The 6th UPAF will be held on August 19-22, 2016. We will also have a free screening of the most popular film of UPAF 2016 for free on 7/23 7:30PM at the deck area of UNO PORT INN (2 doors down to the left of Seven Eleven near the Uno Station). We’d like to see how it’s like to watch a film there. So it is a UPAF’s experiment. Come and enjoy free movie. About 30 seats. First come, first serve.
This year’s line-up will follow. we also introduce the films through UPAF’s Facebook page. Please take this opportunity to follow us!
The big theme of UPAF since its inception in 2010 is “Life, Art, Film.” In addition, this year’s mini-theme is “de-colonization.” We are working hard to collect several amazing films that fit in this mini-theme from the Philippines, Brazil, and Nigeria (Have you heard of Nollywood?). There are also other powerful documentaries, live action drama, animation, etc. We will also have FREE programs for little kids with live voiceover performance by volunteer actors called “Kids UPAF,” and for young people called “Teen UPAF.” Stay tuned!
Puppet animation, Mexico, 2014, 6min. Created by 24 children at La Matatena, Asociación de Cine para Niñas y Niños, A.C. We know that cats can’t swim, but what is not known is how many cats want to learn to swim. Pulk is one of them. This cat shows us the courage to confront his fears and the happiness of getting new friends. Japan Premiere! Original Title: Pulk, el gato que quería [Read more...]
Hand-drawn animation/Croatia/2014/2’46”. (Original Title: Z Z ZMAJ) Dir: Lucija Majnarić (17-year-old), Marija Nikolić (15-year-old) An old dragon asleep on the mountain. Every thousand years or so, someone comes to bother the dragon. And what to do, but blow them away? Japan Premiere! Credits: Creators: Lucija Majnarić, Marija Nikolić Music 'Crazy Glue' by Josh Woodword Available [Read more...]
Live Action & CG/USA/2015/4’02”. Dir: Meghann Artes A fuzzy bachelor engineers his wacky morning routine with robotic precision. Japan Premiere! Festivals and Screenings USA Film Festival - Finalist Cinequest Film Festival Foyle Film Festival, Northern Ireland Hamptons International Film Festival Montreal World Film Festival, Canada -Nominated – First Prize [Read more...]
2D animation/UK/5’40”/2014. Dir: Dotty Kultys In a dull, organized world a curious girl longs for some colour and joy — against the wishes of her rule-obeying mother. When the girl follows a strange cat that doesn’t fully fit into society’s black and white standards, she discovers a boisterous underground filled with life. She decides to introduce it to the surface. Japan [Read more...]
Documentary, USA, 23min, 2015. Dir: 13 high school students at the Educational Video Center (EVC) in NYC. Synopsis: EVC youth producers create an intimate portrait of the psychological impact that deportation, incarceration, and substance abuse have on the separation of their families. They analyze the physical and economic effects of family separation through Luis’s story of immigration and [Read more...]
Drama, Japan, 3min, 2015. Dir: Seiryo High School Image Society (a cinema club). A relatable story of a high school student who meets his “dreaming” past selves while falling asleep in an after-school classroom, and comes to realize how pressured high school life has forced him not to believe in himself. The Prize of Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Technology at the Asian Int’l [Read more...]
Drama, Laos, 3min, 2015. Dir: Phakhaypheth Sithphaxai, et al (high school students). A drama depicting the life of a boy who transformed himself from a bully to a nice guy. The Prize of Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Asian Int’l Children’s Film Festival 2015. [2nd photo] At the award ceremony at the Asian Int’l Children’s Film Festival 2015.
2D Animation, USA, 3.5min, 2010. Dir: Jane Wu (a college student at the time of production). Two girls realize the value of their friendship after a journey of broken hearts, torn pages and reconciliation. Director: Jane Wu Bio: Jane Wu is a Chinese American illustrator, animator, compositor and art director. She was born and raised in New York and attended Pratt Institute for her [Read more...]
Experimental, Japan, 3min, 2015. Dir: Teen boys at the Kurihama Juvenile Training School. An expressive and moving video made by young boys residing in a reformatory in Yokosuka. The Minister of Justice Prize at the Asian Int’l Children’s Film Festival 2015. [2nd photo] At the award ceremony of the Asian Int’l Children’s Film Festival 2015. A delegate to the young producers at he reformatory [Read more...]
Music Video, USA, 3min, 2014. Dir: Jaquan Harris, Denzell Huggins, AJ Sumliman, William Herasme, Angela Rowe, Shaquille Matthew, Jamie Collado (7 high school students in NYC). A super cool music video, made by high school students who study music video production at the Urban Arts Partnership in NYC, submitted to the “If I Had A Trillion Dollars” youth film festival. Young people question how [Read more...]