San Diego Asian Film Festival
Encyclopedia
The San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is an annual event organized by the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. The festival was first held in 2000 at the University of San Diego
by the Asian American Journalists Association
of San Diego.
(AAJA) to act as a fundraiser in August 2000. After receiving numerous film entries, both domestically and internationally, it has had sold out crowds at its inaugural festival. Lee Ann Kim
, the festival director and news anchor and reporter from KGTV
, the San Diego ABC
television affiliate, saw the potential of making the film festival into a separate entity of its own. She teamed up with several journalists, writers, filmmakers, and community leaders who all contributed to make the film festival into the non-profit organization that it is today.
The mission of SDAFF has been to educate the surrounding community about the rich diversity of the Asian Pacific Islanders through the media arts. This is done primarily through the exhibition of films, workshops, and speaker series at SDAFF’s annual film festival, its chief event. However, aside from its community praise, the festival also has a reputable image for its hip and chic after parties and social mixers. Throughout the year SDAFF offers student internships, cultural literacy programs with area high schools and colleges, and a high school filmmaker project entitled “Reel Voices.” SDAFF also teams up with several movie production and marketing companies to promote both independent and mainstream films that are inline with the mission of the organization. Aside from film, SDAFF also hosts other special events such as Asian American Performers Showcase, which highlight Asian as well as Asian American cultures and talents.
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
by the Asian American Journalists Association
Asian American Journalists Association
The Asian American Journalists Association was founded in 1981 by several Asian American journalists who felt a need to support greater participation by Asian Americans in the news media.Its goals are:...
of San Diego.
Organization Overview
The San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation that was founded in 2002. Before becoming an official organization, the origins of the foundation began as a film festival put on by the Asian American Journalists AssociationAsian American Journalists Association
The Asian American Journalists Association was founded in 1981 by several Asian American journalists who felt a need to support greater participation by Asian Americans in the news media.Its goals are:...
(AAJA) to act as a fundraiser in August 2000. After receiving numerous film entries, both domestically and internationally, it has had sold out crowds at its inaugural festival. Lee Ann Kim
Lee Ann Kim
Lee Ann Kim is a first-generation Korean American who was an anchor and general assignment reporter for KGTV Channel 10, the San Diego, California ABC television affiliate. She worked at KGTV from 1996 to 2008...
, the festival director and news anchor and reporter from KGTV
KGTV
KGTV, digital channel 10, is the ABC television affiliate in San Diego, California. The station can be seen on Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, and AT&T U-verse on cable channel 10 in standard definition. Cox Communications and Time Warner Cable carry its high definition signal on cable...
, the San Diego ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television affiliate, saw the potential of making the film festival into a separate entity of its own. She teamed up with several journalists, writers, filmmakers, and community leaders who all contributed to make the film festival into the non-profit organization that it is today.
The mission of SDAFF has been to educate the surrounding community about the rich diversity of the Asian Pacific Islanders through the media arts. This is done primarily through the exhibition of films, workshops, and speaker series at SDAFF’s annual film festival, its chief event. However, aside from its community praise, the festival also has a reputable image for its hip and chic after parties and social mixers. Throughout the year SDAFF offers student internships, cultural literacy programs with area high schools and colleges, and a high school filmmaker project entitled “Reel Voices.” SDAFF also teams up with several movie production and marketing companies to promote both independent and mainstream films that are inline with the mission of the organization. Aside from film, SDAFF also hosts other special events such as Asian American Performers Showcase, which highlight Asian as well as Asian American cultures and talents.