Started in 2004 by OCA-Greater Houston, 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
-Audience Award - Music Video

Rules & Terms

HAAPIFEST Official Rules

- 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. Submission must fulfill either of the following required criteria:
1. The film/video must either be directed by, produced by, written by or feature an
Asian or Asian American/Pacific Islander and/or
2. The content of the entry must contain material that relates to the Asian or Asian
American/Pacific Islander culture/experience.
- Music videos is our newest award category. The music artist or group featured in the video should be of Asian or Asian American descent. Music videos should be no longer than 10 minutes.
- For both film and music video submissions, entries should have been completed within the last three years.

Please include a press kit with your entry, including (electronic version ONLY):
• 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 will also request the following items: posters, video clips.)

The official entry submission deadline is January 31, 2020. Filmmakers selected for the festival will be notified via email by March 6, 2020.
7 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Sohil Vaidya

    My short film Difficult People played this year. I couldn't attend but their communication was prompt. Great selection of short films! I would highly recommend applying.

    July 2019
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  • Rahul Chaturvedi

    I was unable to attend but the communication from the team was great. The festival worked hard to get press coverage for our short film, and I was able to join the Q and A via Skype to speak with the audience after the screening. I would highly recommend this festival to other Asian filmmakers.

    July 2019
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  • Juhee Jane So

    Jessica Kong and her team were great at communicating with the organization of the festival and listening to the need of the filmmaker. HAAPIfest was the only festival that offered me a SKYPE QnA. I felt that the filmmakers are appreciated at HAAPI and they understood how important for us, the filmmakers, to meet the audience and share the experience of making the film even for a short film like ours. I wasn't able to attend to the festival, but if there's a chance, I'd love to visit and meet the team. Thank you Jessica and her team again for a wonderful experience. Long live HAPPIfest in Houston!

    July 2019
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  • Derek Kwan

    Great festival! Thank you for the opportunity to screen and showcase Asian stories from across borders and boundaries.

    July 2019
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  • harleen singh

    HAAPI festival and its team members are doing some fantastic work not just for the filmmakers but community at large. The team of volunteers and organizers were dedicated to the cause and worked tirelessly to make the festival a success. Its held in summers, so weather is a small concern , but other than that it was smooth.

    June 2018
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