New Asia Film Festival 2008
Opening Speech
We are very pleased to announce the inauguration of the New Asia Film Festival to be held on May 23rd – 25th, 2008. This is the first time Richmond has hosted an Asian film festival. We are excited by the quality and variety of films that will be screened at this event. Richmond is undergoing a drastic change during the past few years. According to 2006 Census by Statistics Canada, 65.1% of its population is a visible minority, the second highest in Canada; and most of them are new immigrants from Asia. As one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada, we feel strongly the passion and duty to create new images of this rapidly developing city, and to enhance intercultural discussion and understanding. The purpose of the New Asia Film Festival is to showcase independent films by filmmakers around the world centred on contemporary and progressive themes related to Asian culture. The festival will be a rare platform for communication between Asia and Canada, and for dialogue among different cultures. “Thank you for your support. Enjoy the films. ”
From Kirsten Schrader, Arts Coordinator of the City of Richmond
The New Asia Film Festival is one of our dreams that combine our passion for film, exploring identities of new immigrants, and developing a vision for our birthplace, Asia.
As a non-profit organization that promotes Asian cultural exchange through cinema art, Cinevolution Media Arts Society was recently established to explore new ideas and traverse cultural boundaries through film. We are building a platform of exchange for independent films made by local and Asian filmmakers. Asia is currently undergoing diverse and rapid changes, and there is a need to establish new perspectives for its many cultures. Whether through bold new creations or real-life documentaries, Asian filmmakers stand as witnesses to the past, present and ever changing future of Asia. This festival features 27 films that document Asian groups and cultures from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Canada, Germany and South Africa. The featured films range from documentaries and dramas to short films and animation.
Our inaugural themes are “Chinese Language Documentaries” and “Salute to Asian Canadian filmmakers”. The former presents Chinese culture from different perspectives represented by the diverse Chinese around the globe. The latter explores Asian Canadian historical representations of the present and past in Canada. We wish to establish a cultural bridge to facilitate communications between Asia and our local audience, and to showcase diverse points of view. While giving a voice to film, we also wish to offer audiences a portal to new ideas, distinct from the commercial movie industry.
The New Asia Film Festival is now yours to discover!
From Rachel CW Fan, the first Chair of Cinevolution Media Arts Society
Films
List of films that were presented during this 1st edition of NAFF
Audience Choice Award
Burning Dreams by Taiwanese filmmaker Wayne Peng Wen Chun won the Audience Choice Award at the 1st NAFF.
