Quendrith Johnson

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

If you're looking for a virtual event this weekend in the rush of Award Season, here's a deep dive into some contenders...

From Screenmancer:

VIRTUAL EVENT: With Award Season is in full swing though virtual in many cases this year, Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) non-fiction filmmakers represent a record number of 17 features and five short films now recognized as in contention for industry awards.  This weekend, A-DOC: Asian American Documentary Network - which works to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field and the virtual cinema screening platform Open Your Eyes & Think MF (OYEATMF) - will team up to highlight some of this year’s AAPI documentary awards contenders with interviews and fireside chats online through their respective You Tube channels. Kicking off at 10AM PST on Sat. Jan. 30, and continuing through Mon. Feb. 1, these channels will feature virtual discussions/talkbacks with a lauded AAPI filmmakers, including: Hao Wu, Ramona S. Diaz, Bao Nguyen, Richard Lui, Yung Chang, Ursula Liang, S. Leo Chiang, Diane Quon, Jiayan “Jenny” Shi, Carol Nguyen, Jeff Orlowski, Yi Chen, Elizabeth Lo, Annie Katsura Rollins, Joanna Vasquez Arong and more.

2021 FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES

DIRECTED AND/OR PRODUCED BY AAPI FILMMAKERS:

1. 76 DAYS 2. A THOUSAND CUTS 3. A WOMAN'S WORK: THE NFL’S CHEERLEADER PROBLEM 4. ASWANG 5. BE WATER 6. BELLY OF THE BEAST 7. CODED BIAS 8. THE DONUT KING 9. DOWN A DARK STAIRWELL 10. FINDING YINGYING 11. FIRST VOTE 12. KID FROM CONEY ISLAND 13. OUR TIME MACHINE 14. SKY BLOSSOM 15. THE SOCIAL DILEMMA 16. STRAY 17. THIS IS NOT A MOVIE 2021 SHORT DOCUMENTARIES DIRECTED AND/OR PRODUCED BY AAPI FILMMAKERS: 1. CALL CENTER BLUES 2. NO CRYING AT THE DINNER TABLE 3. PANDEMIC19 4. SING ME A LULLABY 5. TO CALM THE PIG INSIDE

Quick 1:21 minute look at A-Doc

A-DOC:ASIAN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY NETWORK (
A-Doc) is a national network that works to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field.  Asian American documentary filmmakers who have come together as one, multi-generational force to advocate for our vital presence in the field.  A-DOC is committed to sharing ideas and resources, providing mutual support and mentorship, and advocating for equity and diversity in the production and distribution of non-fiction storytelling. OPEN YOUR EYES AND THINK MF (OYEATMF)
  was created in 2020 by film publicists David Magdael and Vince Johnson,

OPEN YOUR EYES AND THINK MF supports films and filmmakers that may not fit within the current distribution and exhibition system.

The goal is to provide access to films that are challenging and changing the landscape of truth telling and story creation.

These include BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other content creators who are on the margins.  

OYEATMF provides exhibition opportunities, resources, and the creation of meaningful discussions for and by filmmakers who are challenging us to think.

Recap:  OPEN YOUR EYES & THINK MF TEAM UP TO CELEBRATE A HISTORIC YEAR FOR ASIAN AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY AWARDS CONTENDERS WITH A WEEKEND SERIES OF TALKBACKS, INTERVIEWS AND CONVERSATIONS FEATURING THESE NON-FICTION DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS. RECORD NUMBER OF ASIAN AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER (AAPI) NON-FICTION FILMMAKERS WITH 17 FEATURES AND 5 SHORT FILMS QUALIFIED FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AND SHORT AWARDS.

[Log in to their YouTube channels beginning at 10AM PT on January 30, 31 and February 1 for these conversations and celebrate the ASIAN AMERICAN DOC FILMMAKERS CONTENDERS 2021.]

Visit for more info.

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