About the Opening Reception

About the Film

The Tiger Hunter (2016) — 94 minutes

Sami Malik, a young Indian, travels to America in the 1970s. He dreams of becoming an engineer to impress his childhood crush and live up to the legacy of his father, a legendary tiger hunter. When Sami's job falls through, he takes a low-end job and joins with a gang of oddball friends in hopes of convincing his childhood sweetheart that he's far more successful than he truly is—or perhaps ever could be.

About the Director

Lena Khan graduated summa cum laude and received undergraduate degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles in political science and history, after which she went on to graduate from the prestigious UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Since then, Lena has been directing short films, commercials and music videos for international artists such as Maher Zain. Her films and videos have received over 30 million hits on YouTube, won film festivals, broadcast across the world, and have been seen anywhere from universities to international embassies.

Lena's popularity as a music video director stems from her ability to create projects with captivating stories and production values far beyond their modest budgets. She now channels her experience in music videos into bringing a unique visual style to her film, and has honed an acute ability to reach into the international marketplace.

Lena has also gained experience working at noted production companies such as Participant Productions (Syriana, The Kite Runner) and Valhalla Motion Pictures (The Incredible Hulk, Armageddon). Responsible for anything from brainstorming film ideas to script development, she gained knowledge of what qualities a film needs to be memorable and successful, and now brings those aspects to her work.

Lena has been honored as a guest speaker at various universities; profiled in USA Today, The New York Times, and various other media outlets; won Sony Entertainment Television's South Asian Excellence Award for contributions to entertainment, and now dedicates herself to making films that call attention to social issues through entertainment. But above all, Lena seeks to make valuable films that people actually want to watch.

About Houston Asian American and Pacific Islander (HAAPI) Film Festival

The HAAPI FIlm Festival, started in 2004 by OCA Greater Houston, was created to highlight and celebrate the diversity of culture, food, and stories of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, to support AAPI artists and filmmakers, and to share the messages, issues, hopes, and dreams of the AAPI experience for the Greater Houston metropolitan area through educational entertainment.

About OCA Greater Houston

Founded in 1973, OCA is a national organization of community advocates dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Established in 1979, the OCA Greater Houston Chapter is one of OCA’s 100+ chapters and affiliates and works to provide strong local programs that empower the AAPI community through advocacy, cultural awareness, professional development, economic empowerment, youth leadership training, civic engagement, community service, and education.

Bank of America is presenting sponsor of Performing Arts & Culture programs. Generous funding also provided by AARP, Nancy C. Allen, CNOOC-NEXEN, the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, The Clayton Fund, the Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, and Mickey Rosenau & Dr. Ellen Gritz. Funding is also provided from Friends of Performing Arts & Culture at Asia Society Texas Center, a premier group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming to Houston. HAAPI Film Festival Opening Night is presented in collaboration with OCA Greater Houston and Houston Asian American and Pacific Islander Film Festival.