It’s Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2024.  This also means it’s time for the 2024 edition of the annual Center for Asian-American Media Film Festival (hereafter “CAAMFest”).  Running from May 9-19, 2024, CAAMFest will screen films at the SFMOMA Phyllis Wattis Theatre, the Great Star Theater, the Roxie Theatre, the Palace Of Fine Arts Theater, and the New Parkway Theater.  

A common theme of the over 35 programs to be shown at this year’s CAAMFest is the responsibility of shared humanity.  2024 has seen the sociopolitical nature of our world melt and reform in such ways as to leave many of us uncertain in various degrees of how to proceed in these changing times.  The stories told in the films being presented at CAAMFest will ground viewers with the complicated truths that get revealed or the strange yet revelatory understandings that get developed.  

Here are 10 suggested CAAMFest films to provide curious readers with a starting point:

Above And Below The Ground–Indigenous women activists and a band of punk rock pastors team up to fight a corporate giant threatening a sacred river…really.  Emily Hong’s documentary chronicles how the Myitsone Dam project threatened the continued existence of Myanmar’s sacred Mali Hka Nu (Irrawaddy) River.  Part of the project’s construction plans involved pushing the indigenous Kachin people off their land.  But grandmotherly Lu Ra’s refusal to move would launch Myanmar’s first environmental movement.  BLAST, a Kachin punk rock pastor band, would help the movement to stop the Myitsone Dam grow quickly through their love songs…which made great protest anthems.

Admissions Granted—CAAMFest’s Opening Night Film from directors Hao Wu and Miao Wang follows a case slowly working its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, one which pits Asian American students against Harvard University.  The subject of the suit: use of affirmative action standards in college admissions.  The trouble is, this particular case was the evil brainchild of conservative legal strategist Edward Blum, who wants to use a good result to permanently dismantle all affirmative action programs.  Yet as this film shows, the subject of affirmative action happens to be a divisive one in the Asian-American community. 

And So It Begins

The Ali’i KIng–It’s that venerable indie film plot, the road trip where the traveling characters Learn Important Life Lessons by the end.  In this case, Christine Kunewa Walker’s short tale follows a 1960s Hawaiian-German Mormon family doing a Utah to Tikiland, California road trip.  

All Shall Be Well–60-ish wealthy lesbian Angie’s life of privilege and comfort in Hong Kong comes crashing down around her when her partner Pat suddenly dies.  Thanks to disputes with friends and family over funeral arrangements and inheritance, Angie soon finds herself without any legal claim to the home she once shared with Pat.  More humiliatingly, her continued residency is dependent on the goodwill of Pat’s family.  Ray Leung’s Teddy Award-winning drama asks “can Angie become independent again?” 

And So It Begins–CAAMFest’s Closing Night Film continues filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz’ ongoing cinematic chronicles of the Philippine political scene.  It’s 2022 and extrajudicial killing-loving President Rodrigo Duterte is finally stepping down from the presidency.  But who will replace him?  The primary candidates are Leni Robredo, the liberal former NGO attorney who had to endure 5 ½ years of Duterte’s sexist treatment as his Vice President, and Bong Bong Marcos, scion of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos.  Yet for Robredo, her campaign is an uphill battle as Marcos has a 30-point polling lead on her.  What’s worse, Marcos has a disinformation/trolling team in place to attack Robredo and such critics as the news outlet Rappler.

Extremely Unique Dynamic–Aspiring actors Ryan and Daniel have been best friends since childhood.  Now they’re going to permanently part, but not before spending an epic last weekend together.  To create a lasting memory of this get-together, they decide to make a movie about two guys making a movie.  But the creative process also opens up long pent-up secrets and even forces them to re-evaluate their friendship and the nature of their connection.  Harrison Xu, Ivan Leung, and Katherine Dudas direct this account of an unexpected head-game weekend.   

Home Court–Erica Tanamachi’s documentary follows three years in the life of Ashley Chea.  This high school sophomore dreams of playing college basketball, and she has the skills to back up her fancies.  But this child of Cambodian immigrants faces an uphill battle to achieve her dream (e.g. living in a lower income Los Angeles neighborhood).  Fortunately, Ashley’s coach Jayme Kiyomura Chan provides supplementary support when Ashley’s parents can’t.

Nikah

I’m In Love With Edgar Allen Poe–Blu del Barrio (“Star Trek: Discovery”) stars in this short about two Goth best friends planning a ritual to resurrect famed horror writer Edgar Allen Poe.  The trouble is, their ritual requires chicken innards. 

Nikah–Dramas about the Uyghurs are unfortunately few and far between.  Mukaddas Mijit and Bastien Ehouzan’s drama happens to be set in China’s Uyghur Region in 2017.  At 27 years old, Dilber is still single and getting pressured on both sides.  Her Uyghur neighbors constantly criticize her unmarried state.  The Chinese government, on the other hand, sees single Uyghur women such as Dilber as candidates for forced marriage to Han Chinese.  Fortunately, girlfriend Gulnur offers a long-shot solution.  But will Dilber have the opportunity to take advantage of this opportunity? 

Ten Times Better–Jennifer Lin’s short documentary delivers a portrait of Asian American ballet pioneer George Lee.  This former refugee eventually became a celebrated dancer.

CAAMFEst is ultimately more than just film screenings.  This year’s program also features a live performance by veteran local musician Thao Nguyen (aka Thao); a five-course family-style meal at Damansara mixing the flavors of Malay, China, and India; and filmmaker summits bringing together an intergenerational mix of film business professionals to discuss the power of storytelling. 

Come to CAAMFest and see both the new stories established filmmakers are telling and the stories up-and-coming filmmakers want to tell.

CAAMFEST OPENING NIGHT Film & then GALA

Opening Film
Palace of Fine Arts
May 9, 2024
6:30 pm

ADMISSIONS GRANTED

Directed by Hao Wu, Miao Wang

Cast: Calvin Yang, Cecilia Nunez, Danielle R. Holley, Edward Blum, Jeannie Suk Gersen, Jeff Wang, Margaret M. Chin, Michael Wang, Natasha Warikoo, Neil Rudenstine, Sally Chen, Yukong Zhao

OPENING NIGHT GALA
Asian Art Museum
May 9, 2024
9:30 pm

After that Opening Night film, we KNOW there’s a lot to discuss! Let’s kick off CAAMFest season and get into it, shall we? Head over to Asian Art Museum and in true homecoming joy, be in the spirited swoosh of vibrant energies and bountiful nibbles, and catch spirit on the dance floor.

Celebrate the local coveted delicacies of popular pop-up, Sitha’s Khmer Kitchen and Oramasama Dumplings!  Treat yourself to Malaysian-inspired sweets from Batik and Baker, soulful Palestinian cooking of Mama Lamees, and partake in the wildly delightful array of baked good goods from Year of the Snake and Grand Opening and delectable sweets from Socola.

Tickets: https://caamfest.com/2024/movies/admissions-granted/

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