Hello SDAFF friends, What a great way to start Asian Pacific Heritage Month...KGTV Channel 10 just contacted us to let us know we've been selected for the 10News Leadership Award. They want to interview two people who can share how important the SDAFF is to San Diego. So if you'd like to be part of the 10News story, please email us at info@sdaff.org. In the meantime May is sizing up to be our busiest month for films this year, so take the time to scroll through this eNewsletter. Plus, SDAFF members are offered a special night at the Opera for "Madama Butterfly"; find out how below. A special shout out to everyone who came out to our free film program at Bayside Community Center this past weekend. It was lots of fun getting to show some of our favorite short films during the Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Festival.
	"Vincent Who?," May 6 at 6 PM To kick off May's Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we're offering a very special screening of "Vincent Who?," a documentary remembering the historic importance of the Vincent Chin murder case. Co-presented by the USD Department of HR, KABA, PALSD, FALSD, and AAJA San Diego, it will be a night of meaningful discussion about racism, the dangers of labeling, and revisiting the event that started the Asian American social movement. Director Curtis Chin is also scheduled to attend. "Vincent Who?" Free Screening Wednesday, May 6 6 PM film, 7:30 PM reception University of San Diego, Institute for Peace & Justice 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 To download flier, click here (PDF, 1.6 MB).
	LA Asian Pacific Film Festival kicks off this week, April 30 We're excited to announce that our sister festival in Los Angeles kicks off their 25th anniversary on April 30, and runs through May 7. They're pulling out all the stops this year with some really incredible films and programs. To show our support, the SDAFF is co-presenting their centerpiece film, "Treeless Mountain," this Saturday evening, May 2, at 7 PM. An incredibly moving story, it is inspired by director So Yong Kim's childhood, and tells a story about the betrayal of children when deprived of the warmth and security of a family home. Entirely unsentimental, "Treeless Mountain" uses images rather than words to effectively create a world in which the audience witnesses a crime. For more information about films and the schedule of the LAAPFF, click here.
	"Treeless Mountain" in San Diego, next quarterly screening For those who miss out on the screening up in LA, we'd like to announce that we will be doing our very own quarterly screening of "Treeless Mountain" on Friday, May 29, at Reading Theaters Gaslamp. Join us for a special SDAFF screening of the film at 7 PM and 9 PM. Members get a special $5 rate! "Treeless Mountain" Friday, May 29, 7 PM & 9 PM Reading Theaters Gaslamp 701 5th St, San Diego, CA 92101 For more information about the screening, including a trailer, click here. For more information about "Treeless Mountain," click here.
	Be the first in San Diego to see "Departures" The delightful Japanese film, "Departures," Academy Award winner for Best Foreign Language Film of 2009, is opening in theaters in early June. Our members get to see it first, for free, in a special word of mouth screening on May 27. However, you will only get an invitation if you are a current, paid member of the SDAFF. To join or renew your SDAFF membership, click here.
	A night out at the opera with the SDAFF SDAFF has partnered up with the San Diego Opera for their performances of the stunning classic "Madama Butterfly." SDAFF members get to enjoy a discounted rate on tickets as well as a special backstage tour of the theater. "Madama Butterfly" May 9-20 San Diego Civic Theater 1200 Third Ave, San Diego, CA 92101 To redeem discount, purchase tickets, or inquire about a backstage tour, email daniel@sdaff.org. SDAFF discounts have been recently updated. See the full list of benefits and discounts and become a member.
	Calling all graphic designers The SDAFF is on the lookout for a creative, graphic design volunteer who wants to be a part of our 10th anniversary season and add one of the biggest film festivals in the region to his/her portfolio. For more information, click here. To apply, email daniel@sdaff.org.
	In theaters now Here at the Asian Film Foundation, we want to make sure that we are connecting you as much as possible with the Pan-Asian experience through film. We find that there are some really great films that come through San Diego that often go unnoticed. In order to be a resource for the community, SDAFF will be posting an In Theaters guide for all the Asian films in San Diego. You'll be able to reference it to get the 411 on which Pan-Asian films are coming to SD.
	SDAFF early submission deadline ends this week The SDAFF early film submission deadline ends this Thursday, April 30. Please continue to spread the word to your friends and family! We are looking for the best in Asian American cinema. All films entered into competition this year are eligible for the minimum $1000 Jury Prize! Early Deadline: April 30, 2009 Final Deadline: June 10, 2009
	Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival call for entries Speaking of call for entries, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival has their early submission deadline quickly approaching too. Reel Asian is Canada's largest and longest-running showcase dedicated to contemporary Asian cinema and media arts. Early Deadline: May 15, 2009 (No submission fee) Final Deadline: June 15, 2009 ($20 CAD submission fee)
	Thanks for taking the time to read this, and as always, please forward this to any friends or family who may not know about us. If you are not currently subscribed to our eNewsletter, it's really easy. Just go to our home page and enter your email address on the right. Until next time, stay clear of that Swine flu! Your friends at the San Diego Asian Film Foundation Stay connected with us through: facebook myspace twitter flickr youtube
	THE MISSION OF THE SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FOUNDATION IS TO CONNECT AUDIENCES WITH THE PAN ASIAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE MEDIA ARTS. IN DOING THIS, WE HELP BUILD A CULTURED AND COMPASSIONATE SOCIETY.