CAAMFest San Jose Wraps Four Days of Film, Culture and Community in the South Bay

CAAMFest San Jose successfully concludes after four days of film premieres, inspired conversations with celebrated media makers and intimate parties. Reflecting the adventurous and innovative spirit of Silicon Valley, CAAMFest San Jose brings the forward thinking programming of CAAM’s annual CAAMFest to the South Bay in celebration of the impact and influence of the Asian American community. This year’s festival welcomed over 2,000 guests to the Downtown San Jose area.

CAAMFEST SAN JOSE HIGHLIGHTS

CAAMFest San Jose launched Thursday, September 4, at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj), with a special tribute screening of YURI KOCHIYAMA: PASSION FOR JUSTICE by Rea Tajiri. CAAM Executive Director Stephen Gong welcomed the full house to the special presentation celebrating of the life and legacy of the Japanese American icon and activist.

Shifting over to Camera 3 Cinemas, CAAMFest San Jose continued Friday, September 5 with the Opening Night film, MEET THE PATELS, by sibling co-directors Geeta and Ravi Patel. Ravi Patel was in attendance with co-editor and associate producer, Dhevi Natarajan, for the packed screening following Patel on his adventures exploring the westernized Indian dating system of semi-arranged marriages. Patel and Natarajan offered hilarious peeks into their lives during post-production and running the festival circuit, with stories of Natarajan quoting Patel in daily life and Patel’s father gaining celebrity stardom and channeling Justin Bieber.

The night continued with the Opening Night Party at the San Jose Museum of Art. Youth dancers from the Chitresh Das Dance Company and Chhandam School of Kathak kicked off the evening with a traditional North Indian dance performance. Following the performance, guests were treated to delicious bites such as Porcupine Pineapple Buns and Chicharrón Deviled Eggs from local favorites Ginger Café and Attic.

Saturday and Sunday welcomed an engaging and community-driven program at Camera 3 Cinemas. Over the course of two days, audiences were treated to China’s most successful box office hit of 2013, a taste of Taiwan’s legacy of foodie films, touching documentaries, and a sample of the new wave of web series. CAAMFest San Jose also featured encore screenings of CAAMFest 2014 favorites, STORIES FROM TOHOKU, AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS, BRAHMIN BULLS, and CAMBODIAN SON. Special guests included filmmakers Dianna Fukami and Eli Olson (STORIES FROM TOHOKU), Thien Do (FUNNY MONEY), Patrick Epino (AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS), and Mahesh Pailoor (BRAHMIN BULLS).

2014 CAAMFEST SAN JOSE AUDIENCE AWARD

The Audience Award gives the valued members of our audience the honor of selecting their favorite films of the festival. The 2014 CAAMFest San Jose Audience Award winner is: 27°C LOAF ROCKS, dir. Lin Cheng-sheng.
 
SPECIAL THANKS TO CAAMFEST SAN JOSE SUPPORTERS
 
CAAMFest San Jose Sponsors
Corporate: San Jose Museum of Art, Buick, Southwest Airlines, IW Group, Lifestyle Network
Media: ABC 7 News, KTSF26, NBC Bay Area, Angry Asian Man, Hyphen Magazine, Asian Week
 
CAAMFest San Jose Advisory Council
Mrs. Daisy Chu; Kansen Chu, Councilmember – District 4, San José City Council; Anne Im, Director of Development, Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI); Sherrill IngalIs, Director of Marketing and Communications, San Jose Museum of Art; Reiko Iwanaga, Executive Director, Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS); Ash Kalra, Councilmember – District 2, San José City Council; Edwin Tan, Deputy District Director, Office of Congressman Mike Honda; Ron Muriera, Commissioner, San José Arts Commission; Christine Pham, Associate Attorney, Jaurigue Law Group; Kathy Sakamoto, Executive Director, Japantown Business Association; Julie Taylor, Development Director, Chitresh Das Dance Company; Cam Vu, Grants and Contracts Manager, Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI); Ann Woo, Director, International Performing Arts Center
 
Community Partners
Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS)

View more photos on the CAAMedia Flickr.