"Colma" Goes to Roadside

Now that it's official, CinemaPlanet can finally post the insider info that sources revealed while the recent FilmmakerMagazine.com web exclusive on upstart independent film "Colma: The Musical" was in research mode: If you missed "Colma" on the festival circuit over the past year, you may be able to catch it in your hometown theater this Summer. Roadside Attractions -- distributor of "Super Size Me," "Pretty Persuasion," and "Bonyton Beach Club" among other indie gems -- has acquired international theatrical rights to Richard Wong and H.P. Mendoza's musical. indieWIRE has the details:

Roadside Croons to US Rights for "Colma"

Roadside Attractions has picked up worldwide rights to Richard Wong's "Colma: The Musical," the company announced Wednesday afternoon. The film is a musical comedy about "three recent high school grads who find themselves at a crossroads in their hometown of Colma, California, a cemetery-suffused suburb of San Francisco renowned for having more dead residents than live ones." The three teens each rebel in their own ways against the moribund reality of their hometown while making their way into adulthood. Along the way they burst into song and dance around cemeteries, shopping malls and college keg parties during the film's thirteen musical numbers. Roadside Attractions plans a summer release in the U.S. for the film, which had its world debut at the recent San Francisco International Asian-American Film Festival. Roadside co-president Eric d'Arbeloff negotiated the deal with sales agent Nguyen "Wyn" Tran of The Institution, for the filmmakers.

VC Film Fest Tips Lineup for May

VC FILMFEST 2007: THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY HONDA ANNOUNCES LINE UP FOR MAY 3 – 10, 2007

Los Angeles Based Filmmakers Justin Lin, Grace Lee and Charlie Nguyen Take Center Stage

Visual Communications, the nation's premier Asian Pacific American media arts center announces their Opening, Centerpiece and Closing Night films for the upcoming VC FILMFEST 2007: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Presented by Honda beginning May 3 - May 10, 2007 at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA), the Laemmle Sunset 5 Theatres, National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, and the Aratani/Japan America Theatre.

Southern California's largest and most prestigious film festival of its kind launches the celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month through this year's slate of over 150 films and videos from both Asian Pacific American and Asian international directors. This year, Los Angeles based filmmakers are featured in the highlighted slots of the festival.

OPENING NIGHT - Thursday, May 3

FINISHING THE GAME - A FILM BY JUSTIN LIN (BETTER LUCK TOMORROW; FAST & FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT; ANNAPOLIS) A hit at 2007 Sundance, director Justin Lin brings his 70's based comedy on the search for the new Bruce Lee and what could have happened. Starring: DUSTIN NGUYEN, ROGER FAN, SUNG KANG, MCCALEB BURNETT, MC HAMMER, MOUSA KRAISH, MEREDITH SCOTT LYNN, JAMES FRANCO, BRIAN TEE and LEONARDO NAM


CENTERPIECE FILM - Sunday, May 6

AMERICAN ZOMBIE - A FILM BY GRACE LEE (THE GRACE LEE PROJECT)
VC FILMFEST alum Grace Lee is back with her first narrative feature film about the making of a documentary about the lives of zombies living in the US. A huge hit at 2007 Slamdance and 2007 South by Southwest film festivals, American Zombie answers the question - Is There Life After Death? - with a resounding YES!!!


CLOSING NIGHT - Thursday, May 10

THE REBEL - A FILM BY CHARLIE NGUYEN The talented Vietnamese American filmmaker Charlie Nguyen brings THE REBEL, an action/adventure romance epic set in 1920's Saigon as a government agent and the daughter of the a rebel peasant flee the clutches of a malevolent turncoat thirsty for power. Starring: DUSTIN NGUYEN, JOHNNY TRI NGUYEN and NGO THANH VAN


ASIAN INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE - OUTSTANDING FILMS FROM ASIA

*SUMMER PALACE – China
*THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT - China
*HULA GIRLS – Japan
*RETRIBUTION – Japan
*TEKKONKINKREET – Japan
*EAGLE VS. SHARK – New Zealand
*ANG PAMANA - Philippines
*TODO TODO TEROS – Philippines
*KING AND THE CLOWN - South Korea
*INVISIBLE WAVES - Thailand
*ETERNAL SUMMER – Taiwan
*SAIGON ECLIPSE – Vietnam


ASIAN AMERICAN SHOWCASE – OUTSTANDING FILMS FROM THE US

*AMERICAN FUSION – Frank Lin
*BOLINAO 52 – Duc Nguyen
*THE CATS OF MIRIKITANI – Linda Hattendorf
*FALLING FOR GRACE – Fay Ann Lee
*THE TROUBLE WITH ROMANCE – Gene Rhee
*YOUNG REPUBLIC – Nooshin Navidi
*BEST IN THE WEST – Maryam Kashani
*NA KAMELEI: MEN OF HULA – Lisette Marie Flanery
*NEW YEAR BABY – Socheata Poeuv
*BABY – Juwan Chung
*AMERICAN PASTIME – Desmond Nakano

More films and events will be announced later.

Established in 1983, VC FILMFEST is Southern California’s leading showcase for Asian Pacific American and Asian international cinema. This year, the eight-day movie-rama will also include a complement of filmmaker seminars, panel discussions, workshops, and awards.

For ticket and program information, a complete listing of sponsors and partners, and to purchase tickets, log on to www.vconline.org or contact Visual Communications at (213) 680-4462 x68.