Following an exceptional 25th Birthday Celebration, the San Diego Asian Film Festival returned in 2025 for yet another round of quality filmmaking from Asian voices. The 26th Annual San Diego Film Festival opened in a different location from last year, the La Paloma Theater in Encinitas. It’s a historic venue and something of a changeContinue reading “Opening Night “Forge” – The 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap”
Author Archives: Fabian Garcia
‘Blue Sun Palace’ – 14th SDAFF Spring Showcase Recap
We’re far past the immigrant story in modern cinema. It’s a concept that’s been done to death but somehow continues to dazzle audiences. It’s not so much that these stories are bad or invalid, but they’ve become insular, the opposite of what they’re supposed to be. Many immigrant stories have become self-obsessed portraits meant forContinue reading “‘Blue Sun Palace’ – 14th SDAFF Spring Showcase Recap”
Inside Somar’s Hunk Boot Pop-Up Event in Los Angeles
No dress code was necessary for admittance to the Somar Hunk Boot Pop-Up store in Los Angeles, but somehow, someway, everyone came dressed like they were going to a funeral. The line stretching around the corner of The 3110 Gallery in Silver Lake consisted of young adults wearing nothing but black and their sister shades.Continue reading “Inside Somar’s Hunk Boot Pop-Up Event in Los Angeles”
Turn Off The Bright Lights 97th Academy Awards Predictions
As award season comes to a close, the staff at Turn Off The Bright Lights decided to cast our personal ballots for who will win the Oscars this year. All previous award shows have had rather surprising results, which makes this particular Oscars a particularly hard one to predict. That being said, this article willContinue reading “Turn Off The Bright Lights 97th Academy Awards Predictions”
Closing Night: ‘New Wave’ – 25th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap
All good things must come to an end. After another week of Asian-American and international cinema, the 25th annual San Diego Asian Film Festival ended. Many celebrations were held. Amongst the fanfare, Todd Gloria, the first person of Asian heritage to serve as San Diego’s Mayor, proclaimed the week of the 7-16th as “San DiegoContinue reading “Closing Night: ‘New Wave’ – 25th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Recap”
The Best Barber in North County Is Going to Show You How He Cuts Hair
Emmanuel Garcia is a 24-year-old barber currently based in Northern San Diego County. For the past few years, he’s remained the number one barber in the area, specializing in medium to long-length hair. Now finally, the magician is ready to reveal his secrets. On Tuesday, September 10th Garcia and fellow barber Alex Montes will teachContinue reading “The Best Barber in North County Is Going to Show You How He Cuts Hair”
Four Young Entrepreneurs Want to Reimagine San Diego’s Vintage Scene, This is How They’re Doing It
UnfilteredSD is the combined effort of four high school friends who share their love of vintage fashion by creating unique visual experiences associated with collections of clothing they curated themselves. The group consists of 16-year-old Gabriel Reyes, Kanoa Srisouraj, Noah Felizardo and 18-year-old Nathan Rodriguez. They’re an eclectic bunch, each member of the team carriesContinue reading “Four Young Entrepreneurs Want to Reimagine San Diego’s Vintage Scene, This is How They’re Doing It”
How This Couple Completely Transformed San Diego’s Flea Market Scene
Deep within a random storage unit in San Diego County, a treasure trove of clothes sits on stacks atop a red rug. The inside is like a thrifter’s dream, with vintage clothes and old antique goods covering the exposed cement walls. This is the unofficial HQ for 21-year-old Adrian Reyes and 20-year-old Alia Kircher. TheContinue reading “How This Couple Completely Transformed San Diego’s Flea Market Scene”
What ‘I Saw The TV Glow’ is Really About – Ending Explained
Of all the emerging trends of recent cinematic history, one of the least promising has to be the decline of media interpretabiliy. While directors have always been open about sharing their work, never before has the “meaning” or “purpose” of something become such a heavily scrutinized point. Whereas some experimental auteurs of the past likeContinue reading “What ‘I Saw The TV Glow’ is Really About – Ending Explained”
Through Tibetan Eyes: The Films of Pema Tseden ‘Tharlo’ – 13th SDAFF Spring Showcase Recap
The San Diego Asian Film Festival returned for its 13th spring showcase with one of its most interesting exhibitions—an entire Sunday dedicated to films directed by the late Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden. Four films, from his second feature to his most recent film, were on display at Ultrastar Cinemas in Mission Valley. We caught theContinue reading “Through Tibetan Eyes: The Films of Pema Tseden ‘Tharlo’ – 13th SDAFF Spring Showcase Recap”
Turn off the Bright Lights 