Picture Bride

“Two thumbs up!” —Siskel & Ebert

NAATA and PIC present the first feature film written, produced and directed by Asian American women on public television September 1998

The National Asian American Telecommunications Association (NAATA) and Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) proudly present the critically-acclaimed feature film PICTURE BRIDE, by Kayo Hatta, on public television stations September 1998 (check local listings for exact date and time).

PICTURE BRIDE, the first American dramatic feature film written, produced and directed by Asian American women, won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and was an official selection in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Film Festival.

Between 1908 and 1924, over 20,000 Asian women crossed the Pacific Ocean to marry Japanese plantation workers in Hawaii. Due to the lack of women in the community and restrictive U.S. immigration and miscegenation laws, many of the laborers had to resort to marriages based on the exchange of photos.

These arranged marriages came to an abrupt halt with the passage of the U.S. Immigration Act of 1924 which excluded virtually all Asian immigration to the United States. But by 1930 these picture bride unions had produced almost 100,000 offspring, establishing a strong presence in what would become the 50th state of the Union.

Made over a five-year period, PICTURE BRIDE was a labor of love for Hawaii-born filmmaker Kayo Hatta and her crew. Many of the cast members and extras included in the film were Japanese Americans whose grandmothers or great-grandmothers were picture brides.

“PICTURE BRIDE brings to life an important, but little-known story to the American public,” said Donald Young, NAATA’s director of broadcast programming. He noted that NAATA was involved in the very early stages of the film’s development, providing monetary support for the production.

“NAATA strives to bring quality Asian American programming to public television and we are extremely proud to present a film that we’ve been involved with from the very beginning,” Young said. PICTURE BRIDE is the first feature film presentation on national public television for NAATA and PIC.

PIC Executive Director Carlyn Tani said, “PIC is pleased to co-present the national public television premiere of PICTURE BRIDE, a film that turns the spotlight on a pivotal chapter in Hawaii’s history and illuminates an era that has had a profound impact on shaping our unique multicultural heritage.”

If you would like more information, photographs and/or a viewing cassette PICTURE BRIDE, please contact Sandra Yoshizuka at 415-863-0814, extension 119.

About NAATA

NAATA is at the forefront of supporting and showcasing groundbreaking and award-winning works by and about Asian Americans. With support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, NAATA has awarded over $2 million in funding for 200 projects since 1991. For the latest information on NAATA, visit their website at www.naatanet.org.

About PIC

Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, promotes and presents quality public broadcast programming by and about Pacific Islanders. PIC has developed and broadcast award-winning national and international television mini-series and programs that highlight the cultures and peoples of the Pacific. To find out more about PIC, visit their website at www.piccom.org.