CAAMFest adapts to social distance requirements by going online; watch for free

'I Will Make You Mine' opens the reimagined CAAMFest.

ASAM NEWS

The social distancing rules necessary to fight the spread of the coronavirus has forced the Center for Asian American Media to alter its usual film festival format.

CAAMFest will celebrate its 40th film festival by going virtual and rebranding to CAAMFest Online: Heritage at Home featuring over 20 digital events, ranging from online film screenings to interactive panels, watch parties, and house parties featuring live performances, all free of charge. The San Francisco Bay Area event will now be available online for the world to enjoy.

The film festival opens with Lynn Chen’s long-awaited completion of her Surrogate Valentine trilogy, I Will Make You Mine on May 13. The feature film is about three women wrestling over the same man while dealing with the baggage of past relationships and the difficulties of everyday life.

The festival closes May 22 with the 10th anniversary showing of Filipino American filmmaker H.P. Mendoza’s Fruit Fly. The musical comedy highlights what it means to be gay and Asian in the Hispanic neighborhood of San Francisco’s Mission District. The virtual audience will be encouraged to participate in the sing-a-long version of the film, which features 18 original songs by the director.

CAAMFest will also showcase a performance from the San Francisco-based musician Ruby Ibarra on May 19. The performance from the rapper and spoken word artist will be followed by a sit-down discussion.

The following day on May 20 there will be an interview with filmmaker Alice Wu whose film,  The Half of It premiered on Netflix and is available for streaming today (May 1).

In all, there will be more than 20 digital events. For information about how to register and a full schedule of performances and events, go to CAAMFest.com.

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.