The SFIAAFF Student Delegates are Here!

SFIAAFF is thrilled to present the 3rd annual Verizon Student Delegate Program! Aimed to cultivate and engage the next generation of scholars, filmmakers, artists, and administrators in the field of Asian and Asian American media, these students were selected from a competitive pool of applicants from around the nation.

VERIZON STUDENT DELEGATE PROGRAM

SFIAAFF is thrilled to present the 3rd annual Verizon Student Delegate Program! Aimed to cultivate and engage the next generation of scholars, filmmakers, artists, and administrators in the field of Asian and Asian American media, these students were selected from a competitive pool of applicants from around the nation. During the program, students undergo a rigorous schedule of film screenings, events, and private meetings with filmmakers and special
guests at the festival. Look out for their blogs and insightful comments as they immerse themselves in a truly unique cultural event!

A special thanks to the program’s generous sponsor, Verizon. Visit Verizoninsider.com to win tickets to the festival, and learn more about their exciting offerings. For more information about the Verizon Student Delegate Program, contact christine[at]caamedia[dot]org.


Stephanie Der
Junior, English and Ethnic Studies, Mills College

Having grown up in a library, Stephanie is an avid reader of fantasy and urban fantasy. An English and Ethnic Studies major at Mills College, she is critical of representations of race and gender in the media. Her interest in film was sparked by Hayao Miyazaki and fanned by the Racebending movement.


Fan Huang
Sophomore, Economics, De Anza College

Much to his parent’s chagrin, Fan never excelled at anything in high school except daydreaming and watching movies. He is currently finishing my studies at De Anza College and trying to transfer to to a four-year university, and working for a film market research company, which really opened his eyes to the business side of Hollywood. He loves super burritos from taco trucks and checking out random flicks on Netflix. He hopes to pursue a career in screenwriting in the future.


Daryl Sean Jacob
Senior, Neurobiology and Physiology with a Minor in Asian American Studies, University of Maryland, College Park

Daryl is the Resident Videographer for SULU DC, an organization that hosts monthly performance showcases to foster AAPI local talent. His team most recently completed a production shown at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD for the DC 48HR Go Green Film Festival. Daryl wants to thank Stephen Mallorca of Slow Jam King Productions and Franco Salvoza of DC APA Film, Inc., for their words of encouragement, and his family, for supporting him. He intends to pursue a Masters of Science in Anesthesia.


Yen Le
Graduate School, East Asian Studies, Stanford University

Yen is currently pursuing an M.A. in East Asian Studies at Stanford University where she is studying contemporary Chinese documentaries. She was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. After finishing her B.A. at UC Davis, she joined the Peace Corps in Central Asia and later worked in youth development In New York City.


Jessica Liu
Junior, Film and Feminist Studies, UC Santa Cruz

Jessica is an aspiring film-maker, currently studying Film & Digital Media and Feminist Studies at University of California Santa Cruz. Her focus is to capture subject matter and experiences of under-represented groups. She aims to challenge the perception of media as an art medium, a form of important documentation and overall a vital tool in the communication of the human experience. She believes in leveling out the specialization in and glorification of Hollywood’s playing field in its regards to who’s allowed to make film


Linh Ling Phung
Freshman, Architecture, Asian Studies, UC Berkeley

Linh used to think she was going to be a photographer, chef, architect, fashion designer, art therapist, and a film director. Now, she is no less sure than five years ago. What she knows, however, is that she loves to travel, take long walks, twilight (not the book, but the transition from sunset to night), grocery shop in Asian supermarkets, spontaneous conversations, and trying all the taquerias in the Bay Area. At the moment, her favorite quote is “Let’s not be too logical” – Issey Miyake.


Darlene Rabena
Graduate School, Law, University of San Diego Law School

Darlene graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.A. in Rhetoric and Social Welfare in 2008. After graduating, she worked with the Screen Actors Guild and authored a report regarding Asian Americans in the media called From Dollars & Sense to Screen: The Asian Pacific Islander Market and the Entertainment Industry. She currently attends the University of San Diego Law School and plans to practice entertainment law to help minority artists make and negotiate contracts.


Nawneet Ranjan
Graduate Student, Screenwriting and Direction, Academy of Art University

Nawneet means eternally new. Nawneet tries to exemplify this through artistic endeavors – stories, poems, theatre, photography, films etc. Though it’s difficult to keep pace, Nawneet is enjoying the journey. Nawneet is pursuing a MFA in film and television at Academy of Art University, San Francisco.


Natalie Tsui
Graduate Student, Cinema MFA, San Francisco State University

Natalie once had a well-rounded life studying English and Film Studies at Cal, where she played ultimate frisbee, cooked for her co-op, rode her bike, and worked at a record store. However, since she became a Cinema MFA at SFSU, she has done practically nothing but living and breathing film. Despite her complete absorption, Natalie manages to maintain her sense of humor and, surprisingly, her sanity. She even still has two whole friends.

**This year, Verizon is proud to provide all the participants with personal smart phones with complimentary service for the duration of their program.