Creator's Blog

Spreading Love for SJIFF3 this Saturday!

2010-02-13T00:13:00.000-08:00

Spread the Love, Love, Love! The 3rd San Joaquin International Film Festival is less than a week away, and along with our friends - we are in full force to spread the LOVE for the FESTIVAL near and far!

• 8:00AM - Catch special guests of The Haggin Museum and Sophoan Sorn on CW31's "GOOD DAY SACRAMENTO" with Alan Sanchez, to gain insights on the afternoon's Celtic Family Festival!

• 12:00PM - SJIFF3 Festival Guides will be available at various vendors and restaurants at Stockton's famed Miracle Mile district, including SJIFF3's Stockton home screen - the Stockton Empire Theatre. This upcoming Tuesday, February 16th, the theatre - which originally opened as simply, THE STOCKTON - will celebrate its 65th Anniversary! (site)

• 1:30PM - Everyone is Irish for the day at CELTIC FAMILY FESTIVAL at The Haggin Museum, held in conjunction with the SJIFF3. Come enjoy storytelling, games, music, dance, "manuscript" illumination and other hands-on art activities focusing on Celtic arts and culture. Members of the Black Irish Band will provide live music and Sophoan Sorn will give a special preview of the Film Festival and officially launch the SJIFF3 Festival Guide. This special afternoon at the museum is included with regular admission and no reservations are necessary. (details)

• 6:00PM - The Stockton Symphony's Sold-Out VALENTINE POPS concert will warm many hearts in the Atherton Auditorium at San Joaquin Delta College's Center for the Arts. The beautiful voices of Teri Bibb and Dennis McNeil will enchant with hit songs from "Phantom of the Opera", "Les Miserables", "West Side Story", and "Man of La Mancha." Delight in love songs from "My Fair Lady", "Girl Crazy", "Carousel", "Brigadoon", "Kismet", and more! Ideal for every Broadway musical fan and incurable romantic. (details) All patrons in attendance will receive the SJIFF3 Festival Guide, which promotes the SJIFF3 Film Benefit presentation of "THEY CAME TO PLAY" (February 24th), with proceeds to support the Stockton Symphony. (details)

• 7:00PM - The State Theatre in Modesto, the new southern venue of SJIFF3 will feature a limited run of "Broken Embraces": the exquisite film - starring Penelope Cruz and directed by Spanish master Pedro Almodóvar - that will leave you spellbound. SJIFF3 Festival Guides will be showcased to patrons in the theater's foyer. (site)

Precious in Mill Valley: Lee Daniels, Paula Patton, Gabourey Sibide, Uma Thurman

2009-10-11T19:06:00.000-07:00

After attending over 200 film festivals, screenings, and cinematic events over the last two years, I finally arrived at the captivating 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival (MVFF), a presentation of the California Film Institute, based in San Rafael, California. I attended the Opening Night screening of Lee Daniel's "Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire" on October 8th, and a Tribute to Uma Thurman with a screening of Katherine Dieckman's "Motherhood" on October 10th. The festival is truly a gem that shines and radiates.

Gabourey Sibide, Paula Patton, Sophoan Sorn

Sophoan Sorn, Lee Daniels

It moved me, shook me, woke up, and shocked me!
It was precious!

Since January of this year, I have been thinking about Lee Daniel's film "Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire." It went on to become the first film in history to win both the top awards at both the Sundance Film Festival (the most important film festival in the USA) and the Toronto International Film Festival (the most important film festival in the world). It also screened at Festival de Cannes (the most prestigious film festival in the world), and was the Centerpiece of the New York Film Festival (the most prestigious film festival in the USA). So, there you have it! In addition, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, committed to attaching their names to this film, to give it the highest marketing platform ever. Yet, aside from these accolades was this amazing and profound film that Lee Daniels humbly regarded as "a small film." As I sat in my chair, I cried, I laughed. (Lee Daniels gave us all permission to laugh.) I was speechless by the angry and evil performances of Mo'nique - which many of my colleagues think is "Oscar-worthy." I just marveled at this amazing, character-driven story.

Synopsis by Holly Roach: Meet Claireece "Precious" Jones (Gabourey Sidibe). An illiterate high school student, pregnant by her father for the second time and subject to relentless abuse at home, she's always, "looking up. . .for a piano to fall." Only the beauty of her resilience tempers the unsettling nature of her harsh existence as her fantasies and aspirations come alive in vibrant vignettes. But life at school is chaos: threatened with expulsion, she transfers to an alternative school where, under the tutelage of Ms. Rain (beautifully rendered by Paula Patton), she finds the strength within herself to determine her own destiny and "tell her story." Director Lee Daniels proves himself a bold voice in contemporary cinema, tackling tough material with uplifting consciousness and insight. And with its riveting cast—newcomer Sidibe's extraordinary performance complemented with passionate commitment by Patton, Mo'Nique as her mother and a glammed-down Mariah Carey—Precious promises to be one of this year's defining films.

During the post-screening Q&A with Director Lee Daniels and actors Gabourey Sibide and Paula Patton, Gabourey touched my heart when she talked about how she would pass by many girls like "Precious and kept on walking," but that the film gave her more compassion for other people, especially the "Precious" of the world.

"Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire" starring Mo'nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, and introducing Gabourey Sibide, opens nationally in November. View trailer here.

Gabourey and I enjoyed a cheerful moment as I told her how PRECIOUS she truly is!

Thank you, Lee Daniels, for this extraordinary film!

Embracing MVFF

If only all Rush Lines were like this!

On Saturday, October 8th, my friend Paula Sheil and I, rushed out to attend the Tribute to Uma Thurman, featuring the screening of her latest film "Motherhood" directed by Katherine Dieckman. We truly did rush, because tickets were sold out and we wanted a place at the rush line. To make a long story short: We sat in comfortable chairs (how all rush lines should be) and we got in! We both found comfortable seats in the first row of Rafael Film Center's main auditorium, and enjoyed the captivating film about the treats, trials, and tribulations of being a mother! I really enjoyed the film, as there were many adorable, memorable, smart, funny, and charming moments.

Uma Thurman gracefully floats through the aisle at the Rafael Film Center.

A scene from "Motherhood"

After the screening, the graceful Uma Thurman arrived. She talked about her experiences through the years, her upbringings as a Buddhist, her life as a mother, behind-the-scenes of the film "Motherhood," and her friendship and professional relationship with Quentin Tarantino. As I sat in the front row just four feet away from her, I would smile at her and she would smile back. During the interview, she was so graceful, gracious and humbled.

On top of that, Uma Thurman amazed me with her wit, wisdom and vivacity!

Paula Sheil, Sophoan Sorn

The bold and beautiful Christopher B. Smith Rafael Film Center

The 32nd Mill Valley Film Festival continues through Sunday, October 18th. For film information, tickets and updates, visit www.mvff.com

Opening Night Memories from our Film Society's California Documentary Festival

2009-10-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thank you for attending and supporting the Opening Night Film of the inaugural California Documentary Festival! What an eye-opening, thought-provoking, socially-conscious and momentous experience we had together, at the gala screening of "William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe." You packed the house, supported this important film, smiled, laughed, and cried.

When I went to the California Premiere of this film at the 2009 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival in August, I pointed at the screen and said, "This is it!" It impressed me. It moved me. It touched me. For me, it was not just about selecting the Opening Night Film for the 2009 CalDocFest - but it was about selecting a landmark film that would launch not only the 2009 festival but all the CalDocFest's in the future! Perhaps, in 2019, we can look back and say, "Wow! I remember 2009!" Truly, this historical film was unforgettable!

In addition to all this, was the interactive Q&A with Director Emily Kunstler via telephone from New York City. It was a thrilling experience that when I said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have Emily Kunstler on the line" - and the audienced roared loudly in excitement! We got a chance to have a personal and intimate conversation with Emily. I even got a chance to go into the audience and give my phone to Stocktonian Richard Oliver. Richard was inspired by the late-William Kunstler during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Last night, he got a chance to tell Emily Kunstler how much her father meant to him. It was a touching experience for me.

We've only just begun!

CalDocFest runs through Sunday, with more of What's New! What's Next! and What's Hot! in the World of Documentary Cinema! See full schedule: http://www.sjiff.org/caldocfest/programme.html

Warmest regards,
Sophoan

San Francisco with Emmy Rossum

2009-06-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

A delightful time came on Saturday, June the 20th. Saturday was an enormous day for me, and as soon as the afternoon came, I was off to the city by the Bay! I had a full day and night's worth in San Francisco - filled with sunshine, moonlight, walking, shopping, film screenings, dining, driving, partying, etc. I stayed healthy with water and orange juice. In the midst of all the excitement - I took part in driving the visiting cast of the new film "Dare" to their San Francisco-Bay Area Premiere at Frameline33.

Sophoan Sorn and Emmy Rossom

Minutes later, I was joined by the very talented and charming actress and singer Emmy Rossom (The Day After Tomorrow, Poseidon, The Phantom of the Opera), along with co-star Zach Gilford (Friday Night Lights) and friend Jeff. As my car rolled through Market Street heading west, the four of us had a delightful conversation about everything from Thailand to Berlin to Sundance to Jewish film festivals to inappropriate people and manners to the chilly Bay Area weather to "esbian center" (inside joke now) to the 1,400 people expected at the Castro Theatre for the film screening - which truly excited Emmy.

"Dare," a new independent feature, was directed by Adam Salky and written by David Brind and held its World Premiere at Sundance in January. Congratulations to the team behind "Dare!" Expect a potential Fall release of the film, hinted David Brind via Indiewire. More information on the film: www.darethemovie.com / IMDB

Flashback: Last Thursday, June 18th, I rushed into San Francisco and attended the Opening Night Party of the 33rd Edition of Frameline, and WOW, did they know how to P.A.R.T.Y! Terra Gallery was transformed into a colorful, dazzling and hip lounge, loaded with free-flowing food and thousands of flowers, with the presence of at least 700 people rubbing shoulders, dancing, flirting, smiling, laughing - along with a dead-on Liza Minelli tribute artist! I had a great time meeting and having conversations with some wonderful people! Frameline runs 'til the 28th of this month. Details www.frameline.org

Sophoan Sorn and Zach Gilford

P.S. I'm officially a Twitter Bird. Follow me at www.twitter.com/sophoan

T'was SJIFF2, the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival

2009-05-30T00:00:00.000-07:00

(Pictured: Kevin Downes, Sophoan Sorn, Jon Gunn, and Bobby Downes following the Valley Premiere of "Like Dandelion Dust")

For 11 Days, Stockton, California played host to the 2nd Annual San Joaquin International Film Festival, the flagship exhibition of the San Joaquin Film Society.

I want to send an enormous THANK YOU to the Society's Board of Directors Shane Williamson, Arlene Galindo, and Dr. David Schmidt, our amazing volunteers, our collaborative partners and sponsors, our friends, members and visitors from across the state, nation and around the world, and contributing world filmmakers, industry companies and organizations from 40+ countries - for helping to make SJIFF2 such a glorious showcase of works from emerging artists and seasoned international artists.

SJIFF2 took place in May, the busiest month of the year, where cultural organizers emerged with dozens of outdoor festivals, music programs, and arts events; and warm weather welcomed the friends-and-family celebrations of graduations, weddings, birthdays, music recitals, etc. In addition, the economic trends brought misery and uncertainty to people and businesses across the nation - and the people of San Joaquin truly were affected - and we also felt it!

Yet, the festival still resumed, with 11 days of vivid and spectacular exhibitions of the moving picture, along with enthusiastic audiences, creative conversations, and captivating guest artists and celebrities.

After two years of master planning, thousands of works reviewed, attendance at fellow festivals and forums near and far, phone calls and email conversations with filmmakers, film producers, production companies, and distributors in over 40 countries - the creation of the 2nd San Joaquin International Film Festival blossomed with a colorful and rare bouquet of 123 incredible works from 41 nations, highlighted with 21 feature narratives and documentaries, 14 short programmes in the Society's famous A World of Shorts, and 2 magnificent features in the Homecoming Spotlight of films connected to Stockton.

In the next few days, I will be posting photographs, videoclips, and weblogs from the experiences at SJIFF2. Meanwhile, here are some highlights:

• At May 14th's Opening Night, new Italian actor Francesco Mistichelli flew in from Rome to join us on-stage to accept the Society's Discovery Award at the red-carpet Northern California Premiere of his film "Marcello Marcello" (Dir. Denis Rabaglia) at the Bob Hope Theatre.

• Hawaiian-American filmmaker Kimberlee Bassford and her biographical profile on the late-Patsy Mink was honored with the Society's Spirit of Humanity Award on Friday, May 15th, on the occasion of Asian Pacific American History Month. Bassford joined us in a candid conversation via speakerphone.

• On Saturday, May 16th, two-time Oscar-nominated Indie Animation King, Bill Plympton, was in town to accept the Society's El Dorado Award for his contribution to independent cinema, premiered "Idiots and Angels," and conducted an enthusiastic Master Class on Sunday morning at the annual Filmmakers and VIP Brunch.

• Various animators from near and far, including animator Joaquin Baldwin shared the endless world of animation at Animania Family Festival at The Haggin Museum on Saturday, May 16th.

• On Sunday afternoon, the global love story "Universalove" (Dir. Thomas Woschitz and Austrian rock band Naked Lunch) made its West Coast Premiere as the Centerpiece of SJIFF2, capturing the essence of humanity, power of expression, and universality of cinema arts.

• TV star Maiara Walsh was in town attend the Sunday evening's Northern California Premiere of her debut feature film "Lullabye Before I Wake," (Dir. Nate Patumsinchai) and joined me on stage for a conversation, just two hours before ABC aired her guest starring role on "Desperate Housewives." Out of all places this weekend, she was in Stockton!

• Tuesday, May 18th hosted a very special and rare presentation of Mark Meily's "Baler," a masterful war romance that swept 10 Metro Manila Film Festival Awards in January 2009.

• The screening of "The Young Romantic: A Portrait of Yundi Li" (Dir. Barbara Willis Sweete) on Wednesday, May 19th surprised the winning attendees - Peter, Steve and Nancy - with a pair of tickets each to see the Chinese piano superstar perform LIVE in San Francisco in October!

• One of the most talked-about foreign films of this year, "Cherry Blossoms" held its Valley (and Hometown) Premiere on Thursday, May 20th. As an incredible anecdote, the film's director, Doris Dörrie (one of Germany's most prominent), happens to be an alumnus of Stockton's University of the Pacific. She chose Stockton because of two reasons back in 1972: Her deep admiration of John Huston's "Fat City" and a traveling drama team from the University that fascinated her in Germany at that time...

• Friday, May 21st hosted the Valley Premiere of "D Tour," a rock 'n' roll film on life, death and a indie rock drummer Pat Spurgeon's search for a new kidney! The attendees, including Dir. Jim Granato, were thrilled to find out that the real father of the film's subject, was in attendance, as well!

• Saturday, May 23rd, SJIFF2 welcomed home Stockton-born filmmaker Jason Turner with the California debut of his latest film, "Veer," an intimate and insightful look into the growing world of bicycle culture. A week prior, "Veer" was selected to screen at the prestigious Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York City and received rave reviews.

• SJIFF2 memorable Closing Night celebrated the Valley premiere of "Like Dandelion Dust," a cinematic adaptation of the best-selling novel by Karen Kingsbury starring Academy Award-winning Mira Sorvino, Barry Pepper. The incredible event welcomed the presence of Dir. Jon Gunn, honored with the Society's Independent Award, and Producers Bobby and Kevin Downes, whose base is in Visalia, a San Joaquin city!

• On Memorial Sunday, May 24th, SJIFF2 Encore Day presented four amazing features, including "The Young Romantic" and "Sita Sings the Blues," along with this year's award-winning shorts.

So, please return in a few days to see my candid reviews of SJIFF2, along with rare photographs, videoclips.

Meanwhile, I would like to invite you to subscribe to our e-news and to become a member of the San Joaquin Film Society. Experience our world through film!

Nostalgia in Cotati and Spirit of Humanity for Almudena

2009-04-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Almudena Carracedo and Sophoan Sorn

On Thursday, April 23rd, I drove through the circuitous routes from Emeryville, heading towards Sonoma State University to attend a screening of "Made in L.A." and to present multiple award-winning documentary filmmaker and activist Almudena Carracedo with the belated 2008 Spirit of Humanity Award. Almudena was honored with the award since last June at the 1st San Joaquin International Film Festival. We had the joy of having "Made in LA" screened at SJIFF1 and the presence of Almudena for the post-film Q&A and Sunday morning's Filmmakers and VIP brunch. Yet, Almudena had to fly back to LA later that morning. During the award ceremony at the Faye Spanos Concert Hall in the evening, she was able to speak to the audience via speakerphone. I was contemplating on sending her the award by mail, but I thought that it would be more appropriate to for me to find time to deliver it to her in person, as I was quite aware that she toured (and still tours) heavily with "Made in LA." So, the opportune moment arrived last Thursday when Almudena was invited to share her film at SSU, located in Rohnert Park.

Thinking about nearby town of Cotati was quite poignant and nostalgic for me. It was in Cotati (between Petaluma and Rohnert Park in Sonoma Wine Country) that my family first arrived in the United States of America in 1991 as immigrants. After our landing at SFO, we stayed with our sponsors in Cotati for two weeks, and from there, we moved to a permanent settlement in Stockton, California. On my drive on that Thursday evening, I had to make several phone calls, because the directions were extremely vague. The timebomb was ticking, because I had to arrive at SSU at 8:00PM.

It had been 10 years since I have been on this road. Yet, as the car rolled through the majestic wine country, I could remember some of the landmarks. I could remember some of the houses, I could remember the "famous" railroad crossing. I could remember that very first trip back in 1992 that my family and I took from Stockton to Cotati to visit our sponsors. My parents, grandparents and the kids packed into the gigantic 70s Chevrolet Caprice that was sold to us for $100 by a generous church member. The blue giant broke down on the side of the road, with smoke fuming from its hood. Yet, my parents got out and enjoyed the sun for a moment. As these memories played in my mind, I found myself in tears, surrounded by such fond memories and the glorious green valleys and vineyards.

I arrived at exactly 8:00PM. It was a thrill to reunite with my dear friend, Almudena Carracedo. The audience in the packed Warren Theatre was truly touched by the important story in her Emmy Award-winning documentary "Made in L.A." Lupe Hernandez, one of the subjects in the film, was there to join Almudena on stage for the post-film Q&A. I was honored to finally go and stage and present Almudena Carracedo with her Spirit of Humanity Award, on behalf of the San Joaquin Film Society to a filmmaker who uses film as an important instrument to advance, celebrate, and promote humanity.

For more information on Made in L.A., visit www.madeinla.com

SFIFF52 Opening Night Party, Every Little Step

2009-04-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again - the majestic San Francisco International Film Festival, 52nd Edition (SFIFF52).

Misha, Sophoan, Morgan

On Thursday, April 23rd, at 11PM, after driving through the Wine Country, Marin, the Golden Gate Bridge, Van Ness - I arrived in the Mission District of San Francisco for the Opening Night Party of SFIFF52. From a distance I could see the searchlights shooting into the sky.

According to SFIFF52: Celebrate Opening Night Mission style at two historic venues, the iconic Bruno’s and an adjoining outdoor setting on the site of the former El Capitan theater, with vintage lowriders from the film. Treat yourself to cool cocktails and international culinary delights while dancing to the Latin beats of salsa and rumba.

Truly, it was like that! I joined my dear friends Misha and Morgan, as we walked through the entry of the El Capitan Theater that was bathed in hot blue lights and showcased a gorgeous collection of lowriders from the film. In the area that was once the theater's auditorium but is now open-sky and reserved for parking - there was an energetic street scene, with hundreds of beautiful people enjoying each others company. I'm sure they were all film lovers. There were several tents glowing with warm colors, delicious cuisine, and memorable moments. I got a chance to meet new people, reunite with old friends. It was a bit frigid. Although the outdoor umbrella heaters were cranked to the max, they lost to the wind. Yet, I had a great time. Inside Bruno's was even more energy, with more beautiful people dancing and celebrating. Although that day, I had only slept 2 hours, and it was past midnight - I still had some energy.

Although I missed the SFIFF52 Opening Night Film, "La Mission," directed by Peter Bratt, and starring Benjamin Bratt - due to an important engagement at Sonoma State University (read "Nostalgia in Cotati and Spirit of Humanity for Almudena") - you can read more about the Opening Night here and view a videoclip feat. Benjamin Bratt here.

On Sunday, in the early evening, I took a little trip to San Francisco to join my friend Chris for the special screening of "Every Little Step," a new keepsake documentary by Adam Del Deo and James D. Stern on the creation of the exemplary Broadway musical "A Chorus Line."

It was a thrill to experience this intimate and captivating documentary about the history of the creation of "A Chorus Line," with unearthed recordings of reflections by its creator, the late-Michael Bennett, and friends - and to experience the candid auditions and electrifying dance rehearsals for the 2006 Broadway Cast. I was so inspired and so moved. I found myself in the Castro Theatre laughing, smiling, and even crying.

Jason Tam in "Every Little Step"

The most touching moment of the film was when Jason Tam (One Life to Live) auditioned for the role of "Paul." It was the part where Paul delivered the heart-wrenching soliloquy about coming out as a homosexual man and a performing artist.

His audition was so immensely touching, believable, and genuine that it left the whole casting committee wiping away tears, and people in the audience reaching for Kleenex. It got me.

If you want to see a piece of that audition, you can view the clip here.

The film will play in select cities across the US. Click for official site.

Sophoan Sorn and Dir. James D. Stern

Dir. Adam Del Dio and Sophoan Sorn

SFIFF52 will run until May 7th. For all info, visit http://fest09.sffs.org

SFIFF52 Excites!

2009-04-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday morning, I had the fascinating opportunity to attend the Opening Press Conference of the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival, a presentation of the venerable San Francisco Film Society. The conference was held in the ornate Alexandra's Room of the landmark Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square.

Every year, there are a few festivals that I am dedicated to attend. Truly, one of them is SFIFF. I am deeply inspired by the glorious breadth and diversity of the films and programs of this festival, which is regarded as one of the top 5 in the United States, and one of the top 20 in the world. So, yesterday, my excitement for SFIFF returned!

Chris Wiggum of Global Films Initiative, Sophoan Sorn

Upon entry, I was greeted by this electrifying creation of a poster, exuding colorful vibrancy, uninhibited emotions, and confident expression. (see above) I smiled, proceeded for some complimentary croissants and orange juice, and then took my seat.

Graham Leggat, SFFS Executive Director; Programmers Linda Blackaby, Rod Armstrong, Sean Uyehara

SFIFF, now in its 52nd year, will be presenting a rich slate of 151 films from 55 countries, including over 98 features. The festival will open on April 23rd at the Castro with the hometown premiere of Peter Bratt's "La Mission," a vibrant film photographed in San Francisco's Mission District, a story of “transformation and reconciliation, set in a neighborhood often battling to end its own cycles of violence and conflict.”

Benjamin Bratt lights up "La Mission"

May 2nd welcomes Marc Webb's "500 Days of Summer" as the festival's Centerpiece, while Alexis Dos Santos' "Unmade Beds" will close the festival two weeks later on May 7th. The festival will honor Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Redford and James Toback at its annual Film Society Awards Gala at the St. Francis on April 30th. In addition to this Gala, three separate tribute programs will honor the three luminaries: a special presentation of the newly-restored widescreen print of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" with Robert Redford on April 29th, an interactive on-stage conversation with Francis Ford Coppola on May 1st, and a screening of "Tyson" with James Toback on May 2nd. The 3rd Annual Midnight Awards will honor Evan Rachel Wood and Elijah Wood on April 25th. There are $60,000 in prizes for documentaries in competition, and a $15,000 New Director's Prize! Over 80,000 people, along with 200 visiting filmmakers, luminaries, and innovators are expected to attend SFIFF52. The festival will take place in San Francisco at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the famed Castro Theatre, Clay Theatre; satellite screenings at the Premier Theater, the Roxie Theatre (celebrating its 100th anniversary this year!); and a primary east venue - the Pacific Film Archive in Berkeley. To see all details of the festival, visit SFIFF52 official website at http://fest09.sffs.org

"The Lost World" with new and original score by Dengue Fever

Lastly, I am very excited for the Live and On-Stage annual pairing of a silent or almost-silent film with a performance of live music and original score by some of today's most innovative musicians and composers. This year will be the presentation of Willis O'Brien's "The Lost World" with the Cambodian-American rock band, Dengue Fever on May the 5th. As a fellow Cambodian-American by birth and cultural immersion, merged with my ever-growing passion for cinema - I am looking forward to experiencing this!

Sean Uyehara, Rod Armstrong, Sophoan Sorn

"Fruit Fly" World Premiere at 27th San Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Fest

2009-03-15T23:47:00.000-07:00

As my car rolled into San Francisco earlier this evening, the weather, the people, and the traffic seemed calmer than usual. However, as I walked into the Castro Theatre for the 27th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival's World Premiere of its Centerpiece film, FRUIT FLY, a new musical from San Francisco filmmaker H. P. Mendoza - it felt as though all the energy of the City by the Bay was concentrated within this one venue with 1,400 excited patrons. I arrived right in time when the film began, and I rushed to a seat in second row, up-close-and-personal.

(Two photographs with the stars of FRUIT FLY.)

Nanrisa Lee, Sophoan Sorn, L.A. Renigen

Sophoan Sorn, Mike Curtis

As the days are drawing closer for my own festival, May's San Joaquin International Film Festival, I need to be energized, inspired, and even shocked! So, there I was, amongst 1,400 cinephiles...

FRUIT FLY (according to the Center for Asian American Media): "The composer and co-star of festival hit COLMA: THE MUSICAL (SFIAAFF '06) returns with a solo directorial debut that aims his poisoned pen and catchy Casio keyboards toward that never-dead city to Colma's north, San Francisco. Here we discover Bethesda (a radiant L.A. Renigen of COLMA fame), newly arrived from Maryland and Manila, eager to succeed in the performance art world and hoping to find her birth mother, who abandoned her as a child. ("Will that help with your show?," someone asks.) Her new flatmates, various artists united by their rootlessness (I won't be here long, is the whisper that lingers in these walls), soon whisk our young Dorothy over the rainbow and into San Francisco's alcoholic nights and hungover days, all filled with (of course) song and dance. The still-disoriented Bethesda finds herself saddled with quite a few new identities, but none that she actually wants; she's got plenty of places to go, but still nowhere to be for long. Funded by CAAM, FRUIT FLY represents a new generation of Asian American filmmaking; its deceptively casual mash-up and embrace of ethnic and sexual identity politics is nuanced enough to fuel a masters' thesis, but one doesn't need a degree to understand what's going on."

There were so many hilarious, witty, and shocking parts in the film. Whenever the audience laughed, they roared, instead. So, I found myself not being able to hear the next few seconds of dialogue until the laughs and cheers died down. This happened at least 50 times during the screening.

In his directorial debut, H.P. Mendoza painted an honest, uninhibited, and unconventional picture of San Francisco and San Franciscans. The commitment to creating a well-structured, and beautifully-filmed motion picture was astounding. They had three weeks (yes, three weeks) to shoot the film. The budget was very limited. They had hard-to-shoot locations, such as public transits. There were 19 musical scenes. And everything in between... Yet, on the big screen on this evening - the film rolled along smoothly. Congratulations to the excellent creative collaboration among H.P. Mendoza (who was the writer, producer, director, editor, musical director, songwriter), Cinematographer Richard Wong, all the cast and crew members and everyone involved in the creation of this film!

(In this video, Dir. Mendoza talks about the cinematic experience of San Francisco, his reflection the city, and the "infamous" new towers - The Infinity, which was talked about and mocked about, in the film. Please excuse the video shot from my simple point-n-shoot camera.)

• SFIAAFF opened on March 12th and will continue until March 22nd, in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose. All details at SFIAAFF Official Site
• H.P. Mendoza's Official Site
• Read San Francisco Chronicle Article

Meeting Michel Ocelot, SF Irish Film Fest

2009-03-07T01:18:00.000-08:00

I am back from an evening of wonder, magic, and cinema in San Francisco! The Spring Film Festival Season has begun and I'm back on the fabulous roads leading to cinematic discoveries at various film events and festivals near and far!

French animator Michel Ocelot smiles with Certificate (right), Sophoan Sorn, Opera Cinema Plaza, San Francisco
Special Thanks: Steve Rhodes ( view more photographs here )

French animator Michel Ocelot (right) and Sophoan Sorn, Opera Cinema Plaza, San Francisco

In the early evening, I arrived at San Francisco's Opera Plaza Cinema to attend the San Francisco - Bay Area Premiere of AZUR AND ASMAR the animated masterpiece that opened our 1st San Joaquin Children's Film Festival as a California Premiere in January. The best thing about this particular screening was that the film's creator, Mr. Michel Ocelot, was there in person. First off, I want to take this opportunity to thank my friend, Dave Jesteadt of the New York International Children's Film Festival, for his support of SJCFF 2009, and for connecting me with Mr. Ocelot and his magical film, AZUR AND ASMAR. I first heard of Mr. Ocelot when I read about his film KIRIKOU AND THE SORCERESS, which was embraced by people of all ages around the world. When I received the preview screener of AZUR AND ASMAR, and watched it for the first time, I moved to tears. It is truly a film that promotes humanity. The film has morally-essential messages, reflecting on brotherhood across cultural borders, compassion for women, friendship, forgiveness, peace, and unity. Personally, tonight was a magical evening for me to have met Mr. Ocelot in person. During the Q&A, I took the opportunity to thank him for sharing his talent with all of us, and that it was our honor to have presented his film at SJCFF 2009.

You can watch a video of my presentation to Mr. Ocelot with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the San Joaquin Film Society:

View synopsis, images, and trailer of AZUR AND ASMAR here. The film is currently on a National Tour. For showtimes, click here. Press: San Francisco Chronicles review.

At the screening, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet some wonderful people in the audience, among them, Ms. Karen Shapiro, a board member of the New York International Children's Film Festival. I was also able to share some extra SJCFF 2009 posters that I brought with me, as well.

Karen Shapiro, Sophoan Sorn

I took off for a delicious dinner, and drove through the busy streets of San Francisco. As I made my way down 16th street, I went towards the Roxie Theatre for the Closing Night of the 6th Annual San Francisco Irish Film Festival.

Sophoan Sorn at 6th San Francisco Irish Film Festival, Roxie Theatre

The 2-night festival showcased a collection of new short and feature films from Ireland. I was able to catch the Magners and Shorts programme, featuring seven short-length films. I made my way to the fourth row, found a center seat and relaxed. One of the things that I enjoyed was the community spirit of this festival. It felt like a family reunion! The screening room was filled with laughter, chit chats, and enjoyment. From the selection of short films, the two that thrilled me most were: Steph Green's 2009 Oscar®-nominated NEW BOY with its powerful story and intriguing young actors (Synopsis: "Based on a short story by Roddy Doyle, this multiple award-winning short tells the story of a young African immigrant whose first day at a new school proves challenging as he faces a series of confrontations with the class bully."); and Nicky Phelan's animated GRANNY O'GRIMM'S SLEEPING BEAUTY that made laugh, laugh, and laugh! (Synopsis: "Granny O'Grimm retells her version of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale to her granddaughter as a bedtime story. But Granny's version hits a little too close to home.")

All in all, it was a fabulous night!

First Parade Experience, Cinequest Again, TIME Mentions SJCFF

2009-03-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

It's truly been a very long day. I think I have been up for 18 hours now. In the world of filmmaking, that might be considered "normal," due to production pressures. However, today, my roles and tasks were quite simple.

photo credit: Tyler Nguyen

Earlier today, around noon time, I participated in the annual Stockton Chinese and Vietnamese New Year Parade. My friend, Tony, a young, local filmmaker supported me by being my driver. (Thanks, Tony!) My friend, Gene, generously loaned me his convertible for the parade. (Thanks, Gene!) I had bought two pots of bright, yellow chrysanthemums, and Tony had the bright idea of lining the petals at the front. (Thanks, Tony!) Because this was my first experience being in a parade, I spent nearly all my creative energy thinking about how I was supposed to wave and what I was supposed to do during the procession. May I add as well that I feel honored to have participated in the parade, as it is "natural" for me, because although I am of Cambodian descent, I do have some Chinese blood and I do have many Vietnamese relatives. So, as the car rolled down San Joaquin Street and made its way around Weber and Washington, I was smiling non-stop, waving and shouting "Happy New Year!" One of the funniest moments during the parade was when there was a deep silence as the vehicles came to a halt, and we turned on the radio. Immediately, Beyonce's new hit song "Single Ladies" came on, and I jokingly shouted out "Any single ladies?!?" We had great fun! I was so thrilled to see many familiar faces in the crowd. I was so thrilled to have been a part of this. Thank you to the CVNP committee. I look forward to more parades!

The California Theatre and 1st Street Lights Up!

In the early evening, I rushed through the mountains into the Silicon Valley for my second experience at the 2009 Cinequest Film Festival! It was so wonderful to turn right on 1st Street, and drive through the avenue filled with brilliant lights cascading overhead and seeing the bold red and black Cinequest banners gracing the light poles. My first film screening of the day was Serbian director Goran Markovic's dramatic and comedic TURNEJA (THE TOUR) (view clips), winner of the FIPRESCI Prize and Director's Prize at the 2008 Montreal World Film Festival.

Synopsis: Year 1993, the bleakest time of war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A group of actors from Belgrade, utterly unaware of what they're setting themselves up for, embark on a search for quick earnings - on a "tour" around the Serbian Krajina. However, there they are thrust into the heart of war and begin to wander from war front to war front, from one army to the next. I was so amazed by the wit and wisdom in this film. Each cast member played irrestible roles, pouring out their talent and personality. Dir. Markovic's screenplay was genius! (In fact, several people have regarded TURNEJA as Markovic's finest work!) I found myself absorbed in this poignant and candid story of the will and perserverance of artists during the time of war.

Sophoan Sorn, Cinematographer Keith Dunkerley, Director Oliver Cukor, Actress Sarah Louise Lilley of BLUE ROADS

From 7:00PM to nearly midnight, I attended the world premieres of two new American independent films: Rhett Lewis and Burke Lewis' eccentric, romantic comedy-drama BILLY WAS A DEAF KID (website); and Oliver Cukor's romantic road drama BLUE ROAD (website). BILLY... was quite raw, honest and insane at times. A reoccuring motif is a vintage orange sofa. Since the story took place in a very, very small town, the characters in the film spent some great time with the sofa, including screaming trips strolling (and rolling) down the hill and an unforgettable "sofa-wash" at the local carwash. The film had some shocking (and annoying) moments, yet it painted a portrait of unconventional people, in a daring way. And of course, the film was quite humorous. In BLUE ROAD, the two main characters had great chemistry. The pace of the film was quite gradual, and I was able to sit back and witness the picturesque landscapes and candid story. I was so amazed by the beautiful cinematography of Keith Dunkerley. BLUE ROAD was filmed on-location in 60 places across several states. Cinequest runs through March 8th. More details at Cinequest.org

Lastly, the San Joaquin Children's Film Festival got a mini plug in a recent Entertainment editorial in Time Magazine online, featuring the New York International Children's Film Festival. Click to read.

All in all, I am ready for a wonderful rest and, hopefully, a sunny Sunday!

The Slumdog Experience and First Night at Cinequest Film Festival

2009-02-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

I just arrived back from San Jose, having attended two programs of San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival, now in its 19th edition. Last year, I attended Cinequest for the first time, experienced a beautiful collection of films, and attended a special tribute to Michael Keaton. Cinequest is Silicon Valley's premier global film festival, and joins the San Francisco International Film Festival as the most-attended film festival in Northern California, with 80,000 festival attendants.

After grabbing some Starbucks hot chocolate, I arrived a little bit late for the screening of the Turkish road movie THE MARKET: A TALE OF TRADE by British director Ben Hopkins. The film, which made its World Premiere in Competition at the prestigious Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland, tells the story of Mihram: "An independent young market trader living in Eastern Turkey. His daily routine is composed of drinking, gambling, trading and bilking his customers for a profit. He dreams of one day having his own mobile phone business but he does not have the seed money to make it happen. One day, a female doctor calls upon his services--she wants to pay him to purchase medicine from abroad for children in a Turkish hospital. Mihram sees this as the perfect way to finally fulfill his dream. While putting his master plan in place, Mihram encounters the unexpected." I enjoyed the simplicity of the film, the dynamic and quirky characterism of Mihram and his uncle, and the picturesque landscapes of Eastern Europe and Eurasia. After a quick dinner, I rushed to experience SHORT PROGRAM 3: ANIMATED WORLD. The short program featured an eclectic collection of ten short films. I was intrigued by the diversity. However, I did have mixed feelings regarding the selection of films. I will only mention the position reactions: OUR WONDERFUL NATURE and LIFE ON A LIMB left the audience in roars of laughter; LIES was a visual feast with three captivating stories; INQUISITIVE SNAIL was cute. Jonas Odell's LIES (Sweden), winner of the 2009 Sundance Film Festival Jury Prize in International Short Filmmaking was very intriguing and fast paced. My only concern was the fact that the subtitling on LIES was immensely hard to read. Unless you could speak or understand Swedish, or have really, really good vision, you would miss some of the words! I'm looking forward to attending many more events of Cinequest, which runs February 25th to March 8th. More details at Cinequest.org

On Wednesday night, I rushed to Downtown Stockton and attended a late night screening of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. Yes, it's true: this was my very first time seeing this film which the world has been talking about. After having reviewed endless films for the San Joaquin Film Society events of 2009, I have not really had the time to see SLUMDOG. The synopsis: "As 18-year-old Jamal Malik (Dev Patel) answers questions on the Indian version of ``Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,'' flashbacks show how he got there. Part of a stable of young thieves after their mother dies, Jamal and his brother, Salim, survive on the streets of Mumbai. Salim finds the life of crime agreeable, but Jamal scrapes by with small jobs until landing a spot on the game show." I first read about this film last September through the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival - where SLUMDOG took home the People's Choice Award of the festival. After having read the synopsis for the first time, there was a deep interest in me to see the film. Five months flew by, and the film went on to become an astonishing global success, winning hearts and major accolades, including 8 Oscars on Sunday from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Congratulations!). Having been so busy with endless projects, I haven't even had a chance to step into a movie house as a theatre attendee for two months! So, I finally jumped in my car, turned on the car, switched gears, and rushed out to Downtown. As the lights dimmed, and the commercials and previews ended, the cinematic adventure began. I was glued to my seat for two hours, as I experienced this once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece by British filmmaker Danny Boyle. It was so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Have I expressed myself enough!? Even if I needed a bathroom break, I would not leave my seat. Even if the fire alarm were to go on, I would not leave my seat. I was so blown away by the deeply emotional and immensely powerful storytelling. My experience with SLUMDOG was extraordinary! The film affected me so much that I was in tears, driving home. This film is one of the few films that have made me realize the reason "why people want to be filmmakers!" I just fell in love with this film!

Québec Film Week in San Francisco

2008-12-14T23:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays! This has been quite a week of cinema for me (as usual, with every week). On Friday, I got a chance to catch MILK: Gus Van Sant's vibrant biopic of the late-Harvey Milk - certainly a powerful, artistic and driven tribute. On Thursday, we had the San Joaquin Film Society's Holiday Special Screening of CAROL'S JOURNEY / EL VIAJE DE CAROL, the Crystal Bear winner of the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival. (Thank you to all of you who came!) On Wednesday and today, I walked through the Civic Center district of San Francisco into Opera Plaza to attend the screening programs of Quebec Film Week, presented by the San Francisco Film Society and the cultural arms of the Government of Québec.

On Wednesday, I rushed to San Francisco in the morning, to breathe some San Francisco air, visit with friends, have lunch at the Pavilion at the SF Shopping Centre, and to attend the Opening Night of Quebec Film Week. I walked fast through Market Street, up Golden Gate, past City Hall, into Opera Plaza, got my ticket, and sat down for a quick shot of orange juice at Max's. Moments later, I was safe in one of the screening rooms of Opera Plaza Cinema. The first word that came to mind: cute. Certainly the room was, and certainly I got a great seat - in the middle of the room - not too far and not too close. The Opening Night film was MISSING VICTOR PELLERIN, a documentary-like, narrative drama from Director Sophie Deraspe.

Synopsis: In 1990, Victor Pellerin, a young painter and darling of the Montréal art scene, burns his work and disappears without a trace. Fifteen years later, the documentary filmmaker Sophie Deraspe revisits the events that led to his disappearance, meeting the people who were part of his inner circle and who succumbed to his troubled personality. Alternating between documentary and cinema vérité, Missing Victor Pellerin takes a close look at this charismatic character, exploring the contradictory points of view of those who knew him. (source)

Some of the people in the audience "believed" in the film to the point that they thought it was real. It was in fact: a fiction. It was probably because the film was directed and photographed in a documentary, "reality TV" style. (view footages here) Following the film, SFFS Executive Director Graham Leggat and Actor Sylvain Bouthillette engaged in an interactive Q&A with the audience. Then, we proceeded to Shimi Sushi restaurant for a reception.

Earlier today, I traveled through the rain from rainy Stockton to rainy San Francisco. I did not bring an umbrella. As I walked from San Francisco's City Hall to Opera Plaza, a fellow pedestrian looked at me and smiled: "Where is your umbrella?" I replied honestly with a smile: "I love walking in the rain." Moments later, I am warm and dry in my seat experiencing the absolutely beautiful, documentary film THE LAST CONTINENT directed by Jean Lemire (who was also there in person).

Synopsis: Filmmaker and marine biologist Jean Lemire (The White Planet) leads an intense 430-day expedition to Antarctica in this resonant documentary about a group of scientists investigating the effects of climate change. When the team arrives they discover that warmer temperatures causing upheavals in the ecosystem also threaten the safety of the crew members themselves. Awaiting the arrival of a desperately needed winter, they struggle to keep food supplies cold and the boat anchored against gale-force winds. With compassion and urgency, the film makes a compelling case for action, suggesting that the effects of global warming on our fragile world run far deeper than we can see. (source)

I was so intrigued and captivated by the courageous men and women who dedicated their lives for this amazing expedition. The film was beautifully-photographed in 24fps HD. The majestic Antarctica with its deepest blues and whitest whites, mixed with the amber, golden, and burning sunsets, and the candid contacts with the creatures - pulled my heart strings. I was moved to tears as I am reminded of God's amazing creations. In the film, I am also experienced: the human condition of longing to be with loved ones, as the expedition crew members had to be away from their families for so long; the environmental conditions of our planet; the beauty and vastness of nature. During the deeply-candid and interactive Q&A with Jean Lemire, he answered over 20 questions from the audience and we gained insights into his amazing experiences and his future endeavors. When asked about the most important lesson learned during the expedition, he simply answered in French: "Learn to compromise." (view official website)

I ended the evening in San Francisco by attending the screening of Lyne Charlesbois's provocative, nostalgic, captivating, and powerfully-told BORDERLINE.

Synopsis: Kiki’s life unfolds in three separate timeframes that overlap daringly in the scenario, as past selves brush past the present one and sometimes overwhelm it. This difficult journey down memory lane is engendered by her birthday, her attempt to write an autobiographical novel, and her grandmother’s increasing infirmity. As words, family and the ghosts of her past threaten to overwhelm her, she valiantly endeavors to confront her demons honestly without losing her sanity.

Overall, I had a wonderful sample of Quebec cinema. As I close, I want to wish Quebec: Happy 400th Birthday!

Of course, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you!

Congratulations, ILFS! San Jose, ILFF12 Closing Day

2008-11-24T00:50:00.000-08:00

To all my dear friends at the International Latino Film Society, CONGRATULATIONS on the success of the 12th International Latino Film Festival!

Sporting my ILFF12 Souvenir, With Love

From Sunday afternoon, I was in San Jose for the Closing Day's events. I attended the screenings of: PARAISO TRAVEL (Colombia/USA), based on Jorge Franco's novel, and ANOTHER LOVE STORY (Brazil - Closing Night Film), described as "Favela-Side Story" and a twist on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I attended the Closing Night Party at the Loft, and was engaged in very insightful conversations!

I had a fabulous time at this year's ILFF, which took place over the course of three weeks, in over 15 venues, in 8 cities across the Bay Area of California. When I was developing the San Joaquin Film Festival last year, prepping for its inauguration - I had my very first Latino film festival experience at ILFF. I was moved, motivated, and inspired during the days that I spent at the historic Castro Theatre in that November of 2007. I got acquainted with some amazing people with hearts of gold, and deep passion for cinema, the arts, and humanity.

Each film festival project is a dedication and a celebration of this amazing art of the cinema. The people working on a festival becomes so devoted, so ambitious, and so uninhibited. Seeing the International Latino Film Society complete another annual festival is very inspiring.

Because of my experiences this year attending all the wonderful cinematic events and because of all the amazing people I've come to meet - I am deeply motivated.

In the next couple of weeks, my blogs will be dedicated to some of my unreleased experiences this year, such as Cinequest Film Festival, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, IFP Independent Film Conference in New York City, among others.

So, lastly, I send my warmest wishes to Sylvia, Charlotte, Morgan, Luis, Damian, Misha, David and many others! And, since tis the season, I can say, as well: "Happy Holidays!"

P.S. In addition, I do believe that some film festivals (like ILFF) are holidays!
P.S.S. I'll be back!

Cinema Sunday by the Bay: SF Int'l Animation Fest, New Italian Cinema, ILFF VIP Brunch

2008-11-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, November 16th, I spent 12 wonderful hours in San Francisco. Although I was a bit sedated from not having received enough sleep on Saturday night, I was truly excited to journey to the Bay, and I had one of my dearest friends (and I regard her as my Filipina-Mexican sister), Jessica, join me on this journey. So, I had good company and my energy level was sugar high. We took off from Stockton around 9:30AM. Because it was a Sunday morning, we made a smooth trip through the mountains, hills, island, and bridges - and arrived at the Embarcadero Center One at 11AM.

Today's schedule:
• 11AM International Latino Film Festival's Filmmaker and Juror Brunch
• 1PM San Francisco Int'l Animation Festival - "Idiots and Angels"
• 3:30PM San Francisco Int'l Animation Festival - "Waltz with Bashir"
• 5:30PM Dinner
• 8:00PM New Italian Cinema Opening Night Reception
• 9:00PM New Italian Cinema Opening Night Film Napoleon and Me

The first thing that I wanted were the tickets to the San Francisco Int'l Animation Festival and the New Italian Cinema Opening Night. As soon as we got them, after roaming around the maze-like Embarcadero Center One (or was it Two, Three, or Four?), we rushed in the car up and down the hills and arrived at Regalito Rosticeria for the International Latino Film Festival's Filmmaker and Jurors Brunch. As soon as I got into the restaurant, I rushed to give Sylvia Perel (the fest's founder) a big hug, and she kindly introduced me and Jessica to the people there. I felt so much at home as we got acquainted with each other. We talked about our love for cinema and cinema festivals. I got to hear of June's experience as an instructor of language and ESL (English as a Second-Language), Damian's involvement with the ILFF for five years now while he still lives in Vallejo, and Sylvia's love for the piano because it was the music and passion of her father. I shared with them a bit of my growing-up stories, my hopes, my dreams, mixed with some humor. It felt like Thanksgiving dinner! The atmosphere of the Rosticeria was very quaint, and the food served was quite memorable: I had roasted chicken in molé sauce with Spanish rice and beans, along with a zesty juice made from fresh-squeezed lime. Of course, we couldn't resist taking photographs with each other, as these precious moments ought to be remembered. Thank you to Sylvia, Mischa and my friends at the International Latino Film Society for this awesome rendez-vous!

(P.S. The fabulous 12th International Latino Film Festival continues closes today in San Jose. Please attend if you are near. For more information: latinofilmfestival.org )

ILFS's Mishca MacLaird, Sophoan Sorn Director Ann Kaneko
(top pic: Sophoan S. and Jessica Hernandez)

Sophoan Sorn and Damian

After hugs, kisses, and goodbyes, Jessica and I rushed through the streets of S.F. and arrived at the Embarcadero Center around 1:15PM for the 3rd San Francisco International Animation Festival. We knew we were late, and as I looked up at the sign, we had parked in Embarcadero Center Four, instead of Embarcadero Center One, three blocks away. So, we power walked our way through the promenades lined with red cyclamen and Christmas decorations. I made a quick stop at the SFFS Box Office to get a pair of tickets for a friend who will join us later on in the evening. Then, we rushed up two stories to the entry of the Embarcadero Center Cinema.

We arrived in time to experience IDIOTS AND ANGELS, a new animated feature film by Oscar®-nominated, Indie Animation King, Bill Plympton.

Synopsis: Angel is a selfish, abusive, morally bankrupt man who hangs out as his local bar, berating the other patrons. One day, Angel mysteriously wakes up with a pair of wings on his back. The wings make him do good deeds, contrary to his nature. He desperately tries to rid himself of the good wings, but eventually finds himself fighting those who view the wings as their ticket to fame and fortune.

I sat there in amazement. It was so original, so different, so intense, and so memorable. It was a "Plymtoonian," masterpiece of animated film noir. Bill Plympton is admired by aspiring animators and cinema aficionados worldwide, for his captivating, raw talent and artistry. Bill has been known to draw every, single frame for his animated films, and he surely did for every, single frame of the 78-minute IDIOTS AND ANGELS. If I remember correctly, I think he said it was over 200,000 drawings!

You can watch trailers and clips at its official website at idiotsandangels.com

In this video, taking from a Q&A after the film screening, Bill shares a bit about the impetus and inspiration for him to create "Idiots and Angels."

I had a delightful conversation with Bill later on. I had to wait for a bit, because the entry to the theatre was buzzing with his beloved fans. He was so generous to give each one of them, including me, a signed postcard of "Idiots and Angels" with his autograph and a drawing of his famous Guard Dog.

And, of course... a photo-op. Bill, what a character!

Indie Animation King Bill Plympton and Sophoan Sorn

At 3:25, Jessica and I were in our seats, ready to experience Ari Folman's WALTZ WITH BASHIR (Israel, Germany, France), an immensely captivating, "animated documentary" about the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. WALTZ was the talk of the town at this year's Festival de Cannes, where it was in competition for the Palm d'Or. Many predicted that it would take home the prize, but unfortunately it did not. Regardless, it was a cinematic masterpiece worthy of many accolades and prizes. I was fascinated that it was not a "conventional war story." There was a scene in the film that showed a targeted car being chased. As the car sped through towns and villages, innocent bullets would hit innocent civilians, as houses and buildings were being blown up. Meanwhile, this car escaped every bullet and bomb. This film is like a portrait of war painted with unique colors, patterns, strokes, and emotions. BASHIR was so candid, deeply personal, affecting, and unforgettable.

Synopsis: One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there's a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can't remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images. (official website: waltzwithbashir.com)

Jessica and I went for a walk in search of a restaurant. For some odd reason, we did not need head east towards the Pier. We seriously thought that we were close to Chinatown, so we kept walking westward. It was Sunday night, and most of the establishments, including restaurants were closed, in our part of the city. We managed to arrive at The Banana, a restaurant serving Thai food. To be safe at Thai restaurants, I always order Pad Thai. Bear in mind that, at this moment, I was very tired and sleepy, so I grabbed a set of condiments and spiced up my meal with lots of dried and Thai pepper crumbs and soy sauce. I knew that we still had one more engagement to attend - the Opening Night of the 12th New Italian Cinema festival, also presented by the venerable San Francisco Film Society.

After a rush to the garage for a quick change, we were once again at Landmark Cinemas. Jessica and I were waiting for a call from Soco Aguilar, a producer from Mexico who was in the Bay Area to attend the screening of her animated film THE LEGEND OF THE NAHUALA (Mexico), which played at the Pickleweed Community Center in San Rafael, as part of the Int'l Latino Film Festival. I told her about tonight's Opening Night even and film, and she was excited and wanted to attend, as well. We had a wonderful time acquainted at the morning's brunch, and now we were all going to mingle again.

Moments later, Jessica and I were joined by Soco and Francisco. We walked through the doors into the reception, which was alive with excited, cinema aficionados. The Opening Night film of the 12th New Italian Cinema festival was NAPOLEON AND ME, starring Daniel Auteuil, Elio Germano, and the gorgeous Monica Bellucci - a film by Italian director Paolo Virzì. Paolo Virzì was honored with a Tribute this year at New Italian Cinema, with retrospective screenings of his directorial debut LIVING IT UP (1994) and HARDBOILED EGG (1997). He was there at the Opening Night. NAPOLEON AND ME was very entertaining, charming, historical, funny, and a bit tragic.

Synopsis: Elba island, 1814. Martino is a young teacher, idealist and strongly anti Napoleon, in love with the beautiful and noble Baroness Emily. The young man finds himself serving as librarian to the Great Emperor in exile, whom he deeply hates, yet soon begins recording Napoleon's memoirs, getting to know and learning to value the man behind the myth. Among seductions and affairs, expectations and fears, he will craft a precise portrait that nevertheless will not manage to hide a final, inevitable, disappointment. (source)

The reception had some scrumptious and delightful foods, including some pita bread and tomato garnish that left me coming back for more, about three times. Of course, it was delightful having conversations. In my conversation with Soco Aguilar, among many things, I discovered that she's a dear friend of Sebastian Silva, the director of NONNA'S TRIP (Mexico), the film that opened our 2008 San Joaquin Film Festival.

Later in the evening, right before we headed into the theatre for the screening of NAPOLEON AND ME, I had a wonderful chat with Graham Leggat, the Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Society. We had met for the first time, very briefly, at the Opening Night gala of the 52nd San Francisco International Film Festival in April. I told him about my admiration for him, for his work, for his leadership; and how inspired I am by the amazing San Francisco Film Society.

Graham Leggat, Executive Director of SFFS, and Sophoan Sorn

Producer Soco Aguilar and Sophoan Sorn

Francisco C., Soco Aguilera, Graham Leggat, Sophoan Sorn, Jessica Hernandez
(photo credit: Justin Wambolt-Reynolds)

All in all, it was a fabulous Sunday by the Bay. Thank you Jessica for joining. Thank you to everyone who made my November 16th a "November to Remember..."

I'll be back (very soon)!

12th Int'l Latino Film Festival in San Francisco Opening Weekend + Bloggin' for One Year!

2008-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's been ONE YEAR (and 9 days) since I started the Director's Blog! It's been F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S!

So, I'll just move along, and blog some more!

Let's talk about traditions: my film festival traditions. Every year, there are certain film festivals that I cannot miss. My November film festival tradition is the International Latino Film Festival (ILFF) in the San Francisco-Bay Area, presented by the International Latino Film Society. Dates of the fascinating 12th ILFF are November 7 to 23, 2008, in 15 venues in San Francisco, San Jose, Redwood City, San Mateo, San Rafael, Berkeley, Larkspur, and San Bruno.

(...and may I add: my very first festival experience blog was on the 11th International Latino Film Festival!)

So, in the afternoon of Friday, November 7th, 2008, I rushed in my car, and headed into the Bay Area! It was so nice to be back in San Francisco, and to be in the company of my friends at the ILFS/ILFF. It's an honor to have been invited to be on the International Jury Panel of ILFF2008, to judge the films in the Women and Film category. Thank you, my friends at ILFS, for this honor and for having me as a guest.

Around 5:00PM, I arrived, and had a quick dinner, chomping down on Pad See Eiw, while flipping through the gorgeous, colorful ILFF program. Then, I walked over to my car and changed into a formal outfit. There were helicopters swarming overhead and police cars all around as tens of thousands marched and demonstrated re: California Prop 8. I had to cross the street where the people marched. After twenty-something "excuse me's" with a smile, I managed to get to the other side of the street, and walked to the historic Castro Theatre. There, I attended the Opening Night of the 12th ILFF, for a screening of "Cachao: Uno Mas." I walked down the aisle and found a seat in 5th row, center. Even in movie theatres, I like to be "up close and personal" with the screen.

Synopsis: A glimpse into the maestro’s life and music, “CACHAO: Uno Mas” pays tribute to one of the greatest Afro-Cuban musicians of all time, Israel López ‘Cachao’. This 68-minute documentary, produced by the DOC Film Institute at San Francisco State, features a live concert in San Francisco and interviews with musical collaborators Andy Garcia, John Santos, Ray Santos and Orestes Vilató who help trace Cachao's musical journey from his early days in Cuba to worldwide fame and recognition.

The film was very entertaining, with candid interviews with Cachao, with his personal driver, with his daughter, Andy Garcia, John Santos, and many people in his life and who were affected through his life, inspiration and humanity. I got a chance to "get acquainted" with Cachao. The documentary painted a beautiful, vibrant and lively portrait of a man with a heart of gold, a humor that leaves you inspired, and a musical gift that uplifts your heart, soul and spirit. I sat there, smiling, tapping my toes to the beautiful performances of Cachao and his band. When I saw Cacho's passion for music, I am reminded of my grandfather, whose love for Cambodian traditional music keeps him playing and entertaining, even at this age of 80. When I saw Cacho's love for his wife, I am reminded of my father. So, there were moments of joy, laughter and tears. They were moments when I felt connected to the film. Truly, beautiful!

After the film screening, I drove up to the Hotel Kabuki at Japan Town, and attended the Opening Night Party, splendidly-titled NOCHE CUBANA! The atmosphere was festive and thrilling, as we experienced and danced to the bold music of 4-time, Grammy-nominated John Santos and his sextet, and the beats orchestrated by DJ Nica. I had a great time getting acquainted with new people and carrying on conversations with dear friends, such as ILFS's Founder and Director Sylvia Perel, Morgan, Charlotte, Luis, among others. We took a boatload of photographs together, too! (see below)

I was hoping to be there at ILFF2008 from Friday to Sunday, but I could not attend on Saturday, although Saturday had a party dedicated to the celebration of Women and Film. I could not attend because I was scheduled to perform a piano concert at the Stockton Empire Theatre. After 12 years of playing piano, and having performed in many places - especially churches - this was a bit of a "homecoming." This was my very first performance before to the Stockton public. It was part of the 1st Avenue Autumn Showcase sroll and concert program, presented by the Miracle Mile of Stockton. So, to have attended the screening of "CACHAO," boosted my musical energy! When I had a quick chat with John Santos at the ILFF2008 Opening Night party, I told him about my piano concert, and he he smiled at me and said, "Don't be nervous!" So, as soon as I stepped out to the piano, in my all-white outfit, I felt very comfortable. I played a 17-song set nonstop, with one performance featuring dance artist Lisa Rie (see picture), and two Christmas numbers with my vocalist sister, Sofia. The concert featured original compositions, unique arrangements, covers, and tributes, pop, neo-classical, traditional - it was eclectic! I dedicated the concert to my grandparents, who are my angels. They sat front row, and grandma was there even though she had to bring her oxygen tank with her. I love them so dearly. All in all, I had an amazing time!

On Sunday morning, I finally, finally, FINALLY had the opportunity to sleep-in. So, I slept through as much of the morning as possible. Then, I had a scrumptious lunch, watched some films, and at 2:30PM, rushed out again to San Francisco for more ILFF!

It was my first time at the Brava Theatre (Brava! Women for the Arts) on 24th street. I especially loved the foyer, with a mirror ball slowly spinning and reflecting pieces of light around the walls. I had some quick conversations with the folks there, and we even talked about my childhood memories of watching Spanish soap operas (yes, I did). I was able to attend the screening of three films this evening: "El brindis / To Life," "Spinnin'" and "La Antena / The Aerial." Each film had unique, and well-told stories, from forbidden love, to unconventional families; to an "almost-silent" film about a city, literally, no voice.

Smiling in the Brava, Nov. 9, 2008

Well, it's only been three days, and the festival lasts until the 23rd! That's two more weeks!

So, I'm looking forward to attending more fabulous events and screenings of ILFF2008, and I hope that you would too!

Official Website: www.latinofilmfestival.org/2008

Below are some memorable photographs:

A photograph with the Board of the International Latino Film Society

With my dear friend, Sylvia Perel, Founder and Director of the ILFS/ILFF

The gifted John Santos and Sophoan Sorn

Sophoan Sorn and DJ Nica (Luis Calero)

Carlos Calero and Sophoan Sorn

Peggy, Morgan, Moi, and Friends

Dear Zachary, an Unforgettable Film at the 2008 San Francisco Int'l Documentary Film Festival

2008-10-23T19:36:00.001-07:00

On Monday, October 20th, I made a little trip to the San Francisco International Documentary Film Festival, now in its 7th year. I arrived at the quaint Roxie Theatre, and entered the "Little Roxie," a small screening room, to catch the Monday night screening of three documentaries: "Belonging" and "San Francisco: Still Wild At Heart" (presented by the United Nations Association Film Festival); and Kurt Kuenne's acclaimed "Dear Zachary."

According to the synopses, “Belonging” is a reflection on the convergence of environmental science and spiritual reverence for nature’s beauty, while "San Francisco: Still Wild at Heart" explores a story behind a wild coyote's surprise appearance on San Francisco's Bernal Hill and asks: "Where did he come from and how could he arrive at this small oasis of prairie grassland in the heart of a modern American city?" Both were beautiful documentaries.

DEAR ZACHARY

"Dear Zachary" Official Poster

Synopsis: On November 5, 2001, Dr. Andrew Bagby was murdered in Pennsylvania by Dr. Shirley Turner, who fled the United States for St. John's, Newfoundland, where she announced that she was pregnant with Andrew's child. She named the little boy Zachary. Filmmaker Kurt Kuenne, Andrew's childhood friend, originally began this film as a way for little Zachary to learn about his father -- until Shirley Turner, whom Canada allowed to walk free on bail while awaiting extradition to the United States, killed again.

I first heard of "Dear Zachary" (a true story of friendship, love, loss, and a travesty of justice) while attending San Jose's Cinequest Film Festival earlier this year, where the film was honored with the Special Jury Award for Documentary Feature and Audience Award. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend a screening. And recently, I was informed by Kurt that his film would be screening at SF Doc Fest. So, this was my opportunity. The first time I visited the film's website, I was moved to tears when I listened to the musical reflection and tribute "Andrew," composed and conductor by Kurt Kuenne. (go to www.dearzachary.com and click on "music") Before I even had the opportunity to view this film, I was shocked by the devastating story, yet I did not know what to expect until Monday night.

Around 9:40PM, I walked back into the "Little Roxie" and as soon as I got into my seat, "Dear Zachary" began playing on the screen. First off, the film was skillfully and beautifully edited, impacting the storytelling with visuals and footages, candid interviews, impactful sound and music - crafting a very effective documentary film. I was struck. "Dear Zachary" was an extremely powerful, personal, and phenomenal film that made me devastated and emotional beyond comprehension. What moved me even more was the selfless dedication of the parents of the late Dr. Andrew Bagby - Kathleen and David Bagby - who sacrificed their lives for Zachary, to gain his custody, to fight for justice, and for spearheading an on-going activism to bring change in the bail system. Award-winning writer, director, and composer Kurt Kuenne brilliantly shaped this documentary into such a detailed and dynamic story that I am having a hard time typing this review. I must say that although I have seen many, many films - thus far and for the years to come - this is one that I will remember for the rest of my life.

I got a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with Kathleen and David Bagby, who were there for the screening and a Q&A session. What amazing human beings they are!

Sophoan Sorn, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby

Kurt, here's a message for you:

View Video Message
(for slower computers, click the play button, hit pause immediately, and let video buffer)

It has been announced that "Dear Zachary" will launch the newly created MSNBC Films division of MSNBC. A television premiere will be announced for the Fall of 2008. Check the film's website for details.

Resources:

• "Dear Zachary", a feature documentary film by Kurt Kuenne
www.dearzachary.com

• San Francisco Int'l Documentary Film Festival, October 17 to November 6, 2008
www.sfindie.com

• United Nations Association Film Festival, October 19 to 26, 2008
www.unaff.org/2008

Congratulations, Almudena!

2008-09-10T21:00:00.000-07:00

The San Joaquin Film Society congratulates Director Almudena Carracedo on receiving multiple nominations for her exemplary and humanitarian documentary Made in LA:

Emmy
• The National Academy Television Arts and Science's 29th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards in the category of "Outstanding Continuing Coverage of a News Story, Long Form"
www.emmyonline.org

UPDATE: Congratulations to Almudena for winning the Emmy!

ALMA
• The National Council of La Raza's 2008 ALMA Award in the category for "Outstanding Made-for-Television Documentary." Tune in on Friday, September 12th for the telecast of the ALMA Awards on ABC 8/7c.
www.almaawards.com

Imagen
• The Imagen Foundation's 23rd Annual Imagen Awards for "Best Documentary for Television"
www.almaawards.com

Made in LA is the 2008 honored film of the San Joaquin International Film Festival's Spirit of Humanity Award.

Almudena Carracedo and Sophoan Sorn on June 7th, 2008

More NGFF Moments and More Memories to Come!

2008-09-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

In the next couple of weeks, I will be going back in time, reflecting on film festivals that I attended this year, but have not blogged about, such as Cinequest San Jose Film Festival, San Francisco Independent Film Festival, San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, etc.

International Director of Photography Don McAlpine and Sophoan Sorn

Will Bigham and Sophoan Sorn

Mrs. Bigham and Sophoan Sorn

Group Picture at NGFF Finale Dinner

RECAP: After attending the Opening Night of the California Next Gen Film Festival, I decided to attend as much of the festival as I could. So, I managed to attend all the days of the festival, even if it was just a one-hour session. So, on Day Two, I attended a Panel Conversation with legendary cinematographer Don McAlpine and "On the Lot" finalist, director Will Bigham. Both shared their personal experiences and wisdom. Don, himself, is a legendary cinematographer (director of photography) who have photographed over 50 feature films in his career, including Moulin Rouge, Romeo + Juliet, Peter Pan, The Chronicles of Narnia, Stepmom, Mrs. Doubtfire, and the list goes on and on. Don is a major advocate for the future of digital filmmaking, and Will described himself as a "next generation" type of filmmaker. Another highlight was when Will acknowledged that "Moulin Rouge" (photographed by Don McAlpine) was one of the catalysts that inspired Will to want to go into filmmaking. On Day Three, I was able to make it for the session on the RED camera and its revolution in the film industry. I was blown away by the breathtaking images. And even the stellar 2k projection that we were able to experience was not tapping the full potential of this camera, which was 4k. For a 4k, it would have been even more amazing to project on a screen twice and large and twice as high. (Bear in mind, the screen used to project images at this festival was gigantic already) On Day Four, I attended the screening of the last few films and the Awards ceremony. "Aquarium," San Joaquin Film Festival 2008's Best Student Film, was the last film to screen at the Next Gen Film Festival. Immediately before the Awards program, I was able to do a brief interview with Don McAlpine. I will publish the interview soon. After the event was over, I had a wonderful time interviewing the primary organizers of the festival, Jaime Gonzalez and Hatzune Aguilar (that video footage will also broadcast from our online station soon). Then, I was invited to join the festival team for a celebration dinner at a nearby Japanese restaurant. I had a great time getting acquainted with the people around the dinner table. For me, the greatest joy of doing anything is building bridges and building friendships. So, to all my new friends that I made at NGFF08, we shall keep in touch. Best wishes to all!

Check out California Next Gen Film Fest!

2008-08-29T21:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening, I rushed out of Stockton and headed to our northern neighbor Sacramento, to experience the Opening Night of the Inaugural California Next Gen Film Festival 2008. I experienced an exciting atmosphere, where the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium was turned into an intimate and gorgeous showroom: part fine art gallery and part high-definition screening room. Warm colored lights bathed the gilded columns and spotlights gave the venue a glamorous feeling. The projection was crisp, clear and colored, as expected of the Christie HD projector provided for the screening of over 40 short films, new media, and videos to be screened at this four-day festival.

The evening began with a live feed of Barack Obama's monumental, presidential nomination address. To this moment, I cannot find the words to describe my reaction to something that touched my heart so much - of his sincerity, his resolution, his honesty, his hope, and his faith. Just amazing! It was followed by remarks by Sacramento's Mayor Heather Fargo, then, the California Film Commission Chair Stan Brooks; then Jaime Gonzalez, President of NGFF; and Hatzune Aguilar, Director of NGFF. The Innovative Artists Panel followed with APOCALYPTO star Rudy Youngblood, Director Demian Lichtenstein, Adam Del Rio, and Lauren Greenfield. Stan Brooks shared about the need for grassroots organizations to revive California as a destination for filmmakers, because so many production houses and filmmakers have sought other places around the world to make films. The Innovative Artists Panel discussed their careers, their inspiration, and the power of digital filmmaking and new media. This was followed by the screening of three short and featurette films SEBASTIAN'S VOODOO, BETHROTHED, and KIDS + MONEY. I must say again: Watching the HD projection was absolutely gorgeous! Greenfield's film KIDS + MONEY was one of the highlights of the evening, as it portrayed the opinion of teens in Los Angeles, California and their "relationship" with money: "...getting it, spending it, and learning to live without it." Personally, I became a bit self-conscious watching the film. I won't go into details. (Haha)

It was truly inspiring to see this dream come true for Jaime, Hatzune, and collaborators who dedicated over a year creating NGFF. Congratulations!

Afterwards, I attended an after-party at the Dream Ultra Lounge, where had a fun time mingling, socializing, smiling, laughing, and getting acquainted with some wonderful people of NGFF and friends.

I encourage you to make time tonight and this weekend to attend and support NGFF, which began last night and runs until Sunday, August 31st.

For more information, go to the official website at: www.nextgenfilmfest.org

See you there!

pictures: [1] rudy youngblood and sophoan at opening night party [2] jaime gonzalez delivers opening remarks [3] sophoan [4] hatzune aguiler and sophoan

The Frameline32 Experience

2008-07-02T19:00:00.000-07:00

I wanted to see the vibrant, explosive, festive, uninhibited and diverse Frameline32 - San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival. I was there for select programs during the weekend, at the famous Castro Theatre.

In such a fast-moving world we are in today - it is good for us to stop, look, listen - and live.

BUZZZZZZZZZZZZ

There were highly-provocative and daring films shown, as expected. What was so amazing was the audience. I was literally touched by their overwhelming excitement and enthusiasm. They defined the word "buzz!." They were so happy, so thrilled, so excited to be at Frameline32. I was reminded of the Opening Night of our 1st International San Joaquin Film Festival, where we showcased "El Viaje de La Nonna"; and our Saturday night showcase of "Honeydripper" (starring Danny Glover).

These were experiential moments that cannot be fully described in words.

Among the several programs that I had the opportunity to attend, below are three memorable films:

WERE THE WORLD MINE

On Friday, I attended the screening of "Were the World Mine" by Director Tom Gustafson. It was a musical extravanga with a balance of entertainment value, humor, wit, and charm - with some inspiration from Shakespeare. There were so many moments where I felt the festive vibe of the audience, as they would laugh and cheer during the many, many enjoyable scenes of the film. There were many beautiful moments in the film, including: dazzling sets, colors, and lighting; captivating songs; heartfelt moments between characters; and singing athletes! The film brought many smiles to my face.

The synposis: "An outcast in his town's homophobic community, Timothy's spirit soars when his eccentric teacher casts him in A Midsummer Night's Dream [as Puck]. After discovering a love potion, Timothy puckishly begins to turn his closed-minded town gay. He soon commands the love he desires and deserves. But once he reluctantly returns the towns free will, negating the potion, he is surprised by what remains."

THE KINSEY SICKS: ALMOST INFAMOUS

Saturday evening called for a humorous, touching, and inspiring documentary on the Kindsey Sicks, a group of four entertainers who describe themselves as "America’s only self-supporting, multi-person, out, queer, drag-a-pella, political comedy revue." Their documentary "Almost Infamous" made its premiere at Frameline32 on that evening.

On Sicks' website: "...a documentary by Ken Bielenberg and Alonzo Ruvalcaba... The film catches up with the group at a pivotal moment. They have been touring college campuses and music clubs, carrying out their own brand of missionary work. But now opportunity intrudes: they have accepted an offer for an open-ended run in Las Vegas. The film follows them to Sin City, where the pressures of the Big Time begin to take a toll on their relationships, their artistic integrity and their sanity. Ride the roller coaster to Opening Night - but be sure to buckle your seatbelt." The film was candid, and gave the audience a look into the personal life of each member. There were many scenes of their performances and rehearsals, where they gave performances of hilarious parodies of popular songs (even Holiday carols).

After the show, I met one of the members, Chris Dilley. Of course, since they had a Vegas show, I had to ask about my favorite singer, Celine Dion, who had finished an astronomical-successful 5-year run at the end of last year. I asked Chris if he had a chance to see Celine. He said, "Of course, there was nothing else to see BUT her!" We both laughed together.

BREAKFAST WITH SCOT

The Closing Night Film of Frameline32 was truly a heartwarming and charming, hockey-comedic film, from Canada, called "Breakfast with Scot."

Synopsis from the film's website: "Eric (Tom Cavanagh) lives for all things hockey. Now in his thirties, he's managed to turn his stint as an ex- Toronto Maple Leaf into a full-time gig as commentator for sports TV. He's living the dream! [Soon] they're to become temporary guardians of a young boy, Eric's comfortable world shatters. Enter Scot (Noah Bernett) -- a recently orphaned, swishy 11-year-old sissy-of-a-boy -- and Eric's mirror opposite. Freaked out by Scot's 'joie de vivre', Eric and Sam gently nudge Scot away from scented hand cream and all things pink, towards a more 'acceptable' pastime -- hockey. But after Scot's disastrous first game, Eric begins to rethink the compromises he's made in his own life in order to be 'accepted'."

As I watched the film, I noticed the dynamic characters, as they deal with conflicts, of the past, the present, and the future. It gives the audience a perspective of the "unconventional" family, in our progressive world. The film itself had hilarious moments and bittersweet moments - a great blend with the setting of the film in the Christmas - Holiday Season.

It was beautiful.

Michael Lumpkin (Frameline's Exec. Dir) and Sophoan Sorn

The Castro Lights Up

FINALLY...

Overall, I had a fun time in San Francisco for the weekend.

SFIFF51 Story: Meant to be...

2008-04-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

Greetings!
Yes, it's 1:50AM.

I just came back from the Opening Night Gala and Party of the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival ( SFIFF51 )

And there is one word to describe it:

E X T R A O R D I N A R Y

Here's my story for the evening: I was so lucky, because I drove into SanFrancisco expecting that my chances of getting tickets to the gala were 50/50, because they no longer sold the tickets online and I had to drive all the way to the city, to get in line, and to see if they have any. So, amazingly, I arrived at the SFIFF Ticket Outlet to find out that all tickets for the Opening Night were sold out. FYI (Film + Party = $85; VIP = $125) As I was talking to my ticket agent, we engaged in a little conversation, and all of a sudden, he pulled out his wallet and gave me his Opening Night Party ticket. I could not believe my eyes. He said that he could not make it and he was planning to give his ticket away - and he chose me. I gave him my business card, and he was surprised to know that I'm also a festival director. So, I took down his address and I will be sending him some complimentary vouchers to attend some of our festival events.

Another amazing thing happened when I arrived at the Castro Theatre. I already got my party ticket, now, I needed my film ticket. So, I got into the stand-by line. Then, there was a lady going around selling her tickets. She had a VIP set of party and film. Since I already have the party ticket, I wanted to buy her film ticket. Unfortunately, she wanted to sell both. 10 minutes later she came back to where I and the people were, and she offered to sell her ticket. She was willing to sell it, but the folks around me all wanted her to break a change for them. I had the exact amount, and with a big smile, she handed the ticket to me. As I walked into the theatre, I took a center seat, in the VIP section and enjoyed a beautiful film by The French Director Catherine Breillat. Prior to the film, I was very impressed by the charisma of the festival's executive director, Graham Leggat, who blended wit, charm and humor into his welcoming statements to the festival. He also mentioned that the SanFrancisco Film Society, the organization that presents the SFIFF, will be constructing a Film Center that will open by 2011. The SFIFF attracts at each festival an astounding attendance of 80,000+ people. After the screening, there was Q&A with the film's director Catherine Breillat. I stood up and asked the second question of the evening: "Madame, it is an honor to have you here and to showcase your magnificent. As you are an artist, and your work is a part of you - were there experiences in your own life that inspired and shaped what we saw on screen this evening?" She gave a long and wonderful answer in French (and translated by her translator), which ended with "Paris is a amazing, and I strive to be like Paris." We all cheered.

The Last Mistress

After the film, I headed towards the Metreon, to the City View Rooftop for their AMAZING party. There were at least 500 people up there. There were strobe lights, atmospheric lights, searchlights, live music, thousands of hors d'oeuvres, drinks, photographers, people, etc. It was just amazing. At the party, one of the first people I spoke with was Executive Director Graham Leggat. I shared with him about our 1st InternationalSan Joaquin Film Festival. He was delighted that we will be showcasing the Israel Award Winning film "Souvenirs," which won Best Documentary at last year's SFIFF. And I look forward to possible partnership with the San Francisco Film Society by next year's festival. The San Francisco Film Society is among the Top 5 film organizations in America, and among the Top 20 film organizations in the world.

The 51st San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) will last from now until May the 8th.

www.sfiff.org

Hopefully, you would be able to attend, and experience Northern California's most illustrious, world-class film festival.

So, that's it for now.
I'm off to bed and another beautiful day awaits.

My best to each of you.

Sincerely,
Sophoan

Santa Barbara, Angelina Jolie, Noodles, Fabulous!

2008-02-04T22:26:00.000-08:00

I drove over 1000 miles during the weekend.

I headed down to Santa Barbara for the 23rd SBIFF - Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Throughout the week, I have been watching the festival's podcasts and viewing photographs of the various entertainment talents that were honored at this year's festival. So, I was excited to drive down to Santa Barbara for this exciting festival.

This was my first time down there, and as I passed through Ventura, I noticed the beautiful Pacific Ocean. And to my right and left were palm trees and thousands of Bougainvillea. Indeed, it was welcoming.

ANGELINA and PIXAR

I was able to spend my Saturday and Sunday late-afternoons and evenings in Santa Barbara. Saturday's highlights were: the inspiring documentary "The Pixar Story;" followed by a conversation with the delightful, humorous, and captivating director Brad Byrd; and then an evening at the Arlington, where SBIFF honored Angelina Jolie with an Outstanding Performance of the Year Award for her role in "A Mighty Heart." I can honestly say that Angelina won my heart. She carried on a conversation with an interviewer for well over an hour, sharing her life experiences, and the movies of her career, thus far. She has a winsome and honest personality. She talked briefly about Cambodia and about her son, Maddox, who was adopted from there. I smiled, because I am Cambodian. Clint Eastwood made an appearance to give Angelina the award. In attendance was also Brad Pitt (see picture below).

It was a night to remember!

NOODLE

On Sunday, I attended the screening of a film from Israel called "Noodle." I was emotionally touched.

Here is a brief description as given by the PSIFF: This touching comic drama centers on a twice-widowed El Al flight attendant and her quest to reunite a young Chinese boy and his migrant worker mother, who has been summarily deported from Israel.

There is not much more that I can say. In fact, I am speechless. It was truly heartfelt. There were no dry eyes in the theatre. Not even mine.

Later on, I attended a shorts program filled with works of talented filmmakers, some who are students. I was quite entertained by Kel O'Neill's "Beg, Borrow, or Steal." I, myself, enjoy the art of photography and the experience of being a photographer. Honestly, I have dropped a Mamiya before, although I have not begged, borrowed, nor stolen anything of that caliber!

Congratulations to Roger Durling and the SBIFF team. I'll be back!

Luc Plamondon's Blessings; Celine Dion's "A New Day..." DVD

2008-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, December 15th, I attended the Grand Finale of the world's best-selling female vocalist Celine Dion's Las Vegas phenomenon "A New Day..."

Prior to entering the grand Colosseum, I met several celebrities, including the highly-revered David Foster, and notable individuals of the Francophone (French) music world - with the highlight being the legendary Luc Plamondon.

Mr. Plamondon is a French-Canadian lyricist, regarded as the Greatest Lyricist of the Francophonie. He has written for many artists, including Celine Dion (who dedicated an entire album to his work in 1991); and has written musicals such as "Starmania" and "Notre Dame de Paris." In 2002, he was honored as an Officer of the Order of Canada, and in 2003, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

He and I had a wonderful, brief conversation together. I shared with him about my heritage as a Cambodian and about the San Joaquin Film Festival. He gladly sent his wishes for us through his words and autograph. What an honor! Merci beaucoup, Monsieur Plamondon!

More about "A New Day..." It was the 723rd performance of a show that has sold-out in the last five years, with 3 million fans in attendance, grossing over $400 million, and is the biggest show in the history of entertainment. I was very fortunate to have seen the show many times. I was even there for the DVD taping, where I sat in the 2nd row, front and center. You can see me in the DVD during the performances several times. The video production was absolutely stunning. The show was filmed in stunning, high definition over the course of five days. It was screened across the world and "one-night-only" in theatres across America on December 17, 2007; and is now available for purchase worldwide with subtitles in nine languages. Blu-Ray coming in February!

Diego's Blessings & The 11th Int'l Latino Film Festival: Film-Filled Weekend!

2007-11-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

I truly had a very fun weekend. I was able to celebrate the art of the cinema along with film lovers and filmmakers. There will be two parts to this. In this film-filled weekend adventure I experienced the 11th Latino International Film Festival and I also attended a screening of an emotionally-moving documentary called "Out of the Poison Tree." More information on this film at www.goodfilmworks.com

DIEGO

On Saturday in the afternoon, I took off for San Francisco to attend the 2nd days' events of the 11th Latino International Film Festival. This late aternoon and throughout the evening, the spotlight was on Mexican superstar Diego Luna. I wanted to be there in San Francisco in time for the screening of his directorial debut with the premiere of his documentary on legendary boxer J.C. Chavez. There were some things held back in Stockton that made it so that I was unable to make it to San Francisco in time. In addition, it was early Saturday evening, and people from around the Bay Area and the Central Valley wanted to have fun in the CITY as well. So, I was stuck in traffic, from Livermore, to Dublin, to Oakland, to the Bay Bridge. I arrived to the district around the Castro Theatre only to find that parking was a luxury. After roaming around the nearby streets for almost half an hour, I found a parking spot that was only a block away from the theatre. I looked at my watch, and I knew I had missed the Premiere of "J.C. Chavez," and the program "A Conversation with Diego Luna." In addition, I looked at my clock and the movie that starred Diego, called "The Night Buffalo" was scheduled to begin about ten minutes prior. So, I just made my way to the Will Call area, picked up my tickets. I talked to the ticket people for a few minutes and they me that the movie "The Night Buffalo" had just begun. So, I smiled, and thanked them. I opened the door and as I entered into the little foyer, Diego was three feet from me. It was seriously "meant to be." A little crowd began to form, and the light of the Univision camera was on him as he answered in Spanish to the local TV interviewer. Then he turned to me and I approached him. Prior to this moment, I did not even pick up any brochures of the festival nor pre-purchased any Diego Luna "headshot" promo pics (By the way, where would I have found these, anyway?). So I reached into my portfolio and grabbed a postcard of my festival - the San Joaquin Film Festival 2008. I told Diego briefly about my festival and my admiration of his work as a talented actor. He looked at me and smiled. Then, he looked closer at the postcard. Then I said, "You know, maybe if you cannot come - you might be able to come 'in spirit.'" I remembered the expression on his face as he looked at the postcard and reading it - as he slowly wrote down his blessings in the words: "GOOD LUCK." He paused a little more to read. Then, he wrote "SALUD!" He took more time to read and then, finally, gave a part of himself through his signature.

What a moment to remember.

Unfortunately, I did not bring a camera with me. However, I know that we will have the opportunity to meet and talk with each other again in the future. Hopefully, I will be fluent in Spanish by then!

Following this, I watched "The Night Buffalo" / "El Bufalo de La Noche" a film from Mexico, starring Diego Luna. The film is raw, thrilling, and suspenseful. It is also a very personal film - where the emotions of each character reaches beyond the screen into the minds and thoughts of the patrons of the theater.

A VIBRANT FESTIVAL CELEBRATING 11 YEARS!

On Sunday night, I was late again. I was late with a good excuse : "Out from the Poison Tree" (You will read about this in a few days). Tonight, I experienced the Castro Parking deja vu. After I have found my parking spot, I arrived in time to view a film called "Glue." It is a very effective film capturing the experience on an adolescent young man, his mistakes, his desires, his honesty (and dishonesty), and moments of his life as he discovers himself. After the screening, there was a Q&A session with Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, the Argentine actor who starred in this film. We met briefly after the screening only to smile at each other, give hugs and smile for the camera. I seriously wish I could speak SPANISH! ¡Qué làstima!

A few minutes, I found myself being interviewed on camera by officials from the festival. I was asked questions regarding my thoughts on the festival, my nationality as an Asian-American coming to a Latino film festival, and more. I hope to see the video some time soon, and I will share it here. However, I remember distinctly that I had said that "film is the celebration of humanity through the most powerful medium." I'm looking forward to seeing this video some day.

The night was still young, and I attended a celebration after the film. Prior to this, I had become acquainted with some people, including the warmth and sincerity of the Founder of the Latino International Film Society (LIFS) and festival's director, Ms. Sylvia Perel. I told her about my production and hope for the San Joaquin Film Festival and she told me about her passion for her work and that this Latino International Film Festival had very humbled beginnings. She also mentioned that creating these festivals are not just time and work - it's LIFE. At the party, I got acquainted with several of the guests, including the executive director of the LIFS, Ms. Deldelp Medina - along with her mother and a dear friend of hers. We had a wonderful, brief time together taking photographs along with other friends.

The 11th Latino International Film Festival is a unique celebration, showcasing 100 films from 20 countries, and impacting seven cities in Northern California from San Francisco to Sacramento. The festival will last until November 18th. Their website is www.latinofilmfestival.org.

Remember the First of November

2007-11-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not exactly like the Fifth of November as in the beautiful film "V for Vendetta," but this is surely a groundbreaking day; a day to smile about and to celebrate!

Hello everybody,

First of all, welcome to my new blog here: regarding San Joaquin Cross-Cultural Media and the San Joaquin Film Festival.

Today we launched the Worldwide Call for Entries for short and feature films in 10 categories. This is the call for entries for our Official International Selection. Anybody in this world who has made a film (and fit the criteria that we have set) can submit it for consideration for screening at The First San Joaquin Film Festival 2008. Please share the news of our festival with anyone you know - together, we can make this a success!

Registration form and information are available now at the San Joaquin Film Festival Microsite, which is the comprehensive, online guidebook for the festival: www.sjccm.org/sjff.html

Our festival will be our region's first major film festival.

We hope that this will be an opportunity to open new doors for filmmakers and video artists of our community and beyond.

Today, in The Record, our local newspaper published the news of the Local Short Films Competition to share with our community. A youth from the community named Viren Patel wrote a beautiful, well-written article (Thanks!) You can read the article by clicking here. I strongly encourage everybody in our region to get out there, create a new hobby, and start getting creative with filmmaking!

Two weeks ago, at the 30th Stockton Arts Commission Annual Arts Awards at the Bob Hope (Fox California) Theatre, I had the wonderful opportunity to announce the festival to a diverse audience of local artists, arts patrons, and supporters of the arts - and invite them personally to our festival. On this night, I also announced the first three venues that we will have the festival at - the Bob Hope (Fox California) Theatre for Opening Night, Faye Spanos Concert Hall at University of the Pacific for the Grand Finale Awards Celebration, and The Haggin Museum for a family event. We will announcing other venues in the weeks to come.

What an exciting time.
I am grateful for your continued support.

Thank you,
Sophoan