Kim Leung from CampusProgress.org writes an article/review about A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES. Check it out here.

New Orleans Film Society is presenting a free encore screening of A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES next Saturday as a part of their community outreach effort. If you missed it at the film festival last October, please come check it out for free. New Orleans Film Society and the Porch 7th Ward Cultural Organization present A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES Winner of the Documentary Feature Audience Award at the 2009 New Orleans Film Festival A Village Called Versailles is a feature documentary about Versailles, an isolated community in eastern New Orleans  settled in the late 70’s/early 80’s by Vietnamese “boat people”. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Versailles residents impressively rise to the challenges by returning and rebuilding before any other flooded neighborhood in New Orleans, only to have their homes threatened by a new government-imposed toxic landfill just two miles away. Formerly content to stay within their own “village” and below the public radar, the Vietnamese community rallies to oppose the landfill and become an effective force in local politics. A Village Called Versailles recounts the empowering story of how this group of people, who has already suffered so much in their lifetime, turns a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance for a better future. Directed by S. Leo Chiang. USA. 2008. 68 min. SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 Doors open at 6:30PM; Film starts at 7:00PM FREE Hosted by the 7th Ward Neighborhood Center, 1943 Pauger St., on the corner of Urquhart St (map).

Happy Holidays from A Village Called Versailles. In celebration of the season, we are offering a special 20% off holiday discount on home video copies now through December 18th. It makes a great gift for your friends and family! Thank you for supporting independent filmmaking.

Here is Mimi Nguyen, who was the first Vietnamese American to work for New Orleans City Council, talking about the long term development plan for Versailles at the Austin Asian American Film Festival this past weekend.

The Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO) launches the VAYLA Stories website, which is “a youth-led oral history and documentary project to celebrate the lives of New Orleans’s Vietnamese and neighboring communities.” There are currently 11 stories posted. Check out what the young people in Versailles have to say about topics from Vietnam War to growing up in Versai and surviving Katrina. If you want to find out more about the weekly goings-on in Village de l’Est, don’t forget to check out Tony and Huong’s fun weekly vlogs on the VAYLA home page!

We are thrilled to announce that A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES is named BEST DOCUMENTARY at the Philadelphia Asian Am Film Fest, which is coming up this weekend! Our director, Leo Chiang, will attend the screening this Saturday 10/10 @ 7 pm at the Asian Arts Initiative. Hope to see you there. A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES @ Philadelphia Asian Am Film Fest WHEN:   Saturday 10/10 @ 7 pm WHERE: Asian Arts Initiative • 1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107

We are taking the film on the road in October. Hope to see you at one of these stops! For more details, check out the Upcoming Screenings page. 10/4 @ 4p: DC Asian Pacific American Film Fest 10/10 @ 7p: Philadelphia Asian Am Film Fest 10/11 @ 5p: New Orleans Film Fest 10/17 @ 8:15p, 10/20 @ 12p: Hawaii Int’l Film Fest 10/18 @ 12:10p, 10/28 @ 3p San Diego Asian Film Fest 10/29 @ 4p: L.A. Advancing Justice Conference 11/12-15:  Austin Asian Am Film Festival 12/5 @ 1:30p: AAA/SVA Film, Video, & Interactive Media Festival

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