Asian Business Collaborative is proud to announce the New Mexico Asian Film Festival. This event will showcase AAPI cinema by presenting a wide variety of films made by Asian and Pacific Islander filmmakers and artists. This event lifts up AAPI voices and empowers emerging artists to share their experiences, challenge perspectives, and celebrate their heritage and culture.

Awards & Prizes

Best Short Film Narrative
Best Short Documentary
Best New Mexico Filmmaker
Best Actor

Best New Mexico Short Doc will receive a consultation from a top tier documentary filmmaker. Winner must use within one year of winning and must be resident of New Mexico.

Best New Mexico Filmmaker (narrative shorts only) will be receiving a Panavision Film Package for their next short! The prize must be used within two years. Winner must be a US resident.

New Mexico film winners will be interviewed on a radio talk show , receive a fun swag bag and trophy.

Rules & Terms

PLEASE READ THE RULES BEFORE YOU SUBMIT:

Films are to have been directed, written and/or produced by at least one Asian or Asian American in the United States.

Films are to represent the Asian diaspora experience, and / or have stories with Asians and/or Asian Americans.

Films feature an Asian and/or Asian American lead actor.

Can be a short documentary, drama, comedy, music video, rom/com, action, animation or family. No horror please.

No more than 25 minutes.

Submissions must be completed after 2018.

No required premiere status.

English subtitles are required for non-English dialogue.

No nudity will be accepted.

No international submissions will be accepted. Films are to be made in the US.

Feel free to email if you have questions or want to request a waiver.

***People of Asian descent includes but is not limited to people from and are descended from areas now known as Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, China, Russia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, and the Pacific Islands.***
5 Reviews
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  • Andy Bui

    This festival brings out the small community of AAPI filmmakers within our community and I am so thankful to have a platform where I can share my journey as an artist.

    A special thanks to Lava, Justin, Kristelle, and ABC for being for leaders in this movement and inspiring artists like myself to keep creating films. I look forward to seeing the growth of this festival.

    November 2023
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  • Bradford Uyeda

    A wonderfully curated body of films. The brilliant communication and organized efforts of the staff make this a regular film festival not to miss. I love this community and I am grateful for the selection of my film this year.

    November 2023
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  • Sherwin Lau

    Thank you to Lava, Justin, Kristelle & the Asian Business Collaborative and all the volunteers for putting on a wonderful event! It's a growing festival that has a group of very enthusiastic folks passionate about supporting films from and about the Asian community.

    NMAFF were great at communicating, they had awards and prizes for winners...great evening, great event, thank you for screening my film!

    November 2023
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  • Terry Ngo

    Thank you so much Lava and Justin for putting together an amazing film festival! The 3 generations in our family will never forget how you uplifted our community.

    August 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you so much for submitting and attending NMAFF! Your stories are inspiring for our community. Can't wait to see more of your work. We hope to see you in 2023. Thank you Terry and family!

  • Fahim Hamid

    It is great to see a festival for AAPI voices and stories in New Mexico. The organizers were very communicative and accommodating and all the films seem to have been very well received. Very excited to see what more films they will program in the future!

    August 2022
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    Response from festival:

    We loved your film Fahim! It was wonderful to be able to share it with our community. Thank you for your kind words. Can't wait to see more of your films. All the best!