14th Japanese Film Festival @JapanFilmFest

Just a heads up for those in Melbs and Sydney, the Japanese Film Festival will be held in November and December.  They're still updating their site with film and other details.  Japanese Film Festival on twitter. More info soon.

Bringing to you an abundance of Australian premieres, special guests and fantastic prizes to be won, the 14th Japanese Film Festival promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

Plan ahead! 2010’s Japanese Film Festival dates are:

SYDNEY
22 – 28 November Event Cinemas, George Street

MELBOURNE
2 – 7 December ACMI Cinemas, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Federation Square

Korean Film Festival in Australia opens tonight

To Celebrate the arrival of Korean cinema on Australian shores and to launch the
inaugural Korean Film Festival in Australia, KOFFIA will be hosting an opening night
event that is much more than just watching a movie in a silent dark theatre.

Our opening night GALA will feature drinks and canapes for all guests while live music
will help generate a celebratory mood as we officially open KOFFIA 2010. Everyone who
books for the opening night film is welcome to come along and enjoy the festivities,
meet the organising team, mingle with our guests and be a part of an important day
for Korean and Australian relations. Our MC and Special Guests will then introduce the
film and declare the goals of KOFFIA as well as give out prizes and festival passes. This
will also feature a short forum to discuss the significance of KOFFIA and to talk about
our opening night film.

This will be an important event that marks the start of 5 days of entertainment,
education and drama, and we invite you to be a part of it!

I was taking a quick look at the guests and schedule for the event when I noticed something about the Sunday lineup.  Hany Lee will be singing, twice.  Wait a sec, is that the same Hany Lee from Neighbours?  Yep, sure is.  Although Korean OZs are a small minority, they seem to be a lot more organised (for this event anyway).  It will be interesting to see how future film festivals pan out, and whether other groups (I'm looking at you, Chinese Australians) will promote their own, more effectively.

For more info see KOFFIA - they've updated the site.

Mother Fish opening screening in Sydney on Thursday 5th - Meet the cast and crew

Saw this via Vico Thai and Mother Fish on facebook.

There will be a screening of Khoa Do's film Mother Fish this Thursday, at Chauvel Cinema in Sydney. There are still some seats available and you can call 02 9361 5398 to reserve your seats. Afterwards there will be a Q&A with the cast and crew of Mother Fish.

Also, tune in to 'At The Movies' on ABC1 & ABC2 at 6PM on Sat the 7th and Sun the 8th of August as Margaret & David review the film and get an insight into its making with an exclusive interview with the director Khoa Do.

For cinema screenings in other cities and states, check the events section on the Mother Fish website.

You are invited to the launch of IF Magazine in Sydney

The first issue is nearly complete, the acts have been booked and finalised, and all that IF crew are waiting for is for Monday to come along.  That will be day 100 and will signal the launch party of IF Project Magazine.  If you're in Sydney then why not pop along to support some AAs, see the launch and the awesome acts they have lined up.

More information can be found on the facebook event page.

The Colour Blind Project

From Diversity Casting Australia and Australian Stage Jobs

The Colour Blind Project is calling actors of multicultural or Indigenous backgrounds! We are looking for 18 actors, male or female, to take part in The Colour Blind Project festival in Sydney 2010. These roles are across 10 selected short works that cover a variety of themes, genres and styles. The characters are exciting, fun and provocative – stuff to really sink your teeth into and showcase your talent.

The Colour Blind Project is a brand new theatre festival aimed to showcase actors from multicultural or Indigenous backgrounds. The festival will consist of new, Australian short works and aims to change who and what we see on the Australian stage and truthfully reflect our contemporary Australian society

Please note that The Colour Blind Project is not a co-op and actors participate on a voluntary basis. Actors must be 18 years or older. The Colour Blind Project has received industry interest and will be inviting industry professionals such as media, casting agents, funding body representatives, artistic directors of major companies as well as independent theatre companies, to the performances so there is potential for your appearance in The Colour Blind Project festival to lead to many exciting opportunites!

Performances are from the 30th June – 10th July, 2010 in an Inner City venue in Sydney. Performances will be on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Registrations can only be accepted from people living in Sydney, NSW or nearby areas. Participation is on a voluntary basis so no compensation is available for travel and accommodation for participating in The Colour Blind Project.

Registration & Audition Details:
Open Audition: Sunday 16th May
Call Backs: 22nd, 23rd or 24th May

Please note that we will endeavour to see as many people as possible for the Open Audition day but as spaces are limited you will need to register for an allocated time by emailing stephanie.son@thecolourblindproject.org with a copy of your actors bio/CV, headshot. Please also specify your age range so we can allocate you a time accordingly. Location of the auditions and your time will be emailed to you once your registration has been accepted. If you do not register, we will not see you on the day if you just show up. Registrations close Wednesday 12th May, 6pm.

Please prepare a contemporary 2 minute (maximum) monologue of your choice. This can be of any genre.

Rehearsals:
Rehearsals will start from the 23rd May and the schedule will be negotiated between the actors and the Director. Location of rehearsals will be in the Inner West/City area of Sydney. You will also be required for the Tech Run on the 28th June and the Dress Rehearsal on the 29th June.

Please do not apply if you are unavailable for any of the above mentioned dates.

Korean Festival hits Adelaide - Nov 14

A taste of Asia is coming to town this weekend for the fifth annual Korean Culture and Food Festival.

Rundle Park will come alive this Saturday (November 14) in a flurry of traditional dance performances, live music, taekwondo and hapkido exhibitions and kimchi making demonstrations.

There will be 16 marquees offering Korean food and drinks, as well as a rep from the Korean tourism bureau handing out information about the country.

Event organiser Chong Soon Lee says a crowd of up to 3000 are expected to attend the festivities, including many of Adelaide’s 4000-plus members of the Korean community such as Joonhee Ko and Yeryn Nah (pictured).

“We Koreans are growing here in SA so we want to share our culture and food with the community,” she says.

“We have a rich culture and delicious food as most people already know.”

Korean Culture and Food Festival, Rundle Park, cnr East and North terrace, November 14, 10am-4pm.
City Messenger

Asian Australian Identities 3 (AAI3) Conference: Regionalising Asian Australian Identities

Asian Australian Identities 3 (AAI3) Conference: Regionalising Asian Australian Identities
Curtin University, Perth, Australia
13-14 November 2009


REGISTRATIONS OPEN

The Asian Australian Studies Research Network, in collaboration with the Centre for Advanced Studies in Australia, Asia and the Pacific (CASAAP), Curtin University, presents the Regionalising Asian Australian Identities conference, to be held at Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia, from 13-14 November 2009.

Building on the momentum of previous successful Asian Australian Identities conferences, AAI3 considers the importance of understanding Asian Australian identities and communities within both regional and transnational contexts. In holding the 2009 conference in Western Australia, we are particularly mindful of the rhetoric of the rise of ‘Asia’ which has sustained much of the State’s (and nation’s) boom years. From distanciation to fascination and engagement, Australia’s relationship to Asia continues to inform the culture and politics of the nation. At the same time, the conference theme also reminds us to look into our own backyards and to consider the often neglected histories of the nation’s own regional encounters with Asians, in particular Asian-Indigenous interactions in the north of Australia. How does the articulation of ‘Asian Australian identities’ fit within these shifting terrains? And how might we reconsider Australia’s relationship to Asia and to its own local regions in new and productive ways, particularly as it affects identity formation?

As Asian Australian studies comes of age, what new pathways will the field take? Do we (continue to) learn from the direction Asian American studies has taken? Does Asian Australian studies have a role to play in the growth of Inter-Asia cultural studies? What kinds of conversations might scholars in Asian Australian studies have with their counterparts in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as with ‘locals’ from regional parts of Australia?

Keynote speakers include:

* Koichi Iwabuchi (Waseda U)
* Krishna Sen (U of Western Australia)
* Jon Stratton (Curtin U)
* Featured Artist - Mayu Kanamori

For tickets or more information, click here

2009 OZ Asia Festival - Adelaide

So many things going on at this festival!  Check out the Shows and Films, amazing stuff.  But why is it in Adelaide?

These are the movies that will be shown:

Documentary Double (15+) - OzAsia On Screen 4th October  
A Sense of Place (15+)
Director: Marie Ferris (Australia 2007)

Goodbye Revolution (15+)
Director: Esben Storm (Australia 2008)

Kung Fu Chefs (PG) - OzAsia On Screen 4th October Starring Vaness Wu, Cherrie Ying and Sammo Hung, Kung Fu Chefs is a fun film for the whole family.

Balibo (M) - OzAsia On Screen 7th October Stars Anthony LaPaglia.

Pankh * - OzAsia On Screen 9th October Starring Bishpata Basu, Mahesh Manjrekar and newcomer Maradona Rebello.

The Sky Crawlers * - OzAsia On Screen 10th October Director: Mamoru Oshii ( Japan 2008) 

The Great Indian Butterfly * - OzAsia On Screen 11th October Starring Aamir Bashir, Sandhya Mridul, Koel Purie and Barry John.

Tony Ayres Double (15+) - OzAsia On Screen 11th October  

CHINA DOLLS (15+)
Director: Tony Ayres (Australia 1997)

SADNESS (15+)
Director: Tony Ayres (Australia 1999)

 

The Way We Are - Hong Kong On Screen 13th October Director: Ann Hui

 

 True Women For Sale - Hong Kong On Screen 14th October Director: Herman Yau Lai-To

 

 Protégé - Hong Kong On Screen 15th October Director: Derek Yee

Forever Enthralled - Hong Kong On Screen 17th October Director: Chen Kaige

Three Kingdoms - Resurrection Of The Dragon - Hong Kong On Screen 17th October Director: Daniel Lee

 

Attract/Repel Play - Melbourne Fringe Festival

The Store Room presents Attract/Repel by The Melbourne Town Players, a performance-interrogation into self and the other, by Ming-Zhu Hii.

Attract/Repel is a raw, beautiful and idiosyncratic investigation into racial identification, discrimination, and the darkness and light inherent in Australia's many-cultured society. It takes an unflinching look beneath the surface at who we are, how we behave, and why we are still being racist.

In collaboration with four of the country’s most exciting actor/theatre makers, Ming-Zhu Hii goes beyond the pale, averts the politically-correct, and asks the questions we’ve all been too scared of for far too long.

Attract/Repel is a remarkably rich and unmissable new work from The Melbourne Town Players, creators of the critically acclaimed Sandwiches.

“We are living in a period of extreme racial unrest, cultural intolerance, and racially motivated violence, while the population of our country has never been more diverse.” - Ming-Zhu Hii

Previews 16, 17 and 18 September 2009
Open 19 September - 10 October 2009

 The Melbourne Town Players

Malaysia Week 2009 - September 27th-October 13th

Malaysia Week is on between September 27th to October 13th in Melbourne.  The Australian Malaysian Film Festival will run between 4th-7th October.

Auckland Hong Kong Film Festival 2009

Action with a new edge at HK Film Festival

Resurgence is the buzz word in the Hong Kong film world today. The traditional action flicks on which the Hong Kong film industry built its strong reputation are still popular, but local moviegoers want new ideas and concepts.

This first Hong Kong Film Festival in New Zealand showcases four movies released last year and one in 2007. The films tell stories of prostitution, tough life in a New Territories town, kidnapping and crime, gang wars and a legend about the defeat of a warlord and rise of a people´s hero. They have all won awards in Hong Kong and at international film festivals.

In Cantonese with English subtitles, the five films selected by filmmaker Alex Lee of Asia NZ Film Foundation and DOCNZ, especially for the Hong Kong New Zealand Business Association, give filmgoers a taste of Hong Kong´s new talent.

The HK Film Festival at the Rialto Newmarket in Auckland, September 16 - 20. For Screening times & Ticket info Click Here

Hong Kong Film Festival 2009 Website