ENCINITAS — The San Diego Asian Film Festival celebrates its “Sweet 16” anniversary, and Encinitas’ venerable La Paloma Theatre will play a prominent role in this year’s 10-day event.
The festival, the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, will host four screenings Nov. 14 at the theater on Coast Highway 101, including the West Coast premiere of a film from Hong Kong.
La Paloma is one of six venues that will be hosting events in connection with the film festival, which is based at UltraStar Mission Valley at Hazard Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla.
All told, 130 films from 20 countries will be screened during the festival, which runs from Nov. 5 to Nov. 14.
The La Paloma Schedule for Nov. 14 is as follows:
LITTLE BIG MASTER
West Coast Premiere, 1 p.m.
Miriam Yeung plays a star school principal who can get any job she wants, but opts instead to save a struggling kindergarten from closing on its five students. With uncommon sincerity and a mountain of cuteness, this family-friendly Hong Kong hit fights class inequality with the fervor of principle.
OFF THE MENU: ASIAN AMERICA
San Diego Premiere, 3:20 p.m.
Asians. Taking Pictures. Of food. Add documentarian Grace Lee to that list and you get more than delectable soft-focus close-ups, but also fascinating portraits of Asian Americans and their relationships with the meals they cook, serve, eat, and sell, from Hawaii to Texas to Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
THE LAST REEL
San Diego Premiere, 5:15 p.m.
The rebellious Sophoun is milling about a crumbling movie theater when something catches her eye: a picture of her mother from decades ago. Digging into her mom’s history unearths an entire catalogue of glamour from the golden years of Cambodian cinema, inspiring Sophoun to bring the past back to life.
DEADMAN INFERNO
San Diego Premiere, 7:30 p.m.
A crew of washed-up yakuza are about to hang up their coats until zombies attack. With the help of a high-kicking daughter, a reggae-loving fisherman, a questionable cop, and absolutely zero help from the authorities, they rediscover their calling in Japan’s most pitch-perfect horror-comedy in years.
For ticketing info, full film details, and schedule, please visit festival.sdaff.org or contact (619) 400-5911 or via email at [email protected].
