Skip to Content

Genre

Documentary

120,000 LUMENS

Film 120,000 LUMENS Directed by Scott Oshima 120,000 lumens, a short experimental documentary, observes the time and memory embodied by a historic Japanese American building.
Documentary Features

ABOVE AND BELOW THE GROUND

Film ABOVE AND BELOW THE GROUND Directed by Emily Hong In Myanmar’s first and only country-wide environmental movement, Indigenous punk rock pastors and women activists protect a sacred…
Democracy Series, Documentary Features

ADMISSIONS GRANTED

Film ADMISSIONS GRANTED Directed by Hao Wu, Miao Wang In a landmark Supreme Court case pitting Asian American plaintiffs against Harvard University, activists on both sides wrestle…

ALL THIS WASTED SPACE

Film ALL THIS WASTED SPACE Directed by Cris Bringas The search for a burial token for her mother forces a woman to dig up a buried past…
Democracy Series, Documentary Features

AND SO IT BEGINS

Film AND SO IT BEGINS Directed by Ramona S. Diaz Amidst the traditional pomp and circumstance of Filipino elections, a quirky people’s movement rises to defend the nation…

ART21: CHRISTINE SUN KIM

Film ART21: CHRISTINE SUN KIM Directed by Chiemi Karasawa A portrait of artist Christine Sun Kim and her practice.
Documentary Features

ASHIMA

Film ASHIMA Directed by Kenji Tsukamoto A year in the life of 13-year-old elite rock climber Ashima Shiraishi as she balances fame, career, and…

ASIAN BITCHES SPEAK

Film ASIAN BITCHES SPEAK Directed by Janet Chen (Ma) After generations of cultural silence, years of pandemic anxiety, and one anti-Asian hate crime, queer filmmaker Janet and…

BALIK/BAYAN

Film BALIK/BAYAN Directed by Paula Kiley A balikbayan box company owner explores the ways in which balikbayan boxes shaped his perception of the U.S.,…
Reel Life

BEYOND BORDERED HISTORIES

Film BEYOND BORDERED HISTORIES Directed by Zaynah Waseem Beyond Bordered Histories is an intercultural audio-visual multimedia exhibit using archival photographs and moving images to explore the…

BORN IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP

Film BORN IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP Directed by David and Mark Kuroda I was the first baby born in the Amache Concentration Camp, Colorado.
Democracy Series, Documentary Features

BREAKING THE CYCLE

Film BREAKING THE CYCLE Directed by Aekaphong Saransate, Thanakrit Duangmaneeporn Breaking The Cycle captures the political awakening among Thais after the rise and fall of Thanathorn, a young…

CHRONICLES OF A SANSEI ROCKER

Film CHRONICLES OF A SANSEI ROCKER Directed by Cory Shiozaki Former musician and 3rd generation Japanese American, fulfilling an item on his “bucket list” writing a book of…

CITIZEN SOLDIER

Film CITIZEN SOLDIER Directed by Cathy Uchida Documentary of a Japanese immigrant's journey to Vancouver, Canada and the French front lines of WWI
VC Presents

CRUISIN’ J-TOWN

Film CRUISIN’ J-TOWN Directed by Duane Kubo CRUISIN’ J-TOWN celebrates the music and influences of contemporary Asian American culture on Dan Kuramoto, June Okida Kuramoto,…
Democracy Series, Documentary Features

DISSIDENTS

Film DISSIDENTS Directed by Yi Chen An artist's sculpture is burnt down, a protester is charged with a criminal case, and a democracy movement…

DUCKWORTHY

Film DUCKWORTHY Directed by M.G. Evangelista A candid conversation with Senator Ladda Tammy Duckworth, army veteran, mother, one of only two AAPI senators currently…

EAST WEST PLAYERS: A HOME ON STAGE

Film EAST WEST PLAYERS: A HOME ON STAGE Directed by Yu Gu The PBS SoCal Original Emmy® award-winning arts and culture series ARTBOUND presents “East West Players: A Home on…

EAT SLEEP POOP AND PASS GAS

Film EAT SLEEP POOP AND PASS GAS Directed by Fran Ito January 2024 Fran Ito celebrated her 92nd birthday. It’s a miracle that she is still here on earth enjoying life with…

FROM KARACHI, WITH LOVE

Film FROM KARACHI, WITH LOVE Directed by Zaynah Waseem Following conversations between the filmmaker, her parents, and a local driver during one winter afternoon in Karachi, the…

G -TOWN SOUL LEGENDARY FOOD FROM GARDENA

Film G -TOWN SOUL LEGENDARY FOOD FROM GARDENA Directed by Stony Furutani A personal history of growing up in Gardena, California and an interview with the co-owner of Sakura-ya Japanese…
Documentary Features

HEAVEN RAIN FLOWS SWEETLY

Film HEAVEN RAIN FLOWS SWEETLY Directed by Shasha Li After wildfires force her to leave her home in Oregon, filmmaker Shasha reconnects with the rituals and the…
Pacific Cinewaves

HŌKŪELʻA: FINDING THE LANGUAGE OF THE NAVIGATOR

Film HŌKŪELʻA: FINDING THE LANGUAGE OF THE NAVIGATOR Directed by Ty Sanga Renowned navigator Nainoa Thompson and Wade Davis examine the mysteries of traditional wayfinding.
Documentary Features

HOME COURT

Film HOME COURT Directed by Erica Tanamachi Home Court traces the ascent of Ashley Chea, a Cambodian American basketball prodigy whose life intensifies amid recruitment, injury,…

HOMESTEAD

Film HOMESTEAD Directed by Justin Pascua A local farmer Liane works on her Japanese cucumber farm with only the help of her grandson Aiden,…
Documentary Features

HOW TO SUE THE KLAN

Film HOW TO SUE THE KLAN Directed by John Beder The story of how five Black women from Chattanooga used legal ingenuity to take on the Ku Klux…

I LOVE YOU, YOUR KAMO

Film I LOVE YOU, YOUR KAMO Directed by Isaac Kau A 93-year old Taiwanese widow recounts her love story with her late husband and the sacrifices they made…

I WOULD’VE BEEN HAPPY

Film I WOULD’VE BEEN HAPPY Directed by Jordan Wong An attempt to map a fraught relationship through the use of intricately coded pictographs and schematic abstractions applied…
Pacific Cinewaves

IN EXILE

Film IN EXILE Directed by Nathan Fitch IN EXILE is a short film that explores the US nuclear legacy in the Pacific through the lens…
Democracy Series, Documentary Features

INVISIBLE NATION

Film INVISIBLE NATION Directed by Vanessa Hope In this urgently timely and insightful portrait of Taiwanese politics, director Vanessa Hope, with unprecedented access to Taiwan’s…

ISLAND IN BETWEEN

Film ISLAND IN BETWEEN Directed by S. Leo Chiang A personal, poetic look at the uneasy peace on the frontline between Taiwan and China.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LIVE YOUR DREAM

Film IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO LIVE YOUR DREAM Directed by Tracy Quan-Nichols Meet artist Parker Dean and see how it's never too late to follow your dream.
Documentary Features

JEWELLE: A JUST VISION

Film JEWELLE: A JUST VISION Directed by Madeleine Lim From Black Power in late-60s Boston, to AIDS activism in mid-80s New York, to Marriage Equality in early-10s…

JIM MATSUOKA WILL NOT BE RUSHED

Film JIM MATSUOKA WILL NOT BE RUSHED Directed by Robert Shoji In this remembrance of Los Angeles-based activist Jim Matsuoka, watch his powerful testimony at the 1981 Commission on…

KA ʻĀʻUMEʻUME: NAVIGATING HOME

Film KA ʻĀʻUMEʻUME: NAVIGATING HOME Directed by M. Kaleipumehana Cabral Six Kānaka ʻŌiwi weave a story of grief, hope, wisdom, and struggle in navigating diaspora and returning to…
Pacific Cinewaves

KE ALA

Film KE ALA Directed by Bryson Nihipali A young Native Hawaiian filmmaker interviews 3 generations of his family to gain a better understanding of the…

KOWLOON!

Film KOWLOON! Directed by Erin Ramirez, Mona Xia As the biggest Chinese restaurant in the US, Kowloon represents the Wong family’s American Dream come true. However,…

L.A. REBELLION: A CINEMATIC MOVEMENT

Film L.A. REBELLION: A CINEMATIC MOVEMENT Directed by Bryant Griffin, Kitty Hu Following the Watts Uprising, UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television enacted affirmative action policies to increase the enrollment of…

LA NUEVA FLOR

Film LA NUEVA FLOR Directed by Emmanuel Enriquez Building upon their foundational roots, a family discusses their past, present, and future familial blooms.
Documentary Features

LEADING

Film LEADING Directed by Grace Lee LEADING follows two budding activists: Audre (10), who fights against Asian hate by creating a teach-in presentation at…

LOVE WITHOUT WORDS

Film LOVE WITHOUT WORDS Directed by Bryan Takeda Upon reflection, a son expresses his gratitude and love for his father without words.

MERCY

Film MERCY Directed by Xinyue Wu After losing her leg, a young girl becomes a passionate advocate for disability rights, facing unexpected challenges in…

MORE BOUNCE

Film MORE BOUNCE Directed by Alexis Si'i MORE BOUNCE documents three Samoan men as they reflect on their time as bouncers in Southern California, and…

NEITHER ON THE MOUNTAIN NOR IN THE FIELD

Film NEITHER ON THE MOUNTAIN NOR IN THE FIELD Directed by Gulzat Egemberdieva The film documents an interchange of experiences and meanings between a group of Pamir Kyrgyz nomads who recently…

NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN!

Film NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN! Directed by Bernice Ng A daughter uncovers her mother's tumultuous past in China, inspiring a collaborative book detailing survival, resilience, and triumph…
Documentary Features

NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT

Film NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT Directed by Quyên Nguyen-Le, Tadashi Nakamura NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT is a sweeping documentary that follows the life of visionary artist-activist Nobuko…
Documentary Features

NOWHERE NEAR

Film NOWHERE NEAR Directed by Miko Revereza A poetic memoir through the lens of a stateless person returning to an estranged homeland.
Documentary Features

NUSA INA

Film NUSA INA Directed by Anne Jan Sijbrandij More than 60 years after their refuge to the Netherlands, Loey Tamaëla and his family are still hoping…
Documentary Features, Special Presentations

ONE FIGHTING IRISHMAN

Film ONE FIGHTING IRISHMAN Directed by Evan Kodani, Sharon Yamato ONE FIGHTING IRISHMAN tells the little-known story of San Francisco attorney Wayne M. Collins whose passionate and uncompromising…

PAMILYA

Film PAMILYA Directed by Miles Blacket The film follows the FDWA, an organisation dedicated to assisting Filipino victims of modern slavery in the UK,…
Pacific Cinewaves

PLASTIC – A LOVE LETTER TO THE ESTRANGED

Film PLASTIC – A LOVE LETTER TO THE ESTRANGED Directed by Va'a Magalogo A short doco that shares a universal struggle of someone who struggled to find their place in their…

RALPH & BUG

Film RALPH & BUG Directed by Christine Thomas Yoon A former drug dealer turned “Urban Dad” group leader navigates unjust housing conditions with his eleven-year-old daughter in…

REACH OUT

Film REACH OUT Directed by John Zafra-Haas In an intergenerational collaboration between Los Angeles-based electronica/soul trio Bootleg Orchestra and singer Roger Rigor from iconic Filipino…
Pacific Cinewaves

RECLAIM

Film RECLAIM Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, Justyn Ah Chong Two young brothers in Hawai’i express their deep connection to their culture, language and land through a dedication…

ROOTS + WINGS: PARISA PARNIAN

Film ROOTS + WINGS: PARISA PARNIAN Directed by Irene Yadao, Lisa Yadao, Michelle Sampior Episode 3 of Roots & Wings features Parisa Parnian, an Iranian-American multi-disciplinary artist and culinary creative who uses…

SANSEDAI

Film SANSEDAI Directed by Kayli Kimura Through intimate conversations with the filmmaker’s 92-year-old grandmother, SANSEDAI (三世代) examines the nuances of growing up during war,…
Documentary Features, Pacific Cinewaves

SHAKA, A STORY OF ALOHA

Film SHAKA, A STORY OF ALOHA Directed by Alexander Bocchieri Embark on a global quest that reveals the enchanting power of the Shaka gesture and why itʻs the…

SPEAKING WITH THE ANCESTORS

Film SPEAKING WITH THE ANCESTORS Directed by Richard E. Haywood Deborah Sanchez's journey to revive the Šmuwič language of her Coastal Chumash tribe through teaching and song. 

SPECIAL CAMP

Film SPECIAL CAMP Directed by Teresa Takaki Matsushima Special Camp, for the Asian American developmentally disabled, celebrates its 50th year in 2024.

STAYING PUT: STORIES OF CHINATOWN’S RESISTANCE

Film STAYING PUT: STORIES OF CHINATOWN’S RESISTANCE Listen as voices from the 1960s to present day chronicle Philadelphia Chinatown’s history of community and resistance to…

STORIES TOLD, SECRETS KEPT

Film STORIES TOLD, SECRETS KEPT Directed by Patty Fong The appearance of mysterious documents revealed a Leong family history that was never discussed.

Documentary Features

TEN TIMES BETTER

Film TEN TIMES BETTER Directed by Jennifer Lin Prodded by his refugee mother to be “ten times better” in white America, George Lee is an 89-year-old…

THE BOTANICAL GARDENS: AN URBAN OASIS

Film THE BOTANICAL GARDENS: AN URBAN OASIS Directed by Glenda Vallejo This documentary explores the role of the McAllen Nature Center (formerly known as The Botanical Gardens) as an…

THE CARRY ON STORY

Film THE CARRY ON STORY Directed by Mitchell Matsumura Carry On was a garage band in Los Angeles during the Asian American dance era 1965-1985. The era…
Documentary Features

THE GARDENER

Film THE GARDENER Directed by Derek Shimoda A whimsical immigrant forges a deep-rooted bond with nature when life gives him a bitter one.

THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER: MIGRANTS IN THE WORKPLACE

Film THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER: MIGRANTS IN THE WORKPLACE Directed by Arianny Gallardo, Daniel Sanchez Diaz, Edickson Espinosa, Franchesca Thomas, Francis Genao, Giosmar Garcia, Hajjasow Cisse, John Michel, Jose Paucar, Mathias Flores Uchuypoma, Mously Thiam, Nyla Collado, Quesly Gonzalez, Sajidur Rahman, Talyah Golding Made by young people, The Grass Isn’t Always Greener: Migrants in the Workplace, explores the dangers of workplace…

THE FABULOUS ROCKY FELLERS

Film THE FABULOUS ROCKY FELLERS Directed by Florante Ibanez Retired Librarian/Archivist, 1970s-80s KDP community activist, currently Adjunct Professor at Pasadena City College of Asian Pacific American Studies,…
Pacific Cinewaves

THE SHAUN NUA PROJECT

Film THE SHAUN NUA PROJECT Directed by Jake Zielinski, Jess Speight Super Bowl champion and current USC defensive line coach Shaun Nua returns to his home island of American…

THỜI THƠ ẤU (CHILDHOOD)

Film THỜI THƠ ẤU (CHILDHOOD) Directed by Vi Tuong Bui Thời Thơ Ấu (Childhood) explores my understanding of my bố mẹ (parents) as people outside of their roles as…
Documentary Features

WE CARE

Film WE CARE Directed by Risa Morimoto We Care features four Asian American families – The Shahanes in Cedar Park TX, the Herrs in Los…