Fantasy action adventure Freelancers The Series premieres on KVCR 845pm PST after Robin Hood April 23, 2014

Starting April 23, 2014, Riverside County PBS affiliate KVCR is running one Freelancers episode at 845pm PST every Wednesday for five weeks, following episodes of BBC's Robin Hood. The independent show, written and directed by Ignatius Fischer, was produced by Witness Pictures in Southern California's Inland Empire. KVCR is available in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange counties (ch. 24 most cable/satellite service and over-the-air, ch. 524 Verizon FIOS, ch. 9 Palm Springs).

Press Release - Apr. 10, 2014 - LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Freelancers The Series, a fantasy action adventure show created by Ignatius Fischer, Founder/Co-Owner Witness Pictures, is an action-packed, fun-filled, sometimes edgy, sometimes comical entry in the fantasy genre. Respectfully acknowledging popular fantasy entertainment like Game Of Thrones and Lord Of The Rings, Fischer and the team at Witness Pictures have infused the genre with a light-hearted tone "similar to Raiders Of The Lost Ark," Fischer says. "[The show] is specifically not a spoof," remarks Brian Dillon, Co-Owner Witness Pictures, series producer. "There are a lot of micro-budget fantasy series out there, but a large percentage of them are spoofs of the genre, presumably due to the perceived costs of producing a serious costume drama. We considered the lack of budget as a challenge to create a believable world with a real sense of scale. We’ve tried to create a genuine epic quality."

Freelancers is set in a world evocative of Dungeons & Dragons and Game Of Thrones. Inspired by fantasy literature, role-playing games and the web series "The Guild", the filmmakers set out to create a show featuring fast-paced, action-packed storytelling that specifically foregoes the fantasy tropes of prophecies, sagas, and saving the world. True to its title, the show features flawed characters with extraordinary talents just trying to survive.

In Season One, two mercenaries stumble across a thief who has stolen an artifact from a powerful sorcerer and quickly find themselves on the run from just about everyone. Eager to turn her in for an extravagant reward, Nick the Bold (swashbuckling warrior, played by Nicholas Givanio) and Ivan Strang [sic] (constantly mind-expanding wizard, played by Ivan Borntrager) fend off rival bounty hunters in order to keep Caitlin Marcks (rapier-wielding cat burglar, played by Caitlin Geier) alive long enough to be able to collect on their “investment”.

Complicating matters, Nick may be falling for his prisoner while Ivan may be falling (again) for his nemesis, his sorceress ex-girlfriend Kristian the Shadowbinder (played by Holiday Kinard). Populated with a wild range of misfits, rogues, royalty and wizards, the show rockets between short scenes of comedy, combat and conflict, including several surprising set pieces accompanying the typical warriors-in-the-woods environs.

The movie, Fray, is having its exclusive Los Angeles theatrical release in Hollywood!

Fray in LA for only 7 days!

 

Showing exclusively at the Arena Cinema Hollywood!

 

Friday, April 18th screening is already SOLD OUT! Be sure to get your tickets here: eventbrite/fraymovie.

"FRAY is the Coming Home for this generation of veterans of foreign wars. No stereotypes. No cheap plot stapled onto a model pretending to be a war vet. Just a great performance by Bryan Kaplan in Geoff Ryan's story. This film has heart, and it will break yours – only to put it back together stronger than it was before." - Robert Mellette, DWF festival director, Blogger

"Fray and its talented team shine with a quiet strength that will draw the audience to them and leave them asking for more." - Leslee Scallon, Co-Founder of Dances With Films

SYNOPSIS Justin, a young war veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder, finds that coming back home is filled with many unforeseen challenges. As a financial crisis and inadequate post-war veteran services conspire against Justin healing his physical and emotional scars, he maintains complicated relationships with his employer and teacher, at once accepting and rejecting their help.



SCHEDULE (including special guests):
Friday, April 18 at 8:00pm - SOLD OUT
Special Guests: Wounded Warrior Project & Midnight Mission

Saturday, April 19 at 8:00pm - Get Tickets
Special Guest: Homes for Our Troops w/ Sgt. Justin Bond

Sunday, April 20 at 6:00pm - Get Tickets
Special Guests: Vets Helping Vets

Monday, April 21 at 8:00pm - Get Tickets
Special Guests: Vets Helping Vets

Tuesday, April 22 at 8:00pm - Get Tickets
Special Guests: Women Veterans Interactive

Wednesday, April 23 at 8:00pm - Get Tickets

Thursday, April 24 at 8:00pm - Get Tickets

ACADEMY ANNOUNCES KEY DATES FOR THE OSCARS®

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the ABC Television Network today announced the dates for the 87th Oscars.  The Academy Awards® presentation will air live on ABC on Oscar® Sunday, February 22, 2015.

Key dates for the Awards season are:
Saturday, November 8, 2014 The Governors Awards
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 Official Screen Credits and music submissions due
Monday, December 29, 2014 Nominations voting begins 8 a.m. PT
Thursday, January 8, 2015 Nominations voting ends 5 p.m. PT
Thursday, January 15, 2015 Oscar nominations announced
Monday, February 2, 2015 Oscar Nominees Luncheon
Friday, February 6, 2015 Final voting begins 8 a.m. PT
Saturday, February 7, 2015 Scientific and Technical Awards
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Final voting ends 5 p.m. PT
Oscar Sunday, February 22, 2015 87th Academy Awards begins 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT

The Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network.  The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.

LA OPENING DAY ANNOUNCEMENT!!! NICK FROST IN "CUBAN FURY"

PRESENTS

OPENS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

TODAY, FRIDAY, APRIL 11TH

AT THE FOLLOWING THEATRES:

THEATRES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY ON APRIL 11TH

• AMC BURBANK TOWN CENTER 8 - BURBANK, CA
• AMC ROLLING HILLS 20 - TORRANCE, CA
• ARCLIGHT HOLLYWOOD - HOLLYWOOD, CA
• EDWARDS LONG BEACH STADIUM 26 & IMAX - LONG BEACH, Ca
• EDWARDS SOUTH GATE STADIUM 20 & IMAX - SOUTH GATE, CA
• LAEMMLE PLAYHOUSE 7 CINEMAS - PASADENA, CA
• REGAL CINEMAS LA LIVE STADIUM 14 - LOS ANGELES, CA
• REGAL PROMENADE STADIUM 13 - ROLLING HILLS, CA

THEATRES IN ORANGE COUNTY ON APRIL 11TH

• AMC ORANGE 30 (AMC BLOCK 30)- ORANGE, CA
• AMC TUSTIN 14 AT THE DISTRICT - TUSTIN, CA
• CINEMARK CENTURY STADIUM 25 AND XD - ORANGE, CA
• EDWARDS ALISO VIEJO STADIUM 20 & IMAX - ALISO VIEJO, CA
• EDWARDS BREA STADIUM WEST 10 - BREA, CA
• EDWARDS IRVINE SPECTRUM 21 IMAX & RPX - IRVINE CA

 

THEATRES IN SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY ON APRIL 11TH

• AMC ONTARIO MILLS 30 - ONTARIO, CA
• EDWARDS ONTARIO PALACE 22 & IMAX - ONTARIO, CA
• REGAL FOOTHILL TOWNE CENTER STADIUM 22 - FOOTHILL RANCH, CA

 

THEATRES IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY ON APRIL 11TH

• EDWARDS CORONA CROSSING STADIUM 18 & RPX - CORONA, CA

THEATRES IN VENTURA COUNTY ON APRIL 11TH

• ROXY STADIUM 11 - CAMARILLO, CA

 

STARRING NICK FROST, RASHIDA JONES, CHRIS O'DOWD, OLIVIA COLMAN AND IAN MCSHANE

 

In 1987, a thirteen-year-old natural born dancer with fire in his heels and snakes in his hips is working himself up to explode all over the UK Junior Salsa Championships. But then: a freakish bullying incident on the mean streets of London robs him of his confidence, and our young hero finds his life diverted down a very different path.

 

Twenty-two-years later, an adult Bruce Garrett (Nick Frost) finds himself out-of-shape and unloved - trapped in a downward spiral of self-pity, repression and Nando's take-outs. Only Julia (Rashida Jones), his smart, funny, gorgeous new American boss, gives him reason to live. But she's untouchable; out of his league. Luckily for him, she also has a secret passion. Thus, Bruce is once again brought face-to-face with the darkest and most powerful of his inner demons. Somehow, someway, Bruce must learn how to unshackle his dancing beast, regain his long lost fury and claim the love of his life...and he's going to do it all On The Dance Floor...

 

SOURCE Strategy PR

ACADEMY COLOR PREDICTOR LAUNCHES ON iTUNES

First App Created for General Public by Academy's Sci-Tech Council

Beverly Hills, CA –The Academy Color Predictor, the first app created for the general public by the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, is now available on iTunes. The free app for iPad iOS 7 will be highlighted at the 2014 NAB Show in Las Vegas this week.

Created by the Sci-Tech Council’s Solid State Lighting Project Committee, the app helps filmmakers predict the interaction of the key ingredients in cinematography: the lights, camera, filters and the photographed objects themselves. Users can change key source light, image sensor and filter parameters to instantly visualize color rendering differences and compare different combinations of elements.

“This app emerged from our conversations with cinematographers, production designers, costume designers and set decorators who were struggling to predict color reproduction when switching from traditional incandescent light sources to solid state lighting,” said Andy Maltz, Managing Director of the Academy’s Science and Technology Council. “After a successful beta test, we’re now offering this app free, for general consumption, so that all types of content creators, researchers and students can benefit from our research.”

“We’re delighted to once again make available the Academy’s research to the film community and the general public,” said Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. “This app helps address a specific production need for filmmakers and underlines our commitment to driving technological advances that benefit both the motion picture industry and aspiring filmmakers everywhere.”

SOURCE The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

UPDATE "Home, James" Screening in LA! | Best Oklahoma Feature Award Winner deadCENTER Film Festival 2013

UPDATE: "Home, James" Screening in LA!

WHERE:  Los Feliz 3 Cinemas 1822 Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027

WHEN:  April 18-24: Daily: 1:30, 4:15, 7:00*, 9:45

*SATURDAY APRIL 19th: Q&A with Jonathan Rossetti, Kerry Knuppe, Marshall Bell, Julie Gearheard and DP George Su

 
NOTE:  Writer and Director Jonathan Rossetti will be in attendance at the Saturday April 19 Los Angeles Screening

Director Rossetti took some time to talk with The "IN" Show about his film, "Home, James."

• LEARN MORE ABOUT "HOME, JAMES" AND FOLLOW ITS PROGRESS AT WWW.HOMEJAMESTHEMOVIE.COM.
• LIKE "HOME, JAMES" ON FACEBOOK.
• FOLLOW @HomeJamesTulsa ON TWITTER .

---

LOS ANGELES, CA - Not since S.E. Hinton's "THE OUTSIDERS" (1983) has a film been as recognizably Tulsa, Oklahoma as is "HOME, JAMES," set in present day Tulsa.

"HOME, JAMES," written and produced by Oklahoma natives Jonathan Rossetti and Julie Gearheard, tells the story of James, an aspiring local photographer who is left questioning his talent after being rejected by a major art gallery. While working his unfulfilling day job as a sober driver, he meets and falls in love with Cooper, a hard drinking Tulsa socialite. The couple is quickly consumed by a whirlwind romance that initially inspires and instills confidence in James, but ultimately threatens to derail him. The pair faces a difficult crossroads when they are forced to choose between pursuing their dreams and pursuing their relationship.

Home, James Official Trailer (2013) from Jonathan Rossetti on Vimeo.
The world premiere of "HOME, JAMES" at the deadCENTER Film Festival in 2013 was the realization of a dream that originated in 2007, when Gearheard and Rossetti began writing the script. "We started with three things," says Rossetti. "The movie would be set in Tulsa, James would have a job as a sober driver, and James wouldn't get the girl. That was it."

"Actually, there was one more thing," says Gearheard, "...the idea of this girl living her life in such a messy way - with no real direction - falling in love with a guy who she thinks can rescue her. Only it doesn't work that way. Another person can't rescue you."

"It's not easy to make the decision that you love yourself and the other person enough to let them go. I don't think there's one side of this relationship that's responsible for its demise. Hopefully, you root for them to be together and then root for them to be apart," says first time director Rossetti. "The 'will he or won't he' ending is something that the audience should struggle with as much as the characters."

The script was finished in January 2012, and the $50,000 film was funded via a Kickstarter campaign by March 2012.

"At the time, neither Julie nor I had connections to any film investors, so we decided to try to raise the money ourselves. We really felt that the minimum budget for the film was $50,000, and luckily we were able to get there," says Rossetti. "Kickstarter" is all or nothing, so it was very stressful. I would sit at my computer, refreshing the page all day, just crossing my fingers that we'd find a way." When the money was raised, just a few days before the deadline, reality sat in for the first-time producers. "It's funny, the moment we got the money, my first thought was 'Oh no, now we actually have to make the movie,'" says Rossetti, with Gearheard quickly agreeing.

"Yes, the excitement was very short-lived, but not the gratitude. We are forever indebted to the many people who donated to our campaign. Sometimes you have to hold your breath and do it. And now we have a film."

Gearheard and Rossetti are both graduates of the Advanced Program at the Atlantic Acting School in Los Angeles, where they studied with David Mamet, Clark Gregg, Felicity Huffman, and William H. Macy. "Creating your own work is a major tenant of the Atlantic Acting School," says Rossetti. "As an actor you wait for the audition, you wait for the call back, and then you cross your fingers that you booked the part. Ultimately, Julie and I decided that we were tired of waiting. It was a challenging and rewarding experience stepping behind the camera for the first time as director." On setting the film in Tulsa, Rossetti says, "Everyone's from somewhere. We've both lived in LA for several years and, at least for me, there's a longing for home. The film
represents both sides of the coin. For James, home defines him, it's who he is; Cooper refuses to be defined by it. I think that's something that a lot of people deal with and it's not often seen on screen. Tulsa is my hometown and I wanted that to be the backdrop for James' struggle."

In just 17 days, "HOME, JAMES" completed principal photography in Tulsa and Los Angeles. The team is quick to credit the hard work of cast and crew, friends and family, their Kickstarter donors, and the people and businesses of Tulsa who welcomed them enthusiastically. And now as the film nears its release, what will the future hold for "HOME, JAMES?"

Learn more about "HOME, JAMES" and follow its progress at
http://homejamesthemovie.com/.

Like "HOME, JAMES" on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homejamesthemovie.

Follow @HomeJamesTulsa on Twitter: https://twitter.com/homejamestulsa.

SOURCE Pamela Morris

Johnny Cash's Out Among The Stars Debuts At The Top of The Charts Around The World

Thirty Years After It Was Recorded, Out Among The Stars Debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart,

Out Among The Stars Receiving Rave Reviews from Critics and Fans

"…perhaps one of the most revealing Johnny Cash records ever made." -VILLAGE VOICE

NEW YORK, April 2, 2014 -- OUT AMONG THE STARS (Columbia/Legacy), the remarkable, lost Johnny Cash album recently discovered by John Carter Cash and comprised of 12 previously unreleased songs that were recorded thirty years ago, has debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart and #3 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Additionally, the album has debuted top 5 in multiple markets around the world.

Since its release on March 25 the album has earned great media acclaim and fans worldwide have demonstrated the enduring interest in the legacy of Johnny Cash.

Here's a sampling of what the critics are saying about OUT AMONG THE STARS:

""Stars" holds up among Cash's best work -- even if it took 30 years to officially complete it." –BILLBOARD

"Crucial for all Cash fans." - THE GUARDIAN

"Cash breezes through a well-selected series of songs, mixing the sentimental ("Tennessee") with the spiritual ("I Came To Believe") and the humorous ("If I Told You Who It Was"). "  - ASSOCIATED PRESS

"… the dozen previously unreleased recordings on Out Among The Stars show an iconic voice in fine and sober form…" –USA TODAY

"The idiosyncratic album ambles easily among genres, from bluegrass ("Don't You Think It's Come Our Time") and country hymns ("I Came To Believe") to classic Cash ("She Used To Love Me A Lot") creating a well-curated reminder for audiences reared on Cash's American Recordings work that he could sing anything and make it resonate." –TIME MAGAZINE

"Out Among the Stars stands firmly shoulder-to-shoulder with his finest recordings. No mere compilation cobbled together for sales, but a coherent, strong contribution to his catalog."  -ESQUIRE

"Cash's flawed humanity is one of the reasons why so very many people were drawn to him, and why we remember him still. This newest addition to his ever-expanding body of posthumous work, an album originally recorded 30 years ago but never released at the time, provides additional context for one of the strangest and most flawed periods of his career, and offers up a few damn good tunes in the bargain." -PITCHFORK

"A fantastic 'lost' album…reveals a performer at the top of his game…a momentous discovery." - THE SUN

"Heard in what would have been Cash's 82nd year, the songs find this icon embracing Music Row conventions without losing his soul." –NY DAILY NEWS

"Finding any previously unheard Johnny Cash material is cause for celebration – but an entire album's worth?" –ROLLING STONE

"…this new collection features the man in his relative splendor…" –YAHOO! MUSIC

"'She Used to Love Me a Lot' contains all the hallmark brilliance of Cash. The honest simplicity and deep conviction of his delivery shines through." –CMT.COM

"... it's laid-back and entertaining, a nice reminder of Cash's goofy good humor: "If I Told You Who It Was" and "Baby Ride Easy" (a duet with June Carter Cash) are high-spirited and jokey, offsetting serious stuff like "I Came To Believe" and "She Used To Love Me a Lot." Nostalgia for '80s Johnny — it's about time." –NY POST

The tracks on OUT AMONG THE STARS were originally recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at Columbia Studios in 1981 and 1111 Sound Studios in 1984 and produced by Billy Sherrill, the architect of the "countrypolitan" sound in Nashville at the time.  The collection includes duets with June Carter Cash and Waylon Jennings—Johnny also worked with an expanded ensemble featuring a young Marty Stuart on guitar and mandolin and Nashville A-Team members Jerry Kennedy (guitar), Pete Drake (steel guitar), Hargus "Pig" Robbins (piano) and Henry Strzelecki (bass).

SOURCE Legacy Recordings

'Fall To Rise' To Have World Premiere At First Time Fest

The Film, Starring Daphne Rubin-Vega to Premiere at AMC on April 5

NEW YORK, April 2, 2014 -- Fall to Rise starring Daphne Rubin-Vega will have its World Premiere at AMC Village 7, 8:00 PM on Saturday, April 5. The film was one of only ten stand-out films selected to be in competition at the highly sought-after First Time Festival.

Fall to Rise marks the feature directorial debut of Jayce Bartok. His feature screenwriting debut was The Cake Eaters, directed by Mary Stuart Masterson.
Fall to Rise, 92-minute drama, follows a renowned principal dancer (Katherine Crockett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) whose injury forces her out of her company and motherhood soon follows. She struggles to return to dance and regain her identity outside of motherhood with the help of an unlikely mentor (Daphne Rubin-Vega, Smash). A timeless tale of re-invention and friendship with a distinctly New York flavor.

Bartok, the writer and director, partnered with producers Tiffany Bartok, Patrick Morris and Daniela Schrier Kafshi to create this visually stunning piece that uses New York City and the Baryshnikov Arts Center as its backdrop. The stellar cast was co-led by Katherine Crockett now appearing in Queen of the Night by the producers of Sleep No More and two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, known best for originating Mimi Marquez in the Broadway musical Rent. The cinematographer is Kate Phelan and the film was edited by Alex Kopit and Ali Muney.

"There is absolutely nothing like making a film in New York City, where the city's energy infuses everything you create. For "Fall to Rise" we really tried to harness a lot of what makes the city so special. We staged the production at incredible, iconic locations, and worked with some of the most talented theater and film actors based right here in New York," said Jayce Bartok. "I am especially grateful to Daphne Rubin-Vega and Tamara Tunie who brought their acting gravitas to the film, and to Desmond Richardson and Katherine Crockett who's profoundly beautiful dancing elevated this film beyond my expectations. I am honored and humbled to be premiering at The First Time Fest in my hometown, a little place called Manhattan."

Fall to Rise is a Vinyl Foote Productions film with Executive Producers Gill Holland, Co-Producer Sasha Eden and Associate Producer Patricia Beaury. For more information on Fall to Rise visit www.falltorisefilm.com. For tickets and more information on First Time Fest visit www.firsttimefest.com.

SOURCE Vinyl Foote Productions

SIDDHARTH | A Film by Richie Mehta

Canada / India, 97 minutes, Color, 2014, In Hindi (with English subtitles)

Director / Screenwriter / Editor: Richie Mehta

Producer: Steven N. Bray, David Miller

Cinematographer: Bob Gundu

Principal Cast: Rajesh Tailang, Tannishtha Chatterjee

Theatrical Distributor: Zeitgeist Films

Theatrical Dates

New York: June 27, 2014, Lincoln Plaza Cinema

Los Angeles: Summer 2014, TBD

*Additional national dates to follow.

Festival Screenings
Indian Film Festival Los Angeles: Friday, April 11th, 7:30pm, Arclight Cinema, 6360 W Sunset Blvd
Human Rights Watch Film Festival (New York): June 13 - 22, exact screening date TBD

Synopsis: Siddharth is the spellbinding and gorgeously wrought tale of one father's journey across India in search of his son. Mehendra is a chain-wallah, eking out a living fixing zippers on the bustling streets of New Delhi. To ease his financial woes, he sends twelve-year-old Siddharth to work in a distant factory. When the boy doesn't come home for the Diwali holiday, Mehendra and his wife Suman slowly begin to suspect that he was kidnapped by child traffickers. With few resources and no connections, Mehendra desperately travels to Punjab and Mumbai with the hope that whoever took Siddharth might return him unharmed.

A powerful family drama both heart-rending and suspenseful, Siddharth won Grand Jury Prize (and Best Director for Richie Mehta) at the 2013 South Asian International Film Festival and is an Official Selection of 2014 Human Rights Watch Film Festival

Filmmaker Bio: Richie Mehta's first feature film, AMAL (2007), has won over 30 international awards, was nominated for 6 Genie Awards, including Best Picture, Director, and Adapted Screenplay, and was named one of the top ten Canadian films of the decade by Playback Magazine.

Mehta recently completed the sci-fi feature film I'LL FOLLOW YOU DOWN, starring Haley Joel Osment, Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, and Victor Garber, for Resolute Films and eONE films, to be released in 2014.

SOURCE Matt Johnstone Publicity

LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 30TH YEAR!

PRESENTING OVER 147 OUTSTANDING FILMS FOR 2014 EDITION MAY 1-11

 

Southern California’s Largest Asian Pacific Film Festival Runs May 1 – 11, 2014 Presenting the Best Films From Over 22 Countries Featuring World Premieres, Sneak Previews; Showcasing Documentaries and Narratives Focusing on the Voices of Asian Pacific Americans and Asian Peoples from Around the World.

 

Sundance Hit Documentary, TO BE TAKEI, Screens as Opening Night Film

 

Tribeca Film Fest Nora Ephron Prize winner, Meera Menon, to Screen FARAH GOES BANG, as Festival Centerpiece Presentation

 

FINAL RECIPE, the Pan-Asian Culinary Romantic Drama From Sundance Director Gina Kim and Starring International Star Michelle Yeoh Closes Out the Festival

 

And Festival Pays Special Tribute to Hollywood Legends: Sessue Hayakawa and Tyrus Wong

March 31, 2014 – LOS ANGELES   Visual Communications (VC), the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, announced its program of outstanding films for the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) beginning May 1- 11, 2014 at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), CGV Cinemas located in Koreatown, the Tateuchi Democracy Forum at JANM in Little Tokyo, and the historic Art Theatre of Long Beach.

Visual Communications proudly celebrates their 30th year as Southern California’s largest and most prestigious film festival of its kind.  The LAAPFF launches the celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month through this year’s slate of over 140 films from both Asian Pacific American and Asian international directors from over 20 countries.  For three decades, the Festival has presented more than 3,600 films and shorts by Asian American and Asian international artists. Over the years the LAAPFF has presented many exciting titles, including: the award winning A RIVER CHANGES COURSE, directed by Kalyanee Mam; Gen Cajayon’s THE DEBUT; Justin Lin’s BETTER LUCK TOMORROW; and Lixin Fan’s LAST TRAIN HOME.  Asian international artists who have graced past editions of the Film Festival include: Lino Brocka (BAYAN KO); Stanley Kwan (ROUGE); John Woo (BULLET IN THE HEAD); Park Kwang-su (TO THE STARRY ISLAND); Wong Kar-wai (CHUNGKING EXPRESS); Raymond Red (MANILA SKIES); and so many more.  This year, a total of 143 films comprising 40 feature-length films and 103 shorts will be showcased throughout the 11-day fest.

The 30th edition of the Film Festival blasts off with the Los Angeles premiere of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival hit TO BE TAKEI, directed by Jennifer Kroot, and produced by Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam.  TO BE TAKEI chronicles actor, artist, activist and icon George Takei’s life history with wit, grace and whimsy: from his days on the popular television series STAR TREK, to his civil rights and marriage equality advocacy. TO BE TAKEI received its world premiere at the Sundance film festival, where it quickly became an audience favorite.

“It is exciting and appropriate for our festival to open with TO BE TAKEI,” states Anderson Le, Festival Artistic Director.  “For us, he’s been an iconic figure and one of the first Asian American actors to achieve mainstream stardom in Hollywood. George is not only a pioneer, but also he is also one of the most outspoken and media savvy celebrities working today.  The film tells his whole story from his acting to his activism to his amazing personal life, which is now wide open for everyone to see.  He is a living legend and kicking off our celebration of 30 years of Asian American filmmakers and artists with his life story will be historic.”