Asian Int'l Film Festival successfully launched in the US

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The Asian International Film Festival (AIFF) has been successfully launched at the Pollack Tempe Cinemas in Arizona, USA.

With the efforts of director-actor Ihman Basas Esturco, festival founder, and Valley real estate entrepreneur-philanthropist Michael Pollack, the festival was attended by Asian communities and celebrities, including Filipino star Bembo Rocco who represented the opening film "Dark is the Night" which was directed by Adolf Alix.


Representatives from 10 participating films from Asia also participated in the US film festival. These movies were shown at the AIFF launch were: "Jhalki" (India); "Memories of My Body," (Indonesia); "This Little Land of Mines (Laos); "The Tailor," (Vietnam); Ramen Teh," (Singapore); "The Third Wife," (Vietnam); "Deep Well," (Kazakhstan); "Hava, Maryam, Ayesa," (Afghanistan); "Kokdu: A Story of Guardian Angels," (South Korea); and "So Long My Son," (China).

Marcial Knaebel of the Fribourg Film Festival is the festival adviser while Evelyn Vargas is the program director tasked to invite films from Asia.

Also joining Bembol at the festival launch was Hollywood actor Cory Kays.

Esturco thanked Pollack, his wife Cherry, executive director Charmel dela Cruz, founding member and media consultant Thanh Mai Le, founding member Sharon Jane Baysan and Vargas, festival senior consultant/adviser; and Kanaebel, program director, with artistic director Dr. Mauro Tumbocon.


In his speech, Esturco said: "We live in this spherical world. In a round world called Earth. The Filipino cliche 'Bilog Ang Mundo' is very applicable and very true to us Asians."

"This is our time. Thru arts and films, we can dominate the world. We are Asians. Our ancestors came and live in the largest continent. And we are the largest  number of inhabitants in this world. So we should be  the leader of this world. We  are really the leader now. Economically, and artistically. But we should unite first before we could achieve that. We should be one in this world. We should unite.  We can achieve our  goal if we move as one," said Esturco.

He added: "I am so grateful to all Asians who make the AIFFA a huge success. This is just the beginning."

In December 2020, Esturco said that the AIFFA will present an award to multi-awarded Filipino actress Hilda Koronel who is based in the US. (Robert Requintina)








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