Vietnamese-directed films to screen at LA film fest

 LOS ANGELES ― “Stateless,” directed by Duc Nguyen, and “Someone I Used to Know,” from director Nadine Truong, will be showcased at the Visual Communications’ Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and Saturday at 2:45 p.m., respectively.

Screenshot from the movie “Statless” Photo from http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/stateless_2013

 “Stateless” tells the story of more than 2,000 Vietnamese refugees who spent over 17 years in the Philippines waiting for resettlement. They had been living in the Philippines without legal status, ownership or employment rights. While nervously waiting to be interviewed by U.S. immigration officials, the stateless Vietnamese refugees hung on to hope of finding a permanent home. “Stateless” garnered the Spotlight and Best Audience Choice awards for short films (under 60 minutes) at the 2013 Vietnamese International Film Festival in April.

 Nguyen has worked in documentary film and television for more than 15 years. His first feature, “Bolinao 52,” won Northern California Emmy Awards in 2009 for Outstanding Documentary and Music Composition.

 “Someone I Used to Know” is Truong’s debut feature, which tells the story of three high-school friends reunited for a long Los Angeles night. A German-born Vietnamese filmmaker, Nadine received her MFA degree in directing in 2009 from the American Film Institute. Her directorial credits include a number of short films. She received the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s prestigious George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award in 2010.

 For more information and tickets, please visit LAAPFF. Ticket price: $13 general admission, $10 with this discount code for “Someone I Used to Know”: VAALAVC2013.