Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival

OUR
TEAM

Festival Directors

Arzhang Zafar

Arzhang Zafar

pronouns: he/they
Festival Co-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

Joseph Carranza

pronouns: he/him
Festival Co-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.

Programming

David Tanh

David Tanh

pronouns: he/him
Programming Coordinator

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.

Programmers

Klyde Breitton, Sunny Huang, Shivon Love, Nova Meng, Chetana R. Narasimha Jois, Phoebe Schaub, Brittney Scurry, Chen-Yi Wu, Selena Yip

Screeners

Klyde Breitton, Anyun Chatterjee, Irene Chien, Clarisse Chua, Kelly Conrad, Frances Conwell, Vinh Dang, Aiko Hamamoto, Caren Hosansky, Eric Hung, James Kawano, Emai Lai, Wren Lee, Lillian Li, Shivon Love, Larissa Lucas, Nova Meng, Anna Migliaccio, Chetana R. Narasimha Jois, Sharon Pearson, Riq Rafi, Phoebe Schaub, Brittney Scurry, Jack Tan, Macey Tanseco, Don Thomases, Mamta Travedi, Chen-Yi Wu, Emilie Xie

Marketing & Communications

Darian Ehya Headshot

Darian Ehya

pronouns: he/him
Art Director & Social Media Manager

Darian is a Philly-based graphic designer who created PAAFF’s festival artwork for our 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons, led PAAFF’s visual rebrand in 2020, and art directed the festival artwork for PAAFF in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Passionate for using the power of art and design for good, Darian’s professional work has supported the needs of other arts and culture organizations, including Mural Arts Philadelphia, Intercultural Journeys, For Freedoms, and Moore College of Art & Design.

Darian is a Philly-based graphic designer who created PAAFF’s festival artwork for our 2018, 2019, and 2020 seasons, led PAAFF’s visual rebrand in 2020, and art directed the festival artwork for PAAFF in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Passionate for using the power of art and design for good, Darian’s professional work has supported the needs of other arts and culture organizations, including Mural Arts Philadelphia, Intercultural Journeys, For Freedoms, and Moore College of Art & Design.

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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.

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. 

Committee Members

Kathy Chung, Abby Obfenda

Fundraising & Development

Eric Hung Headshot

eric Hung

pronouns: he/they
Conference Chair, Grantwriter

Eric is a musicologist who has studied Asian American music and film since the early 2000s.  He is an Associate Professor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and is co-founder of the Music of Asian America Research Center.  He has served as PAAFF grant writer since 2015.

Eric is a musicologist who has studied Asian American music and film since the early 2000s.  He is an Associate Professor at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and is co-founder of the Music of Asian America Research Center.  He has served as PAAFF grant writer since 2015.

Events

Eireann Mannino Headshot

Eireann Mannino

pronouns: she/her
Volunteer Coordinator

Éireann Mannino is a multimedia artist, holding a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art in Printmaking. From 2011 to the present they have worked closely with the historic Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park. Shofuso awarded Éireann Mannino their first ever Artist In Residence in 2012, and again in 2018. Mannino began their participation with PAAFF as a long-time film reviewer for the Philadelphia-based film website Cinema76 in 2015, then became a volunteer. As volunteer co-director, Mannino helps to open a wide field of opportunity to prospective volunteers, and to educate and empower them to participate in the festival in numerous functional roles. Mannino hopes to grow with PAAFF and to help PAAFF grow as a way to call attention to the significance, vibrance, diversity, and excellence of the Asian diaspora communities of Philadelphia.

Éireann Mannino is a multimedia artist, holding a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Tyler School of Art in Printmaking. From 2011 to the present they have worked closely with the historic Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmount Park. Shofuso awarded Éireann Mannino their first ever Artist In Residence in 2012, and again in 2018. Mannino began their participation with PAAFF as a long-time film reviewer for the Philadelphia-based film website Cinema76 in 2015, then became a volunteer. As volunteer co-director, Mannino helps to open a wide field of opportunity to prospective volunteers, and to educate and empower them to participate in the festival in numerous functional roles. Mannino hopes to grow with PAAFF and to help PAAFF grow as a way to call attention to the significance, vibrance, diversity, and excellence of the Asian diaspora communities of Philadelphia.

Vivian Nhan Headshot

Vivian Nhan

pronouns: she/her
Volunteer Coordinator

Vivian Nhan was born and raised in Philadelphia. She graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 2018, majoring in Natural Science: Pre-PA and minoring in Korean. During her time in university, she actively served in the fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and volunteered at UPMC children’s hospital. In 2019, she became one of the volunteer coordinators for the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and was responsible for recruiting and organizing volunteers. Currently, she is working as a medical scribe for a cardiology clinic.

Vivian Nhan was born and raised in Philadelphia. She graduated from University of Pittsburgh in 2018, majoring in Natural Science: Pre-PA and minoring in Korean. During her time in university, she actively served in the fraternity Alpha Phi Omega and volunteered at UPMC children’s hospital. In 2019, she became one of the volunteer coordinators for the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and was responsible for recruiting and organizing volunteers. Currently, she is working as a medical scribe for a cardiology clinic.