Center for Asian American Media

The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. We do this by funding, producing, distributing, and exhibiting works in film, television, and digital media. For 44 years, CAAM has exposed audiences to new voices and communities, advancing our collective understanding of the American experience through programs specifically designed to engage the Asian American community and the public at large. 

CAAM'S VALUES

•  Importance of Asian American stories. • The power of storytelling. • Trusting independent Asian American storytellers.  • Uplifting Asian American diversity.  • Reaching audiences.  • Diversity, equity, and inclusiveness.

IMPACT

For 44 years, CAAM has created opportunities for Americans and people around the globe to understand the diverse stories and experiences of Asian Americans through:

▪ Careers. CAAM empowers storytellers to achieve their full potential by providing training, funding, distribution, and access to professional networks.

▪ Community. Connecting filmmakers and their stories to people and communities in schools, community centers, theaters, and neighborhoods, bridging conversations about inclusiveness and social equity.

▪ Perspective. CAAM-supported work changes the way audiences see the world, changing hearts and minds, inspiring empathy and meaningful social action.

PROGRAMS

CAAM achieves our mission through the following initiatives:

Public Media

Since 1980, CAAM has presented over 500 documentary films for national public television, including more than 130 works in the past four years. Our award-winning public television programs are seen by more than 6 million Americans annually.

CAAMFest

CAAM presents CAAMFest, the world’s leading showcase for new Asian American film, food, and music programs, which annually reaches over 10,000 attendees, storied filmmakers, thought leaders, and tastemakers every May in San Francisco and Oakland. Since 1982, our film festival has been an important launching point for Asian American independent filmmakers. You can help sustain the festival by helping support exciting events, must-see Asian American films, unique food experiences, and filmmaker and industry panels and conversations. 

CAAM Fellowship

The CAAM Fellowship Program supports and develops Asian American documentary filmmakers by pairing selected fellows with accomplished professionals/mentors in the field for twelve months to develop a project and/or their career in documentary filmmaking. Through additional support, we plan to provide professional development resources to our Fellowship alumni and a larger cohort of filmmakers in an effort to strengthen their projects and garner more support towards completing their films.

Regional Work

CAAM’s primary goal is to strengthen a supportive network and strategic infrastructure for the Asian American documentary filmmaking community working in the South and the Midwest, and to connect this network to Asian American and other independent documentary and cultural organizations. With your support, building these networks and resourcing an infrastructure that will result in a breadth of work of film and media that more authentically reflects the changing landscape of Asian Americans across the nation.

Educational Distribution

CAAM’s catalog includes more than 250 titles, constituting the country’s largest collection of Asian American films and videos for educational use and community screenings distribution. Our award-winning documentaries, personal stories, dramas, and experimental works reflect the rich history and diversity of Asian people in the U.S. and global diaspora.