By Maria Esteves - September 1, 2009

The 32nd Annual 2009 Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF09) Closing Night Awards Ceremony presented by official sponsor Toyota and Asia Cinevision (ACV) commenced Sunday, July 26, 9:00 pm at the Chelsea Clearview Cinemas, New York. AAIFF09 Closing Night Film Presentation FRUIT FLY, directed by H.P. Mendoza preceded the awards ceremony. AAIFF09 Closing Night Reception held at Velour, immediately followed the awards ceremony. The official vehicle sponsor, personally chauffeured festival attendees, friends of AAIFF, celebrities, and guests in the new 2010 Toyota SUV's to AAIFF09 closing night reception.

The AAIFF award acknowledges the best in filmmaking of 2009 by emerging international filmmakers of Asian descent. The award announcer was executive producer, Liliana Chen, AAIFF.

Since 1987, AAIFF founded by ACV, is a non-profit national media arts organization that annually presents international films of Asian descent. ACV staff and board members are John C. Woo, Irene Cifra, Martha C. M. Tien, Jaclyn Amor, Peter Wu, Greg Chew, Lucy Chow, Roger Garcia, Terence Lam, John Shin, and Harry T.Y. Tai.

This year's festival included 14 features, and 50 shorts as well as filmmaker's
panel discussions, Q&A sessions, workshops, special events, and gala parties.

2009 AAIFF leadership, supporting, cinema, and media sponsors are Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science (AMPAS), Stella Artois, Wooart, Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA opens September 22, 2009), The New York Times, Project by Project, Lentini, Gilead, WNYC 93.9 FM, Crossings, Hyphen, Stuff Asian People Like, ANBM Source, NINGIN, and Channel APA.

2009 AAIFF ceremony included five awards within four categories. The
awards were presented to the following winners:

*  One to Watch Award, presented to director Lemi Hernandez-Kim for AYI'S STORY.           

*  Excellence in Short Film Award, presented to associate producer Katherine Pickard for CROSSING MIDNIGHT.      

*  Audience Choice Award, presented to director Christopher Wong for WHATEVER IT TAKES .          

*  Emerging Director Documentary Feature Award, presented to director
Ngawang Choephel for TIBET IN SONG.        

*  Emerging Director Narrative Feature Award, presented to director Nian Liu for LI TONG.