Opens May 18 in New York City with stops in San Francisco, San Diego, and Iowa City Slated for the Summer and Fall

New York, May 7, 2012 – The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) and The Vilcek Foundation are teaming up to showcase films by many of the finest American immigrant filmmakers. The New American Filmmakers (NAF) National Film Tour begins on May 18 with a screening of director/co-writer Stefan Schafer’s charming romantic comedy-drama, My Last Day Without You, at the School of Visual Arts Theatre, 333 W. 23rd Street in New York City. The screening will begin at 7:30pm with an introduction by Chuck Boller, Executive Director of HIFF. Christoph Silber, co-writer and producer of the film, will participate in a post-screening Q&A. My Last Day Without You concerns a German executive (Ken Duken) who falls in love with an African American singer (Nicole Beharie, Shame) on a critical day in both of their lives. The film won the 2012 Black Reel Award for Best Independent Feature Film and Best Producer Award at the 2011 Brooklyn Film Festival.

The NAF Tour presents more than two dozen of the best independent American films curated at the HIFF over the past five years. Sponsored by The Vilcek Foundation, which supports immigrant artist and scientists, this one-of-a-kind tour is an a la carte package of films produced by innovative, cutting-edge, and award-winning American immigrant writers, directors, and actors. These films shed light on immigrant life and issues of family, sexuality, activism, discrimination, and love in the diaspora. For a complete list of films, please visit NewAmericanFilmmakers.org.

“We are extremely excited to bring the New American Filmmakers showcase from HIFF to the mainland,” said Rick Kinsel, Executive Director of the Vilcek Foundation. “The tour includes a balanced collection of feature films and documentaries with both light-hearted and controversial content. We believe that it will be a vibrant addition to film programs at many organizations and institutions across the country.”

Any organization, university or theatre can book the tour to be part of a celebration of immigrant talents in filmmaking. Booking fees for the tour are waived during the inaugural year. “This film tour will show more and more cities that immigrants in the United States have been successful and continue to make quality films,” said HIFF Programming Director Anderson Le. “To start the tour in New York is a big deal. We hope that more cities hop on board for this unique showcase.”

Right after New York City, the tour will travel to San Francisco, San Diego, and Iowa City where a mini-package of 21st century Chinese cinema will be shown at Bijou Cinema of the University of Iowa. More tour locations and dates will be released this summer.

For more information about the New American Filmmakers National Film Tour and instructions to book the tour, visit NewAmericanFilmmakers.org.