This year, at the third year anniversary of UPAF, we are excited to show you four great films from “New American Filmmakers Series,” one of Hawaii International Film Festival’s original programs funded by Vilcek Foundation of New York. The program celebrates and encourages foreign-born filmmakers and their films. (for more info, go to: http://newamericanfilmmakers.org/about/ )
The GateKeeper of Enmyoin, a documentary made by the co-founders/organizers of UPAF, Reiko and Max, was selected to be part of the series in 2007. This lead HIFF and the Vilcek foundation to support UPAF and provide the great films from their showcase. Like the HIFF motto, “East meats West,” Uno is a small port town where people from different cultures meet ― People come from all over the world to visit the internationally-renowned Benesse art sites in nearby Naoshima Island and the greater Seto Island Sea region. Uno itself is bubbling with an art movement mixing local artists with new artists moving in from other cities in Japan. The new winds are blowing in. UPAF is part of it. Please celebrate and enjoy the NAF films, and feel, for yourself, the souls of the new American immigrants through their films.
NAF films in the 2012 UPAF are;
Owl and the Sparrow by Stephane Gauger (Vietnam/ USA) 8/11 (sat)13:00 ~, 8/14 (tue) 20:00 ~
Skateistan by Kai Sehr (Afghanistan/USA/Germany) 8/11 (sat) 20:00 ~, 8/13 (mon) 13:00 ~
Chief by Brett Wagner (USA) 8/12 (sun) 13:00 ~, 8/13 (mon) 22:00 ~ (in the SHORT PROGRAM 2)
Au Revoir Taipei by Arvin Chen (Taiwan/USA/Germany) 8/13 (mon) 20:00 ~, 8/14 (tue) 13:00 ~
フクロウとスズメ 監督：ステファン・ゴーガー（ヴェトナム／USA)
スケーティスタン 監督：カイ・セアー（アフガニスタン／USA／ドイツ)
『台北の朝、僕は恋をする』監督：アーヴィン・チェン（台湾／USA／ドイツ）
『首長』監督：ブレット・ワグナー (USA)
We’d like to send our heartfelt HUGE thanks to the Vilcek Foundation’s Mr. Jan T. Vilcek M.D., Ph.D., Ms. Marica Vilcek, Mr. Rick Kinsel, and Ms. Phuong Pham, and Hawaii International Film Festival’s Mr. Anderson Le to invite UPAf to the NAF series, coordinating preview materials, and bridging us with the participating filmmakers. Thank you!