Tenth Annual 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition Launches June 6th!

NEW YORK - May 6, 2014 - PRLog -- The Korea Society will be hosting The Asian American Film Lab (“Film Lab”)’s Tenth Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout (“Shootout”) Launch Party this year, which will take place on June 6, 2014. The Shootout is a worldwide filmmaking competition celebrating gender and ethnic diversity in film in which filmmaking teams are given a common theme at the start and have 72 hours to write, shoot, edit, and complete short films up to five minutes in length. Teams compete for cash and prizes and the chance to have their films screened at the prestigious Asian American International Film Festival, the only festival of its kind on the East Coast, as well as at the Asians on Film Festival in Los Angeles, California.

The Shootout creates opportunities for filmmakers of color, particularly Asians and Asian Americans, to demonstrate their talent, gain exposure in the entertainment industry and create positive significant impact on the visibility of Asian and Asian American stories and characters in film and television.  One of the Shootout requirements is that at least one key production member (e.g., director, producer or writer) and a principal actor from each team must be of Asian descent.

The 10th Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout begins on June 6, 2014, at the beautiful Korea Society venue in Manhattan. The competition theme will be announced there at 8:00PM EST and simultaneously posted on the internet at http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.com/72-hour-shootout/ and https://www.facebook.com/72hrshootout.

For more, please visit http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.com and https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-2014-72-hour-shootout-launch-party-tickets-11521004635.

About The Korea Society

THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. In pursuit of its mission, the Society arranges programs that facilitate discussion, exchanges and research on topics of vital interest to both countries in the areas of public policy, business, education, intercultural relations and the arts. Funding for these programs is derived from contributions, endowments, grants, membership dues and program fees. From its base in New York City, the Society serves audiences across the country through its own outreach efforts and by forging strategic alliances with counterpart organizations in other cities throughout the United States as well as in Korea. The Korea Society traces its roots to 1957 when a group of prominent Americans, under the leadership of General James A. Van Fleet, who commanded the U.S. armed forces in the final phase of the Korean War, established the first nonprofit organization in the United States dedicated to the promotion of friendly relations between the people of the United States and Korea "through mutual understanding and appreciation of their respective cultures, aims, ideals, arts, sciences and industries."  Today the leadership of The Korea Society is in the hands of Mark C. Minton, a distinguished former foreign service officer who serves as president, and Thomas C. Hubbard, a former U.S. ambassador to Korea, who serves in the capacity of chairman of the board. They are supported by a board of directors drawn from the fields of business, the professions, academia and public affairs.

About the Asian American Film Lab

   The Film Lab is a non-profit 501(c)(3) headquartered in New York City that provides free or low cost programming to promote and support ethnic and gender diversity in film and television.  Its programs and newest production arm, AAFL TV, have been featured most recently on CUNY TV (http://youtu.be/NwHXHD00YIM).  The membership has grown to comprise professionals, artists and other talented individuals who all share the common goal of creating great film and promoting Asian American filmmakers and other filmmakers of color, and the visibility of their stories and characters in film and television.  Film Lab’s programming includes the Industry Spotlight program, in which established industry professionals share their knowledge, expertise and advice via filmmaking workshops, screenings and more.  Other Film Lab programs include Unfinished Works, a program for aspiring writers in which selected writers have their pieces performed by Film Lab Actor Directory members in a public table read, followed by a workshop moderated by Film Lab Unfinished Works Coordinator Lorna Nowve.  The Film Lab also holds film competitions including the annual 72 Hour Shootout®, which has inspired hundreds of filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career.  The Film Lab management team consists of Jennifer Betit Yen (President and Board Member, founder of AAFL TV Production Arm), Aurora Betson (Treasurer and Board Member), Daryl King (Secretary and Board Member), Lorna Nowve (Unfinished Works), Justin Lee (2014 72 Hour Shootout Coordinator), along with a dedicated Board, interns and event volunteers. Board members include James Kyson and Aaron Woolfolk, among others.  Joanna Shen, who edited the trailer for the 2013 72 hour Shootout, conducted the final editing for Season 1 of Film Lab Presents with the help of filmmaker Justin C. Lee. For more information, please visit the Film Lab’s website at http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.com/