This year, CAAM turns 30! Thank you for your support and for being part of our vibrant community. You sustain and inspire us to bring the best independent Asian American film, video and digital media to audiences everywhere.
Many of you have been with us since our modest beginnings — a group of young, idealistic filmmakers and community activists challenging the lack of an authentic presence in a mainstream media awash with stereotypical portrayals of Asian Americans.
The determination during our early years fuels our commitment to ensuring that diversity has a strong foothold in public media. This year, we continued our core mission to present important and compelling documentary films on public television with national broadcasts of A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, PROJECT KASHMIR, WHATEVER IT TAKES, WO AI NI MOMMY, IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE, and A MOMENT IN TIME.
Many of you joined us along the way at our annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Thanks to you, our Festival remains the largest and most prestigious showcase of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America. Our groundbreaking films, panels and interactive and music events attract over 25,000 individuals over eleven amazing days. Mark your calendars for the next Festival happening March 10 – 20, 2011.
You also know us online through CAAM Channel — our cutting-edge digital media and interactive program. This year we launched our first mobile game “Filipino or Not?,” a film trivia game about racial ambiguity in the media, available for free at the iTunes store. Thousands of you watch our homegrown webisode series, ON THE CLOCK, a kind of Asian American-style version of THE OFFICE. Check out our season finale featuring Timothy DeLaGhetto and stay tuned for the fall series and more interactive media projects and events to come!
Finally, perhaps the milestone that is most significant to this year is honoring our founder, the late Loni Ding. Loni was a pioneer filmmaker, educator and community leader that taught thousands of students and inspired anyone that knew her. At our 30th Anniversary Gala this past March, we announced the creation of the Loni Ding Award that will recognize a promising Asian American filmmaker whose work reflects Loni’s commitment to social issue documentary filmmaking. Please check the CAAM website for information on this award.
CAAM’s legacy remains intertwined with Loni’s vision – to shine a light on emerging film and media makers, to celebrate our successes and to tell untold stories in evocative and thought-provoking ways.
Support CAAM today to secure the future of Asian American media. Your donation will support all of our programs and be 100% tax-deductible. Your support ensures that CAAM will continue to innovate in the new media landscape and that generations of media makers will have a stake and a place in Asian America.
Donate to CAAM
Sincerely,
Stephen Gong
Executive Director
