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 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" in 2021 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://vcmedia.org/festival

The Festival will feature a robust lineup of in-person programming, along with select virtual programming for guests at home in Southern California and beyond. Our 41st edition of the Festival will be in-person from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4 and closing night Wednesday, May 7. The Festival will be virtual from Monday, May 5 to Tuesday, May 6. The Festival has featured a variety of programming, including:
* 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)
* Pacific Cinewaves (content from Hawai’i, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Guåhan (Guam), Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Samoa, and throughout the Pacific region)
* REORIENT: Emerging Media (Cutting edge virtual reality, mixed reality, interactive installations and beyond).

The Festival has brought established, emerging, and award-winning artists to the public's attention, including Anthony Banua-Simon, Andrew Ahn, Gregg Araki, Rhi Bergado, Shonali Bose, Lino Brocka, Aneesh Chaganty, Justin Chon, Tanuj Chopra, Davy Chou, Milda Chu, 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, 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, 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:
GRAND JURY AWARD – NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM
GRAND JURY AWARD – DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
FESTIVAL AUDIENCE AWARD (Narrative and Documentary Feature)
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)
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 include an artist of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage on their creative team.

Films shared for consideration must have been completed on or after November 1, 2023.

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, your film must be subtitled in English (even if your film is in English). It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screeners. The Festival will not be responsible for subtitles. Films without subtitles will not be included in the Festival lineup.

FILM CATEGORIES
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. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes and are expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required. If your film is invited to screen at the Festival, your film must have hardcoded subtitles in English. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screeners. The Festival will not be responsible for subtitles. Films without subtitles will not be included in the Festival lineup.

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. Works eligible for this category MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes and are expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required. If your film is invited to screen at the Festival, your film must have hardcoded subtitles in English. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screeners. The Festival will not be responsible for subtitles. Films without subtitles will not be included in the Festival lineup.

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 are expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required. If your film is invited to screen at LAAPFF, your film must have hardcoded subtitles in English. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screeners. The Festival will not be responsible for subtitles. Films without subtitles will not be included in the Festival lineup.

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 are expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required. If your film is invited to screen at the Festival, your film must have hardcoded subtitles in English. It is the responsibility of the filmmaker to provide subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screeners. The Festival will not be responsible for subtitles. Films without subtitles will not be included in the Festival lineup.

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

If you enter your film into the wrong category, you are responsible for any changes in 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 changes to the following programs***

Emerging Media
Content including but not limited to virtual/augmented/mixed reality, site-specific installations, and cross-platform projects. If you have an existing project that amplifies VC values and would like Festival audiences to engage with the work, please email festival@vcmedia.org with subject line "EMERGING MEDIA" and include your project link, synopsis, and credit list.

ENTRY DEADLINES & FEES (two tiers)
Signed entry form, screener, and entry fee must be filed via FilmFreeway.com; to be RECEIVED by one of these dates:
EARLY DEADLINE: Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 11:59pm PST
FINAL DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST

FEATURES:
EARLY DEADLINE: Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 11:59pm PST | $35 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST | $45 USD entry fee

SHORTS:
EARLY DEADLINE: Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 11:59pm PST | $25 USD entry fee
FINAL DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST | $35 USD entry fee

INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES FEATURES:
FINAL DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST | $35 USD entry fee

INDIGENOUS STORYTELLING/ PACIFIC CINEWAVES SHORTS:
FINAL DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST | $25 USD entry fee

The Festival does not provide waivers. Our entry fees are fair. 100% of earned income from entries will go towards programmers and screeners to remunerate those who put labor and effort to view films and build the Festival. A waiver would be extractive of our efforts. We encourage all artists to share films by the early deadline.

RENTAL FEES
The Festival does not pay rental fees. We are deepening our practice of directing resources straight to the artists.

SHIPPING
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 2025 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

Hiroshi Sunairi

The LAAPFF has a wonderfully diverse and engaged audience. They arrive well-informed about the program and truly enjoy the experience. The networking events were incredible, offering valuable insights and thoroughly addressing all facets of filmmaking and production. It's fascinating to hear about Diane Moy Quon, the producer of "Minding the Gap," and how her life story is connected to the world of filmmaking. LAAPFF is simply amazing!

May 2025

Helpful
Rippin Sindher

So honored to share "FLIGHT 182" at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. This festival is a space that thoughtfully curates stories reflecting the depth, nuance, and vibrancy of our communities. The heart behind the programming is undeniable and I’m especially grateful to Christina Fong, who curated with such care and intention. Being part of the APT: Advanced Parenting Too block was deeply moving, and sharing the film with a sold-out crowd is something I’ll never forget. Thank you LAAPFF and all the amazing filmmakers who participated.

May 2025

Helpful
Hang Luong Nguyen

The LAAPFF is a great festival all-around! The organization, the communication, the moderation of screening Q&As are at the highest level you can find anywhere. They have great connections with the industry which is of great value for up and coming filmmakers. During the selection process, the LAAPFF proved to not only care about meaningful selections that are aligned with their mission but also understand where their filmmakers are coming from.
And above all -- they feed people really well! What else can you ask from an Asian American film festival?

May 2025

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Taige Shi

Great festival! It's one of the few festivals that shows that they truly care about the films and filmmakers. Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity, and hope to bring my next project here soon!

May 2025

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Nick Hartanto

Can't express how moved & inspired I was from LAAPFF! From the thoughtful questions asked by programmers at every screening, to being in community with so many talented artists…from the youngbloods to the elders, to the meditations before each screening and to the delicious food at our fingertips in Monterey Park & Little Tokyo…everything was so beautifully intentional. One of the highlights of our festival run!

May 2025

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