TZE CHUN’S “CHILDREN OF INVENTION” SET TO OPEN LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY THURSDAY, APRIL 30 AT THE DIRECTORS GUILD

Visual Communications (VC), the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, proudly presents Tze Chun’s CHILDREN OF INVENTION as the Opening Night film of the 25th anniversary edition of the Los Angeles Asian Film Festival on Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 7:00 PM at the Directors Guild of America.

Director/screenwriter Tze Chun, actors Michael Chen, Crystal Chiu, and Cindy Cheung, and other special guests are scheduled to attend the screening and answer questions from the audience. A reception in the DGA Grand Lobby will follow the screening.

CHILDREN OF INVENTION, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, is the story of two young children: Raymond Cheng (Michael Chen) and Tina Cheng (Crystal Chiu), living illegally in a model apartment outside Boston are left to fend for themselves when their hardworking mother, Elaine (Cindy Cheung), disappears. This latest predicament seems all too familiar to precocious Raymond who dreams of taking care of his mother and sister with the fortunes garnered from his inventions. Little Tina, however, remains oblivious to their troubles. Meanwhile, lured by promises of easy cash, Elaine, finds herself drawn into another pyramid scheme, one that will jeopardize the welfare of the two things that matter the most her children.

Abraham Ferrer, Exhibitions Director at Visual Communications and Film Festival Co-Director, states, “We are excited to present the Los Angeles premiere screening of CHILDREN OF INVENTION at this year’s Film Festival. We have been following director Tze Chun career since his short film WINDOWBREAKER was presented at the 2007 Film Festival and we are honored to have him return to present his latest effort as our Opening Night Presentation.”

Visual Communications (VC), the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, was established in 1970. The organization has established a lengthy track record of pioneering achievements in producing, presenting, and preserving more honest and accurate representations of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in America. Visual Communications is also recognized as an incubator of emerging Asian Pacific American cinematic talent. The organization’s works have been exhibited in numerous venues and broadcast outlets around the world.

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is the Southland’s premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema; since 1983, the Film Festival has presented over 3000 films and videos by Asian international and Asian diasporic artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards.

The Film Festival is proudly sponsored by (as of presstime): OFFICIAL VEHICLE SPONSOR: Toyota; PREMIERE: Gilead Sciences, Directors Guild of America; OFFICIAL BEER SPONSOR: Stella Artois; SILVER: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Southwest Airlines; BRONZE: CBS, Screen Actors Guild, SAG Indie; COMMUNITY: The Boeing Company, Eastman Kodak Company, Hilton Universal City, Writers Guild of America, West; GOVERNMENT SUPPORT: Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, National Endowment for the Arts; SUPPORTING PARTNERS: Asian Pacific Community Fund, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, East West Players, Project by Project, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans; RECEPTION SPONSORS: Creative Floral Designs, Foto Cabina, Kirin Beer, LA18; MEDIA SPONSORS: angryasianman.com, LA Weekly, LA18, KPCC; VENUE SPONSORS: Directors Guild of America, Aratani/Japan America Theatre, Downtown Independent, Laemmle’s Sunset 5, National Center for the Preservation of Democracy.

The Opening Night Presentation of CHILDREN OF INVENTION will take place on Thursday, April 30th, 2009, 7PM at the Directors Guild of America, located at 7920 W. Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046. Parking is free to the public at the DGA Headquarters Parking Lot (enter on Hayworth Ave.) and at 8000 Sunset Blvd, with validation. Tickets for the VIP Reception, Screening & Gala Celebration are $100 General; $75 Students, Seniors, & Members of VC/ DGA/ JACCC w/ I.D. Tickets for Screening & Gala Celebration are $30 General; $24 Students, Seniors, & Members of VC/ DGA/ JACCC w/ I.D. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (213) 680-4462, x59 or online at www.vconline.org.