The mission of the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival (SAPFF) is to celebrate and explore our diverse experiences and advance the roles of Asian and Pacific Islanders in film and new media.

The signature event of the Sacramento Asian Pacific Cultural Village, SAPFF serves alongside a continuum of events and programming in support of traditional and contemporary Asian and Pacific Islander artistic expression within the Sacramento Region.

The 2018 Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival comes to the California Museum, May 26 and May 27! Our fourth year will bring audiences BEYOND RESISTANCE through eye-opening films and engaging panel discussions. Be inspired by stories from Asian and Pacific Islander perspectives, and hear from voices working to support social justice efforts in our local communities. Connect with us at SAPFF.org and on social media for programming, ticket and event details.

Best Cinematography
Best Directing
Best Editing
Best Performance (2)
Best Short Narrative
Best Feature Narrative
Best Short Documentary
Best Feature Documentary

2018 ELIGIBILITY & GUIDELINES
Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival invites filmmakers to submit completed film or video projects which address the 2018 festival theme of "BEYOND RESISTANCE", exploring the Asian Pacific Islander immigrant, refugee, and indigenous experience in America, social justice activism, cross-movement solidarity, and common struggles for justice and equality.

We are seeking films that reflect the ethnic diversity of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the United States, as well as films that speak to API LGBTQ experiences.

The 2018 festival will focus primarily on documentary shorts (less than 30 min) and narrative fiction shorts (less than 30 min). Narrative genres may include action, comedy, drama, horror, science fiction, and more, but should also exhibit a strong connection to this year’s theme.

We may accept a small number of feature-length documentaries (45-90 min preferred), however, please email submissions@SAPFF.org prior to submitting feature-length documentaries.

All projects must be complete at the time of submission; works in progress are not accepted. Projects must have been completed in 2016, 2017, or 2018 to be eligible for submission.

International or Foreign films will also be considered, but should contain thematic material and content which speaks to the interests of Asian and Pacific Islanders living in the United States, and should be relevant to the theme of this year’s Festival.

Projects having a significant portion of dialogue in a language other than English must have hardcoded English subtitles in order to be eligible for SAPFF consideration.

All film or video projects must be made by or about Asian and Pacific Islanders.

Multiple film or video projects may be submitted separately.

ANNOUNCEMENTS & EXHIBITION DATES
Official Selections will be announced via email and online, on or before May 13, 2018. Films will be exhibited either May 26 or May 27, 2018.

SUBMISSION FORMAT
On the Submission Form, you will be asked to provide a link to a private screener with password, if applicable.

Additional Materials and Exhibition Format
If your film or video project is chosen for exhibition, additional materials may be required, including:

Headshots of cast and crew
1-5 promotional stills of production, behind-the-scenes
Film screenshots

These should be high-resolution digital images in .JPG or .TIFF format, minimum of 300DPI, and should be accompanied by a separate document with captions, identification of subjects, and photo credits as necessary. You may also be requested to provide posters, trailers or other video clips, as well as additional promotional and marketing material.

Exhibition Format
Depending on the quality of your project screener, a higher resolution or format may be required. Our preferred exhibition file format is Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) 1920×1080 24p 48KHz. We will also accept a mailed presentation-ready copy on Blu-ray, DVD, or dual-layer DVD disc. Blu-rays must be formatted either region-free, or region A. DVDs must be formatted NTSC and either region-free/region 0 or region 1.

SUBMISSION SCHEDULE & FEES
Submissions are accepted exclusively through FilmFreeway and according to the following schedule with fees. Submissions will not be considered after May 12, 2018.

Earlybird Deadline: April 14, 2018 $15.00
Regular Deadline: April 28, 2018, $20.00
Late Deadline: May 12, 2018, $40.00

SUBMISSION PROCESS
Filmmakers should complete details about film and video projects through our FilmFreeway Listing URL below:
https://filmfreeway.com/SacramentoAsianPacificFilmFestival

On the Submission Form, you will be asked to provide information about your film or video project including community focus, URL for private screening, Synopsis, Director’s Biography, Director’s Filmography, Director’s Statement about the submitted project, and cast and crew information.

Please note that the Submission Fee is non-refundable and represents no guarantee of inclusion in SAPFF event programming.

Please note that only after completing the full Submission Form and the submission of your payment through FilmFreeway will your entry into the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival will be complete.

For questions about the submission process or assistance prior to submitting through FilmFreeway, please email submissions@SAPFF.org.

AGREEMENTS
The following is acknowledged by the individual submitting the film or video project for consideration:

Certification
I hereby certify that I am an individual with the authorization to act on behalf of the creator(s) of this film or video project, with respects to the submission of information to be considered for public screening to the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival; that I have fully read and understand Submission Instructions, and that should my project be selected for screening, it will be made available in one of the specified Exhibition Formats (Apple ProRes 422 (HQ) 1920×1080 24p 48KHz, Blu-ray formatted region-free or region A, DVD or dual-layer DVD disc - NTSC formatted and region-free/region 0 or region 1) no later than two weeks after Official Selection notification, or by May 18, 2018, whichever comes first; that all additional required materials will be provided upon request; and that I will work with SAPFF staff to support festival promotional and marketing efforts as related to my submitted project. I understand that by submitting this Submission Form, I am allowing Sacramento Asian Pacific Cultural Village/ Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival to contact me via the provided email address for occasional marketing and information sharing purposes, that my information will never be sold or rented to a third party without my prior consent, and that I may opt out of electronic communications at any time.

Submission Fee
By providing your Submission Fee, you are certifying your understanding that payment of the Submission Fee is non-refundable and represents NO GUARANTEE of inclusion in SAPFF event programming.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Rick Quan

    I had a great time. This year's festival was held at the California Museum, which provided a nice theater for the screenings.

    June 2018