I’m on a flight back to New York after a week at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. This was the first film festival I’d ever attended as a filmmaker (actually, come to think of it, this was the first film festival I’d ever attended period) and I could not have chosen a

better one. I was struck not only by how exceptionally well-organized and well-programmed it was but I was also blown away at the amazing sense of community fostered there.

I got to know so many incredibly talented filmmakers whom I hope will become great friends, I had the opportunity to meet programmers from several other festivals who were gracious enough to take the DVD screeners I shamelessly handed them over mimosas and bagels at the filmmakers’ brunch, and I was lucky enough to talk to so many kind audience members who came to see my film.

I was bowled over by the San Francisco audiences who waited outside in the rain and were so enthusiastic and responsive. One man wrote to me after seeing my movie:

“I watched the Tuesday screening of your film and I thought it was a great film! You had a great and powerful performance and I could just feel the emotions behind your facial expressions and body language as your character held the information back. I think I got a little misty eyed at the ending. Hope you have many more great projects in the works.”

Thanks to everyone at the Center for Asian American Media who organized the festival, to my endlessly supportive family who flew to San Francisco to see my film for the 1,000th time, to all my wonderful friends in San Francisco who attended, and the people who were under no obligation to see it but did anyway. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of strangers coming up to me and telling me they liked my work.

I’m going to sleep as soon as I land in New York so I can rest before beginning production on a new short film on Sunday!