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ex, drugs and film noir. As citizens of the 21st century, and the internet age, chances are we get our fill of the first two. But how often do we get to say "yes" to this sensual ménage - à - trois? San Francisco's 26th Annual Asian American Film Festival gives us a chance to connect with other Asian Americans in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, an opportunity to get high off of the original scripts and storylines, and an excuse to ogle the Technicolor hotties on the big screen.

     From San Francisco's Castro Theater and UC Berkeley's Pacific Film Archive to the San Jose Museum of Art, the Festival will showcase 120 works submitted by polished masters like Wayne Wang, director of Eat a Bowl of Tea (1989) and The Joy Luck Club (1993), as well as burgeoning talents like Jon Hurwitz, director of Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle and Michael Kang, director of The Motel (2007).

     Festival highlights include the Castro Theater opening night attraction, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers featuring a well-intentioned father come from China to "heal" his divorcee daughter, West 32nd , starring John Cho as an uptight lawyer who discovers his roots in the seamy underbelly of K-town's gangsta life, and falls for his client's sexy sister played by Grace Park, and The Home Song Stories, showcasing Joan Chen as a nightclub songstress who serially shacks up, dragging her two children along with her.

     A truly remarkable offering is Never Forever, directed by Gina Kim. It's about an an American woman Sophie (Vera Farmiga) marrried to a successful Korean American lawyer (David McGinnis) who can offer her love and a big house but is impotent. In an effort to have a baby that may save her marriage Sophie hires Korean immigrant Jihah (Jung-woo Ha) to impregnate her. The rest is the stuff of a tantalizing and gripping melodrama. No wonder it was a 2007 Sundance Festival Grand Jury nominee!

     In 2005, inspired by the popularity of Justin Lin's Better Luck Tomorrow (2002), festival director ChiChi-Hui Yang introduced the competition categories of Narrative and Documentary for North American films. Since then, the festival has seen a greater focus on the subtler effects of alienation and the introspective ponderings on a new Asian American identity evidenced in films like Punching at the Sun, and American Knees featured at last year's festival.

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     San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival is the biggest and oldest of its kind. But like most great things, the Festival has humble roots. It began as Asian CineVision's attempt to take their film festival on a national tour. The San Francisco 1982 debut featured 13 films over three nights, showcasing Wayne Wang's 1981 feature, Chan is Missing, and connected groups such as New York's ACV, and NAATA (National Asian American Telecommunications Association) in the Bay Area, giving them a chance to collaborate and increase coast-to-coast awareness.

     Those who don't want to devote a date-night exclusively to an unpredictable romance, or eclectic drama, can make an evening of it with an adventurous dinner and scrumptious dessert. If you're headed into the city, check out Chef Jia's in the Financial District (925 Kearny St.) and stop by Café Madeleine for some sweet-tooth indulgence (300 California St.).

     If you're around the Berkeley campus, choose from a delightful assortment of wallet-friendly standard Chinese-,Japanese- and Korean-fare, or try some spicy Indian- House of Curries (2520 Durant Avenue), Naan 'N Curry (2366 Telegraph Avenue), Thai- Thai Basil (2519 Durant Avenue), Thai House (2511 Channing Way) or Nepalese cuisine- Mount Everest Restaurant (2011 Shattuck Avenue), and follow it up with some java from one of the area's famous cafés.

     What with Lucy Liu and Lindsay Price headlining Lipstick Jungle (NBC) and Cashmere Mafia (ABC), successors to HBO's cosmopolitan dramedy Sex and the City, TV isn't devoid of Asian faces. And actors like John Cho and Sung Kang can be spotted on the big screen with increasing regularity. But it's just nice to have our own film event where women can swoon, men can gawk and aspiring auteurs can check out a real flesh-and-blood forum for their works.

     For more info on the Fesival's offerings check out the official site .

Joan Chen, the committment-phobe siren in The Home Song Stories.

A promotional shot of the pot-loving pals from Harold and Kumar 2.

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