Crouching Festival, Hidden Films

Ferrer was also dismayed over the Newport festival's "slim pickings" of Asian films. "It's definitely like scraping the bottom of the barrel," he said. He finds it particularly perplexing considering that Newport's organizers called him seeking assistance, and he claims to have provided solid leads on much more interesting films.

Among the new films to premiere this May at Ferrer's Los Angeles festival is Amy Chen's Chinatown Files, a documentary on FBI harassment of Asian American leftists during the McCarthy era. Ferrer asked me, "Is it showing at Newport?" He need not have asked. Contacted in New York, Chen, now showing her film on the festival circuit, says she would love to show Chinatown Files in Newport Beach.

Too bad, Amy; it's too late. Apparently, no one out here knew enough to contact you.