largest media arts organizations in North America, Pac Arts brings film to viewers throughout the year with several events including the San Diego Asian Film Festival held each fall. Pac Arts also created and operates Reel Voices, a filmmaking program for local high school students who learn the art of documentary filmmaking.
The Spring Showcase runs from April 19-26. AsAmNews will be covering the event and providing film reviews, interviews, and event coverage.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff or submitting a story.