Bobby Yan
Bobby is a second-generation Chinese American director and writer from New York City. He graduated from Tulane University in New Orleans and holds a Masters degree from NYU in Visual Effects. Starting his career with music videos, he has directed and edited over one hundred music videos and commercials and won seven Emmy Awards for editing and producing in sports television.
Born and raised in New York City as a child of immigrants, Bobby's early life was surrounded by the diverse cultures and melting pot of NYC, which displays heavily in his work today. An avid video gamer and lover of comic book culture, Bobby fuses pop culture influences with visual elements of hip hop culture.
With a focus on telling diverse stories that bridge communities, Bobby's work often explores topics and stories from a marginalized community perspective, exploring common bonds of ethnic/cultural heritage, gender, sexual orientation, and political identification. His work explores themes and genres of racial identity, LGBTQ, gender, and anti-Asian violence.
Bobby's first film, a proof-of-concept, award-winning narrative short titled Marz premiered at Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco and has been screened at more than 50 festivals worldwide.
Bobby is a participant in the ABC Disney Directing Program and Ryan Murphy's HALF Initiative Mentorship program. Bobby's directing credits include Stalker, which aired on TV One and Lifetime Network; movies for BET Network; and, nine episodes of K-Love a TV series from the Philippines streaming on VIU.
Bobby is currently in development for several film and TV projects including a feature film inspired by his own life story, an Asian American coming of age comedy-drama at the intersection of music and culture.
Saturday 19th August
MASTER CLASS: Directing for Film and Television
Jackson
Instructor: Bobby Yan, PNMC Celebrity Co-Chair
An advanced primer on the craft of directing from script to screen.
Friday 18th August
Film Festival Opens in the Hamilton
Film Short: 3 Phases of Isa (17 min.; Drama)
Hamilton
Filmmaker: Mildred Langford
In a marriage riddled with domestic violence, a woman confronts the younger versions of herself attempting to gain the freedom she desperately seeks.
Film Short: XXVisible (12 min.; Drama)
Hamilton
Filmmaker: Bobby Yan
It's 2020, COVID-19 has shut down the entire world. In the midst, a successful, young Asian American struggles to navigate life during the lock down. A series of events forces the man to confront issues of self-identity and racial politics, culminating into an aggressive Anti-Asian attack against his family.
Thursday 17th August
FILM SHORTS: XXVisible; Neighbor; FANNIE
Film Short: XXVisible (12 min.; Drama)
Hamilton
Filmmaker: Bobby Yan
It's 2020, COVID-19 has shut down the entire world. In the midst, a successful, young Asian American struggles to navigate life during the lock down. A series of events forces the man to confront issues of self-identity and racial politics, culminating into an aggressive Anti-Asian attack against his family.
Film Short: Neighbor (6 min.; Light Drama)
Hamilton
Filmmaker: William Andre Buchanan
He looks iffy. He dresses street. He's not our kind of people...right? Or is he?
Film Short: FANNIE (10 min.; Drama)
Hamilton
Filmmaker: Abeni Bloodworth
Sharecropper turned social justice advocate, Fannie Lou Hamer publicly highlights the scare tactics used in Mississippi to prevent Black Americans from voting. Hammer forces this country to examine itself with one question, “Is this America?
Thursday 17th August
CELEBRITY CONVERSATION: Bobby Yan
Roosevelt
The festival is presenting a special session, Conversation with Film, and Television Director Bobby Yan. This conversation will focus on the 2023 PNMC Festival Co-Chair Bobby’s career and lived experience in the industry and ways artists of color can thrive in the film and television industry. Bobby is a seven-time (Emmy) award winning director.
Moderator: Ken Boddie, Morning Anchor/Reporter KOIN TV