Chinese American writer/director Eric Byler grew up in California,
Virginia, and Hawaii before graduating from Wesleyan University in
Connecticut. Eric was nominated for a 2003 Independent Spirit Award for
his debut feature film Charlotte Sometimes (2002), which also earned
nominations for producer Marc Ambrose and actress Jacqueline Kim.
Eric's second feature Americanese (2006) was acquired for theatrical release
(fall 2007) by IFC Films and won both the Audience Award and the
Special Jury Award at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2006. He
directed the short film, My Life... Disoriented (2006), which aired on PBS
stations around the country in late 2006 and early 2007. His latest
feature film is the "Charlotte Sometimes" sequel Tre (2006), winner of the
Special Jury Award at the 2007 San Francisco International Asian
American Film Festival.
Eric has been invited to speak at colleges and universities around the
United States, and is known for grassroots activism and YouTube
documentaries he created during the 2006 Virginia Senate race on behalf
of Senator Jim Webb and Virginia's Asian/Pacific American community.
"Charlotte Sometimes" Awards and Nominations: 2003 Independent Spirit
Award nominations: "The John Cassavetes Award," "Best Supporting
Actress" Jacqueline Kim Won: "Audience Award for First Films Narrative"
at the South by Southwest Film Festival, Won: "Special Jury Award for
Narrative Filmmaking" at the Florida Film Festival, and "Best Dramatic
Feature" at the San Diego Asian Film Festival.
"Americanese" Awards and Nominations: Won: "Audience Award, Narrative
Feature Competition" at the South by Southwest Film Festival Won:
"Special Jury Award for Oustanding Ensemble Cast" at the South by
Southwest Film Festival Nominated: "Best Actor" Chris Tashima at the
Seattle International Film Festival
"Tre" Awards and Nominations Won: Special Jury Award at the San
Francisco Int'l Asian American Film Festival Nominated: Best Actress
(Kimberly-Rose Wolter) at MethodFest
Kenji's Faith (1994) Awards and Nominations: Student Academy Award
nomination for Best Experimental Film. Won: "Best Amateur Entry" at the
Canadian International Annual Film Festival, "Best Scenario" at the
Canadian International Annual Film Festival, "Gold Plaque Award" at the
Chicago International Film Festival, "Judges Award" at the New Orleans
International Film Festival, "Director's Choice Award" at the Black
Maria Film Festival, "Best of Festival" at the Montreal Underground
Film Festival, "Certificate of Regional Achievement" from The Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
