Tag: Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam

OPERATION BABYLIFT to Screen at the 2009 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM TO SCREEN AT

2009 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

DALLAS, TX – On Saturday, October 10th, ATG Against the Grain Productions will screen Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at the 2009 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF), which runs October 9 – 11.  The award-winning documentary described as “Amazing…compelling and hard hitting,” by Bolsavik.com shows at 2 PM in the Asian Arts Initiative (AAI) located at 1219 Vine Street in Chinatown, Philadelphia.

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant, yet untold story of the $2 million U.S. initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country from the impending threat of the Communist regime.  These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis.  Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents, and organizations directly involved, the documentary takes a contemporary look at Operation Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.

“The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival is proud to screen “Operation Babylift” by Tammy Nguyen Lee,” said Joe Kim, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival.  “The documentary is a moving and inspirational film that we are excited to be screening to a Philadelphia audience.”

Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee, a graduate from UCLA’s Producers Program, adds, “We are excited to be included in this year’s Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and look forward to the opportunity to bring this powerful story to a broader audience.”

Tammy Nguyen Lee fled Saigon with her mother more than 30 years ago.  A UCLA film major graduate, Lee founded Dallas based ATG Against the Grain Productions to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  For more information please visitwww.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.

Tickets and show times to the screening are available at http://www.phillyasianfilmfest.org/.

OPERATION BABYLIFT in the Epoch Times

Thank you to the Epoch Times for mentioning Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam at the Asian Pacific American Festival in Washington D.C. You can view the original article here.

DC Film Festival Celebrates 10 Years of Giving Voice to Asian Americans

By Ronny Dory
Epoch Times Staff Oct 6, 2009

Tara Linh Leaman (left), Associate Producer of Operation Baby Lift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, Jared Rehberg (center), and Director of Parallel Adele, Adele Pham (right) speak at the 10th anniversary of DCAPA Film Festival in Washington, D.C. (Ronny Dory/The Epoch Times)
WASHINGTON―The Asian Pacific American (DCAPA) Film Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary presenting a 10 day festival featuring films directed, produced by or starring Americans of Asian Pacific Islander descent and other Asian Diaspora in locations throughout Washington, D.C from Oct. 1 through Oct. 10.

This year’s DCAPA Film Festival presents over 20 documentary and feature films, over 50 short films, and two workshops and panel discussions.

“We want to provide an outlet to help [Asian American film makers] make it to the next step, whether that means finding a distributor for their films or connecting with other film makers that they can work with,” said Anna Petrillo president of the APA Film, Inc. Board of Directors.

It is part of the DCAPA Film festival mission to bring attention to the creative outputs of Asian Pacific Americans (APA) and to raise awareness and act as catalyst for discussion of issues facing APA communities.

This year’s festival opened with a screening of the documentary film 9500 Liberty directed by Annebel Park and acclaimed director Eric Byler (Charlotte Sometimes, Americanese). 9500 Liberty presents a battle between citizens and elected officials over immigration-related policies in Prince William County, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C.

Other films presented at the festival include Parallel Adele, a short film about two Adeles, two half- Vietnamese women, working on similar projects of self discovery, self perception, societal acceptance and life as American children of immigrants; Operation Baby Lift: Lost Children of Vietnam, a documentary film which introduces the now grown- up children of “Operation Baby lift” a U.S. led initiative  that airlifted more than 2,500 orphans, many of the biracial children of American soldiers and Vietnamese women, out of Vietnam on the eve of the fall of Saigon in April 1975.

Another film at the festival is Project Kashmir, a documentary film which follows directors Senain Kheshgi and Geeta V. Patel into the Kashmir region, where they attempt to understand the causes of the conflict, war, and terrorism that engulfs the region surrounded by Pakistan, India, and China. All three films were well attended at the Freer and Sackler Gallery Meyer Auditorium.

The festival is dedicated to George C. Lin, founder of the DCAPA film festival, who passed away on Oct. 14, 2008 at age 37 of a rare lifelong disease. Since 2003, Lin was the Associate Festival Director for the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. Prior to his involvement in the Arts, Lin was in the science profession.

“We have grown every year and now have over 50 volunteers,” said Anna Petrillo.
 
This year’s festival was entirely staffed by volunteers that spent a year preparing for the festival. Film screenings are being held at noted locations including: the Landmark E Street Cinema, Freer & Sackler Gallery of Art Meyer Auditorium, The Navy Memorial Theatre, the Canadian Embassy, and the Goethe-Institut, the German Cultural center: a forum for films, discussion, reading art and language.

Ann Tran, volunteer programmer for the DCAPA, described one the best features of the DCAPA to be diversity of the films, telling stories from East Asian and South East Asian communities. “The festival is a good activism focal point for me,” said Tran, describing how the festival unites her interest in entertainment and Asian American culture. Ms. Tran is also a student at George Washington University.

This year’s festival also marks the first recipient of the George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award which will be presented to Tze Chun, director of Children of Invention, a family drama about economic hardship and the pursuit of the American dream. Children of Invention will be screened on the closing night of the festival at the Goethe-Institut followed by a scheduled Q&A with the director and a reception.

The George C. Lin Emerging Film Maker Award was established to recognize young and talented filmmakers that have shown a commitment to filmmaking with in the Asian and Asian American genre.

The DC APA Film Festival continues up to Oct. 10. For more information and a complete film schedule, visit http://www.apafilm.org.

 

OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM to Screen at the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival

DC Asian Pacific Film Festival Oct 1-10, 2009
DC Asian Pacific Film Festival Oct 1-10, 2009

DALLAS, TX – On Sunday, October 4th Dallas based non-profit ATG Against the Grain Productions is honored to present Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam during the 10th Annual DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival (DC APA).  The award-winning documentary described as “Amazing…compelling and hard hitting,” by Bolsavik.com screens at 12 noon at the Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art located at 12th & Jefferson Drive in Washington, DC. Adoptee cast members Jared Rehberg and Tara Leaman will be in attendance for the Q&A.

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant, yet untold story of the $2 million U.S. initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country from the impending threat of the Communist regime.  These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis.  Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents, and organizations directly involved, the documentary takes a contemporary look at Operation Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.

Tad Doyle, Director of Programming for the DC Asian Pacific American Film, said “Operation Babylift reveals the human consequences of conflict and the sometimes tragic choices forced upon families and individuals.  Through incisive interviews and archival footage, the history of this airlift and its aftermath are presented in complex, rich detail. The DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival is proud to present this little known story of survival and hope.”

Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee, a graduate from UCLA’s Producers Program, adds, “It is an honor to screen at the Smithsonian. We are excited to be included in this year’s DC APA and look forward to the opportunity to bring this powerful story to a broader audience.”

Tammy Nguyen Lee fled Saigon with her mother more than 30 years ago.  A UCLA film major graduate Lee founded ATG Against the Grain Productions to promote Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  For more information please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.
Tickets and show times to the screening are available at http://www.apafilm.org/festival-2009/tickets/.

A Beautiful Post From Our Friend, Dr. Sam Lam

Mindfulness Mondays 18: Operation Babylift

September 28, 2009 by dr. lam

3349809299_034c30e086I had the wonderful opportunity to screen and to sponsor a remarkable film by my dear friend, Tammy Nguyen Lee, this past Friday night.  Her debut project, Operation Babylift:  The Lost Children of Vietnam, chronicles the true tale of thousands of Vietnamese orphans who for a brief glimmer in time when Saigon fell in 1975 were rescued via cargo airlift to a new home in the United States.  Besides being an engrossing historical document, it was also a riveting story that spoke to me as an Asian-American but I believe moved the entire audience more broadly, as I witnessed through their frequent tears and final applause.

The story arc follows these children into adulthood as they settle into a foreign land, through struggles with their cultural, genetic, and personal identity and through their celebration and breakthroughs in their newfound life.  Coming to the United States at the tender age of 3 myself from my native Hong Kong, I also felt a disruptive uprooting and cultural shock.  I could relate to their plight but in a way to their liberation as well.  During the question and answer section following the screening, one of the Vietnamese adoptees (as they call themselves now), Jared Rehberg, recounted the surreal nature of his recent return to his native Vietnam and to a land that he knew only as an infant.  I could relate to his feelings despite undergoing a far gentler transplantation from my birth soil.

The thoughts that enter my mind this week are for all of us to focus on what cultural ties bind us as human beings rather than as Hispanic, Asian, African, etc., and how we can foster those universal ties rather than encouraging alienation and separation.  When we are tempted to resort to stereotypical thoughts and gender bias, we should retreat back to seeing the person in front of us simply as a member of our communal humanity.  Free ourselves from prejudicial thoughts that may have originated from our childhood or even adulthood.  For those who have the great opportunity to catch Operation Babylift at a film festival near you (check out their website), don’t miss that chance!  Your life will be profoundly shaken for the better.

To view the actual post, please go here.

OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM Debuts to Packed House at Dallas FilmAsia Fest

DALLAS, TX – Locally based non-profit ATG Against the Grain Productions debuted Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam in front of a standing room only crowd at the Dallas Museum of Art’s Horchow Auditorium during the inaugural filmAsiafest on Friday, September 25th.  The feature documentary, described as “amazing…compelling and hard hitting” by Bosavik.com, details the 1975 United States airlift of over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans during the tumultuous time leading up to the Fall of Saigon.

The documentary’s Producer/Director Tammy Nguyen Lee said: “It was such an amazing experience to share this film in my hometown with friends and loved ones who have supported and stood by me for so many years. I’m grateful to filmAsia for the opportunity to let others know about this truly universal story as well. This is a night I’ll never forget. “

In addition to Ms. Lee, many cast and crew members were also in attendance, including George Lee (Executive Producer), Jared Rehberg (Associate Producer, adoptee), Jessica Schoenbaechler (Associate Producer),  Jim Zimmerly (crash survivor), Mary Nelle Gage (Friends For All Children volunteer), Chris Tonick (editor) and Seth Pascale (editor).

Operation Babylift screened as part of filmAsia, a new film initiative created by the Trammell Crow Collection of Asian Art.  Chiho Mori, Director of filmAsia said, “FilmAsiafest was thrilled to showcase Dallas premier of Tammy’s directorial debut film. Crow Collection’s filmAsia program is in part about supporting local talent like Tammy. We know that this is just the beginning for Tammy. We are confident that she will continue to create great films.”

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam tells the significant yet untold story of the $2 million dollar US initiative that airlifted over 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of a war-torn country to protect them from the impending threat of the Communist regime.  These adoptees grew up facing unique challenges in America, including prejudice overshadowed by a controversial war and cultural identity crisis.  Featuring compelling and insightful interviews of the volunteers, parents, and organizations directly involved, the movie takes a contemporary look at Babylift and its relevance to international adoption today.  The feature documentary was a passionate team effort that took over 4 years to produce and is currently making its way through the film festival circuit. For more information, please visit www.TheBabylift.com

ATG Against the Grain Productions is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization dedicated to promoting Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects, while also raising funds for international orphanages.  For more information please visit www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com.

Dallas premiere of "Operation Babylift"
Dallas premiere of "Operation Babylift"

To view pictures from the screening and Cocktails for a Cause, click here.

Operation Babylift in Pegasus News!

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam and ATG  graces the pages of yet another article in Pegasus News in Dalllas. You check out the original article here! Thank you Pegasus!

Monday, September 14, 2009

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam celebrates its Dallas premiere on Sept. 25

BY JOHN P. MEYER

Having already taken the Audience Choice Award from the 2009 Vietnamese International Film Festival (and been selected for a range of other festivals around the globe), Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam will be making its first appearance before North Texas audiences on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Horchow Auditorium in the Dallas Museum of Art.

Dallas Premiere: “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam”

  • When: Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • Where: Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), 1717 North Harwood Street, Dallas
  • Cost: $7 – $10
  • Age limit: Not available

Filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee, founder of Against the Grain Productions and advisory committee member for Women In Film.Dallas, will be on hand after the screening to host a question/answer session for attendees.

In 1975, Ross Meador was a long-haired hippie volunteer for Friends of Children of Vietnam; here's what he looks like today with his family.

In 1975, Ross Meador was a long-haired hippie volunteer for Friends of Children of Vietnam; here’s what he looks like today with his family.

During the closing days of the Vietnam War, then-President Gerald Ford approved an initiative to airlift 2,500 Vietnamese orphans out of the country in advance of the communist takeover. Nguyen Lee’s 72-minute documentary deals with the lives of some of the volunteers, parents, and organizations directly involved in this operation, and gets up close and personal with some of the “lost children” 35 years after the fact.

The music used in the film is contributed by Asian American artists such as Jared Rehberg and Thomas’ Apartment.

The film screening is hosted by filmAsiafest and presented by the Dallas Film Society. Tickets are $7 for members and students, and $10 for non-members.Click here to register for this reservations-only event, or call 214-979-6438.

Only Two More Weeks!

One of the most anticipated events the ATG team has coming up is in exactly TWO WEEKS! The Dallas premiere of “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam” and our 2nd Annual Cocktails for a Cause charity reception are all happening on the same evening of Friday, September 25th!

Cocktails_09_Flier-1

Don’t miss the film that won the Audience Choice Award at this year’s Vietnamese International Film Festival and what Bolksavik.com calls “an amazing documentary…hard-hitting and compelling.”
Hosted by filmAsiafest &
presented by The Dallas Film Society
7:00 pm
Friday, September 25th
Dallas Museum of Art – Horchow Auditorium
1717 N. Harwood St.
Dallas, TX 75201
A Q&A with filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee will follow, with several of the cast/crew in attendance.
Tickets are $7 for members/students and $10 for non-members. Hurry and get your tickets here or call (214) 979-6438.

Don’t miss the film that won the Audience Choice Award at this year’s Vietnamese International Film Festival and what Bolksavik.com calls “an amazing documentary…hard-hitting and compelling.”

Hosted by filmAsiafest and presented by The Dallas Film Society

7:00 pm

Friday, September 25th

Dallas Museum of Art – Horchow Auditorium

1717 N. Harwood St.

Dallas, TX 75201

A Q&A with filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee will follow, with several of the cast/crew in attendance.

Tickets are $7 for members/students and $10 for non-members. Hurry and get your tickets here or call (214) 979-6438.

Continue the festivities from 9:30-11:30 pm just across the highway at the Dallas Center for Architecture for the 2nd annual Cocktails for a Cause, a charity fundraiser benefiting ATG’s community outreach, education initiatives and needy orphanages in Vietnam.

Your admission includes tasty sips and sweets, musical entertainment by Jared Rehberg, Mina Chang and DJ Prada G, plus a one-night-only exhibit and auction of work by up-and-coming Asian American photographers.  For all you art collectors, this is your chance to bring home a gorgeous, original piece of art and support the following artists:

* David Ayala
* Andrew Chan
* Van Ditthavong
* Leon Le
* Alex Lim
* David Loi & Chi Tran
* Tem Juarez
* Budi Tjoenawan
* Jin-Ya Huang
* Susan Sponsler

As a bonus, all paid guests will receive a chance to win the following fantastic  door prizes:

* Shopping party with hors d’oeuvres and wine (valued at $250) from The Blues Jean Bar  and $50 gift cards for 10 guests

* $50 gift certificate to Dallas Affaires Bakery

* Gift cards and dresses from Freedom Parc

* Consultation with HGTV Design Star Finalist Jany Lee

* One-hour session from Opulens Photography

* $300 in gift certificates from Saigon Block restaurant

* Earrings from West 10 Jewelry


Entrance is $10 for screening guests, (half off discount), $20 regular (through midnight September 24th) and $25 at the door (as available, cash/check accepted only). Make sure to also remember to buy your tickets for Cocktails here before space runs out!

See you all there!

Meet Me in St. Louis!

Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam has been accepted into the 18th Annual St. Louis International Film Festival that is to take place on November 12th -22nd. Operation Babylift is set to screen on Saturday, November 21st  in the early afternoon (exact time TBA) at the Landmark Tivoli Theatre.

Stay tuned for more information!

Operation Babylift Is Going to Washington!

We are very excited to announce Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam will be screening once again on the East coast and has been selected for the 10th Annual DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival!

The film will be shown at 12 pm on Sunday, October 4th at the Smithsonian Freer Institute in Washington, DC.

Stay tuned for further details!

Brisbane Transcultural Adoptee Films and Panel

There will be a special screening of the ‘Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam’ trailer at the Brisbane Transcultural Adoptee Films and Panel, ‘An Exploration & Celebration of Adoptee Perspectives’.

The event is aimed at showcasing adoptees’ own perspectives on inter-country adoption, a practice made famous by celebrity adopters such as Madonna and ‘Brangelina’ but with the voices of adoptees usually left in their shadows.

For more information, please visit the festival’s website.