QUYEN NGUYEN-LE
  • About
  • FILM DIRECTING
    • In Living Memory
    • The Morning Passing on El Cajon Blvd
    • Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
    • Nước (Water/Homeland)
    • Queer Viet Doc
    • The Labyrinth
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About THE PARADISE WE ARE LOOKING FOR

San Diego has been called many things – including a paradise. It’s also a refugee city, a cluster of neighborhoods, a militarized zone, a border town. And Asian American.

This collection of four short documentaries, commissioned on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, maps many such San Diegos— across ethnicity, geography and history. 
At the same time, they hold on to some notion of paradise, however illusory: a haven from war, the dreams of an immigrant, precious teenage reminiscences, solace in the afterlife, and spaces for creative expression.

Sáng đi qua trên đường El Cajon
(The Morning Passing on El Cajón Boulevard)
produced, directed, edited by:
​​QUYÊN NGUYEN-LE

co-produced by:
BRIAN HU
​BENJAMIN TO
​
director of photography:
KAYLA TONG

additional cinematography:
​​QUYÊN NGUYEN-LE
​ 
sound editor:
LIEN BAO DO

PRESS MENTIONS

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Voice of San Diego. "Culture Report: Refugee and Immigrant Stories Take the Big Screen" November 5, 2019
NBC News. "Asian American film festivals launch careers, bridge gulfs and foster careers" November 6, 2019
KPBS. "City Heights Mortuary Featured In San Diego’s Asian Film Festival" November 8, 2019
KPBS. "PacArts Hosts Online Discussion For ‘The Paradise We Are Looking For’" May 22, 2020
​USA Today. "
Elevating Asian talent: The 5 best movies we saw at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival" October 26, 2020
Asian Movie Pulse. "Documentary Short Review: The Morning Passing on El Cajon Boulevard." October 27, 2021

Inquiries

For Educational Purchases, please contact Pacific Arts Movement:
Brian Hu | ​brian@pacarts.org


Screenings

November 7, 2019 @ 7PM
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center

November 12, 2019 @ 5PM
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Ultrastar Cinemas Mission Valley

​May 11-May 31 2020

​ONLINE
​SDAFF ONLINE: MAY MADNESS

October 22-25 2020
ONLINE
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
​

November 5-15, 2020
ONLINE
Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
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November 15-22, 2020
​ONLINE
New Orleans Film Festival 

March 4-14, 2021
ONLINE
Seattle Asian American Film Festival
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​
May 1-31, 2021

ONLINE
Asian Pacific Virtual Showcase
​
October 23-30, 2021
Viet Film Fest
ONLINE
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  • About
  • FILM DIRECTING
    • In Living Memory
    • The Morning Passing on El Cajon Blvd
    • Hoài (Ongoing, Memory)
    • Nước (Water/Homeland)
    • Queer Viet Doc
    • The Labyrinth