• Listen to this segment

GUESTS: Ann Kaneko, director of “Against the Grain,” Fatimah Rony, director of “Chant From An Island,” one of four short films collectively called “Chants of Lotus”

The 24th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film festival showcases over 160 films and videos from around the world this week, launching the celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage month. The films are by Asian Pacific American, as well as Asian international directors. Most prominently, this year’s festival highlights an unprecedented number of Asian American female directors, including my two guests this morning: Ann Kaneko, whos film Against the Grain profiles Peruvian artists who defy government sanctioned tyranny through their work, and Fatimah Rony, whose short film, Chant from an Island,” explores the challenges facing Indonesian women around reproductive rights. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is screening films at a variety of locations throughout the Southern California area, and tickets are available online at www.vconline.org. Or call 213-680-4462 x 68.

Against the Grain is screening at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival on Sunday May 4th at 4:30 pm at Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theaters, 8000 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, 90046 CA.

Chants of Lotus is screening at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival on Sunday May 4th at 5 pm at Director’s Guild of America, Theater 2.

For more information and tickets, visit www.vconline.org, or call 213-680-4462 x68.