Asian American Dance Festival 2026 (AADF2026) is San Diego's first and only dance festival celebrating AAPI artists and stories. As part of this multi-day, multi-venue festival taking place August 30th - September 12th, we're featuring a Dance Film Screening at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in La Jolla, CA.

AADF2026: BECOMING ASIAN AMERICAN
As Asian Americans we are continually navigating our identities, weaving together our ancestral heritage with our current day lives. Through this festival, AAPI dance artists tell our stories of family, heritage, immigration, colonization, and assimilation. We remember the struggles and hardships of the first generations and celebrate their resilience and triumphs. We recognize what we as Asian and Pacific Islanders inherit, and we uncover what we take on or let go of. We embrace our journey to become not just Asians and Pacific Islanders in America, but to become Asian Americans...finding our identity and place in this tapestry of cultures.

More Information about AADF2026 can be found here - https://tiltshiftdance.org/aadf2026

DANCE FILMS BY AAPI ARTISTS
We are seeking short films that are dance/movement-based and made by AAPI artists, celebrating stories of identity, belonging, heritage, resistance and resilience. Submit your dance film, and join us in uplifting AAPI voices.

LOCATION:
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD)
700 Prospect St.
La Jolla, CA 92037

FILMMAKER BENEFITS:
• Live theater presentation of your film.
• Eligibility for filmmaker awards.
• Free AADF2026 Festival Pass providing admission to all ticketed events.
• Industry networking and discovery opportunities. Our panels include professionals from the dance and film industries.
• Opportunities for further exposure via our outreach and marketing campaigns.
• Inclusion in our permanent digital archive.
• “Official AADF2026 Film Screening Selection” laurel to help promote your film.

AADF2026 is presented by TILTshift Dance and bkSOUL. TILTshift Dance is fiscally sponsored by San Diego Dance Theater, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. AADF is funded in part by City of San Diego Cultural Affairs.

Awards & Prizes

All non-students films selected for the Film Screening are eligible for the following awards for each film category.

• Audience Choice Award (chosen by audience survey)
• Critic's Choice Award (chosen by jury panel)

All awards will be announced on the last day of AADF2026 at our Mainstage Showcase.

Rules & Terms

FILM SCREENING GENERAL RULES & GUIDELINES
• All dance/movement-based films of any genre or style will be considered.
• Films should be 3-15 minutes in length.
• Films do not need to be new work, as long as not accepted in a previous AADF Dance Film Screening.
• Films with dialogue or music lyrics must include a closed caption .srt file if selected.
• Student filmmakers must submit a current, valid student ID or proof of enrollment at the time the film was made, with your submission.
• If accepted, filmmakers should support and promote the festival and the community of artists involved, including sharing of social media posts, marketing materials, fundraising campaigns, etc.
• $5 regular submission fee / $10 late submission fee - please email us at asianamericandancefestival@gmail if this fee is a barrier for you.

INCLUDE IN YOUR "PROJECT FILE" FOR SUBMISSION:
• Poster image
• Trailer
• Still photos (2-3) - high-resolution film stills and/or production photos
• Filmmaker/Director Headshot
• Filmmaker/Director bio (2 versions: 50 word and 150 word)
• Student ID image (upload in “Files & Attachments”) - if submitting under "Student" category

FILE FORMATS FOR SCREENING EVENT
Selected films will be requested in their native frame rate in QuickTime format (.mov or .mp4)

RELEASE
• The individual or production company submitting the film hereby warrants that they have cleared all necessary copyrights, including any underlying rights, to submit this film and its supporting materials to AADF2026 and will hold AADF and its presenters and sponsor (TILTshift Dance, bkSOUL, San Diego Dance Theater, and Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego) harmless from and against any and all third party claims.

• By submitting your film, AADF and its presenters (TILTshift Dance and bkSOUL) are hereby granted the right to utilize any submitted materials, including video and still images for purposes of promotion of the 2026 Festival and for future promotion of AADF.

• Once submitted, a film cannot be withdrawn for any reason.

1 Review
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  • Vivian Lee

    Wonderful venue and great selection of film. Run by true dance professionals passionate about dance on film.

    November 2025
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