Aviva Press

By Maria Esteves – August 6, 2014
The 37th Asian American International Film Festival 2014 (AAIFF14) Closing Awards Ceremony presented by program manager Lesley Yiping Qin, AAIFF, honoring the best in Asian American filmmaking and emerging directors commenced at 9:00PM, Saturday, August 2, 2014 at City Cinema Village East, New York. AAIFF 2014 Closing Night after party at The Penny Farthing immediately followed the ceremony. CHU AND BLOSSOM received two awards including Emerging Director Charles Chu and Gavin Kelly.

The Closing Night Presentation HOW TO FIGHT IN SIX INCH HEELS (Âm Mưu Giày Gót Nhọn), directed by Ham Tran and Q&A session with producer Timothy Linh Bui moderated by festival operations consultant Judy Lei, AAIFF, preceded the awards.

The Asian American International Film Festival founded Asian Cinevision, Inc. (ACV) in 1987, is a national media arts organization that annually presents independent cinema by Asian and Asian Americans, panel discussions, special events, screenplay competition readings, gala receptions and after parties. ACV staff members include John C. Woo, Lesley Yiping Qin, Sophia Giddens, Judy Lei and Jason Chu.

This year’s jurors were Ritesh Batra (shorts), J.P. Chan (shorts), Clarissa de los Reyes (screenplay), Christopher Fiore (screenplay), Eric Lau (feature), Claus Mueller (feature), Brandon Ruckdashel (feature), Michael Sandoval (screenplay) and Tong Shen (shorts).

AAIFF14 Audience Choice and Emerging Director Award winners, directors
Charles Chu, left, and Gavin Kelly, CHU AND BLOSSOM.

The 37th AAIFF winners by category are:

Special Jury Prize

THE RICE BOMBER, directed by Cho Li

Audience Choice Award

CHU AND BLOSSOM, directed by Charles Chu and Gavin Kelly (Narrative)

KUMU HINA, directed by Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson (Documentary)

Emerging Director

CHARLES CHU and GAVIN KELLY for Chu and Blossom (Narrative)

TENZIN TSETAN CHOKLAY for Bringing Tibet Home (Documentary)

Best Short

SUTURES, directed by Tiffanie Hsu

One To Watch Award

ANIMALS, directed by Stefanos Tai (Shorts, For Youth By Youth)

Screenplay Competition Finalist

EUGENE PARK for Michael's Story

JISEN JOHN HO for The Tragedy of Ziad and Aysel

CAROL LEE HALL for Donaldina