The Asian American Film Lab Announces the Top 2013 72 Hour Shootout Films

NEW YORK - July 27, 2013 - PRLog -- Teams competed from around the world to push the envelope with diverse, groundbreaking films in this year's 72 Hour Shootout, organized by the Asian American Film Lab, a 501(c)(3) non-profit promoting ethnic and gender diversity in film and television, in conjunction with Asian CineVision and the Asian American International Film Festival.  Film Lab President, Jennifer Betit Yen, commented, “The world premier of the top ten bold and boundary-breaking films of the 72 Hour Shootout at the Asian American International Film Festival is made possible through our judges, sponsors, all the incredible hard-working Film Lab and ACV/AAIFF’13 staff, and, most importantly, the filmmakers themselves who are constantly pushing the envelope to create better and more diverse and empowering original content.”

Filmmakers came from across the country, including California, D.C., Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, D.C., and North Carolina, to attend the screening and to celebrate diversity in film.  The Film Lab honored the following top ten filmmaking teams, who were selected by a distinguished panel of judges including ABC’s Marci Phillips, FOX Japan’s Dan Smith and playwright David Henry Hwang, among others, and announced by 2013 72 Hour Shootout Coordinator, David Dennis:

The Top Ten (Team Name, Title, Team Captain)

Red Phone

Ins & Outs

Kurt Uy

Mad Fresh Daily

The Interview.

Migina Tsai

One in Mind

Welcome Home.

William Lex Ham

Five Brown Guys and a Baby

Two Pieces.

Kamran Khan

Third Curtain Productions

Drawing Lines.

Steven Gee

Flying Iguana

Dirty Knees.

Chris Ruiz

TTZ

Reindeer Games.  

Michael Tow

ColorTV Productions

The Bought.

Tony Ho Loke

Filter Switch Films

The Follow Home.

Jesse Chui

Team Inspirasian

Good Morning America.

Kevin Chew

Individual Awards

Best Director

A.B.C. Productions (Happy Family)

Best Cinematography

Black Box (My Own Country)

Most Original

TTZ (Reindeer Games)

Best Actor

TIM LIU of Films with No Friends (Out of Bodies, Happy)

Tim Liu

Best Actress

JACKIE CHUNG of Red Phone (Ins & Outs)

Kurt Uy

Best Screenwriting

Flying Iguana (Dirty Knees)

Chris Ruiz

Executive Director of Asian CineVision John Woo, Film Lab President Jennifer Betit Yen and 72 Hour Shootout Coordinator David Dennis all took the stage to welcome the audience and honor the films.  Woo commended all the filmmakers on a job well done, noting the intense competition due to the large number of highly qualified entries this year.

“[The Shootout] is about joining together in creating films that not only reflect our country as it is – diverse and cosmopolitan -  but also as it should be – diverse and cosmopolitan.  [A]t the Film Lab, and through the Shootout, we are not telling you to fight the power.  We’re telling you to become it,” said Betit Yen.

Dennis jokingly congratulated the competitors on surviving the ordeal of creating a film in only 72 hours.  “You made it!”  Dennis told the filmmakers in the audience with a smile.

The Film Lab management team surprised with a fun, short film honoring the Shootout and starring the management team and Board (including Bea Soong; well known actor James Kyson; Betit Yen; and others), which was directed and shot by Board member Erik Lu and co-directed by Michael Rosete of Descendant Films and can be enjoyed on the Film Lab’s website and YouTube channel.

The screening at the AAIFF’13 was followed by an Awards Ceremony and After-Party in honor of all the filmmakers, at which the top forty Shootout films played in the background on a screen over the dance floor.  The Awards Ceremony and After-Party took place at The Official 2013 Shootout Party Venue, The White Rabbit, in New York City.

Prizes, sponsored by Executive Wear NY, MyJennyBook, Late Cambrian, the Museum of Chinese in America, Equinox, Variance Films, and others, were awarded to the filmmakers.  Awards were presented live by Dennis, Betit Yen, Late Cambrina, Variance Film’s Greg Chang, Wynn Salisch on behalf of Executive Wear NY, talent agent David Elliott, entertainer Cindy Cheung, and, by video from Los Angeles, by writer/director NaRhee Ahn.

The Film Lab’s next event, also a part of the AAIFF’13, will take place on August 1^st and will consist of the reading of an award-winning screenplay by writer Isaac Ho, directed by Film Lab staff member Daniel Finley and coordinated by Film Lab staff member Lorna Nowve.  The reading will feature performances by members of the Film Lab’s Actor Directory.  For more, please visit http://www.examiner.com/article/the-chinese-delivery-man-wins-2013-aaisc-screenplay-competition and www.asianamericanfilmlab.org.

Upcoming projects include the launch of the Film Lab’s new production arm, aimed at the creation of diverse original entertainment content.

Special thanks go out to the Film Lab’s dedicated volunteer team:  Joanna Shen (editor), Jodie Chiang (Tumblr, YouTube), Joyce Tam (hostess of the live stream), Daryl King, and Hanna Lee, just to name a few.

About The Asian American Film Lab

The Asian American Film Lab (Film Lab) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to the promotion and support of gender and ethnic diversity in film and television through free monthly educational and outreach programming and the acclaimed annual 72 Hour Shootout filmmaking competition (www.asianamericanfilmlab.org).  This annual competition has inspired hundreds of filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career. The Film Lab was formed in 1998 by collaborative of New York-based filmmakers whose goals were to hone their craft and to share their knowledge, experience and resources. The membership has grown to comprise professionals, artists and other talented individuals who all share the common goal of creating great film and promoting all filmmakers of color, with a focus on Asian Americans, and the visibility of their stories and characters in film and television.

The Film Lab is run under the direction of President Jennifer Betit Yen and the 2013 Shootout was coordinated by David Dennis, an animator and filmmaker whose first 35MM short film, NIKDO, was shot with the support of Panavision and Barrandov Studios.  David is a graduate of NYU.  Joanna Shen acted as the 2013 Shootout Editor.  Joyce Tam hosted the live streaming of the Awards Ceremony and After Party for the 9^th Annual 72 Hour Shootout.  

The Film Lab is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Membership and all contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.  The Film Lab relies on donations to provide free or de minimis monthly programs to support gender and ethnic diversity.  To donate, please visit us online at:
www.asianamericanfilmlab.org

For more information, please email:

shootout@film-lab.org / info@film-lab.org