Film Lab Announces the Theme of the 19th Annual 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition

NEW YORK - June 8, 2023 - PRLog -- The Film Lab announced the theme of the most electrifying and boundary-breaking filmmaking competition of the year - the 72 Hour Shootout (https://charactermedia.com/the-asian-american-film-lab-hosts-their-19th-annual-72-hour-shootout/) ("Shootout") - at a live launch party at Maze32 in New York City on June 8th.  This year's theme is "DiscrimiNATION: A Thousand Tiny Cuts."  The Shootout is an annual extravaganza that celebrates diversity, empowers underrepresented voices - focusing on Asian Americans - and challenges the status quo in the film industry. AAPI filmmakers from Minnesota, California, Hawaii, New York, and beyond gathered live and virtually to embark on a transformative journey, using film as a medium to unleash underrepresented voices, stories and creativity on a global stage.  As actor and Film Lab President Jennifer Betit Yen (http://jenniferbetityen.weebly.com/) explained, "The Film Lab and the Shootout utilize original narrative entertainment programming to create racial and gender parity in media.  We emphasize forging cross racial coalitions to create equality in entertainment."

In the Shootout, filmmakers have 72 hours within which to create films based on a common theme.  The announcement of the theme started the clock ticking and filmmakers raced to start work on their films, where anticipation and inspiration will collide.  Shootout Coordinator and production designer Andy Lee noted, "I am absolutely honored to be coordinating this year's 72 Hour Shootout competition and delighted to be hosting our first live launch party since COVID. I'm thrilled that we've caught the attention of filmmakers from all over the country, and I can't wait to see the diversity of people's experiences reflected in their submissions. We're excited to showcase unique and interesting narratives in our premiere screening at the Asian International Film Festival and hope to continue empowering underrepresented filmmakers through our programming."  Lee thanked the judges and sponsors, many of whom were in attendance.

About the Film Lab
The Film Lab is a non-profit 501(c)(3) headquartered in New York City that has been dedicated to the promotion and support of gender and ethnic diversity in media since 1998.  The Film Lab accomplishes that goal in three ways:  (1) education; (2) outreach and support; and (3) film, television and online entertainment production.
www.film-lab.org
@AsAmFilmLab