San Diego Asian Film Festival

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The San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is an annual event organized by the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. The festival was first held in 2000 at the University of San Diego by the Asian American Journalists Association of San Diego.

[edit] Organization Overview

The San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that was founded in 2002. Before becoming an official organization, the origins of the foundation began as a film festival put on by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) to act as a fundraiser in August of 2000. After receiving numerous film entries, both domestically and internationally, it has had sold out crowds at its inaugural festival. Lee Ann Kim, the festival director and news anchor and reporter from KGTV, the San Diego ABC television affiliate, saw the potential of making the film festival into a separate entity of its own. She teamed up with several journalists, writers, filmmakers, and community leaders who all contributed to make the film festival into the non-profit organization that it is today.

The mission of SDAFF has been to educate the surrounding community about the rich diversity of the Asian Pacific Islanders through the media arts. This is done primarily through the exhibition of films, workshops, and speaker series at SDAFF’s annual film festival, its chief event. However, aside from its community praise, the festival also has a reputable image for its hip and chic after parties and social mixers. Throughout the year SDAFF offers student internships, cultural literacy programs with area high schools and colleges, and a high school filmmaker project entitled “Reel Voices.” SDAFF also teams up with several movie production and marketing companies to promote both independent and mainstream films that are inline with the mission of the organization. Aside from film, SDAFF also hosts other special events such as Asian American Performers Showcase, which highlight Asian as well as Asian American cultures and talents.