Austin Asian American Film Festival

Who We Are and Who We Stand For

“I was very impressed with AAAFF’s commitment to fostering a community around Asian cinema.”

— Mohit Jaswal, Director of Night on Sixth (AAAFF '21 Alum)

Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) began as a showcase-specific event that has now broadened to a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. 

From our flagship annual festival that highlights new Asian and Asian American films to our year-round community screening events, the organization has grown from one run by volunteers in the film and local Asian American community to one of premiere Asian American arts nonprofits in town.

Our mission of championing Asian and Asian American stories via media arts and empowering Asian Americans to explore opportunities in cinema continues as we expand to include more collaborations with our peer film festival organizations in North America, educational programs, an AA/PI filmmaker database, and film industry resources for creatives. 

AAAFF programs speak to and enhance understanding of the AA/PI experience through film. 

Our Hyperlocal Impact in Austin and Worldwide Reach

Over the past 7 years, AAAFF has presented films from over 25 countries and brought dozens of filmmakers, actors, and documentary subjects to Austin to share their experiences. 

With each film screened, AAAFF often partners with local community groups to better amplify the reach of films so that the communities represented in the film or behind the camera are also present at our screenings.

Through curated programs like Unleashed Desires: Lost Films of Taiwan and Prismatic Taiwan: A Queer Film Series, AAAFF is increasing representation  of nuanced AAPI social issues locally in Austin and nationwide audiences virtually through the power of cinema. 

AAAFF was the fiscal sponsor and programmatic partner of Stories Within. Stories Within is a mini-documentary series that aims to not only broadcast the diversity and strength of the Asian American & Pacific Islander population (AA/PI) in Texas, but also respond to rising acts of violence through community and empowered storytelling. 

Stories Within recently won Best Short Documentary at DisOrient Asian American Film Festival and was a top three finalist (and grant recipient) in the inaugural Gold Futures Challenge. Currently on a festival run, the film has been screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival and will be screened at the inaugural Salida Film Festival.

“We hope to change the way we as Asian Americans see ourselves, knowing that our stories are important, and that we are in solidarity with other communities of color.

— PJ Raval, Director of Stories Within

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