This series of FREE shorts offers a glimpse at a few of the many pathways to becoming an American in both a legal sense and identity. Subjects include Syrian refugees, undocumented college students, and first-generation identity crisis. Filmmakers expected to be in attendance. Go to Where the Light Is Director: Josh Oldham | 7 mins | USA Each year, approximately 13,000 North Koreans risk their lives in a desperate attempt to flee the country. This is the story of one survivor, Yeonmi Park, and her escape from North Korea. Just One Story Director: Melissa Taylor, Seng Rimpakone | 17 mins | USA As refugees from Laos, the Rimpakones spent only one year in Portland, Indiana, but that year shaped their futures. That year they became Americans. It Is What It Is Director: Cyrus Tabar | 8 mins | USA Cyrus, a first-generation American of mixed Japanese heritage tries to understand why his father kept him away from his Iranian grandparents. Turning to home movies and photos, he sets in motion a journey into the dark and nebulous corners of his family history. Searching Skies Director: Vivian Hua | 9 mins | USA When a Syrian refugee family is invited to a Christian family’s house for Christmas dinner, they are caught between opposing viewpoints for and against them. Godspeed Director: Chiahao Chou | 6 mins | USA An ambitious delivery boy decides to pursue his dreams at the expense of his financially struggling father. Lobbying to Learn Director: Matthew Hashiguchi | 8 mins | USA In Georgia, undocumented immigrants lobby the state legislature for the right to attend college. Festival Pass

This collection of FREE shorts tells the varied stories of Southeast Asian Americans whose identities stem from their refugee status and one film about the current Karenni refugee crisis in Thailand. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance. Float Director: Tristan Seniuk, Tristan Seniuk | 24 mins | USA Set in mid 1990s Seattle, Cambodian-American hustler Rocky Mang spends his days cruising the streets slanging cheap goods on the corner as he struggles to help his family make ends meet. His days are a hazy wash of grinding and hustling, only broken by his persistent attempts to convince a local barista named Jenni-Mo Day to go on a date. Worth Director: Vokee Lee | 15 mins | USA Based on a true story from 1982, a teenage Hmong refugee boy named Pao struggles to adopt the American lifestyle as he faces racism and bullying in high school. Kim: #justB courageous Director: Philippa Wharton | 3 mins | USA Kim’s story is a loving tribute to her father, who died of liver cancer caused by hepatitis B. She wonders whether the stigma about hepatitis B in the Vietnamese community prevented him from telling the family and seeking medical care earlier and suggests that access to culturally and linguistically appropriate resources could have prevented his death. Like We Don’t Exist Director: Ansley Sawyer, Corey Embring | 30 mins | Myanmar, Thailand, USA A short documentary about the ongoing ethnic violence and mass displacement of a minority called the Karenni between Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma). After 70 years of civil war – the Karenni face an uncertain future today as a refugee community surviving along the Thailand-Myanmar border. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Byron Yee Growing up, Jacob used to spend every Saturday night camping in the desert with his disgraced astronomer father, waiting for the extra-terrestrials to arrive. Now an adult, Jacob continues this tradition alone while his ailing father is in the hospital on his deathbed. One night, a Mexican coyote, Maria, walks into his campsite leading a group of border crossers through the desert. As an unlikely relationship develops, Jacob must choose between his pursuit of the aliens above or the illegal alien that just walked into his life. An engaging and relatable drama that touches upon elements of family obligation and faith in the unknown. Filmmaker Byron Yee expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

Back by popular demand for the fifth year running, this year’s FREE program of Sci-Fi, Horror, and Action Genre shorts is a non-stop thrill ride. Subjects include female assassins, mythical monsters, and dark animations. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance. Model Minority Director: Sean Dacanay | 2 mins | USA In response to the cry for more diverse superheroes, Marvel presents… MODEL MINORITY! Aswang Next Door Director: Bernard Badion | 5 mins | USA A man who thinks he’s a Filipino monster that eats fetuses informs his pregnant neighbor. The Pipes Director: Alexander J. Koo | 15 mins | USA A man moves into the home he inherited from a deceased relative, but strange happenings and unsettling encounters with his neighbor make him believe something evil lurks within its walls. Evocation of a Nightmare Director: Wally Chung | 2 mins | USA Entering what seems to be a deserted building, a man explores and finds an unwanted guest. Cowboy and Indian Director: Sujata Day | 8 mins | USA When a young Bengali bride collapses in the desert, a cowboy appears out of the sunset and rescues her. Glorious Victory Director: Will Kim | 2 mins | USA Glorious Victory is a watercolor animated short about two beetles intensely fighting over a fig fruit. The Anniversary Director: Art Chudabala | 10 mins | USA On the night of his wedding anniversary, a tormented widower seeks revenge by kidnapping his wife’s killer… but does he have the right man? Baumu Director: Shao-Chun Chung | 10 mins | Taiwan A female killer takes a contract to assassinate a drug addict. Finding members of his family she faces a moral dilemma. Tickets Festival Pass

In this mixed media theater performance, Emmy-winning musician Mark Izu accompanies his wife and “America’s foremost Asian storyteller” Brenda Wong Aoki to share touching and personal family histories with universal and contemporary appeal. The two acclaimed artists weave memories recorded in a recently discovered family diary with further flourish, story and song tracking over 100 years of history in the American West. From the Transcontinental Railroad, to WWII’s Japanese American internment camps and 442nd Infantry Regiment, to San Francisco hippies and through today. Joined by koto master Shoko Hikage, the performance offer a poignant glimpse of our shared history and demands it not be repeated. This performance will be a 20-minute excerpt out of the larger play, followed by an interactive discussion activity. Buy Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Tiffany Hsiung The Apology follows the personal journeys of three former “comfort women” who were among the 200,000 girls and young women kidnapped and forced into military sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. After decades of living in silence and shame about their past, they know that time is running out to give a first-hand account of the truth and ensure that this horrific chapter of history is not forgotten. Some 70 years after their imprisonment, the three “grandmothers”—Grandma Gil in South Korea, Grandma Cao in China, and Grandma Adela in the Philippines—face their twilight years with fading health. Whether they are seeking a formal apology from the Japanese government or summoning the courage to finally share their secret with loved ones, their resolve moves them forward to seize this last chance to set future generations on a course for reconciliation, healing, and justice. Tickets Festival Pass

This collection of FREE shorts explore the myriad experiences of Japanese Americans who lived through the incarceration of WWII and the impact of intergenerational trauma. Filmmakers expected in attendance. The Orange Story Director: Jason Matsumoto | 17 mins | USA The proud owner of a small corner grocery store must abandon everything and report to an assembly center, enroute to a more permanent incarceration site. 9066 Director: Andrew Okada | 11 mins | USA A personal look at the lasting effects of Executive Order 9066 and how to best translate the unspoken trauma of Japanese-American internment to future generations. Sansei Dream Director: Gabe Veenendaal | 7 mins | USA After his mother suddenly passes away, a young third generation Japanese American farmer uncovers the truth about her dark past through a subconscious dream state. Cliff, Superfan! Director: Diane Quon | 27 mins | USA 68-year-old Clifford Hayashi is a legendary superfan of all Stanford sports teams. Although most know who Cliff is, the man himself remains a mystery. Rivaling his love for Stanford sports is Cliff’s passion for writing about the Japanese concentration camp where his mother was imprisoned during World War II. Tickets Festival Pass

Mutang is a stay-at-home dad in the suburbs of Montreal, but in Malaysia he was an indigenous activist who voiced resistance for the peoples of Sarawak. When he returns home for the first time since his exile in 1992, Mutang’s remote forest village is not as he remembers it. Contrary to the will of their elders, Mutang’s younger cousins who once stood with him at the blockades are now welcoming timber companies into their tribal lands. With the very existence of their community hanging in the balance and despite the threat of a lingering arrest warrant, Mutang can’t resist taking up his old cause. This film provides an unflinching look at the effects of capitalism on the fabric of traditional communities around the world through the personal story of Mutang’s search for belonging in a place where home and heritage are slipping away. Filmmaker Ashley Duong expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

This compelling documentary narrated in part by George Takei brings history into the present, retelling the difficult story of Japanese American incarceration and following contemporary activists as they speak out against the Muslim registry and travel ban. And Then They Came for Us is a cautionary and inspiring tale for these dark times. Film preceded by: One-Two-One-Seven Brett Kodama - 14 mins This short documentary tells the story of a woman whose parents committed suicide in a Japanese American Concentration Camp. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Ann Marie Fleming Rosie Ming, a young Canadian poet of mixed Chinese and Persian ancestry, is invited to perform at a poetry festival in Shiraz, Iran. Once in Iran Rosie finds herself confronting memories of her past, the Iranian father she assumed had abandoned her, and the nature of poetry itself. An unwitting journey of forgiveness, reconciliation, and understanding – this animated feature is an attempt by its Asian Canadian filmmakers to build bridges between cultural and generational divides. Executive Produced by Sandra Oh (GREY’S ANATOMY), this ambitious animated film features original poetry by a host of prominent artists. Tickets Festival Pass

This series of FREE shorts explores variations on the theme of metamorphosis: transitions between life and dead, emotional growth, and physical transformation. Filmmakers are expected to be in attendance. Mwah Director: Sara Soheili | 12 mins | Iran While five pregnant women sit in their doctor’s waiting room, their unborn babies carry on conversations about life inside their mommy’s belly and futures outside the womb. The Servant Director: Farnoosh Abedi | 9 mins | Iran A bug becomes a servant, but how long will he stand his master’s abuse? Tidal Waves Director: Kristina Wong | 9 mins | Canada Tidal Waves is a short film about a young dancer’s struggle with scoliosis. After undergoing a surgery to correct her spine, Riley – a once triumphant and passionate dancer must now come to terms with the fact that she can no longer dance. After her mother enrolls her in water therapy, Riley begins to find a new path. A Time to Bleed Director: Shaun Vivaris | 5 mins | USA A young man hallucinates an existential debate with a former school teacher as he bleeds out in his bathtub. Confucius Plaza Director: Patrick Chen | 5 mins | USA Within this building of 762 apartments there’s a story in each of them. In this story, a young couple enjoy a morning together in bed that will change their lives forever. Tiger God Director: Ying Pan | 7 mins | Taiwan Master Tiger, the god who protected children in Chinese traditional religion, rises to the occasion when a young boy needs his help. Im/Perfection Director: Andrew Hida | 12 mins | USA Im/Perfection is about one man’s pursuit of perfection in his creation of hand drawn architectural renderings in Hawaii. In a digital world, Hitoshi Hida is one of the last holdouts who meticulously practices his craft at the drafting table. Lady Eva Director: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson | 11 mins | Tonga, USA A brave young transgender woman sets off on a journey to become her true self in the conservative Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga – competing in the Miss Galaxy beauty pageant. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Vivienne Schiffer RELOCATION ARKANSAS explores the effect of the Japanese American incarceration experience in Arkansas during WWII on the generation that was born after the camps closed, the unlikely tale of those Japanese Americans who remained behind, and the even more unlikely tale of how a small-town Arkansas mayor of Italian descent became a legend in the Japanese American community. But with its themes of the complexity and hypocrisy of race relations in America, journeys toward forgiveness and healing, and cross community understanding, the film transcends regional and cultural constraints unlike any other film on the incarceration experience. Documentary subjects Paul and Alice Takemoto expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

This program of FREE shorts revolve around the Asian American family. Subjects include elder wisdom and conflicting values between generations. Filmmakers expected in attendance. Home is Where the Sunsets Director: Kayla Tong | 8 mins | USA Alison’s life in LA turns upside down when her family comes to visit from Hong Kong for the very first time. Stuffed into her cramped apartment, Alison finds beauty and heartache in the smallest of moments. Akashi Director: Mayumi Yoshida | 10 mins | Canada, Japan Grappling with a one-sided relationship, Kana’s returns home to Japan to pay her respects to her deceased grandmother. As she recalls advice from their most intimate conversation, Kana’s own relationship problems come into focus. The Bird Who Could Fly Director: Raphael Sbarge | 19 mins | USA A young Korean-American man struggles with his journey in the face of an overbearing mother and two brothers whose lives have gone awry. Mother’s Touch Director: Jane Yeon | 5 mins | USA An elderly woman goes to the sea for what will be her last pearl dive. As she submerges, she is reminded of precious times she spent with her late mother. Time for Tea Director: Bob Yang | 22 mins | Brazil A retired Chinese general gets an unusual visit from his grandson. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Jennifer Reeder An emotionally repressed Pakistani American woman named Zaynab lives with her recently widowed mother Parveen, a devout Muslim who spends her days watching TV dramas and trying to find her daughter a husband. Zaynab begins a lesbian romance with free-spirited Mexican American Alma, and confrontation with her mother seems inevitable. Zaynab copes by becoming a Lucha-style wrestler. A funny yet poignant film that addresses the universal conflict between family expectations and personal fulfillment through a wholly unique Muslim Mexican take on the romantic comedy genre. Preceded By: Lion Dance Tim Pattinson, Zheng Kang - 6 mins A romantic visual poem set during a traditional Asian parade in which a highly acrobatic dance is performed to bring good luck. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Justin Lin Ben (Parry Shen) is a perfectionist and overachiever whose tunnel vision leads to nothing less than graduating at the top of his class. As he struggles to achieve social success, he discovers his darker side. He and his friends Virgil (Jason Tobin), Daric (Roger Fan), and Han (Sung Kang) lead a double life of mischief and petty crimes to alleviate the pressures of perfectionism. As their shadow lives begin to grow, the gang tumbles into a downward spiral of excitement and excess. A truly revolutionary film that broke the mold of the model minority myth wide open with its 2002 Sundance premiere and nationwide theatrical release by MTV Films, this film single-handedly launched the careers of Justin Lin (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, STAR TREK BEYOND, ANNAPOLIS), Sung Kang (FAST & FURIOUS, GANG RELATED, BULLET TO THE HEAD), Parry Shen (GENERAL HOSPITAL, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, YES WE’RE OPEN), and Jason Tobin (JASMINE, #1 SERIAL KILLER, TOKYO DRIFT), among others. In recognition of the 15th anniversary of its release, PAAFF is showing a never-before-seen Sundance Festival cut of the original 35mm film. This cut has only screened six times in Park City and once at the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. Tickets Festival Pass

Directed by Ric Burns, Li-Shin Yu Co-produced by Center for Asian American Media, this film underscores important connections between the Chinese Exclusion Act and the history of US immigration. By examining the socio-economic and geo-political forces that led to the Act, the film uncovers its unmistakable and wide-ranging consequences on national attitudes towards race, culture, politics, and society. At its core this is a film about American identity, tracing the arc of what has defined being American from the time the US was a fledgling republic through its astronomical rise as a world superpower. This film documents in fascinating detail the events leading to, consequences, and continuing impact of the only federal legislation in US history to single out and name a specific race and nationality for exclusion from immigration and citizenship. The second half of this documentary will be shown after the Memories to Light Program, which explores a more recent history of Chinese Americans through a collection of home movies. Tickets Festival Pass

A remote archipelago of hundreds of tiny volcanic islands in the western Pacific, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is an independent nation of 100,000 citizens and a protectorate of the United States. In recent years, the country has become a “recruiter’s paradise” for the US military, especially since 9/11. Yet they have lost fives times more soldiers, per capita, than any US state. The film captures a tightly knit island community — a microcosm of economic, social and political change—as the high price for military service in a foreign nation’s wars cuts deep. Through an intricate web of the personal journeys undertaken by Pacific Islander soldiers, the film illustrates the larger story of a remote region whose interests are caught in the ever-changing tides of international politics. Who are these virtually unknown foreign soldiers fighting America’s wars? What does it mean for the United States to use, and practically discard, foreign citizens from their military? What happens to Micronesian veterans, and their families, when they return home and cannot access their benefits (healthcare, treatment for PTSD, loans, etc)? What is the future of these islands that exist at the mercy of foreign superpowers and strategic military interests? Director Nathan Fitch expected in attendance for post-film Q&A. Tickets Festival Pass

PAAFF is excited to present a selection of home movies collected in the San Francisco Bay Area spanning 1920s-1970s and featuring Chinese American families. Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) Executive Director Stephen Gong will narrate this program, which will also include live musical accompaniment by Chinese multi-instrumentalist Qin Qian and her band. If memories are food for the soul, home movies are the breadcrumbs we drop to find our way back. Unfortunately for many Asian American families who immigrated in the early 20th century or earlier, there is very little home movie footage that shows their unique experiences in this country. CAAM’s Memories to Light project is an effort to collect, digitize, and exhibit Asian American home movies from the bygone film era. PAAFF is also collecting home movies on behalf of the Memories to Light project in the formats of 8mm, Super-8, and 16mm. Films will be digitized at no cost to the owner. If you have questions about adding your films to the collection, please contact: Wing So at [email protected]. Tickets Festival Pass