CAAMFest (presented by the Center for Asian American Media) is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian and Asian American films, presenting approximately 130 works in San Francisco and Oakland. Since 1982, the annual festival has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers as well as a vital source for new Asian cinema.

CAAMFest aspires to incite dialogue and community engagement, motivated by “the innovative ways Asian Americans are contributing to and shaping American identity and culture,” says Stephen Gong, Executive Director of CAAM. In doing so, CAAMFest also showcases music, food, and interactive workshops. The 2019 festival drew an attendance of over 25,000, including more than 230 filmmakers and industry guests from around the world.

About CAAM:
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a non profit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. We do this by funding, producing, distributing and exhibiting works in film, television and digital media.

Awards & Prizes

2019 Juried Awards:
Comcast Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature
SF Film Critics Award (for International Features)
Loni Ding Award for Social Issue Documentary
INSPIRASIAN Student Film Awards

Audience Awards:
Best Narrative Feature
Best Documentary Feature

Rules & Terms

By submitting your film for consideration, you grant CAAM permission to screen the above-mentioned work at the 2020 CAAMFest (formerly San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival) if accepted and warrants that all necessary steps have been taken to obtain the rights to use and display the work. Signatory also gives CAAM permission to use stills and excerpts from accepted works for promotional purposes.
5 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Baldwin Chiu

    It's hard to give this festival less than a 5 because 2020 will probably be the worse year to ever release movies. CAAMFest did so much to keep things going in the virtual world even more so than the larger mainstream festivals. They worked tirelessly and the only thing I regret is not being there live. It's so hard to network and make new friends virtually. The live experience is what we had our hopes on but... well...2020. We hope we can come back in person when the world reopens.

    October 2020
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  • Eugene Kim

    Great time at CaamFest! Solid selection and the venues were great, too.

    June 2019
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  • Jeffrey Wu

    In almost every category, CAAMFest shines above all other festivals I've attended as a filmmaker. Above all other amenities, service, and communication, what stuck with me most is the community that CAAMFest has fostered due to it's long history in the Bay Area.

    San Francisco is a historic site for Asian-American identity and to have the largest Asian-American film festival take place in the same area is monumental. Either as a filmmaker or as an attendee, I definitely want to come again.

    May 2019
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  • Louisa Wei

    My first time to CAAMFest was a good experience and that's why I came back for a second time. The staff members are friendly and helpful. My screening is well received. The audience was great, as they laughed, cried and sang along.

    May 2018
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  • Yudho Aditya

    I am all for niche festivals like CAAMFest, and I'm acknowledging that this maybe my own experience with the festival and may not apply to everyone else. And for non profit orgs like CAAM, I also understand the lack of funding, etc. etc.

    But, the screening that I was in ran late and the Q and A was rushed at the end. It feels very disorganized, no one really knew what they were doing (a volunteer was spearheading the program who knew nothing about the films), and the staff seemed so blasé about everything. In the end it feels like the screening was a throwaway and I felt like they were taking us for granted. As someone who flew in from NYC for the festival, I wasn't sure if it was even worth the money and time.

    Perhaps if you're already living there, it may prove worthy of your time. But for a visiting filmmaker, I was highly disappointed.

    One a more positive note, the email communication was some of the best I've had with any festival. It was swift and very helpful.

    April 2017
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