National Documentary Premiere Ushers in Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

FALLS CHURCH, VA – The US premiere of "Never Perfect" airs on MHz Worldview/MHz Networks 1 on Saturday, May 3 at 8PM and 11PM EST. The broadcast is the first for the film via all television distribution throughout the US. 

"Never Perfect" explores the complex journey of a young Vietnamese-American woman struggling with popular perceptions of beauty and the stigma of racial self-hatred in her decision to undergo cosmetic surgery.

Traversing historical and contemporary notions of beauty within Asian and popular cultures, director Regina Park's documentary incorporates a rich selection of archival footage and ignites lively debate on the phenomenon. In the process,  Park discovers that submission under the scalpel is less about achieving ideal beauty than it is about power.

Documentary director Park notes, “It was my intention to create an open dialogue as a result of the film not only within the Asian/Asian American community but across all communities about critical issues that affect all of us: thoughts on identity and race, beauty and body culture, relationships and acceptance, understanding one’s place in the world; in essence, what it means not only to be Asian American today, but what it means to be human.

I appreciate so much knowing that the MHz Worldview audience will inherently have this global perspective even before they see the first frame of my film,” said Park.

Smiley Documentary Film Distribution, the representative of the documentary distributes award-winning independent documentaries.

Vincent Jack, Independent Producer Manager at MHz Networks says that the relationship with Smiley Films has brought numerous other programs to the line-up, including the recently aired “Battle of the Brains, as well as “Aki Ra’s Boys,” “A Stage of Mind,” “Make It Real (To Me),” “Turning The Tide,” and “So Far So Close”.

The film "Never Perfect" won A Silver Remi Award - Houston’s WorldFest FF 07 and Official selection – The Asian FF of Dallas 07.

MHz Networks airs the introspective documentary, beginning the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage in May.

MHz Networks was involved with the initiation of the monthly holiday through support of the celebration and its creator, Jeanie F. Jew, a former Community and Corporate Station Board member.

MHz Networks was also granted an award for Outstanding Corporate Community Service by the Organization of Chinese American Women.

More information on the film may be found at: www.neverperfectthemovie.com.

Contact:
Stephanie Misar
8101 A Lee Highway
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-770-7100
www.mhznetworks.org

MHz Networks is an independent, non-commercial television broadcaster delivering international educational and arts Programming and providing diverse cultural perspectives for a globally-minded audience.

MHz Worldview, MHz Networks flagship channel, brings programming to globally-minded audiences in the US though affiliates, including cable, satellite and online. Serving the Washington, DC area’s 4.9 million residents with eight local broadcast channels, MHz Networks features programs from around the world on-air in more than 20 different languages.

A division of Commonwealth Public Broadcasting Corporation headquartered in Richmond, VA, MHz Networks is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. MHz has studio facilities in Falls Church, VA and at Washington, DC’s Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.