Lia Chang Photos: AALDEF 2012 Justice in Action Honorees Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters and Fareed Zakaria

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees, Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, and CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, and Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group were honored with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s (AALDEF) 2012 Justice in Action Awards on February 8, 2012 at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) celebrated the Year of the Dragon with a Lunar New Year benefit at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York on February 8, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Since 1987, AALDEF has awarded the Justice in Action Award to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans.

Aasif Mandvi, Sree Sreenivasan, Ayaz Shaikh, AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters, Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group and presenter Hon. Efrain Alvarado. Photo by Lia Chang

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student Affairs and digital media professor at Columbia Journalism School were the co-emcees for the banquet of over 800, with Daily Show correspondent, actor, and master of satire Aasif Mandvi as the special guest.

AALDEF co-emcees Sree Sreenivasan and Juju Chang and Special Guest The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi...before they kept the audience laughing all night. Photo by Lia Chang

Chang and Sreenivasan, both long time supporters of AALDEF, began by sharing their highlights of the past year, from Chang’s interviews with celebrities like Celine Dion to Sreenivasan’s ambush by right-wing activist James O’Keefe.

AALDEF co-emcees Sree Sreenivasan and Juju Chang. Photo by Lia Chang

Among the guests at Pier Sixty in New York City were past Justice in Action Award recipients including actor BD Wong, Javade Chaudhri, Art Chong, A.B. Cruz III, Harold Koh, Sandra Leung, Don Liu and Alice Young.

Actor BD Wong, AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung, Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Elected officials and judges were also part of the crowd, including New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin, and Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York – who currently graces the cover of TIME magazine (leading emcee Sreenivasan to joke that his celebrity factor was compensation for New York Knicks player Jeremy Lin’s absence.)

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group with U.S. Circuit Judge Denny Chin. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung wished the audience a happy new year and reminded them of the necessity of their support. “There are reports of the NYPD’s targeting of Muslims and South Asians under the guise of national security,” said Fung. “Just this week, the Superbowl featured a racist political ad by Republican candidate Pete Hoekstra mocking Chinese people. So in the Year of the Dragon, we have our work cut out for us.”

AALDEF board president Tommy Shi and AALDEF Executive Director Margaret Fung. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

The power of the immigrant experience in the United States was a theme throughout all three acceptance speeches. “We are creating the first universal nation,” said honoree Fareed Zakaria. “Ten years before I became a citizen, I began using the word ‘we’ to describe the United States. There isn’t a country like this where people from all over the world come and are entirely included in the process.”

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

Parkin Lee, former president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation and Vice President of The Rockefeller Group, spoke about his childhood growing up in a Chinese hand laundry after World War II. “This country was built on the strength and creativity of immigrants who came here and made lives for themselves,” said Lee.

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee. Photo by Lia Chang

Honoree Jean Koh Peters, the renowned children’s rights and immigrants’ rights scholar, reminded the audience of the value of public service. “Never let your skill exceed your virtue,” Peters said.

Special guest The Daily Show’s Aasif Mandvi. Photo by Lia Chang

The night ended with Aasif Mandvi’s hilarious and deeply politically incorrect stand-up. “I thought they were filming this portion of the show for Comedy Central, but really it’s for the NYPD,” he began. Mandvi added, “AALDEF is at the forefront of fighting for the rights of Muslim Americans. If you believe that all Americans should live in a free and equal society – I can’t imagine why you would – then please support the organization.”

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group and CNN Host Fareed Zakaria with Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Photo by Lia Chang

Past Justice in Action Award recipients include the late civil rights icons Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi, David Henry Hwang, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Juan Gonzalez, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

The Rockefeller Group was a 2012 Justice Circle sponsor.

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honorees, CNN Host Fareed Zakaria, Yale Law School Professor Jean Koh Peters and Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

The 2012 Justice in Action Award Recipients

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

Fareed Zakaria has had one of the most illustrious careers in the history of American journalism. At the age of 28, he became the managing editor of Foreign Affairs magazine straight out of Harvard University’s political science doctoral program. From 2000 to 2010, Zakaria was editor of Newsweek International. He is currently editor-at-large of TIME magazine, host of CNN‘s Fareed Zakaria GPS, a Washington Post columnist, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Post-American World and The Future of Freedom, among other critically-acclaimed works.

AALDEF board member Ayaz Shaikh presents CNN Host Fareed Zakaria with the AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 Award. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF co-emcee Sree Sreenivasan with his wife Roopa and AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree CNN Host Fareed Zakaria. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee. Photo by Lia Chang

Renowned children’s rights and immigrants’ rights scholar Jean Koh Peters began her career at Yale Law School in 1989 after teaching for three years at Columbia Law School. In 2009, she was named the Sol Goldman Clinical Professor of Law at Yale, and she currently supervises students representing clients in the Sol and Lillian Goldman Family Advocacy for Children and Youth Clinic and the Immigration Legal Services Clinic. She has authored the book Representing Children in Child Protective Proceedings: Ethical and Practical Dimensions, now in its third edition.

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Yale Law Professor Jean Koh Lee, with presenter Susan Bryant of CUNY Law School. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

Before joining The Rockefeller Group as Vice President and Chief Legal Officer in 2008, Parkin Lee worked with the New York Life Insurance Company for 20 years in a variety of positions. Throughout his distinguished professional career, Lee has been a pillar of the Asian American legal community, serving as President of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Law Foundation, which awards scholarships to law students who demonstrate a commitment to serve or contribute to the Asian American community as future leaders.

Hon. Efrain Alvarado presents AALDEF’s Justice in Action 2012 Award to Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

AALDEF Justice in Action 2012 honoree Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group. Photo by Lia Chang

Honoree Parkin Lee with AALDEF favorite and past honoree BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang

The Lunar New Year Gala
Since 1987, AALDEF has presented the Justice in Action Awards to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans. The Justice in Action Award recipients are chosen for their contributions to Asian American communities across the nation, as well as for their singular achievements in their respective fields.

AALDEF 2007 Justice in Action honoree Javade Chaudhri (second from left) and 2011 Justice in Action honoree AB Cruz III (fourth from the left) celebrate the Year of the Dragon with friends and colleagues at AALDEF's Lunar New Year Benefit at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers in New York on February 8, 2012. Photo by Lia Chang

Each year, AALDEF presents the Justice in Action Awards at its annual Lunar New Year Gala, a celebration of Asian Americans in civil rights, law, business, and the arts.

All proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala will go directly towards supporting AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equity, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking.

The AALDEF Board of Directors: Ayaz R. Shaikh, Ko-Yung Tung, Tommy Shi, Denley Y. Chew, Lauren U.Y. Lee, Phil Nash. Photo by Lia Chang

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Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Subscribe to Backstage Pass with Lia Chang

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. In 2010, the Library of Congress established The Lia Chang APA Theater Portfolio in the Asian Pacific American Performing Arts Collection housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian Pacific American Islander Collection.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at lia@liachangphotography.com.

Lia Chang: AALDEF Honors Parkin Lee, Jean Koh Peters, and CNN’s Fareed Zakaria with 2012 Justice in Action Awards in New York on February 8, 2012

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will honor Parkin Lee of The Rockefeller Group, Yale Law professor Jean Koh Peters, and Fareed Zakaria, CNN host and Time editor-at-large with the 2012 Justice in Action Awards, at its Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Wednesday, February 8, 2011 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City.

2012 Justice in Action Award Honorees Fareed Zakaria, Jean Koh Peters and Parkin Lee

The co-emcees for the evening are Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student Affairs and digital media professor at Columbia Journalism School.

Juju Chang, Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News Nightline, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at Columbia School of Journalism will co-emcee. Photo by Lia Chang

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icons Fred Korematsu and Gordon Hirabayashi, David Henry Hwang, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, BD Wong, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

Over 600 leaders of the civil rights, legal, business, and arts communities are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2012 Lunar New Year Gala celebrating the Year of the Dragon. The Gala begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony and a banquet dinner.

Reserve Tickets: Tables of ten, available at $50,000, $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $500. To reserve seating, please contact Lillian Ling at 212.966.5932 ex. 202 or email events@aaldef.org.

Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

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Reverend Jesse Jackson & Beau Sia slated for 1st Annual Fred Korematsu Day Celebration on 1/30/11 at UC Berkeley
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Fred Korematsu Day Bill, Bill Establishes January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution
AALDEF and the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival co-sponsors screenings of 9500 Liberty and Lt Watada
Juan Gonzalez and Larry Tu Received AALDEF 2010 Justice in Action Awards in New York
Multimedia: AALDEF Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Civil Rights of Asian Americans
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Other Articles by Lia Chang:
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Mu Daiko 15th Anniversary Concert and Minnesota Tour, February 9-19, 2012
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Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo at Opening Night Party of Neil LaBute’s Break of Noon
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Subscribe to Backstage Pass with Lia Chang

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

2011 Asian American International Film Festival Kicks Off with John Sayles’ AMIGO on 8/10 in NY; AAIFF’11 Lineup, 8/10-14

The 34th Annual Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), presented by Asian CineVision (ACV) from August 10-14, 2011, kicks off on Wednesday, August 10th, with the New York Premiere of John Sayles’ AMIGO, which chronicles the forgotten events of the Philippine-American war in 1900. The cast of AMIGO features Joel Torre, Chris Cooper, Garret Dillahunt, Yul Vasquez, DJ Qualls and Arthur Acuna.

Over 70 films from 16 countries will be featured including 6 New York Premieres, 8 East Coast Premieres, and 3 which will be making their U.S. Premieres at AAIFF’11. AAIFF screenings will be at Clearview Cinemas, 260 West 23rd Street; at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), 215 Centre Street; and Maysles Cinemas, 343 Lenox Avenue in New York.

On Thursday, August 11th, AAIFF is presenting a LGBTQ themed film line-up, in collaboration with community partners from the LGBTQ community, featuring the non-traditional romantic comedy WHEN HAINAN MEETS TEOCHEW, directed by Yew Kwang Han, and TALES OF THE WARIA, a documentary about the transgender community in Indonesia directed by Kathy Huang.

The Festival’s Centerpiece Presentation Stephanie Guager’s SAIGON ELECTRIC delves into lives of hip-hop dancers in Vietnam’s capital, and will screen on Saturday, August 13th. AAIFF will close with Christine Yoo’s WEDDING PALACE, a light hearted comedy featuring Brian Tee, Hye-jeong Kang, Bobby Lee and Margaret Cho.

Other highlights at the Festival include the New York Premiere of award-winning director Ramona Diaz’s new documentary film THE LEARNING, which follows four Filipino women teaching inner city kids in Baltimore.

AAIFF is the nation’s longest-running festival of its kind and a leading showcase for the best in independent Asian and Asian American film and video.

AAIFF’11 FILMS
AMIGO – Dir. John Sayles | Starring Joel Torre, Chris Cooper, Garret Dillahunt, Yul Vasquez, DJ Qualls, Arthur Acuna | USA
Caught in the murderous crossfire of the Philippine-American war, mayor Rafael (Joel Torre) falls under pressure to collaborate when American troops garrison his village. Meanwhile, his brother Simón (Ronnie Lazaro), head of the local guerillas, regards collaboration as treason. The fate of a nation unfolds in this lucid, compelling portrait of the turbulent times.

ANNA MAY WONG: IN HER OWN WORDS – Dir. Yunah Hong | Starring Doan Ly | USA
Transcending the silent era into sound film, the legendary Anna May Wong co-starred with the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Douglas Fairbanks. The first Chinese American movie star is captured through rich archival footage, interviews with studio colleagues, commentary by filmmakers, scholars and re-enactments of her letters and diary by actress Doan Ly.

ENFORCING THE SILENCE – Dir. Tony Nguyen | USA
Thirty years after the unsolved murder of Lam Duong, Vietnamese American journalists remain the largest group of immigrant reporters killed on US soil. Friends of Lam, federal investigators, and journalists speak out about the risks that Vietnamese Americans face for exercising their first amendment rights.

THE LEARNING – Dir. Ramona Diaz | USA
Award-winning director Ramona Diaz (IMELDA) follows four Filipino women (Dorotea, Grace, Angel and Rhea) on a challenging and emotional journey as they leave their homeland and loved ones to teach at inner city Baltimore schools. Each woman tells a unique yet universal tale of the lives of overseas Filipino workers around the world.

LIVING IN SEDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES – Dir. Ian Gamazon | USA
A young pregnant woman seeks revenge on a man who has done her wrong. In a secluded forest, she begins a series of games—each more twisted than the last—designed to make him confess his sins. A mix of mystery and psychological thriller, Filipino-American director Ian Gamazon warps and challenges viewers’ expectations, leading to a haunting climax.

THE LULU SESSIONS – Dir. S. Casper Wong | USA
More affectionately known as LuLu, the unconventional Dr. Louise Nutter—boisterous, dedicated, and master of profanity—finds out she has the very illness she researches: breast cancer. Best friend and filmmaker S. Casper Wong captures her last 15 months on video as they embark on LuLu’s last and most enlightening adventure.

MY HEART BEATS – Dir. EunHee Huh | Starring Dong-sook You | South Korea
In a desperate attempt to revitalize her monotonous life, Juri, a lonely English professor in her mid-30s, has decided to break into the porn industry. With the help of an estranged friend and porn producer, Juri is eventually cast in her first film. Now she must re-evaluate what it is that keeps her heart beating.

MY WEDDING AND OTHER SECRETS – Dir. Roseanne Liang | Starring Michele Ang, Kenneth Tsang & Pei-Pei Cheng | New Zealand
Love knows no boundaries… unless you are a New Zealand-born Chinese woman trying to convince your traditional Hong Kong parents to let you marry your Caucasian boyfriend. Emily struggles to hide her forbidden relationship but discovers that, unlike in the movies, love cannot thrive on optimism alone.

THE PIANO IN A FACTORY – Dir. Zhang Meng | Starring Qian-yuan Wang | China
Chen is in a nasty custody battle with his estranged wife. A man of little means, he struggles to obtain a piano to convince his daughter to stay with him. The harsh reality of his desolate life is intriguingly juxtaposed with the quaint score and dreamlike scenes.

RAKENROL – Dir. Quark Henares | Starring Jason Abalos, Glaiza de Castro & Matet de Leon |The Philippines
Odie and Irene are die-hard rock fans, so it’s no surprise when they decide to form a band. Teaming with a former rocker and an angry drummer, they become Hapipaks. To the Hapipakers, rock isn’t just a genre of music, but a lifestyle, as each tackles his or her personal challenges with what they learn on the stage.

RESIDENT ALIENS – Dir. Ross Tuttle | USA
After calling the US home for decades, former Cambodian refugees are deported for criminal offenses back to Cambodia, a motherland now foreign to them. This documentary follows three returnees as they struggle to survive with few language and job skills, and find redemption through their new lives.

SAIGON ELECTRIC – Dir. Stephane Gauger | Starring Van Trang & Quynh Hoa | USA/Vietnam
In the metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City, Mai a traditional ribbon dancer from the countryside meets tough street dancer Kim and soon becomes captivated by the city’s vibrant underground hip-hop scene. Representing the struggles of Vietnamese youth culture, this energetic film showcases bold, fresh talent with dynamic choreography and heartfelt narrative.

STRAWBERRY CLIFF – Dir. Chris Chow | Starring Leslie-Anne Huff, Anthony Chaput & Eason Chan | Hong Kong
Kate possesses the power to predict death, and makes a pact with Jason, who is predicted to die; he will send a signal from beyond the grave to prove there is an afterlife. Shortly after Jason’s death, Kate receives a mysterious phone call. Does an afterlife really exist?

TALES OF THE WARIA – Dir. Kathy Huang | USA
In Indonesia, there lives a unique community of men who live openly as women. Known as Warias, these individuals must balance issues of identity, intimacy, and their Islamic faith. In this eye-opening documentary, four Warias tell the tales of their search for companionship and belonging.

WEDDING PALACE – Dir. Christine Yoo | Starring Brian Tee, Hye-jeong Kang, Bobby Lee & Margaret Cho | USA/South Korea
Jason is a 29-year-old advertising executive who must get married before his thirtieth birthday to avoid an ancient family curse. While on a business trip in Seoul, he meets Na-Young seems on track for the couple’s wedding—until Na-Young’s arrival in the U.S. falls short of expectation. Can true love overcome all obstacles?

WHEN HAINAN MEETS TEOCHEW – Dir. Yew Kwang Han | Singapore
An argument over a missing bra results in Ms. Teochew, a “womanly” man, having to move in with Hainan-boy, a “manly” woman. Not your typical romance, the unusual pair grows closer as they face an angry landlord, an estranged father, a sickly mother, and a crazy ex-girlfriend. Could this be the start of a beautiful relationship?

WHEN LOVE COMES – Dir. Tso Chi Chang | Starring Yijie Li | Taiwan
Lai-Chun is a free spirited young girl who must cope with her dysfunctional polygamous family. An unexpected pregnancy and the sudden collapse of her father’s health shift the balance of power at home. Lai-Chun begins to see her family in a new light as painful memories and profound regrets emerge.

Shorts Program: NEVER STOP BELIEVING
DREAM GIVER – Dir. Tyler Carter | USA
HENRY’S GLASSES – dir. Brendan Uegama | Canada
SOSEFINA – Dir. Tresa Ponnor | Australia
SAENG-IL – Dir. Jennifer Suhr | USA
BALLET OF UNHATCHED CHICKS – Dir. Shaun Seong-Young Kim | USA
BOYS & GIRLS – Dir. Chris Tipton King | USA
HEART – Dir. Erick Oh | USA
LUNCHTIME – Dir. Keo Woolford | USA
PLAY – Dir. Johnny Ma | USA
TOP SPIN – Dirs. Sara Newens & Mina T. Son. | USA

Shorts Program: LOVE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
PRESCOTT PLACE – Dir. Peilin Kuo | USA
TU & EU – Dir. Edward Shieh | USA
SCUMBAG, PERVERT AND THE GIRL IN BETWEEN – Dir. Bruce Hwang Chen | USA, Taiwan
HITOMI – Dir. Manu Du Smet | Netherlands
GRANT STREET SHAVING CO. – Dir. Payal Sethi | USA
HOTEL 66 – Dir. Antony Chen | UK

Shorts Program: TIGER DADS
CROSSING SALWEEN – Dir. Brian O’Malley | Ireland
A SCENE AT THE SEA – Dir. Jaehee Lee | South Korea
FATAKRA – Dir. Soham Mehta | USA
MASALA MAMA – Dir. Michael Kam | Singapore
GRANDPA’S WET DREAM – Dir. Chihiro Amemiya | Japan
GRAVEHEART – Dir. Yin Jill Lei | China

Shorts Program: A DAY LESS ORDINARY
ONLY MEAL OF THE DAY – Dir. Shang Sing Gou | Thailand, Taiwan
CANOPY CROSSINGS – Dir. Gary Young | Thailand
I WANT TO BE A DESI – Dir. Allan Tong | Canada
V SOMETHING – Dir. Asako Ushio | USA
CLOSED – Dirs. Christopher Zou & Alex Chin | USA
THE POTENTIAL WIVES OF NORMAN MAO – Dir. Derek Nguyen | USA
AFTERSHOCK – Dir. George Billard | USA
ROOM #11 – Dir. Mansee Kong | USA

Shorts Program: FYBY: AGE AIN’T NOTHING BUT A NUMBER
THE LAND IS STALE – Dir. Gabriel Ho | USA
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE GIRL I LOVE – Dir. Christopher Zou | USA
WHERE’S MY BROTHER – Dir. Chang Xin Ye | Taiwan
MEDIA – Dir. Woojin Kang | USA
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW – Dir. Brian Brennan | USA
MUSICAL WARRIOR – Dir. Angel Gatus | USA
BREAKING EXPECTATIONS – Dir. Kevin Tran | USA
A SUSHI LOVE STORY – Dir. Mike Blaney | USA
MY COUNTRY IS TIBET – Dir. Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari | USA
MY NORMAL FAMILY LIFE – Dir. Jonathan Cheng | USA

Shorts Program: CUNY Shorts
COLORS, JOURNEY OF A DANCER – MASAMI ISHIBASHI – Dir. Yee K. Lam | USA
HOME – Dir. Seimi Kim | USA
TEACHING OUTSIDE THE BOX – Dir. Katharine Filardi | USA
CLUB FIZZ – Dir. Yosuke Hosoi | USA
PAPER CRANES – Dir. Solim Lee | USA
MY PIANO LIFE – Dir. Jiayi Wang | USA

Shorts Program: QUATTRO HONG KONG 2
PURPLE – Dir. Brillante Mendoza | Hong Kong
OPEN VERDICT – Dir. Yuhang Ho | Hong Kong
M HOTEL – Dir. Apichatpong Weerasethakul | Hong Kong
13 MINUTES IN THE LIVES OF… – Dir. Stanley Kwan | Hong Kong

Shorts Program: SUITE SUITE CHINATOWN
OVERTURE – Dirs. Howie Shia & Lillian Chan | Canada
LIPSYNC – Dirs. Howie Shia & Lillian Chan | Canada
PRETTY LUCKY – Dir. Serena Lee | Canada
AUNTIE – Dir. Heather Keung | Canada
UNCLES – Dir. Heather Keung | Canada
ELIZABETH STREET – Dir. Lesley Loksi Chan | Canada
PLASTIC FUTURE – Dir. Aram Siu Wai Collier | Canada
HOW TO PARTY – Dir. Joyce Wong | Canada
THE WARRIORS OF QIUGANG – Dir. Ruby Yang | USA

Check out www.aaiff.org/2011 for more information on how to order and pick up tickets.
There are no refunds and no exchanges. All tickets are general admission. Ticketholders must arrive 15 minutes prior to show time. Late ticketholders will not be guaranteed seating. All programs are subject to change, please check www.aaiff.org/2011 or call 212.989.0017 for changes and updates.

About Asian CineVision
The annual Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is produced by Asian CineVision (ACV), a nonprofit media arts organization devoted to the development, promotion and preservation of Asian and Asian American film and video.
http://www.asiancinevision.org/aaiff/

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Ed Lin, Tina Chen, Ron Nakahara and Cindy Cheung Star in The Potential Wives of Norman Mao which screens during the 2011 AAIFF at Clearview Chelsea on August 12 & 13
Japan Cuts 2011: The New York Festival of Contemporary Japanese Cinema at Japan Society, 7/7-7/22
Meshach Taylor on Wendy Williams Show on May 17
11th Annual New York Indian Film Festival Winners: Sthaniya Sambaad, Aparna Sen, Konkona Sen Sharma, Rishi Kapoor, Bhopali
Photos: Samrat Chakrabarti, Soham Mehta and Shiva Shankar Bajpai at the New York Indian Film Festival
Click here for Film Articles Archive.
Photos: Rick Shiomi Checks out Performing Arts Playwrights Series in the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection of Library of Congress; Attends “Asian American Plays for a New Generation” Book Signing in NY
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug!
Photos:Alexander McQueen:Savage Beauty Extends at Met through 8/7, Met Mondays w/ McQueen begin 6/6
Photos: Christmas in June w/ Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s “Bakwas Bumbug” at The Wild Project in NY-6/26
Photos: André De Shields leads the cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at The National Black Theatre Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, 8/2-8/4
Photos: “How To Succeed” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rose Hemingway & John Larroquette at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
My portrait of “New York actor Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation into Scar in The Lion King” on view in HHC’s New York City: IN FOCUS, Vol. 2- 7/14
Photos: Phylicia Rashad, Michael McElroy, Marva Hicks in Broadway Inspirational Voices “Wondrous Grace” Concert in NY
Photos: Playwright David Henry Hwang in rehearsal at the Goodman Theatre for World Premiere of Chinglish
Photos: Willie Reale, Frances McDormand, Lewis Black, Bela Fleck, Renee Goldsberry, Duncan Sheik, Lisa Benavides, Abigail Washburn, Tim Blake Nelson at The 52nd Street Project Benefit
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are now in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards

From L to R: AALDEF Board member, Philip Tajitsu Nash; 2011 Justice in Action Award recipients Lillian Kimura and A.B. Cruz III; Ken Lowe, CEO of Scripps Networks Interactive. Photo by Lia Chang.

Before a sold-out crowd of 750 leaders from the legal, civil rights and corporate worlds, Lillian Kimura, former president of the Japanese American Citizens League, and Scripps Networks Interactive’s chief legal officer A.B. Cruz III were honored by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) for advancing social justice and equality and for their outstanding achievements. The national civil rights organization’s annual Lunar New Year Gala was held at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers in Manhattan on Tuesday, February 8, 2011.

The evening’s emcees were Juju Chang, news anchor of ABC Good Morning America, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at Columbia School of Journalism. Tony-award winning actor B.D. Wong delivered a personal and uproarious special message.

Juju Chang, news anchor of ABC Good Morning America, and Sree Sreenivasan, dean of student affairs and digital media professor at Columbia School of Journalism co-emceed the festivities. Photo by Lia Chang

Chang and Sreenivasan urged attendees to tweet about the Justice in Action awards (#aaldef on Twitter) and check in via Foursquare @AALDEF Gala. Attendees were also treated to a hilarious video clip from Good Morning America’s pre-Super Bowl broadcast, which featured the famous talking E-Trade babies giving a personal shout-out to Juju. (Chang was the only one of four GMA anchors to pick the Green Bay Packers as the Superbowl winner.)

2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awardee Lillian Kimura gets a hug from Law and Order SVU actor BD Wong. Photo by Lia Chang

Accepting her 2011 Justice in Action award to a standing ovation, Lillian Kimura spoke about her work at the YWCA in the 1970s, which had pledged to “eliminate racism by any means necessary.” Kimura received her award from Philip Tajitsu Nash, an Asian American studies professor, civil rights attorney and AALDEF Board member. Nash cited Kimura as one of the “skilled, selfless committed leaders” of the Japanese American redress movement and her lifelong efforts to eliminate gender barriers while at the YWCA and as the first female president of the Japanese American Citizens League in 1992. Kimura was a teenager when she was imprisoned with her family during World War II at an American concentration camp at Manzanar.

Dennis A. Espiritu, CDR, USN and 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awardee A.B. Cruz III. Cruz is the first Filipino American to hold the distinction of attaining the rank of Rear Admiral in a non-medical field in the U.S. Navy. Photo by Lia Chang

A.B. Cruz III, chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Scripps Networks Interactive, spoke about three pressing issues in the Asian American community: eliminating human trafficking, the need for more Asian Americans to do public interest law, and advocating for the right of Asian American youth to an education “free from prejudice and violence.” He challenged each person in the room to be a “force multiplier” for social justice and to strengthen AALDEF in its civil rights efforts.

Cruz received his Justice in Action award from Ken Lowe, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Scripps Networks Interactive. Lowe noted that Cruz is one of just 20 Asian Americans serving as general counsel in a Fortune 1000 company and holds the distinction of being the first Filipino American attain the rank of Rear Admiral in a non-medical field in the U.S. Navy. Lowe also cited Cruz’s dedication to increase diversity in the legal profession.

BD Wong Regales the Crowd with Stories About the White House State Dinner, Tiger Moms, and "Racist" Cookies. Photo by Lia Chang

Tony-award winning actor B.D. Wong, who currently stars in the television show Law & Order: SVU, delivered a side-splitting special message. Wong, who sat at the head table at the recent White House state dinner honoring Hu Jintao, had the audience roaring at his cultural observations on such topics as White House etiquette, the “hot” factor of former President Bill Clinton, and the political incorrectness of Chinatown’s traditional new year “Ching Kee” cookies.

The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Juan Gonzalez, Margaret Cho and Yoko Ono.

Lion dancers at the 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards dinner. Photo b

Attendees were treated to a traditional lion dance to start off the evening and had the opportunity to bid on dozens of silent auction items, including a private tour at the Food Network Studios, dinner at Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain, and tea with B.D. Wong at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

About AALDEF
Since 1987, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) has presented the Justice in Action awards to exceptional individuals for their efforts in advancing social justice and human rights for Asian Americans. The Justice in Action award recipients are chosen for their contributions to Asian American communities across the nation, as well as for their singular achievements in their respective fields.

Related Articles:
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
Reverend Jesse Jackson & Beau Sia slated for 1st Annual Fred Korematsu Day Celebration on 1/30/11 at UC Berkeley
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Fred Korematsu Day Bill, Bill Establishes January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution
AALDEF and the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival co-sponsors screenings of 9500 Liberty and Lt Watada
Juan Gonzalez and Larry Tu Received AALDEF 2010 Justice in Action Awards in New York
Multimedia: AALDEF Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Civil Rights of Asian Americans
AALDEF Honors Dale Minami, Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl Wudunn and Sandra Leung with 2009 Justice in Action Awards

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
Up Close and Personal with Darren Pettie, Star of The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

This year, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. and Civil Rights Advocate Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards

ABC Good Morning America News Anchor JuJu Chang will co-emcee the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) Lunar New Year dinner at PIER 60 on February 8, 2011. Photo by Lia Chang

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) will honor A.B. Cruz III, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., and Lillian Kimura, civil rights advocate and former president of the Japanese American Citizens League, with the 2011 Justice in Action Awards at its Annual Lunar New Year Gala on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at PIER SIXTY, Chelsea Piers, in New York City. The co-emcees for the evening are Juju Chang, ABC Good Morning America news anchor, and Sree Sreenivasan, Dean of Student Affairs and digital media professor at Columbia Journalism School, with BD Wong delivering a special message.

BD Wong Photo by Lia Chang

Ken Lowe, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., will present the award to A.B. Cruz III, and Philip Tajitsu Nash, Asian American studies professor and attorney, will present the award to Lillian Kimura. The AALDEF Justice in Action Awards recognize exceptional individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions in advancing justice and equality. Past recipients include the late civil rights icon Fred Korematsu, David Henry Hwang, Harold Koh, Mira Nair, Deval Patrick, Salman Rushdie, BD Wong, Seymour Hersh, Charles Ogletree, Jr., Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn, Harry Belafonte, Margaret Cho, and Yoko Ono.

Over 600 leaders of the civil rights, legal, business and arts communities are expected to attend AALDEF’s 2011 Lunar New Year Gala celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. The Gala begins with a 6 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, followed by the Justice in Action Awards ceremony and a banquet dinner. Tables of ten, available at $50,000, $20,000, $15,000, and $10,000, include a VIP reception. Individual tickets start at $500. Contact: Lillian Ling, 212.966.5932 x202 or lling@aaldef.org.

Proceeds from the Lunar New Year Gala benefit AALDEF’s legal and educational programs in immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, housing and environmental justice, Census policy, and the elimination of hate violence, police misconduct and human trafficking.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

Related Articles:
Reverend Jesse Jackson & Beau Sia slated for 1st Annual Fred Korematsu Day Celebration on 1/30/11 at UC Berkeley
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Fred Korematsu Day Bill, Bill Establishes January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution
AALDEF and the 33rd Asian American International Film Festival co-sponsors screenings of 9500 Liberty and Lt Watada
Juan Gonzalez and Larry Tu Received AALDEF 2010 Justice in Action Awards in New York
Multimedia: AALDEF Celebrates 35 Years of Protecting and Promoting the Civil Rights of Asian Americans
AALDEF Honors Dale Minami, Nicholas D. Kristof, Sheryl Wudunn and Sandra Leung with 2009 Justice in Action Awards

Other Articles by this Author:
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Geffen Playhouse Production Photos: LaBute’s The Break of Noon- Kevin Anderson, Tracee Chimo, Catherine Dent & John Earl Jelks
Jarlath Conroy Leads Cast of Pinter’s The Homecoming at CENTERSTAGE in Baltimore, 1/26-2/20/11
Museum of Chinese in America Programs in Jan.to Celebrate the Lunar New Year in NYC
Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka & Friends celebrate Lunar New Year at Metropolitan Museum of Art on 2/5
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman -2/6/11
Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
Kevin Anderson, Catherine Dent, Tracee Chimo, John Earl Jelks in Neil La Bute’s The Break of Noon at the Geffen 1/25-3/6
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
Photos & Video Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas-In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

This year, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.