Asian Film Festival Finishes Its Run

The San Diego Asian Film Festival wrapped up its ninth run Thursday. The festival featured more than 130 short and feature films from over 17 different countries including the U.S., Vietnam, Canada, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Myanmar, Taiwan, Philippines, and Japan.  

The festival is a local favorite. One filmmaker, Jared Davis director of "Residue", said the atmosphere around the festival is what urged him to enter this year. "The environment at the festival is very welcoming," said Davis. "To have a film in this festival is a great honor."

If you missed the event, you can still enjoy the festival. This year it has expanded its run to include screenings at the Ultrastar Cinemas near University of California, Riverside,  Tuesday - Thursday, October 21 - 23.

Here's the list of festival winners announced October 11 at the Town and Country Hotel Ballroom in Mission Valley. 

Best Animation:  
“Meat Days”
Joe Hsieh, Director

Special Jury Honor:
“Damn the Past!”
Julie Kang, Director

Best Dramatic Narrative Short:
“Moon Lady”
Wendy Cheng, Director

Best Feature Documentary:
“Shame”
Mohammed Naqvi, Director

Best Narrative Feature:
“Santa Mesa”
Ron Morales, Director

Grand Jury Award:
“Dirty Hands: The Art and Crimes of David Choe”
Harry Kim, Director

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Actor Soon-Tek Oh

Along with the above awards, first-time filmmaker Henry Ahn was awarded for winning the Foundation’s “Reel in the Vote” Public Service Announcement contest. 

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