OUR
TEAM
Executive Director
Nani Shin
pronouns: she/her
Executive Director
Nani Shin has over 25 years in the media and entertainment industry, leading content distribution, brand management, and strategic partnerships. She has represented global media brands including Bravo, A+E, History, and Lifetime among other content platforms, both linear and digital. She is excited to join the PAAFF team to spark new partnerships and collaborations that elevate AAPI representation and excellence. South Korean born, and raised in NE Philly, she worked in NYC, and returned to the PA suburbs with her family. Nani is passionate about wellness, creative expression, and an inclusive culture. She draws inspiration and balance from her love of nature and the arts, particularly performing arts, and of course, FILMS. She values the power of partnerships and is motivated by creativity, purpose-driven goals, and genuine people making a positive impact.
Festival Directors
Arzhang Zafar
pronouns: he/they
Festival Programming Director
Arzhang Zafar is a writer and film programmer based in Philadelphia. Originally from the SF Bay Area, he has been residing in Philly for over six years and working with PAAFF for the majority of that time. He is particularly interested in highlighting the stories of underrepresented communities and the ways in which historical and contemporary identity and culture intersect in diasporic art and media. He is excited to step into the role of co-director for the festival, to expand PAAFF’s repertoire and show audiences the full breadth of Asian and Asian American cinema.
Arzhang Zafar is a writer and film programmer based in Philadelphia. Originally from the SF Bay Area, he has been residing in Philly for over six years and working with PAAFF for the majority of that time. He is particularly interested in highlighting the stories of underrepresented communities and the ways in which historical and contemporary identity and culture intersect in diasporic art and media. He is excited to step into the role of co-director for the festival, to expand PAAFF’s repertoire and show audiences the full breadth of Asian and Asian American cinema.
Joseph Carranza
pronouns: he/him
Festival Exhibitions Director
Joseph Carranza is a New York City based community builder and festival director. He has centered his career around creating platforms for creatives to showcase their work, mentoring the next generation of storytellers, and planning large scale events that make an impact on society. From his work in the nonprofit sector, behind the scenes on film sets, to project managing large scale events Joseph’s leadership bridges the gap between creatives and culture at large.
Joseph Carranza is a New York City based community builder and festival director. He has centered his career around creating platforms for creatives to showcase their work, mentoring the next generation of storytellers, and planning large scale events that make an impact on society. From his work in the nonprofit sector, behind the scenes on film sets, to project managing large scale events Joseph’s leadership bridges the gap between creatives and culture at large.
Partnerships & Fundraising
David Tanh
pronouns: he/him
Partnerships Director
David is a Teochew Chinese American and a child of Cambodian Refugees. He grew up in a Chinese Take-Out in the Logan and Olney neighborhoods of Philadelphia. His love of storytelling led him to comic books. He is a writer in the Harvey Award nominated, Once Upon a Time Machine, and the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award winner, Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream. At PAAFF, he aims to bring the visions and voices of API to facilitate a new age of American cinema. Mostly, he is hopefully a good husband and father of two very bossy daughters.
David is a Teochew Chinese American and a child of Cambodian Refugees. He grew up in a Chinese Take-Out in the Logan and Olney neighborhoods of Philadelphia. His love of storytelling led him to comic books. He is a writer in the Harvey Award nominated, Once Upon a Time Machine, and the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award winner, Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream. At PAAFF, he aims to bring the visions and voices of API to facilitate a new age of American cinema. Mostly, he is hopefully a good husband and father of two very bossy daughters.
Marketing & Communications
Jacqui Sadashige
pronouns: she/her
Social Media Manager
Jacqui has been volunteering with PAAFF since 2015, during which she has working in programming, marketing, and social media. In addition to working in the animal rights, she also teaches as a lecturer at both Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania. With post-graduate degrees in English, Classical Studies, and Global Conservation Biology, Jacqui’s recent scholarship has focused on animal welfare in global wildlife tourism.
Festival Art Director
Kathy Chung
Programmers
Klyde Breitton, Shivon Love, Chetana R. Narasimha Jois, Phoebe Schaub, Brittney Scurry, Chen-Yi Wu, Wren Lee, Catherine Nguyen, Aiko Hamamoto
Screeners
Klyde Breitton, Irene Chien, Vinh Dang, Aiko Hamamoto, Caren Hosansky, James Kawano, Wren Lee, Lillian Li, Shivon Love, Larissa Lucas, Chetana R. Narasimha Jois, Sharon Pearson, Phoebe Schaub, Brittney Scurry, Jack Tan, Don Thomases, Julie Rockefeller, Yinan Wang, Chen-Yi Wu, Emilie Xie, Julia Fan