oblivious nerd girl
hood chronicles

Winning Girl

Saturday, April 25th, 5:30pm, JANM

WINNING GIRL follows the four year journey of Teshya Alo, a young Hawai’ian girl who is trying to be an Olympic athlete in two sports: Wrestling and Tae Kwon Do. As a fan of Olympic sports, I eat up these types of stories. I am totally that person who knows nothing about a sport, but then when the Olympics (winter or summer) come around and all of a sudden I must know everything about ice skating or track and field. Whenever I see Asian American or PI folks compete in the Olympics, I gravitate towards them. I want to follow their stories. I want them to win. I want folks who look like me to medal. WINNING GIRL highlights what the process is to even get to the Olympics. It illustrates all the struggles and sacrifices an athlete and her family must make to pursue this dream. I imagine it’s tough to try and compete in one sport, let alone two. Teshya Alo’s story is fascinating to follow. Fans of sports documentaries and ESPN’s 30 for 30 shouldn’t miss this film. 


Click on the picture for ticket info!

Opening Up

From Vision To Reel – Shorts Program, Free screening

Saturday, April 25th, 11:45am, Downtown Independent

I first met Tani Ikeda when I was in grad school at USC. She was an undergrad on campus and an intern for Tuesday Night Café. I can’t believe that was over 9 years ago. Now she’s an accomplished filmmaker and Co-Founder-slash-Director of ImMEDIATE Justice, an arts non-profit organization that focuses on empowering young women by telling their stories of gender and sexuality through film. OPENING UP is a short film that is part of the Sex Ed: the Saga series. This series was created by youth as a way for them to lead the conversation on sex positive topics. 


Click on the picture for ticket info. FYI this program is FREE!

Moonlight

Floating Upstream Shorts Program

Friday, April 2th, 9pm, Downtown Independent

Full Disclosure, Janella Lacson is a friend. And I am super proud of her and her films. Last year her short film THE FIRST DATE screened at the festival. This year her film MOONLIGHT is a part of the FLOATING UPSTREAM shorts program. MOONLIGHT follows Lara, a woman under house arrest, and the lonely trapped life she leads and the consequences of her choices. Folks should definitely check it out. MOONLIGHT was also chosen to compete at Cannes Film Festival! 

Click on the picture for ticket info. 

June Bride: Redemption of a Yakuza

Friday, April 24th, 7pm JANM

Monday, April 27th, 4:30pm JANM Encore Screening

What happens when a Yakuza is done being a gangster? Would they find God? JUNE BRIDE shows us exactly that. Tatsuya Shindo is a former Yakuza turned preacher. The film follows this riveting story of what happens when your loyalty changes from a gang to the Lord. 


Click on the picture for ticket info!

Everything Before Us

Thursday, April 23rd, 7pm, Aratani

This year Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival kicks off with EVERYTHING BEFORE US, a feature film by the folks behind Wong Fu productions. EVERYTHING BEFORE US takes place in a world where life is dependent on your relationship score. What’s a relationship score? Imagine your credit score but instead of your purchases and payments impacting your life, it’s all your previous relationships. Bad break up? Your life could literally be over.  It’s an interesting premise that’s entertaining to see play out. 

Click on the picture for more info on the film and buy tickets!

It's Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival time! It's the big 3-1. I'm quite excited for this year's festival. 

Starting on Monday I'll be posting my film festival recommendations! Click on the picture for more info!

First Five Words: Social Justice Inspiration Hero Feminist

Why these five words? Why see this movie?: There are certain people I read about that make me question where I am in life. Grace Lee Boggs is one of those people.  She is a woman who continues to fight for social justice and is a constant inspiration. 

Sunday, May 11 5:30 PM Tateuchi Democracy Forum
Ticket and Film Info: American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs

First Five Words: Excited. Kulintang. Music. Dance. Culture

Why these five words? Why see this movie?: I am so excited for this film. The homies Joel Quizon and Maya Santos have finished The Cotabato Sessions and it will be premiering at Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. I have only seen a Filipino American take on cultural dances and music. I can't wait to see this film and see the masters perform.  There will also be a performance at this screening, that folks have got to see!

Saturday, May 10 5:30 PM Art Theatre of Long Beach
Ticket and Film Info: The Cotabato Sessions

This trailer is from CAAM Film Festival that recently past. 

First Five Words: Justice for the Delano Manongs

Why these five words? Why see this movie?: Philip Vera Cruz. Larry Itliong. Benjamin Gines. Pete Velasco. Names that have been practically erased from the United Farm Worker history.  Instead the world knows of Cesar Chavez, his wife Helen, and Dolores Huerta.  Delano Manongs highlights the men who have been overlooked by traditional history books. 

Friday, May 09 7:15 PM Tateuchi Democracy Forum
Ticket and Film Info: Delano Manongs

Philippine Cinema will be highlighted at this years festival with five films that show the diversity coming from the Philippines. These films are all definitely worth checking out!

Blue Bustamante
Sunday, May 04 12:00 PM CGV Cinemas 2
A throwback to the time where Power Rangers were THE thing. An OFW story with enough heart to make you go aww shucks, but not the drama of the classic OFW film Anak staring Vilma Santos. Nothing will beat that film in my eyes. 

Devotion
Tuesday, May 06 7:00 PM CGV Cinemas 3
Catholicism meets Philippine folklore makes for a fascinating film. Also I will be hosting this film, so if you want o see Oblivious Nerd Girl in person, check this film out! 

Kabisera
Wednesday, May 07 7:00 PM CGV Cinemas 2
This film is for fans of film noir movies and Breaking Bad. The lead in the movie reminds me of that uncle who was always so nice, but you wouldn't want to get on his bad side. 

Rekorder
Saturday, May 03 7:30 PM Directors Guild of America 2 
The cultural commentary on piracy, social media, and how folks have become numb to witnessing things is played well in this film.  

Shift
Saturday, May 03 9:30 PM CGV Cinemas 2
What happens when a girl befriends a boy when they work at a Call Center? Laughs, fun times, and love in all the wrong places. Because she falls in love with him. And then he falls in love with another boy. 

Ticket and Info: National Spotlight: Philippine Cinema