ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
As Oregon's premiere Asian American film festival, DisOrient is celebrating 20 years of presenting the richness and breadth of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander stories and voices. We are committed to promoting social justice and increasing AANHPI representation. We don’t limit to specifically AANHPI stories, but invite submission of good stories that feature Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in front of and/or behind the camera, in wide-ranging roles.

DisOrient proudly maintains this Pacific Northwest platform to amplify diverse voices--and your film will have an impact! Home to the University of Oregon and host of the Track and Field World Championships, Eugene is both down to earth and internationally recognized. Our festival attracts an eclectic, intelligent audience that enthusiastically supports our festival. DisOrient is known for thoughtfully curated films and friendly Eugene hospitality, and is a favorite among attending filmmakers.

We are planning for a 3-day, in-person 2026 festival, with a limited virtual program on Eventive. We are committed to healthy gatherings and will make adjustments as challenging times require. As a volunteer-run film festival, all submission fees go directly towards producing the festival.

We believe in the power of film to bring people together and to inspire positive change!

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT DISORIENT:

DisOrient is a dream festival experience. The staff and volunteers make you feel welcomed into a cinematic family and do everything to make one feel at home among a group of dedicated people who care about film and social justice. It's a true community experience and I can't wait to return with a future film! Chihiro Wimbush, DisOrient 2022

Seeing so many Asian stories told from an Asian perspective is both strange and wonderful. Representation does matter! Never having been truly represented before, I didn’t realize how deeply touching it is. Passholder, DisOrient 2022

Thank you for being bold and supporting us, and looking into the future of diverse APA filmmaking. Chris Chan Lee, DisOrient 2022

Wow, so honored to be a part of the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival! They really care about social justice issues, promoting diversity and inclusion, and strengthening and building community. Thank you so much! -Ben Phantom, 2021 filmmaker and musician

Thank you so much for putting on this amazing festival! We found the films to be a wonderfully-curated mix, presenting important issues in uniquely creative ways that continue to provoke valuable discussions within our household to this day. -Audience member, 2021

Thank you for making this experience such a pleasant and enriching one. I have heard that not all festivals are run this smoothly or with as much care, so I applaud you for doing such a stellar job. -Kayla Sotomil, DisOrient 2020

Hats off to DisOrient for creating the best festival experience ever! Top marks for communication, organization, hospitality, warmth, professionalism, enthusiasm, audience diversity, venue quality and caliber of featured works. -Lawrence Chau, DisOrient 2019

MISSION & OBJECTIVE
DisOrient is an Asian American Film Festival that celebrates independent films with authentic Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander voices, histories and stories. We promote representation, diversity and inclusion to broaden the narrative of who is American and to strengthen and build community. We highlight social justice themes that translate to universal human experiences.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS ARE GIVEN FOR:
• Best Feature Narrative
• Best Feature Documentary
• Best Short Narrative
• Best Short Documentary
• Best Animation
• Audience Award for Best Feature Narrative Film
• Audience Award for Best Short Narrative Film
• Audience Award for Best Feature Documentary Film
• Audience Award for Best Short Documentary Film
• Audience Award for Best Animation
• J D. Mak Award for Social Justice

Rules & Terms

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
To be considered for selection, entries must have completed production after December 15, 2023

We are seeking films “For us, by us and/or about us". Entries must have one of the following:
•A principal that identifies as Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (writer, producer, director, main actor, cinematographer)
•Be about an Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander experience or subject
•Be made with Asian Americans/Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders as the target audience

REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS

1. Entry Deadlines and Fees
Early Deadline October 17-- Features: $20 USD; $16 Gold
Regular Deadline November 21-- Features: $30 USD; $24 Gold
Late Deadline December 17-- Feature: $40 USD; $32 Gold
All shorts: $15 USD; All music videos: $15 USD

• We do not provide waivers; we encourage artists to take advantage of the early deadline discount. We are a volunteer-run festival and all submission fees go directly towards running the festival.
• Please read through our submission criteria carefully--we do not provide refunds to unqualified submissions. Feel free to contact us if you have a question or need clarification.

• NOTE: We are a volunteer-run festival and as a policy we do not pay screening fees. DisOrient’s mission is to provide a high-quality platform to celebrate and amplify authentic AANHPI voices and stories. Our presence is valued and needed in Oregon and we rise to the occasion with our thoughtfully curated programming.

2. Preview format:
All submissions must be digital. Please provide a working link to an online version of your film on FilmFreeway and/or Vimeo at the time of submission, as well as any passwords necessary to view the film. Please include a Vimeo or YouTube link to a film trailer, if available. Trailers must be set to allow downloads, and screeners must be accessible through March 28, 2026.

3. Electronic Press Kit Packet & Materials, uploaded to FilmFreeway. Press kit must include:
• 2 OR MORE Still images in PNG or JPEG with the following sizes:
Poster Image, Recommended Size: 2:3 aspect ratio
Cover Image: Size 960x380 px
Still Image for Virtual Screening: Size 1920x1080px
Other images (e.g headshots, misc. stills, etc.): Max. 400px width
• Synopsis (long and short versions)
• Director’s biography & statement
• List of cast and crew, awards, and festival appearances
• Link to a downloadable trailer (MP4 or MOV file in 1080p and 23.98 or 24 fps). Clips that do not meet these specifications may not be included in promotional material for the festival.)

4. Mandatory qualification questionnaire:
(Note: Your detailed answers to these questions are an important piece of the submission packet and help us evaluate how your film aligns with our mission.)

• Does your film have a principal that identifies as AANHPI? (writer, producer, director, animator, cinematographer, main actor)
• We are NOT an international film festival. If your film does not include a North American or Pacific Islander subject, director, writer, or lead actor, please explain how your film meets our submission criteria.
•Please include names of principal(s), the role they played, and their ethnicity.
• Does the subject matter address an AANHPI experience? How?
• Is the target audience AANHPI? Explain.
• How did you hear about DisOrient?

*Note: If your film is selected, the festival may also request the following items to maximize exposure for your film: posters, director's photo, trailers, clips, press releases.

Exhibition Copies for Theater screening:

All feature or short form exhibition copies must use a frame rate of 23.98 or 24 fps, and may be submitted in one of the following formats:

2K or 4K DCP
(This is the preferred format, and will play back in the highest quality.)

BLU-RAY. (We cannot play DVDs!)

QUICKTIME FILE using exactly these specs:
.mov or .mp4
H264 codec
23.98 or 24 fps frame rate
1920x1080 resolution
AAC audio
Please no ProRes or other formats.

DELIVERY OPTIONS:
Via DropBox, WeTransfer, FileMail, etc., GoogleDrive, or post.

Exhibition Copy uploaded to Eventive for Virtual program (if applicable).

Additionally, we would like to expand our closed-captioned offerings; CLOSED-CAPTIONED EXHIBITION COPIES ARE NOT REQUIRED, BUT ARE ENCOURAGED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED!

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By submitting a film for consideration, the filmmaker or authorized representative of the submitted work, hereby grant the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon permission to publicly display the submitted work both during the festival and for “Encore” and special screenings held at the discretion of the festival (if selected) and understand that the festival does not pay rental fees or appearance fees. In addition, you agree that the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival is not liable for any loss or damage to screeners or exhibition prints and cannot be held financially responsible for any other damages. Submitted preview materials will not be returned. You also agree to allow use of stills, audio, and video clips from the submitted work for promotional purposes. Your signature also certifies that you have received all appropriate copyright clearances and assume full liability for any and all copyright infringement. DisOrient Asian American Film Festival reserves the right to amend policies at its discretion.

DisOrient Asian American Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

70 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Katelyn Park

    This fest was an all time favorite for me, I made memories I'll never forget. I had such an incredible time traveling to Oregon and meeting the wonderful and rich community that Jo, Pam, the staff and all volunteers at DisOrient have worked so hard to foster. It was my first Asian American film fest and I cannot stress how important spaces like these are -- I felt so seen and so taken care of (and well fed! the food was awesome!)

    May 2026
    Helpful
  • Katrina Cortes

    I had an amazing experience working with the DisOrient Film Festival. In addition to selecting my music video, they also looked into my work and used my song, "Song for the People and the Land" in the festival trailer. I felt so seen as a mixed Filipinx artist in the diaspora, and am grateful to find a space that understands the complexities of artistry and the current sociopolitical moment. Big shout out to Jo Fujiwara-Morozumi who managed my communications. Yall are the best. Thank you for seeing my work and highlighting it alongside all these APIA visionaries.

    April 2026
    Helpful
  • Matthew Baltar

    It was a pleasure and honor to take part in DisOrient 2026! The films shown were amazing and Jo Fujiwara-Morozumi, the programming director, was wonderful to work with and made my short film and my team feel very special.

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Autie Carlisle

    This is a very genuine, heart-felt, high-quality film festival. I highly recommend! It was my first year attending and I was welcomed so warmly by the festival team. It was a neat experience to be surrounded by Asian American and Pacific Islander storytellers and gatherers and to hear about their experiences from a first-row seat. My film featured one of their dedicated festival attendants but as a non-asian myself, it was a very enriching, inclusive, and honorary place that I got to attend from. I am grateful for their programing, communication, care, love, Q&As, venue choice, and everything in-between. Their priorities are in a beautiful place and that is evident in every step of the way. Thank you DisOrient for showing my film, Out of Place, in 2026. I am grateful!

    March 2026
    Helpful
  • Supernova Design

    One of our favorite festivals! Disorient is very filmmaker-focused, with incredible organizers and deeply engaged audiences making it a truly worthwhile festival to attend in person! We had a great time connecting with fellow filmmakers and watching some incredible films. Thank you for presenting 'Creatures of Chaos' with the audience choice award! We can't wait to be back :)

    March 2026
    Helpful