San Diego Asian Film Festival
The largest exhibition of Asian cinema in the western United States, presenting awards and filmmaker support to Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander filmmakers across documentary and narrative formats.
Overview
The San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) is San Diego's premier film showcase of Asian American and international cinema, and the largest exhibition of Asian cinema in the western United States. Founded in 2000, the festival has grown to become a major platform for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander filmmakers, presenting films across documentary, narrative, short, animated, and experimental formats.
While primarily a festival and exhibition platform rather than a production grant, SDAFF provides meaningful support to filmmakers through its competitive awards, audience recognition, and the broader platform it offers for Asian and Asian American voices. Being programmed at SDAFF provides Asian and Asian American filmmakers with one of the most concentrated and engaged Asian cinema audiences in the country.
What It Provides
SDAFF presents awards across multiple categories including Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Narrative Short, Documentary Short, Animated Short, Experimental Film, and Emerging Filmmaker. It also presents an Audience Award, a Grand Jury Award, and an International Short Award.
For filmmakers, SDAFF's value extends beyond any individual award. The festival provides:
- A curated platform for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander stories to reach a dedicated and engaged audience
- Industry visibility and critical attention within the Asian American film community
- Potential for award recognition that advances a film's festival run and distribution prospects
- Connection to Pacific Arts Movement -- the nonprofit that operates SDAFF -- and its filmmaker support programs
Eligibility
SDAFF is especially interested in films by Asian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander filmmakers, and films that shed new light on Asian Pacific Islander communities, expand knowledge of Asian American cultures, or show new possibilities for Asians onscreen. Both US and international films are considered. All lengths and formats -- feature, short, documentary, narrative, experimental, animation -- are eligible.
Filmmakers submit through standard film festival submission channels. The festival accepts submissions on an annual cycle ahead of its fall programming.
Who Should Submit
Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander filmmakers with completed documentary or narrative films who want to reach a dedicated, knowledgeable, and engaged Asian cinema audience in the United States. The festival is equally welcoming to short films and features, making it accessible to filmmakers at all stages of their career.
See Also
For understanding a festival strategy as part of a documentary distribution plan, see Distribution Deals: What Filmmakers Need to Know. For the Center for Asian American Media's production grants, see the Center for Asian American Media entry.
