Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) / VC Film Fest is the largest film festival in Southern California dedicated to showcasing films by and about Asians & Pacific Islanders around the world. The Festival was established in 1983 by VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS, the first non-profit organization in the US dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian American and Pacific American peoples, communities, and heritage through the media arts.

In addition to VC Archives, Armed With A Camera and Digital Histories filmmaker programs, the Festival is an extension of VC’s utilization of media and the arts as important vehicles to organize and empower communities. The Festival reflects VC’s intention to build connections between peoples and generations through the development of film, video and audio storytelling.

Through the Festival and its year round programing, VC continues to be a pillar of arts advocacy and activism; connecting attracts Industry thought leaders, entertainment celebrities, civic and community organizers and leaders, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts in a week-long celebration of the ongoing accomplishments by artists from Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. In doing so, the Festival has been recognized as one of the “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” in 2025 by MovieMaker Magazine. LAAPFF / VC Film Fest is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film Festival for the Short Film Awards.

To further understand our Festival values, and the relationships we that we build with Festival Artists, Audiences, and Festival Partners/Supporters, please visit https://festival.vcmedia.org/2025/festival-renewal/

Our 42nd edition of the Festival will be in-person from Wednesday, April 29 through Sunday, May 4th (subject to change). The Festival has featured a variety of programming, including:
* Narrative Features, Documentary Features
* Narrative Shorts, Documentary Shorts (Live action/Animation/Experimental)
* Itsy Bitsy Shorts (content created for children, 0-5 years old)
* Kid Shorts (content created for children, 6-12 years old)
* From Visions to Reel (content created by young emerging filmmakers, ages 16-24)
* Cinema Musica (Music videos, and music-centered narratives and documentaries)
* Pacific Cinewaves (content made by and from creators originating from the Pacific region)
* Indigenous Now! (content made by and from descendants of the original stewards of a geographical region)
*LGBTQAI+ Shorts

The Festival has brought established, emerging, and award-winning artists to the public's attention, including Anthony Banua-Simon, Andrew Ahn, Alika Tengan, Gregg Araki, Rhi Bergado, Shonali Bose, Lino Brocka, Aneesh Chaganty, Justin Chon, Tanuj Chopra, Davy Chou, Milda Chu, Sujata Day, Bing Lu, Christopher Kahunahana, Chen Kaige, Christine Choy, Curtis Choy, Michael Kang, Lena Khan, Stanley Kwan, Ciara Lacy, Ang Lee, Chris Chan Lee, Justin Lin, Bao Nguyen, Miko Revereza, Roxy Shih, Miike Takashi, Renee Tajima-Peña, Alika Tengan, Justin Tipping, Ham Tran, Wayne Wang, Chelsea Winstanley, Hao Wu, Wong Kar-wai, John Woo, Ruby Yang, Christopher Makoto Yogi, Jessica Yu, Sean Wang, Celine Song, Lulu Wang, Alice Wu, and many more.

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival / VC Film Fest has celebrated filmmaking achievement through presentation of juried and balloted awards.

AWARDS FOR FEATURE FILMS may include:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD – Presented to a director screening their first or second feature without US distribution at the Festival.

AWARDS FOR SHORT FILMS include:
GOLDEN REEL AWARD* (Narrative/Animation Short and Documentary Short)
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - NARRATIVE SHORT FILM
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
LINDA MABALOT NEW DIRECTORS/NEW VISIONS AWARD

*Recipients of the GOLDEN REEL AWARD for Narrative/Animation Short Film and Documentary Short Film will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/Live Action Short Film and Documentary Short Film categories of the ACADEMY AWARDS® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy® rules.

*To further understand our Festival values, please visit https://vcmedia.org/festival. There, we will share how those values inform the Jury Process

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival / VC Film Fest uplifts films and mediaworks that are principally made by and/or about Asian Pacific Islander individuals and communities around the world.

Films shared for consideration must have been completed on or after November 1, 2024,

Films invited to the Festival should have hardcoded subtitles in their exhibition file to ensure a D/deaf and hard of hearing audience can experience your film. If your film is invited to screen at the Festival, it is the responsibility of the film team to provide English subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screener – even if your film is in English.
Due to limited capacity, we are unable to provide feedback on your work.
FILM CATEGORIES

*Works eligible for feature film categories MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes. Works eligible for short film categories MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes. All works are expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Feature Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian and/or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to: Asian and/or Pacific American, Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander diasporic culture, history and experiences.

Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian and/or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to: Asian and/or Pacific American, Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander diasporic culture, history and experiences.

Indigenous Storytelling Feature Film / Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction short or feature films of any genre principally created by and are about Indigenous Peoples – descendants of the original stewards of a geographical region before people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived.

Pacific Cinewaves Feature Film / Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction short of feature films of any genre principally created by and are about Pasifika peoples – descendants of the original stewards of a Pacific region before people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived

We understand that some works can be in multiple categories or defy categorization altogether. Please do your best to choose the category that best fits your work. Please note that we do not offer refunds and due to limited capacity we cannot offer direct feedback regarding your film.

***Please note changes to the following programs***

ENTRY DEADLINES & FEES (three tiers)

Signed entry form, screener, and entry fee must be filed via FilmFreeway.com; to be RECEIVED by one of these dates:

EARLY DEADLINE: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 11:59pm PST
REGULAR DEADLINE: Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 11:59pm PST
FINAL DEADLINE: Wednesday, December 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST

FEATURES:
EARLY DEADLINE: $35 USD entry fee
REGULAR DEADLINE: $40 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE: $45 USD entry fee

SHORTS:
EARLY DEADLINE: $25 USD entry fee
REGULAR DEADLINE: $30 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE: $35 USD entry fee

INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES FEATURES:
EARLY DEADLINE: $25 USD entry fee
REGULAR DEADLINE: $30 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE: $35 USD entry fee

INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES SHORTS:
EARLY DEADLINE: $15 USD entry fee
REGULAR DEADLINE: $20 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE: $25 USD entry fee

The Festival does not provide waivers. The contribution of entry fees support the festival staff and programmers who put labor and effort to view films and build the festival. We encourage all artists to share films by the early deadline.

SCREENING FEES
The Festival cannot guarantee screening fees. We are deepening our practice of directing resources straight to the artists.

PRINT TRAFFIC
Digital media of invited entries must be sent to the Festival pre-paid at a date to be determined prior to the Festival.

GRANT OF PERMISSION
Signatory of Film Producer grants Visual Communications permission to screen the aforementioned work at the 2026 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival / VC Film Fest if accepted, and warrants that all necessary steps have been taken to obtain the rights to use, exhibit, and display the work. Signatory also gives Visual Communications permission to solicit and use stills, excerpts, and other materials from such accepted work for promotional purposes.

Overall Rating

Quality

Value

Communication

Hospitality

Networking

Dorothy Xiao

LAAPFF sets the bar for being one of the best film festivals I've attended that also celebrates Asian Pacific filmmakers and creates space for community-building. I've had the honor of having a few films screen here since 2019, and I always submit my films whenever I have new work. They've been such a huge part of my filmmaking career, and I still come to the Festival even when I don't have a film playing, because it's such a great place to see familiar faces, meet new filmmakers, and watch new films. I'm continually inspired by the films and people I meet at the Festival, and the folks who run the Festival work so hard to create an inclusive and welcoming space. Highly recommend!

May 2026

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Rafael Bitanga

World premiering Bridging Our Stories at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival was a dream come true. Being a first-time filmmaker can be daunting, but the LAAPFF community made me feel completely supported and at home. Their hospitality, right down to the amazing food and gift bags, is second to none. I can’t wait to continue this journey with the LAAPFF family!

May 2026

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Kā'eo Luke

Fantastic festival run by awesome and caring people. I met so many other film makers and really appreciated the celebration of Asian Pacific work. I would love to come back.

May 2026

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Sharon Yamato

It always feels like coming home to be in this festival. Community is well and alive. Even if you aren’t a filmmaker, you get lots of opportunities to be around the best of the best. Organizers and staff are welcoming and open. And best treat bag ever!

May 2026

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Anthony Ma

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will always hold a special place in my heart.

As someone born and raised in the 626 and who has attended this festival every year since I was 18, LAAPFF has always been a home for me. This year was especially surreal, as God & Buddha Are Friends screened at the AMC Monterey Park, right in the heart of the 626, where our story is set. To share this film in the very community that inspired it was an unforgettable full-circle moment.

The staff truly goes above and beyond. From the way programmers thoughtfully organize filmmaker meetings within your block, to the care they take in making every filmmaker feel seen and supported, the personal touch is undeniable. Their C3 Conference panels are some of the most insightful and necessary conversations in our industry, pushing all of us forward.

What makes LAAPFF even more special is that it not only uplifts up and coming talent but also honors the trailblazers who paved the way for this corner of Asian American cinema. It’s a haven where filmmakers connect, celebrate, and showcase not just films, but the voices and journeys behind them.

Thank you to the LAAPFF team for paying attention, fostering new talent, and creating a space that validates and embraces filmmakers at every stage. This festival doesn’t just showcase films, it builds community, uplifts voices, and reminds us why we tell stories in the first place.

September 2025

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