May

11

2008

(4) Comments

Brothers Do It Right At 51st Annual San Francisco Intl’ Film Festival

08:30AM by lisalee

(photo: Reel Asian)

Film Festival May Madness is officially HERE with the San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) in full-swing, and the Visual Communications Film Festival (VCFF) kick-off last night signaling a full week of movie marathons in Los Angeles; both conclude May 8, 2008. And, let’s not forget that the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, NY, will be ending soon on Sunday, May 4th, and has already announced its winners—and then, it’s off to the Cannes Film Festival, Pittsburgh, Pusan, Venice, and ... well, you get the picture.

And the party people at Vanity Fair magazine know how to throw a HOT happy hour. I sat down with SFIFF ‘08 jury member, Chi-Hui Yang, to discuss this season’s documentary film line-up and his brother’s mind-boggling presentation, Cloud Eye Control feat. performing artist Anna Oxygen.

Chi-Hui Yang, who also directs the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), never sat down for a second as he made the rounds through the VIP lounge in a green military jacket, chatting up friends from this year’s successful festival in March, and schmoozing with the bevvy of Frenchies sipping Grey Goose cocktails. I was sitting on the black leather couch in the VIP Lounge, amidst a buzz of francophones busily chatting about their most recent works and the fact that Madonna, who’s on this month’s VF cover, is pushing 50 and is as wrinkle-free as a starched shirt.

Note to self:

• brush up on French language lessons and renew membership to Alliance Francaise.
• Travail, travail means “work, or an occupation.”
• Faire un voyage means “to make a trip,” and voyager means “to travel.”

Got it. It’s all coming back to me now—all those hours trilling my r’s in university lecture hall, and sounding more like a pigeon gargling its own spittle. rrrrrr.

“It’s very experimental,” quipped Chi-Hui, Festival Director for the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF), who was only making a brief stop at the lounge to get refreshed in time for the eight o’clock showing of Chi-Wang Yang‘s Cloud Eye Control and Anna Oxygen at the Jewish Community Center (3200 California Street; San Francisco).

“They’re so funny when they call each other,” laughed Taro Goto, SFIAAFF assistant director. “They’re so alike, it’s hard to tell them apart, even on the phone.”

And, truly, they are ... as San Francisco Film Commissioner Greg Chew also had to point out what should have been all-too-obvious at the festival’s opening reception atop the Westin St. Francis Hotel Penthouse’s vast 360-views of the Bay.

(photo: Cloud Eye Control)

Chi-Wang’s experimental presentation on Thursday, May 1, fused animation, theater and puppetry—sort of like Sesame Street, but for grown ups. It’s appropriate, considering performing artist Anna Oxygen is all about making art fun again.

Even Brent Quan Hall, who co-starred as my karaoke hall boytoy in Wayne Wang‘s Princess of Nebraska, made the rounds at the VIP lounge (with helmet in hand) before jetting off on his motorcycle to catch the show in Laurel Heights.

Hoc said on 05/11/08 10:05AM

PLam said on 05/11/08 01:08PM

Sakura said on 05/11/08 03:36PM

PLam said on 05/11/08 05:39PM