caam, caamfest37, Films

Diverse CAAM-Funded Films Playing at CAAMFest37

April 21, 2019

CAAMFest, the annual festival for Asian and Asian American showcases presented by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), brings a handful of films funded by CAAM to its 2019 event. CAAM supports filmmakers throughout the year by providing resources, funds, fellowships, and other means to bring important new voices to light.

CAAMFest37, the 37th festival showcase presented by CAAM, celebrates a wide array of CAAM funded work, including several Gala and Special Presentation films.

CHINATOWN RISING – Opening Night Gala

Director Harry and Josh Chuck
Thursday, May 9 – Castro Theatre, 6:30pm
Weaving together never-been-seen photographs and archival footage, this vibrant documentary chronicles key San Francisco Chinatown community leaders who started an activist movement in the 1960s. This film is a recipient of the CAAM Documentary Fund.

 
JADDOLAND – Documentary Feature Film

 

Director Nadia Shihab
Friday, May 17 – Roxie, 6:00pm
On a trip to visit her Iraqi mother in West Texas, filmmaker Nadia Shihab paints an intimate portrait of place, family history, culture and identity. This film is a recipient of the CAAM Documentary Fund.

SEADRIFT – Documentary Feature Film

Director Tim Tsai
Friday, May 10 – AMC Kabuki 8, 5:10pm
Sunday, May 12 – AMC Kabuki 8, 12:30pm
SEADRIFT examines the racial tensions in a small Gulf Coast fishing town when Vietnamese refugees move there in 1979. This film is a recipient of the CAAM Documentary Fund.

SELF EVIDENT: ASIAN AMERICA’S STORIES – Special Presentations

Saturday, May 18 – OACC, 7:00pm
Self Evident is a new podcast taking on what it means to be American by telling Asian America’s stories. With host Cathy Erway, the show will tackle questions about identity, cultural change and nationhood by presenting reported narratives, community conversations, and personal stories. Presented in partnership with CAAM, this is the Season 1 kick off. This podcast is a recipient of the CAAM Media Fund.

WHEN WE WALK – Centerpiece Documentary

Director Jason DaSilva
Sunday, May 12 – AMC Kabuki 8, 6:45pm
Saturday, May 18 – Roxie Theater, 12:10pm
Following the success of WHEN I WALK, Emmy Award winning director Jason DaSilva continues his documentation of his diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, and also delving into divorce and caregiving. This film is a recipient of the CAAM Documentary Fund.

 
CAAM has provided funding for over 300 films to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting since 1982. Over the last 10 years, CAAM funded films have received over 400 awards and award finalist designations. A few recent highlights include:

ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL Director Steve James (2018 Oscars, Feature Documentary Nominee)
NAILED IT: VIETNAMESE AMERICANS AND THE NAIL INDUSTRY Director Adele Pham (America ReFramed Broadcast in May 2019)
AN AMERICAN STORY: NORMAN MINETA AND HIS LEGACY Director Dianne Fukami (PBS Broadcast in May 2019)