Started in 2004 by OCA-Greater Houston, the Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival (HAAPIFEST) was created to celebrate the AAPI community through edutainment, highlighting AAPI in the entertainment industry and providing a platform for them to share their artistic vision and experiences.

Awards & Prizes

• Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Feature Film
• Grand Jury Prize - Documentary Feature Film
• Grand Jury Prize - Narrative Short Film
• Grand Jury Prize - Documentary Short Film
• Audience Award - Narrative Feature Film
• Audience Award - Documentary Feature Film
• Audience Award - Narrative Short Film
• Audience Award - Documentary Short Film

Rules & Terms

HAAPIFEST Official Rules

1. Shorts are defined as films with a time duration of 30 minutes or less. Features are defined as films with a time duration of over 30 minutes.

2. Submission must fulfill either of the following required criteria:
a. The film/video must either be directed by, produced by, written by or feature an Asian or Asian American/Pacific Islander and/or
b. The content of the entry must contain material that relates to the Asian or Asian American/Pacific Islander culture/experience.

3. All submission entries should have been completed within the last three years.

4. Please include an digital press kit with your entry, including:
• Still images (Please provide captions and photo credits for all images)
• Synopsis
• Director’s biography/photo
• Director’s filmography
• Director’s statement
• Cast and crew listing
• Trailer (if available)
• If your film is selected, the Festival might contact you to request additional items, such as posters and video clips.

5. Submission deadlines:
• Early bird - December 15, 2024
• Official entry - January 31, 2025
• Late submission - February 20, 2025

Filmmakers selected for the festival will be notified via email by March 28, 2025.
27 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Priya Vashist

    Wonderful festival! Great communication and very well organized.

    June 2025
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  • Razid Season

    Well-organized festival. It brings all Asian Pacific voices together. Highly recommended.

    June 2025
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  • Vinnoth Krishnan

    HAAPIFEST was incredible! Thank you so much for selecting “Kitchen Dialogue” and making it part of your “Generations” program. I felt that the filmmakers were appreciated at HAAPIFEST, and they understood how important it is for us, the filmmakers, to meet the audience and share the experience of making the film, even for a short film like ours.

    June 2025
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  • Erik Ta

    We weren’t able to attend but they sent a sweet care package- thank you!

    January 2025
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  • Ayush Anita Sharma

    It's incredibly satisfying when a film travels across the world and resonates with people regardless of boundaries and culture. A big thanks to HAAPIFEST for making it happen and screening our short film 'CHOR'. An extremely well organized festival with wonderful people and excellent communication!

    June 2024
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