MISSION
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival celebrates the achievements of Asian Pacific cinematic artists and communities.

DESCRIPTION
Established in 1983 by VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is the largest film festival in Southern California dedicated to showcasing films by and about Asians & Pacific Islanders around the world. We were recently named one of "The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" in 2021 by MovieMaker Magazine!

As LAAPFF continues to follow guidelines and directives from our local, state, and federal health agencies, our 38th edition of LAAPFF is scheduled for May 5 to May 14, 2022. The Festival will feature a robust lineup of in-person programming, along with virtual programming for our audiences at home in Southern California and beyond.

HIGHLIGHTS
The Film Festival's GOLDEN REEL AWARD for Narrative Live Action / Animated Short Film is eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film / Live Action Short Film category of the ACADEMY AWARDS®. This Festival is the only one of its kind in the world to have earned this qualification.

The Festival presents approximately 200 films and mediaworks that celebrates Asian Pacific filmmakers and stories. The Festival's highlights include an Opening and Closing Night Celebration, a Festival Centerpiece presentation, a full complement of industry panels and workshops, and a variety of special events. The Festival attracts entertainment celebrities, civic and community leaders, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts in a week-long celebration of the ongoing accomplishments by Asian Pacific cinematic artists.

LAAPFF includes the following presentations:
• Narrative Features, Documentary Features
• Narrative Shorts (Live action/Animation/Experimental)
• 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)
• REORIENT: Emerging Media (Cutting edge virtual reality, mixed reality, interactive installations and beyond)
• Pacific Cinewaves (content from Hawai’i, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Guåhan (Guam), Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Samoa, and throughout the Pacific region)

The Festival has brought established, emerging, and award-winning filmmakers to the public's attention, including Andrew Ahn, Gregg Araki, Shonali Bose, Lino Brocka, Aneesh Chaganty, Justin Chon, Tanuj Chopra, Davy Chou, Sujata Day, Christopher Kahunahana, Chen Kaige, Christine Choy, Curtis Choy, Michael Kang, Lena Khan, Stanley Kwan, Ciara Lacy, Ang Lee, Chris Chan Lee, Justin Lin, Alika Maikau, Bao Nguyen, Miko Revereza, Miike Takashi, Renee Tajima-Peña, Justin Tipping, Ham Tran, Wayne Wang, Chelsea Winstanley, Hao Wu, Wong Kar-wai, WongFu Productions, John Woo, Ruby Yang, Christopher Makoto Yogi, Jessica Yu, and many others.

Awards & Prizes

AWARDS
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival recognizes filmmaking achievement through presentation of juried and balloted awards.

AWARDS FOR FEATURE FILMS may include:
• GRAND JURY AWARD – NORTH AMERICAN FEATURE FILM (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
• GRAND JURY AWARD – INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
• FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AWARD (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
• EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD - Presented to a director screening their first or second feature without US distribution at LAAPFF 2022.

AWARDS FOR SHORT FILMS include:
• GOLDEN REEL AWARD* (Narrative/Animation Short and Documentary Short)
• LINDA MABALOT NEW DIRECTORS/NEW VISIONS AWARD

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

Rules & Terms

ELIGIBILITY
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival accepts films and mediaworks that are principally made by and/or about Asian Pacific Islander individuals and communities around the world. All lengths and genres will be considered.

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
Feature Film (Narrative, Documentary)
• Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific American and/or Asian Pacific diasporic culture, history and experiences. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
• Fiction or non-fiction films (and music videos) of any genre principally created by and/or about Asian Pacific Islanders with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific American and/or Asian Pacific diasporic culture, history and experiences. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Indigenous Storytelling/Pacific Cinewaves Feature Film (Narrative, Documentary)
• Fiction or non-fiction films of any genre principally created by and/or about Indigenous Peoples – descendants of the original stewards of a geographical region before people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived (e.g., Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, Ifugao, Hmong, and more). Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Indigenous Storytelling/Pacific Cinewaves Short Film (Narrative, Documentary)
Fiction or non-fiction films (and music videos) of any genre principally created by and/or about Indigenous Peoples – descendants of the original stewards of a geographical region before people of different cultures or ethnic origins arrived (e.g., Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, Ifugao, Hmong, and more). Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Bodies in Motion: Dance Short Film
A film collection of dances in which bodies—powerful, precarious, feeling, and knowing—move us. Co-organized by the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Children/Youth Short Film
• Films that are children and family friendly. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and is expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.

Please submit your film ONCE to the category most suitable for your film. If our programmers think your film may be suitable for another LAAPFF program category, it will be recommended for further consideration.

If your film is submitted to the wrong category, you are responsible for any changes in submission fees. If the new category has a higher fee, you are responsible for paying the difference or risk ineligibility. We do not offer refunds.

***Please note this year's changes to the following programs:

Episodics
• Series of multiple videos in episodic form intended for digital platforms, including but not limited to mini-series, web series, serialized television, etc. Our Episodics program this year will be a curated online artist conversation that amplifies select series. If you have an existing series that connects to the Festival’s mission and would like to be considered, please email festival@vcmedia.org with subject line "EPISODICS" and include your series link, synopsis, and credit list.

Emerging Media
• Content including but not limited to virtual/augmented/mixed reality, site-specific installations, and cross-platform projects. For this year's Emerging Media program, we will review submissions received in 2021 and recently released projects. If you have an existing project that connects to the Festival’s mission and would like to be considered, please email festival@vcmedia.org with subject line "EMERGING MEDIA" and include your project link, synopsis, and credit list.

FILM COMPLETION DATE
All submitted works should have been completed on or after January 1, 2021.

EXHIBITION FORMATS
• FEATURE LENGTH - Digital; D-Cinema (DCP) with required Blu-Ray disc (NTSC)
• MUSIC VIDEOS AND SHORTS - Digital; D-Cinema (DCP) with required .MOV file conforming to Apple ProRes 422 HQ (1920 x 1080 24p 48kHz)

PREVIEW FORMATS
Password-protected Vimeo (720p optimal) preferred, or secure online screener.

ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION MATERIALS
• Synopsis
• Director’s statement *optional
• Director’s biography
• Cast and crew listing

If your film is selected for exhibition, you are responsible for delivering their exhibition copy and other materials, such as: trailer, screener link, press stills, and press kit, by deadline. The Festival will use your materials for print and online promotion. We may also request various other items (posters, etc.) to maximize exposure for your film.

ENTRY DEADLINE & FEES (two tiers)
Signed entry form, screener, and entry fee must be filed via FilmFreeway.com; to be RECEIVED by one of these dates:

FEATURES:
• EARLY DEADLINE - Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:59pm PT | $40 USD entry fee
• FINAL DEADLINE - Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $45 USD entry fee

SHORTS:
• EARLY DEADLINE - Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:59pm PT | $30 USD entry fee
• FINAL DEADLINE - Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $35 USD entry fee

INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES FEATURES:
• FINAL DEADLINE - Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $25 USD entry fee

INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES SHORTS:
• FINAL DEADLINE - Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $20 USD entry fee

BODIES IN MOTION: DANCE SHORTS
• FINAL DEADLINE - Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $10 USD entry fee

CHILDREN/YOUTH SHORT FILMS
• EARLY DEADLINE - Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 11:59pm PT | $30 USD entry fee
• FINAL DEADLINE - Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 11:59pm PT | $35 USD entry fee

The Festival does not provide waivers. We understand the severe financial restrictions among many of our artists. As a non-profit organization, we also operate under limitations on resources and the entry fees sustain us to produce the best possible space to showcase your works. We encourage all artists to submit by the early deadline.

SHIPPING
Digital media of invited entries must be sent to the Festival pre-paid at a date to be determined prior to the Festival. Return or forward shipping will be covered by the Festival.

SUBTITLES
Invited entries in language(s) other than English must be subtitled in English.

RENTAL FEES
The Festival does not pay rental fees. Instead, we choose to invest our resources in producing the best possible showcase for your work and promoting your work as widely as possible.

GRANT OF PERMISSION
Signatory of submission grants Visual Communications permission to screen the aforementioned work at the 2022 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 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.
40 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Hui Tan

    I deeply appreciate the opportunity from Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, which also provide a great platform for our filmmakers to communicate and learn from each others!

    July 2022
    Helpful
  • Elvert Bañares

    I recently publicly confessed that LAAPFF is in my festival bucket list. For years, I have been browsing through the website from time to time to see the programs which, for me, are so delicately done with much respect to Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.

    Our selection in LAAPFF is a blessing and a wonderful memory we will always cherish. Though we were not able to come over in person, we still hope that someday, we will have another chance to present a film in person.

    The communication is always welcoming and the warmth showed to first timers in LAAPFF like me is very much valued. Words aren't enough to show my appreciation.

    More than a review, this comes with our gratitude. As an independent filmmaker from across the miles, I am simply touched by the generosity of spirit. LAAPFF's team is an inspiration.

    From our team and the Panay Bukidnon community who're an integral part of our film, madamo gid nga salamat kag padayon kita tanan!

    June 2022
    Helpful
  • Nicole Dizon

    As a Producer and first-time Writer/Director, the LAAPFF staff communicated often and guided me through the process. I appreciate their spirit of inclusion, their supportive staff, and intentionality. They fostered a sense of community that makes everyone feel seen and at home. They offered fantastic opportunities to meet other filmmakers, curated lovely programs, used screening venues around the city that celebrated AAPI heritage (e.g. Historic Filipinotown), and even shared my social media posts on their Instagram stories to help promote the film. I’m excited to submit to future iterations. Thank you so much, Visual Communications, for selecting my short, MORENA, to do its World Premiere with you! It was an honor.

    June 2022
    Helpful
  • Lanca Li

    Needless to say, LAAPFF, the VC fest, is one of the best festivals to join and be part of. Throughout the years the festival team has always been supportive and kind to API filmmakers and community members. A true inspiration. Thank you for everything!

    June 2022
    Helpful
  • yoo lee

    Thank you Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival for setting the bar so high and hosting us. The festival is so well organized and having the film premiere at Director's Guild of America was such an honor not to mention all the events you catered to make it extra special. Very honored to have been your 2022 cohort!

    May 2022
    Helpful