Stacks of cardboard boxes, envelopes and other unidentified packages covered the floor of the offices of the Center for Asian American Media.

The atmosphere was hectic days before the kickoff of the largest Asian American arts event in the nation, namely the 26th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. The event, presented by the Center for Asian American Media, a non-profit organization, will start March 13 and run to March 23.

The festival showcases a total of 128 films, including shorts, documentaries, narrative films and experimental works. Each year this festival offers the widest and best selection of Asian American films, festival director Chui-hui Yang explained.

“[The festival] in many ways, serves an important purpose to provide stories and images of Asian Americans to viewers who cannot normally access these,” Yang said. “What we see defines how we look at ourselves and each other, and in this way the festival is a critical resource for all communities, as it provides honest and real looks at the Asian American experience, something difficult to find in mainstream media.”

Fifteen countries, like Iran, Thailand, India and the Philippines, will be showing their films at selected theaters in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose during the festival.

Two themes dominate this year’s festival, Yang said. While a number of works explore the consequences of World War II and the ensuing relations between Japan, Korea and China, others focus on the relationship between Asia and Asian Americans, which serves as a way for actors and filmmakers to explore how their careers are connected to Asia.

And indeed among the films to be showcased are the Chinese film “Blood Brothers,” starring Chinese American and Bay Area born actor Daniel Wu, and “Whispering Sidewalks,” a Japanese jazz musical featuring Japanese American actress Betty Inada who went abroad to find acting opportunities and fame.

Ayako Murakami, a 22-year old BECA major from Japan is thinking of attending a few screenings.

“I missed last year, and also I missed the Indie Film Fest this year. I am really interested!” she said.

Striving to encompass the breadth of Asian American filmmaking, the festival is a unique experience during which 30,000 people including filmmakers, industry guests, artists and community members come together to discuss films and share ideas, Yang explained.

“The festival provides an outlet for Asian American filmmakers to share their stories […] It is definitely a big deal for the community,” said long time attendee and supporter of the event LeRoid David.

A graphic communication major who graduated from SF State in 2003, David joined the festival staff last year as a marketing coordinator.

As such, he is in charge of coordinating this year’s “Schools at the Festival”, an exclusive 2-day event during which special screenings, followed by dialogues with Asian American filmmakers and community members will be put aside for local high schools and youth groups to enjoy.

“Working behind the scenes for the first time is a lot cooler,” he said.

It is in this perspective of bringing together people and engaging a dialogue with viewers that most films will have filmmakers present, often leading to Q&A sessions afterwards, Yang said.

Among this year’s notable guests is Chinese American director Wayne Wang, who American audiences are most likely to remember for his 2002 film “Maid in Manhattan” starring Jennifer Lopez.

A one-day special Festival Forum, which will be inaugurated this year, will also take place on Japantown Peace Plaza in downtown San Francisco on March 15. It will feature live music, dance performances, free screenings and exclusive appearances by guest stars and filmmakers.

The festival, in an effort to broaden public participation and interest in the arts, has entered the digital age notably by establishing connections to popular online sites like Facebook and MySpace.

In this perspective the forum will also be a place of online interaction for festival attendees, giving them the possibility to record and upload self-made content, said executive director of the Center for Asian American Media, Stephen Gong in his welcoming address.

San Francisco venues include the Castro Theatre, Sundance Cinemas Kabuki and Landmark’s Clay Theatre. Student discounts as well as a “Castro Pass” giving access to all films at the Castro Theatre are available. For more information about screenings, schedule of events, venues and to purchase tickets, visit http://festival.asianamericanmedia.org/2008/ or http://www.asianamericanmedia.org/.