The Asian American International Film Festival is now open for submissions for its 47th annual run in August 2024! In anticipation of another stellar program, we’ve prepared a roundup of some of the gems we screened last year. What will we come up with n ...
Punk Rock, Activism, and Self-Determination Explored Above and Below the Ground
Discovering Myanmar’s struggle against the Myitsone Dam through grassroots activists and the lens of director Emily Hong Nestled between the Mali Hka and N’Mai Hka rivers lies a village once home to Hkawn Mai, Lu Ra, and Ja Hkawn. Emily Hong’s “Above an ...
Indigenous Tales in Conversation: David L. Cunningham’s “The Wind and The Reckoning”
A Historical Narrative on Authentic Storytelling in the Post-Pandemic Era Born into a family of missionaries, director David L. Cunningham unveiled his latest cinematic masterpiece, “The Wind and The Reckoning,” in 2022. This film serves as a passionate a ...
Transforming Identity through ‘Metamorphosis’
Would you change races if you could? Confucius says, “honor thy mother,” but at what cost? Asian identity is constantly changing, whether it is the questioning of gender norms in the motherland or grappling with racism in the diaspora. Here are some of t ...
Some of the Best Horror Flicks in AAPI Film
The world can be divided into two subsets: A person who loves a good horror flick, and a person who loves a heartfelt tale. Luckily for you, this wide range of shorts combines both. https://youtu.be/sEXeJWk2PpM?si=7BTkVHPmPIzBLyp5 EYECATCHER Watched by ...
Music Night Out!
AAPI filmmakers blend music and visuals to narrate stories of love and family In a film, there is always an invisible main lead: The music. It tells us how to feel and steers us through the story. Now, it’s taking center stage in this series of music vide ...
Remembering how a Life is Made – and Forgotten
Memorable Shorts Make a Lasting Impression at AAIFF Like an open journal with the hearts of the filmmakers on display, these animated shorts often explore the creator’s history and their ongoing creation of an identity. At times moving, transformative, an ...
AAPI are Always on the Move. Where Do We Stop?
Without diaspora, there is no Asian American Pacific Islander identity. Someone, somewhere, moved halfway across the world. In a world where we are always searching for either belonging or connection, where do we find a place for ourselves? https://www.y ...
The Familiar Rhapsodies of New York
The rumbling of a passing F train. The chatter and footsteps along Canal Street. The sizzle when oil hits the wok. This is the everyday music of New York City, and these filmmakers have a song to sing about each borough. (Image Credit: Cindy Chu) BAYAR ...