by Rebecca Olson
2012 Student Delegate
Yesterday was opening night for the 30th annual Festival, and I spent this morning rummaging through my closet looking for the T-shirt that I bought at the 25th anniversary in ’07. (Blast—I couldn’t find it.) The festival always falls in the middle of finals at UCLA, and I always pray I finish early so I can get back to SF for a screening or two. Getting to be there at opening night at the Castro Theater was amazing and something I never thought I’d be able to do while in school.
It was great to hear all of the speeches on opening night, to hear how everyone–from those at CAAM to Comcast to the Asian Art Museum to Quentin Lee–is glad that the festival is not only here but still getting bigger every year. Then we all settled in for the world premiere of Quentin’s film White Frog, followed by a Q and A with the cast and crew. White Frog was lovely and moving, and hearing what drove each actor to sign on was fascinating. We headed out to the gala at the Asian Art Museum afterward–ate, drank, and met some cool people. And today, we get to watch four more movies (Four!) plus meet with Quentin Lee in person. Am I excited? You bet! Was it worth rescheduling all of those finals? Definitely!
Chosen from a competitive pool of undergraduate and graduate students, the Student Delegates are a small but diverse group of students who undergo Festival “boot camp.” Guided by Festival staff, students participate in a rigorous schedule of film screenings, discussions, and exclusive meetings with filmmakers and special guests. The program aims to cultivate the next generation of filmmakers, activists, educators, and community leaders. See all of the 2012 Student Delegates here and their blog!
Sponsored by Southwest Airlines.
WOOHOOO! Go Rebecca!
P.S. We probably can’t sit through and fully enjoy the films without a couple of Luna bars. and a second P.S. Good luck on your final!