The 37th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival just happened, and some amazing stories were shared at the hybrid in-person and virtual event this year. The festival featured a short program section called "Kuwentuhan," which featured Apple Original Film and Skydance Animation's first short film, "Blush." The animated short was directed by Emmy-winning animator Joe Mateo. The short made an earlier appearance at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.
ABS-CBN Reporter and new Hollywood Foreign Press Association member Yong Chavez recently had the chance to sit down with Joe who revealed the inspiration behind this animated short. "Blush" was inspired by Joe's late wife Mary Ann. He recalls meeting her for the first time in college and remembers her blushing right after he introduced himself.
"Our first week of college... I just heard this laughter that's filling up the room. I said, 'Hi!.' As soon as I introduced myself, she turned. She blushed."
Joe Mateo
Devastated by Mary Ann's passing, Joe began writing "Blush" half a year after she passed on. Certain scenes in the movie are based on the emotions and realizations Joe went through during this time. You can now catch "Blush" streaming on Apple TV+.
Cover Photo Courtesy of Apple TV+
The 37th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Visual Communications is around the corner, and they just revealed their lineup. Some films in the lineup include action-comedy "Lumpia with A Vengance" making its Los Angeles premiere, and Dante Basco's directorial debut with "The Fabulous Filpino Brothers."
The festival also has a short program section called "Kuwentuhan" that will be featuring Apple Original Film and Skydance Animation's first short film "Blush." The animated short is directed by Emmy-winning animator Joe Mateo. The short made an earlier appearance at this year's Tribeca Film Festival.
This year's festival is a hybrid event running virtually and in person at various theatres in the Los Angeles area from September 23rd to October 2nd. The festival brings an exciting lineup of productions by Asian and Pacific Islanders from all over the globe.
Tickets for the festival go on sale Monday, September 13th, on their website found here.
About LAAPFF:
Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 5,000 films, videos, and digital mediaworks by Asian & Pacific Islander artists, and features seminars, panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific cinema.
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated Short Film will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.
Cover Photo Courtesy of LAAPFF Website
