HI EVERYBODY!

For our final screening of the day, we had two sets of guests for the post-screening Q&A. 

Japanese director Jun Tanaka, who was the 1st Japanese director to have his short selected for this program, created an impressive animated short about an old man whose only memory of his 

wife was the burnt picture frame which held her picture. 

He told the audience that this was his 1st all CG animation effort although he had done some CG animation work in previous work on commercials. He also said that he wanted to make this film because he felt that the young Japanese today aren’t educated about the wars which had devastated Japan in the past. Sound familiar?

Our next guests came out from NYC to represent the short “Pawn.” A moving story about a man who runs a coffee shop/chess club store in Greenwich Village in New York. He helps a young soldier suffering from PTSD through their regular chess games & cups of coffee. Director Had Abdari, himself a veteran met with Imad Khachan, the real life chess club owner & was inspired to make this short film. His writer Bobby Yousif came out as well and based his script on Jad & Imad’s relationship & conversations.

Thanks again to the guests & all the creators/filmmakers who submitted to this important program. We have to keep working towards the day when this category won’t be necessary

anymore! Peace & love all!

We’re here until tomorrow, Sunday before we move on down the street to Laforet for another week of screenings from 06/13 – 06/17.

SEE YA!

DJ JOHN