Preview – Austin Asian American Film Festival 2017, December 7-10

The Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) has announced the full lineup for its 10th annual cinema showcase. AAAFF 2017 will be held from Thursday, December 7 to Sunday, December 10 at the AFS Cinema.

This year’s centerpiece presentation is 1987’s Academy Award-nominated documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin? about the murder of Vincent Chin and the pan Asian American movement it galvanized. Filmmaker Christine Choy will be in attendance for a Q&A following the film and will also serve on the AAAFF documentary jury.

The complete lineup of 11 features and 17 short films covers a vast swath of time, geography, cultures and experiences. “This year’s program celebrates the past, present and future of Asian and Asian American cinema,” said AAAFF Programming Director Anand Modi. “Filmmakers from around the world are investigating history, reckoning with contemporary life, and presenting their visions of the coming years and decades. Once again, we’re excited to present work by established and emerging filmmakers who are telling important stories and exploring the boundaries of what movies can be.”

Films like 95 and 6 To Go and closing night feature The Future Perfect blur the line between reality and fiction through innovative storytelling, while The Chinese Exclusion Act and Resistance at Tule Lake highlight a remarkable history of activism that’s been largely unnoticed. Mixed Match examines what it means to be multi-racial when you’re confronted with a life-or-death search for a bone marrow match, and Wexford Plaza is a charming coming-of-age tale that explores a young adult’s anxieties with nuance and sensitivity.

Short films from around the globe will precede select features and in two free showcases. The shorts lineup includes Jazz Abroad by local filmmaker Yuta Yamaguchi, about the Japanese Jazz Trio G.G. (Groovin’ Girls), and the animated The FBI Blew Up My Ice Skates, based on the true experiences of an eight-year-old girl during the 1980 Iran Hostage Crisis.

The 2017 festival marks an important milestone for AAAFF. In addition to its 10th anniversary, it’s also celebrating the formation of a nonprofit. “This is an important next step as we embark on our second decade,” said Executive Director Tim Tsai. “The new nonprofit board is excited to spearhead the continued growth and evolution of AAAFF.”

The 2017 festival will return to its former home at the theater newly renovated as the AFS Cinema in north central Austin (6406 N I-35, Suite 3100, Austin, TX 78752). Individual tickets ($10), film passes ($45), and festival badges ($65) are available for advanced purchase now, with student discounts available.

Please see the festival website for full schedule and details.