AsianConnections salutes actor James Hong for his many successful career achievements and contributions as an advocate for more and better roles for Asian Americans in the entertainment industry.

James Hong, one of Hollywood's most prolific and versatile actors turned 79 February 22nd, and he's busy as ever.

Konrad Aderer's short documentary "Rising Up: The Alams" is showing on March 2 in New York.

Konrad Aderer's short documentary "Rising Up: The Alams" is showing at the 5th annual Grassroots Media Conference on March 2 at 12:15 at Hunter College in New York.

The filmmaker introduces us to the Alams, a Bangladeshi family living in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Mohammed Alam, father to two young U.S.-born daughters, is one of 13,000 immigrants facing deportation as a consequence of Special Registration, a post-9/11 policy which targeted nationals of Muslim countries. But the Alams are not just victims. Learn how they fight back as members of South Asian community organization D.R.U.M. (Desis Rising Up and Moving).

The 5th annual Grassroots Media Conference - Speaking Truth To Power- Media Justice in Our Communities is co-sponsored by the Film and Media Studies Department, Hunter College/CUNY and will take place on from 9am-6pm on Sunday, March 2.

Session 2: 12:15pm - 1:45pm

CALL FOR CHANGE SERIES: PRESENTED BY THIRD WORLD NEWSREEL
Call for Change is a vibrant series of short documentaries about various communities of color in New York City. Each documentary opens a window into a different aspect of life in the city: a Palestinian-American voting for the first time;

Carrie Ann Inaba and Bobby Lee to Host the 2008 JC Penney Asian Excellence Awards Airing May 1 on E! Entertainment Television.

(LOS ANGELES, March 26, 2008) At a press conference held today in Los Angeles, Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars, Dance Wars: Bruno Vs Carrie Ann ) and Bobby Lee (MADtv ) announced the nominees for the 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards. This is the third year that the Asian Excellence Awards will honor the outstanding achievements of Asians and Asian Americans in film, television, music, and the performing arts via a national awards telecast.

Carrie Ann Inaba and Bobby Lee will co-host the show that will be taped at UCLA's Royce Hall in Los Angeles. Comedian Russell Peters will serve as backstage host, providing the voice and comic relief. The 2008 JCPenney Asian Excellence Awards will premiere on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT. In addition, beginning May 7 and throughout the month of May, the show will be available on Comcast On Demand.

This year's award categories and nominees include:

OUTSTANDING FILM
Finishing the Game Director, Justin Lin
Lust, Caution Director, Ang Lee
Rush Hour 3 Director, Brett Ratner
War Director, Philip G. Atwell

OUTSTANDING FILM ACTOR
Naveen Andrews The Brave One
Jackie Chan Rush Hour 3
Chow Yun-Fat Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Tony Leung Lust, Caution
Jet Li War
Lee-Hom Wang Lust, Caution

OUTSTANDING FILM ACTRESS
Devon Aoki War