from tcdm-associates.com

CICADA and THE ROAD TO FAME TAKE TOP HONORS AT THE 30th ANNIVERSARY LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL

The 2014 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) produced by Visual Communications celebrated the closing night of their 30th Anniversary edition on Thursday night with a private awards ceremony for the competition films, and the US premiere screening of FINAL RECIPE; a foodie romantic drama from Thailand, directed by Sundance alum Gina Kim and starring Michelle Yeoh (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON) and Henry Lau (of noted K-pop group Super Junior M).

Director Dean Yamada was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature for his feature debut CICADA, having previously won the Golden Reel Award for his short narrative film, JITENSHA (Festival 2010). The Festival’s Best Director Award went to Ham Tran (also a past Golden Reel Award winner for THE ANNIVERSARY, Festival 2003) for his romantic comedy, HOW TO FIGHT IN SIX INCH HEELS.

Additional Narrative Feature awards given out this evening are as follows:

Best Screenplay to J.P. Chan and his film, A PICTURE OF YOU. Actor Nikohl Boosheri was awarded Best Actor for her role as ‘Farah’ in Meera Menon’s FARAH GOES BANG. And BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY went to Robert Lam for his work on Steven Kung’s film, A LEADING MAN.

In the documentary competition, director Hao Wu received the Grand Jury Prize for his film, THE ROAD TO FAME. The film also received the Best Editor Award, presented to Hao Wu and Jean Tsien.

Best Director was awarded to Ursula Liang for her sports-minded documentary, 9-MAN. Best Cinematography went Esy Casey and Sarah Friedland for JEEPNEY. A Special Jury Award was presented to director Dianne Fukami and Eli Olson, for their film STORIES FROM TOHOKU.

This year, the LAAPFF presented over 140 short films from directors across the globe. The dramatic and elegantly executed ABOVE THE SEA from Keola Racela received the Golden Reel Award, while Arnold Arre was honored with the Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award for his animated work MILKYBOY.

Rounding out the event was the presentation of the Project Catalyst Award. This is a program designed to recognize new projects with $1,500 cash and $65,000 in post-production services by Tunnel Post for the best pitch. This year the Project Catalyst Grand Jury Prize went to Abel Vang and Burlee Vang, for their stirring project, THE TIGER’S CHILD. The screenplay won the Nicholls Screenwriting Fellowship Award in 2011. Honorable mention was given to Stephane Gauger and Feodor Chin for their project, CHINATOWN SQUAD.

Audience Awards for Best Narrative and Documentary Features will be announced on the Festival’s website on May 12, after all screenings are balloted and counted.

The 2014 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival kicked off on May 1 with the LA premiere of TO BE TAKEI, directed by Jennifer M. Kroot and produced by Gerry Kim and Mayuran Tiruchelvam. Since opening night, LAAPFF has screened at the Directors Guild of America in West Hollywood, the CGV Cinemas in Koreatown, and at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Little Tokyo.

For more info on LAAPFF & Awards view website