It's hard enough to launch a new ethnic film festival. But the ambitious organizer of Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival picked one of the busiest times on the movie calendar to premiere his package of 22 Pan-Asian films. Running from May 12-20, the fest will go head to head with the openings of mainstream summer fare.

	Konkona Sensharma stars in "Amu," which will be part of the Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival. She will answer questions during the film's May 12 screening at the Regent Square Theater. Click photo for larger image.

But that doesn't concern festival director Harish Saluja, a former businessman and film director from McMurray, whose movie "The Journey" recently aired nationally on the Independent Film Channel.

"People blame me for being too enthusiastic," cracks Saluja, "but I think it's well deserved in this case. For 25 years, Asian professionals have been coming [to Pittsburgh] to run businesses, to go to school, to start new lives. They're a part of the com-munity."

Saluja says he's concerned that Pittsburgh's Asian Americans may not be getting the cultural reinforcement they desire.

"The Asian cultural market is underserved," he says. "Look at the programming for the Cultural Trust: 90 percent of the programming is European, as it should be, considering the ethnicity of the population. But the shades are changing. ... Our mission statement is to promote cultural diversity and understanding among nations through the arts."

The nonprofit festival is funded by private and public investors, including Lexus, Comcast, MetLife and Prudential, and grants from the R.K. Mellon, Grable and McCune foundations and the Heinz Endowment.

The films will be held at venues run by Pittsburgh Filmmakers: Regent Square Theater, Harris Theater and Melwood Screening Room. The festival will spotlight some award-winning movies and will include films from India, South Korea, China, Vietnam, Iran, Japan and Thailand, as well as Asian-themed movies from Iran, the United States and Canada.

The festival opens with Indian filmmaker Shonali Bose's "Amu" and closes with "Water," the final installment of Indian-Canadian director Deepa Mehta's spiritual film trilogy that opened the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. Filmmakers and actors from festival films will host Q&A sessions following some screenings, among them, the Indian star of "Amu," Konkona Sensharma.

Pittsburghers can rub elbows with directors and casts at a Silk Screen Red Carpet Gala from 7:30 p.m. to midnight May 13 at 9 Over 9th Gallery & Rooftop Patio at 121 Ninth St., Downtown. The $50-per-ticket ethnic dress or black-tie optional gala will showcase Pan-Asian music, dancers and food.

"The festival is not aimed at one ethnic group," says Saluja. "It's aimed at everybody."

Movie tickets are $8. An eight-film pass is $50. Details: 724-969-2565 or www.silkscreenfestival.org.