“Toyota’s involvement in this year’s festival continues to demonstrate the brand’s invaluable commitment to Asian-American cinema,” says John Woo, Acting Director of ACV. “Given the success of the past two year’s partnerships, we’re excited for ACV and Toyota’s robust collaboration this year.”

As the AAIFF10’s Title and Official Vehicle Sponsor, Toyota will be sponsoring several events at the AAIFF10, including an industry panel discussion about short film initiative Interpretations, created by the team behind YouOffendMeYouOffendMyFamily (yomyomf.com), an online blog spearheaded by prominent Asian-American filmmaker Justin Lin. The Interpretations project, which encourages aspiring filmmakers to create distinct and original films based on a single script, has already commissioned several works which will screen after the panel discussion. Actor turned director Ken Leung will screen his directorial debut. Members of the YOMYOMF team will be in attendance.

Additionally, the AAIFF10 will showcase the works of the three finalists selected for the Cinema Me short film competition. The contest, co-presented by ACV and Toyota, asked non-professional filmmakers to offer their take on Asian American film in no more than five minutes. The grand prize winner will be awarded a $3,000. In addition to presenting these special events, a photo booth where attendees will be able to take free pictures, and an interactive green screen that will allow participants to be filmed while reading lines for Toyota’s Live Film Project.

Renowned Filipino filmmaker Raymond Red’s Manila Skies will kick off the AAIFF10 as the festival’s Opening Night Presentation on July 15, 2010. Arvin Chen’s Au Revoir Taipei, one of the films included as part of the AAIFF10’s New Taiwanese Cinema Showcase, will screen as the festival’s Centerpiece Presentation. The festival will close with Quentin Lee’s The People I’ve Slept With. All special screenings will take place at Chelsea Clearview Cinema.

For more information on the AAIFF10 and this year’s line up, visit http://www.aaiff.org/2010. And to find out more about Toyota and its Asian-American film initiatives, visit Toyota.com and thedirectorschairsite.com

About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of nearly 1,500 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers which sold more than 1.77 million vehicles in 2009. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 people in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com, www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

About AAIFF
The Asian American International Film Festival is the first and longest running festival in the country devoted to showcasing films created by media artists of Asian descent and about the Asian community. Founded in 1978, AAIFF harbors a unique curatorial vision. More than an expression of collective identity, the festival is anchored by the distinct contributions of its members. It is a platform for filmmakers of all backgrounds to develop the constructs of Asian cinema and cultivate the next generation of talent. 33 years after its inception, AAIFF continues to be a leading showcase for Asian American film and video, placing a substantial focus on local and independent works and working to enrich New York’s Asian cultural community.

About ACV
Asian CineVision, Inc is a not-for-profit national media arts organization dedicated to the development, promotion and preservation of film and video arts by and about people of Asian descent. Founded in 1976 ACV began as a social service media activist organization in New York City’s Chinatown. The organization continues to serve the Asian American community by presenting, promoting and preserving the works of Asian and Asian American mediamakers, and providing a window to the diverse experiences and livelihoods of the Asian diaspora.

AAIFF10 MEDIA CONTACT
Press Coordinator
Jenny O Kwon (212) 989-1422
jenny@asiancinevision.org

TOYOTA MEDIA CONTACT
interTrend Communications, Inc.
Joyce Lu 
(562) 733-1779 Joyce@intertrend.com

Organized by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, the festival will screen approximately 200 feature and short films from April 29 – May 8, 2010. The festival kicks off at opening night with the screening of Au Revoir Taipei (Taiwan/United States/Germany, 2010) and closes out the festival with Bodyguard and Assassins (Hong Kong, 2009). The festival screenings will held across in Los Angeles in Hollywood, Downtown, Little Tokyo and Koreatown.

Toyota’s partnership and support of the Asian American independent film scene and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival goes deeper than the traditional program ad or corporate banner at an event. “We are really looking forward to having Toyota back as our Official Vehicle Sponsor this year,” said Shinae Yoo, executive director of Visual Communications. “Their thoughtful efforts and fun activities through out the festival continues to strike a positive chord with our fans.”

At thedirectorschairsite.com, Toyota’s site dedicated to Asian American cinema, features exclusive interviews with filmmakers and actors, and the latest buzz on Toyota events. This year Toyota will again have a vibrant presence key events like the opening, closing and center piece screenings as well as marquee events such as Cinema Musica and Armed With A Camera.

As part of the Toyota festivities, filmgoers will have an opportunity to get creative and strike a pose at the Toyota photo booth. And, for those able to tap into their inner thespian, filmgoers can act out a scene in front of a green screen as part of Toyota’s Live Film Project.

For more information about the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, visit http://www.vconline.org. And to find out more about Toyota, visit Toyota.com.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Visual Communications is the Southland’s premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema. Since 1983, the Film Festival has presented over 3000 films and videos by Asian international and Asian American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards.

ABOUT TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs over 36,000 people in the U.S.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com, www.lexus.com,
www.scion.com or www.toyotanewsroom.com.

FESTIVAL MEDIA CONTACT
DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES, INC. – 213 624 7827
Winston Emano – wemano@tcdm-associates.com
Eseel Borlasa – eborlasa@tcdm-associates.com
Matt Johnstone – mjohnstone@tcdm-associates.com

TOYOTA MEDIA CONTACT
interTrend Communications, Inc.
Jennifer Chang
(562) 733-1855
Jennifer@intertrend.com

Come and celebrate opening night! Visit the Toyota Networking Lounge and remember the night with a photo from the Toyota Photo Booth.

April 30 Film Makers’ Welcome Party
Toyota Outdoor Screening of Bruce Lee’s Chinese Connection
Madang the Courtyard

Visit the Toyota info counter and get a special wristband for VIP access to the Toyota Lounge! Free, Food, Folks and Fun!

May 4 Cinema Musica
Music Video Night
Downtown Independent
Vehicle Display

Enjoy the evening with free popcorn compliments of Toyota.

May 5 Armed With a Camera
Short Film Screening and After Party
Aratani Theater and Far Bar
Vehicle Display

Meet us at Far Bar and take a picture at the Toyota Photo Booth.

May 6 Closing Night
Closing Night screening and After Party
Aratani Theater and JACCC Plaza

Get acting tips from industry professionals! Come to the Toyota display and show your acting chops at the Live Film Project where you can act and become the star in front of the Toyota Green Screen. Don’t forget to ask how you can get a free silkscreen t-shirt or canvas bag.

2) CHAN IS MISSING – One of the few films that documented the fact that Shaft didn’t have to be African American. Proof positive that an Asian brother in the 70’s had natural style, sexual strut, and a cool cat demeanor.

3) THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT – Makes me laugh that Justin Lin was able convince a major Hollywood studio to make a $100,000,000 Asian American summer blockbuster movie.

4) THE REBEL – Great to see Asian Americans being able to collaborate with their home country to create a world-class, period-piece action flick. That and the fact that Dustin Nguyen had some rad highlights in the movie.

5) SHALL WE DANCE? – I love this movie because, to me, it’s all about how hard it is to be 100% you. BTW, I’m talking about the Japanese version, not the stinky Hollywood remake.

1) Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, …and Spring Aside from its clunky title, Kim Ki-duk has an incredible way of handling this insightful Buddhist tale with beautiful imagery and story telling.

2) The Cup A fun, entertaining film from Bhutan made by Khyentse Norbu, a Tibetan monk…need I say more? (His Travelers and Magicians are really good too)

3) Journey From the Fall Tragic story about the aftermath of the Vietnam War (told from the Vietnamese point of view) Exquisite filmmaking from Ham Tran-it’s hard to believe it’s his first feature. The film draws you in from the first frame.

4) The Namesake I loved the book. I interviewed Kal Penn on set – what a great guy. He is a really talented underrated actor who proved that he could handle both drama and comedy. Mira Nair knows how to make great movies.

5) Brokeback Mountain It’s highly debatable whether this film fits in an Asian or Asian American category but Ang is just so talented. No matter how many times I watch this film, it crushes me

1) Dersu Uzala – Akira Kurosawa Kurosawa’s masterpiece garnered many awards including an oscar and he did it pretty much on his own, in Russia, after an attempted suicide. A great comeback.

2) Howl’s Moving Castle – Hayao Miyazaki What is there to say but amazing! I love Miyazaki!!

3) Peppermint Candy – Lee Chang-Dong Lee deals with the re-emasculating Korean cinema and deserves credit.

4) Chan Is Missing – Wayne Wang A great story by a pioneer in Asian American filmmaking

5) Chung King Express – Wong Kar-wai A cliché choice but auteur Wong defined his own style and brought content to what could easily be fluffy romance driven plots with this classic. He really turns mood/atmosphere into something active and compelling.