Happy Fall everyone! We have a number of screenings this November. You know the drill, take a peek and spread the word:

SANTA CRUZ, CA

WHAT: FREE Screening at UC Santa Cruz 
WHEN: Wednesday, 11/2 @ 6pm (PST)
WHERE: Cervantes and Velasquez Room, Third Floor, Bay Tree Building

Screening followed by discussion with director/producer S. Leo Chiang. Event presented by the Asian American/ Pacific Islander Resource Center.

LINCOLN, NE

WHAT: Screening at the Sheldon Museum of Art
WHEN: Tuesday, 11/8 @ 7pm (CDT)
WHERE: Sheldon Museum of Art in the Ethel E. Abbott Auditorium @ 12th & R Streets, Lincoln, NE 68588-0300

Screening followed by discussion. For more information, please contact Sharon L. Kennedy, Curator of Cultural and Civic Engagement at (402) 472-3541 or via email at skennedy3@unl.edu.

SAN DIEGO, CA

WHAT: FREE Screening presented by San Diego Asian Film Foundation
WHEN: Tuesday, 11/17 @ 6pm – 8pm (PST)
WHERE: Hoover High School Auditorium @ 4474 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115

Screening followed by discussion.

NEW YORK, NY

WHAT: FREE Screening at NYU
WHEN: Friday, 11/18 @ 6:30pm – 9:30pm (EST)
WHERE: Cantor Film Center at NYU @ 36 E 8th St., Between University Place and Greene St., New York, NY 10003

Screening followed by discussion with Director/Producer S. Leo Chiang. Event presented by The Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University.

Here’s how to find a A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES on your TV:

1. Go to your digital cable menu, click on the “On Demand” button, and then look under the “Movies” folder.
2. Next, there will be a “Movie Collections” folder and inside of this viewers will find “Cinema Asian America.”
3. Click on “Make Do Say Think” folder and you will find Village/Versailles.
4. Click play and enjoy!

If you can’t find the film that way, you can always search for A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, by typing in the title of the film using your remote control. Or, to add us to your Comcast On Demand cue from your computer, click here to do so.

Also happening this month, I will be traveling to Bahrain to screen the film with the American Documentary Showcase. To keep everyone informed on the latest events, I will be posting frequent updates to our Facebook page and Twitter, so stay tuned.

We’re starting off the summer strong. Last week, we took part in the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New Orleans. And later this month, we are back in New Orleans at the 2011 American Library Association Annual Meeting.

NEW ORLEANS, LA

And in July, I am excited to be heading to Bahrain with the American Documentary Showcase, where the American Embassy has invited us to screen the film. The film will screen at the Bahrain Cinema Club on July 10th and 11th. And, on July 12th and 13th, Lois Vossen, Series Producer for PBS Independent Lens, and I will lead a workshop for young Bahraini and Saudi filmmakers emphasizing the power and importance of nonfiction media. The current political climate of Bahrain (to learn more, check out the BBC’s country profile of Bahrain), combined with the themes of community organizing and civic engagement present in A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, should make for an interesting dialogue with the audience. To keep everyone informed on the latest events, I will be posting frequent updates to our Facebook page and Twitter, so now is a good time to check it out.

And lastly, don’t forget Father’s Day is June 19th. Consider the A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES DVD as a gift for Dad!

Another New Orleans organization featured in A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association (VAYLA) is celebrating their 5th anniversary with a Heritage and Hope Gala on Saturday, May 21. Join them in paying tribute to those who have empowered and created positive social change for the Asian Pacific Islander American and New Orleans communities.

Finally, we have been invited to participate in the Association of Asian American Studies Conference in New Orleans this month:

WHAT: Screening/Discussion at the Association of Asian American Studies Conference
WHEN: Thursday, 5/19 @ 4:30-6pm
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, Room: Rhythms 2

Screening followed by panel discussion with Director Leo Chiang; Minh Thanh Nguyen, VAYLA;  Diem Nguyen, MQVN CDC; moderated by Linda Trinh Vo, UC Irvine.

WHAT: Asian American Filmmakers Panel at the Association of Asian American Studies Conference
WHEN: Friday, 5/20 @ 1-2:30pm
WHERE: Sheraton Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, Room: Nottoway

Filmmakers’ Roundtable: Art, Activism, and the Role of Asian American Documentaries in the 21st Century Marketplace. Chair: Larry Hashima, Cal State University-Long Beach; Panel includes Leo Chiang; Deann Borshay Liem, Katahdin Productions; Anita Chang, University of California-Santa Cruz; Russell Jeung, San Francisco State University; Valerie Soe, San Francisco State University.

Hope to see you all in NOLA.

It’s been a year and a half since A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES began its festival run. We are thrilled and grateful that the film continues to travel, and new audiences continue to learn about the amazing story of the New Orleans Vietnamese American community for the first time.

In March we screened at the South East Asian American Studies Conference, College of San Mateo APA Film Festival, University of Florida, and Harvard University. We appreciate the support we received at each of these screenings. This month, the film will travel to Bali for the Global Social Change Film Festival. So if you happen to be in need of a vacation and find yourself in Bali, make sure to catch the screening!

Here are our April screenings. We will also be updating the website and Facebook page with new screening information as it comes.

ANN ARBOR, MI:

WHAT: University of Michigan Screening
WHEN: Tuesday 4/05 @ 7:00pm-8:30pm
WHERE: North Quad- Multicultural Lounge, 503 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109

Free food provided and Q&A with Director S. Leo Chiang via Skype

CHARLOTTE, NC:

WHAT: FREE UNC Charlotte Screening
WHEN: Wednesday 4/06 @ 11:00am-12:00 pm
WHERE: Student Union Room 200, 9201 University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28223

UBUD, BALI:

WHAT: FREE Global Social Change Film Fest
WHEN: Sunday 4/13 @ 10:30pm
WHERE: Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

We are one of 8 finalists screening at the festival and institute for its inaugural year.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN:

WHAT: White Privilege Conference
WHEN: Wednesday 4/13 @ 7-8:30pm
WHERE: Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, 7800 Normandale Blvd, Minneapolis, MN, 55439

SAN FRANCISCO, CA:

WHAT: FREE Good Look Film Festival
WHEN: Wednesday 4/13-17
WHERE:
Mission High School, 3750 18th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94114
California College of the Arts, 5212 Broadway, Oakland, CA, 94618

MILWAUKEE, WI:

WHAT: FREE UWM Screening
WHEN: Thursday 4/14 @ 6:00pm
WHERE: Union Fireside Lounge, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd, Milwaukee, WI, 53201

NEW ORLEANS, LA:

WHAT: FREE Community Screening @ The Green Project
WHEN: Thursday 4/21 @ 7:00p,-10:00pm
WHERE: The Green Project, 2831 Marais Street, New Orleans, LA, 70117

BERKELEY, CA:

WHAT: FREE UC Berkeley Screening
WHEN: Thursday 4/28 @ 7:30pm-9:30pm
WHERE: 2060 Valley Life Sciences Building, Bancroft Way and Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94704

Director S. Leo Chiang to Attend

LOS ANGELES, CA:

WHAT: Southern California Grantmakers Screening
WHEN: Tuesday 4/26 @ 5:30pm-7:30pm
WHERE: Downtown Independent, 251 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012

Director S. Leo Chiang to Attend

Please share this info with your local university and public librarians and ask them to make the film available for the public!

Starting this week, A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES will be presented in over 50 free Community Cinema screenings across the country. In partnership with ITVS, Campus Kitchens Project and the North Carolina Campus Compact, HandsOn Network will support cross cultural dialogue as an avenue for social change through the use of documentary film and organized service projects around the country. Each event will include a free public screening of our film, and a service project will be introduced where people can plug in and get involved in their local communities.

Secondly, Leo, our director, has been asked to participate in a panel, alongside Arianna Huffington and Olympic legend Carl Lewis, at the special America’s Sunday Supper event at the Newseum in DC on the eve of MLK Day. The panel will discuss ways to engage communities and to take action for a more just world. The event will webcast live via Livestream at 6 p.m. EST on Sunday, January 16th.

Please take part in this inspiring opportunity. Below, we have listed a several Community Cinema screenings that are already scheduled, but you can find the complete list of participating cities here. All screenings are FREE and open to the public. We will also be updating our website and Facebook page with new screening information as it comes. And don’t forget to tune in to the live America’s Sunday Supper webcast event!

ST. PAUL, MN:

WHAT: FREE MLK Community Cinema w/ HandsOn Twin Cities
WHEN: Wednesday 1/12 @ 7pm
WHERE: Lowry Lab Theater, 350 St. Peter Street, St. Paul, MN

The screening will be followed by a facilitated interactive discussion to reflect on the film and highlight related volunteer opportunities within the St. Paul community.

FRESNO, CA:

WHAT: FREE MLK Community Cinema w/ HandsOn Central California
WHEN: Sunday 1/16 @ 1 pm
WHERE: Revue Cafe, 620 E. Olive Ave., Fresno

Please contact pmurillo (at) handsoncentralcal (d0t) org for more info.

NEVADA, MO:

WHAT: FREE MLK Community Cinema @ Cottey College
WHEN: Sunday 1/16 @ 2:30 pm
WHERE: 1000 W. Austin, Nevada, Missouri 64772

Dr. Sonia Cowen, executive director of the Institute for Women’s Leadership and Social Responsibility, will lead a discussion following the film.

CHARLOTTE, NC:

WHAT: FREE MLK Community Cinema w/ HandsOn Charlotte
WHEN: Sunday 1/16 @ 6 pm
WHERE: Actor’s Theater Charlotte, 650 East Stonewall Street
and
WHEN: Monday 1/17 @ 11 am
WHERE: Grady Cole Center, 310 N Kings Dr

CLEVELAND, OH:

WILMINGTON, DE:

WHAT: FREE MLK Community Cinema @ Theater N
WHEN: Monday 1/17 @ 11:30 am
WHERE: Theater N-Nemours Bldg, 11th & Tatnall Sts., Wilmington, DE

ROCKY MOUNT, NC:

WHAT: FREE MLK Community Cinema @ N. Carolina Wesleyan College
WHEN: Monday 1/17 @ 1:30 pm

ITHACA, NY:

WHAT: FREE Screening @ Cornell University
WHEN: Saturday 11/6 @ 3:30 p
WHERE: Anabel Taylor Hall Auditorium, Cornell University

Cornell United Religious Work, the campus interfaith organization, is bringing out Father Vien and director Leo Chiang out for two days of wonderful programming in addition to the film screening. Check out the web page for more info.

MOBILE, AL:

WHAT: FREE screening @ South Alabama Film Festival
WHEN: Sunday 11/7 @ 2p
WHERE: Museum of Mobile, 111 South Royal St., Mobile, AL

WASHINGTON, DC:

WHAT: FREE screening @ Georgetown University
WHEN: Monday 11/8 @ 7p
WHERE: Intercultural Center, Rm 103. Georgetown University

Vietnamese Student Association presents, and Leo will attend.

DENVER, CO:

WHAT: American Public Health Association Film & Media Festival
WHEN: Wednesday 11/10 @ 10:30a-12p
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center

Registration is required. The festival is a part of the APHA Annual Meeting that explores international public health issues.

Leo has also been invited to show the film on Tue 11/9 at University of Maryland (Dr. Larry Shinagawa’s Asian American Studies class @ 9:30a-10:45a) and University of San Francisco (my dear friend & collaborator Johnny Symons’ documentary studies class @ 6:30p-10p).