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Welcome to the 42nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (April 29 - May 3, 2026) 🎥 💫

Over the past four decades of presenting #LAAPFF, artists and films have found a home in our space. In this time of overwhelming uncertainty, amid political and financial threats aimed at erasing our histories from collective memory, coming together feels all the more essential to protect. Whether at a gathering, a panel or a screening, it’s time again for us to catch up with old acquaintances or meet new friends and collaborators. Stories, too, can feel familiar, but in isolating times there’s comfort in knowing we feel through life similarly. Especially after this past year, familiar seems necessary. At least until the day we can retire the phrase: history repeats itself.

For now, we keep doing this work.

Join us at #LAAPFF2026 for an exciting lineup of films, panels, discussions, and events across Los Angeles!

🔗 View the program and schedule now at festival.vcmedia.org

🎟 Pre-sale ticketing is available for badgeholders. General ticketing will go on sale on April 6th @ 12PM (PST)

🎨 @supernovadesigninc

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Constantly inspired by our partners and their unwavering support of our mission and the power of our stories 💜

A special thank you to the Motion Picture Editors Guild (@mpeg700), SAG-AFTRA (@sagaftra, @sagaftra.apam), Warner Bros Discovery (@warnerbros), and HBO Documentary Films (@hbodocs) for sponsoring this year’s C3 panels at #LAAPFF2026 and helping us create space for meaningful conversations, industry insight, and community connection ⭐️

Congratulations to our #VCArchives Artist-in-Residence for the premiere of their exhibitions at #LAAPFF2026! 🎊✨

The Archive is ALIVE exhibition brings together four projects developed through the inaugural VC Archives Artist-in-Residence program, inviting artists to engage the VC Archives as a living site for research, experimentation, and creative discovery.

Centered on exploration and archival activation, the residency supports artists in working with historical materials to ask new questions, challenge form, and imagine new ways of connecting past and present through community storytelling 💜

Congratulations to our #VCArchives Artist-in-Residence for the premiere of their exhibitions at #LAAPFF2026! 🎊✨

The Archive is ALIVE exhibition brings together four projects developed through the inaugural VC Archives Artist-in-Residence program, inviting artists to engage the VC Archives as a living site for research, experimentation, and creative discovery.

Centered on exploration and archival activation, the residency supports artists in working with historical materials to ask new questions, challenge form, and imagine new ways of connecting past and present through community storytelling 💜

Congratulations to our #VCArchives Artist-in-Residence for the premiere of their exhibitions at #LAAPFF2026! 🎊✨

The Archive is ALIVE exhibition brings together four projects developed through the inaugural VC Archives Artist-in-Residence program, inviting artists to engage the VC Archives as a living site for research, experimentation, and creative discovery.

Centered on exploration and archival activation, the residency supports artists in working with historical materials to ask new questions, challenge form, and imagine new ways of connecting past and present through community storytelling 💜

Congratulations to our #VCArchives Artist-in-Residence for the premiere of their exhibitions at #LAAPFF2026! 🎊✨

The Archive is ALIVE exhibition brings together four projects developed through the inaugural VC Archives Artist-in-Residence program, inviting artists to engage the VC Archives as a living site for research, experimentation, and creative discovery.

Centered on exploration and archival activation, the residency supports artists in working with historical materials to ask new questions, challenge form, and imagine new ways of connecting past and present through community storytelling 💜

Congratulations to our #VCArchives Artist-in-Residence for the premiere of their exhibitions at #LAAPFF2026! 🎊✨

The Archive is ALIVE exhibition brings together four projects developed through the inaugural VC Archives Artist-in-Residence program, inviting artists to engage the VC Archives as a living site for research, experimentation, and creative discovery.

Centered on exploration and archival activation, the residency supports artists in working with historical materials to ask new questions, challenge form, and imagine new ways of connecting past and present through community storytelling 💜

When life imitates art.

🎨 @lexie.orrarts

#ArmedWithACamera #LAAPFF2026

When life imitates art.

🎨 @lexie.orrarts

#ArmedWithACamera #LAAPFF2026

"You don't have to be the first one to do it. There have been so many trailblazers and they are helping you, and you can trailblaze for the next generation"

Thankful for Uncle Andrew Ahn (@andrewahnfilms) for welcoming our #LAAPFF2026 filmmakers at our Filmmaker Welcome Brunch 🥞 💫

Can you believe it’s already been a week since our #LAAPFF2026 Opening Night Film, LUCKY LU? 🎬✨

Congratulations again to Lloyd Lee Choi (@lloydleechoi) and the entire Lucky Lu (@luckylufilm) team for taking home the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature!

Thank you to everyone for coming out and helped make this year’s festival so special. One week later, we’re still carrying the energy, community, and joy of #LAAPFF2026 with us 💜

Can you believe it’s already been a week since our #LAAPFF2026 Opening Night Film, LUCKY LU? 🎬✨

Congratulations again to Lloyd Lee Choi (@lloydleechoi) and the entire Lucky Lu (@luckylufilm) team for taking home the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature!

Thank you to everyone for coming out and helped make this year’s festival so special. One week later, we’re still carrying the energy, community, and joy of #LAAPFF2026 with us 💜

Can you believe it’s already been a week since our #LAAPFF2026 Opening Night Film, LUCKY LU? 🎬✨

Congratulations again to Lloyd Lee Choi (@lloydleechoi) and the entire Lucky Lu (@luckylufilm) team for taking home the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature!

Thank you to everyone for coming out and helped make this year’s festival so special. One week later, we’re still carrying the energy, community, and joy of #LAAPFF2026 with us 💜

#LAAPFF2026 LINDA MABALOT NEW VISIONS AWARD WINNER 🎉

Former Visual Communications Executive Director Linda Mabalot is lovingly remembered for her passion and commitment to nurturing and developing emerging Asian Pacific filmmakers. In that spirit, the Linda Mabalot New Visions Award is presented to two short films that demonstrates an innovative and creative use of cinematic language.

🏆 Linda Mabalot New Visions Award
WE BUY (Dir. David Huang and Albie Smith)

🏆 Linda Mabalot New Visions Award:
Correspondence (Dir. Paul K. Oh)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 LINDA MABALOT NEW VISIONS AWARD WINNER 🎉

Former Visual Communications Executive Director Linda Mabalot is lovingly remembered for her passion and commitment to nurturing and developing emerging Asian Pacific filmmakers. In that spirit, the Linda Mabalot New Visions Award is presented to two short films that demonstrates an innovative and creative use of cinematic language.

🏆 Linda Mabalot New Visions Award
WE BUY (Dir. David Huang and Albie Smith)

🏆 Linda Mabalot New Visions Award:
Correspondence (Dir. Paul K. Oh)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 LINDA MABALOT NEW VISIONS AWARD WINNER 🎉

Former Visual Communications Executive Director Linda Mabalot is lovingly remembered for her passion and commitment to nurturing and developing emerging Asian Pacific filmmakers. In that spirit, the Linda Mabalot New Visions Award is presented to two short films that demonstrates an innovative and creative use of cinematic language.

🏆 Linda Mabalot New Visions Award
WE BUY (Dir. David Huang and Albie Smith)

🏆 Linda Mabalot New Visions Award:
Correspondence (Dir. Paul K. Oh)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD WINNERS 🎉

Visual Communications proudly presents the 42nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and we feel so grateful to come together and celebrate our artists. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially impactful emerging filmmakers:

🏆 EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD
Yuzhu Hao and Yanv Chen, Directors of Chasing the Star

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD WINNERS 🎉

Visual Communications proudly presents the 42nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and we feel so grateful to come together and celebrate our artists. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially impactful emerging filmmakers:

🏆 EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD
Yuzhu Hao and Yanv Chen, Directors of Chasing the Star

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS AWARD WINNERS 🎉

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

This year's shorts navigate the intimate and the infinite: stories of the neighborhood, the diaspora, and the truths we carry. From voices screaming out loud to the surreal things that move in the night—through narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation—we held space for it all. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GOLDEN REEL AWARD - DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
In The Morning Sun (Dir. Serville Poblete)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR DIRECTING
Correct Me If I'm Wrong (Dir. Hao Zhou)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS AWARD WINNERS 🎉

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

This year's shorts navigate the intimate and the infinite: stories of the neighborhood, the diaspora, and the truths we carry. From voices screaming out loud to the surreal things that move in the night—through narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation—we held space for it all. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GOLDEN REEL AWARD - DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
In The Morning Sun (Dir. Serville Poblete)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR DIRECTING
Correct Me If I'm Wrong (Dir. Hao Zhou)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 DOCUMENTARY SHORTS AWARD WINNERS 🎉

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

This year's shorts navigate the intimate and the infinite: stories of the neighborhood, the diaspora, and the truths we carry. From voices screaming out loud to the surreal things that move in the night—through narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation—we held space for it all. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GOLDEN REEL AWARD - DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
In The Morning Sun (Dir. Serville Poblete)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR DIRECTING
Correct Me If I'm Wrong (Dir. Hao Zhou)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 NARRATIVE SHORTS AWARD WINNERS 🎉

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

This year's shorts navigate the intimate and the infinite: stories of the neighborhood, the diaspora, and the truths we carry. From voices screaming out loud to the surreal things that move in the night—through narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation—we held space for it all. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GOLDEN REEL AWARD - BEST NARRATIVE SHORT:
Agapito (Dir. Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR ACTING
Besieged (Dir. Kiarash Ardeshirpour, starring Sonia Sanjari)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 NARRATIVE SHORTS AWARD WINNERS 🎉

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

This year's shorts navigate the intimate and the infinite: stories of the neighborhood, the diaspora, and the truths we carry. From voices screaming out loud to the surreal things that move in the night—through narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation—we held space for it all. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GOLDEN REEL AWARD - BEST NARRATIVE SHORT:
Agapito (Dir. Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR ACTING
Besieged (Dir. Kiarash Ardeshirpour, starring Sonia Sanjari)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 NARRATIVE SHORTS AWARD WINNERS 🎉

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for Short Film Awards. Recipient(s) of the Film Festival’s Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films will be eligible to submit in the Animated Short Film/Live-Action Short Film category of the Academy Awards®.

This year's shorts navigate the intimate and the infinite: stories of the neighborhood, the diaspora, and the truths we carry. From voices screaming out loud to the surreal things that move in the night—through narrative, documentary, experimental, and animation—we held space for it all. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GOLDEN REEL AWARD - BEST NARRATIVE SHORT:
Agapito (Dir. Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR ACTING
Besieged (Dir. Kiarash Ardeshirpour, starring Sonia Sanjari)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD WINNERS 🎉

This year's documentary films go to places we might never reach, shaped by years of attention to inaccessible lives and unknown realities. Timeless, poignant, and immersive, the films this year offer a lens through which we encounter the world more closely, expanding our understanding of the microcosms that surround us. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GRAND JURY AWARD - Best Documentary Feature
Always (Dir. Deming Chen)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR EDITING
Before the Moon Falls (Dir. Kimberlee Bassford, Editor Jessica Lee Salas)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD WINNERS 🎉

This year's documentary films go to places we might never reach, shaped by years of attention to inaccessible lives and unknown realities. Timeless, poignant, and immersive, the films this year offer a lens through which we encounter the world more closely, expanding our understanding of the microcosms that surround us. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GRAND JURY AWARD - Best Documentary Feature
Always (Dir. Deming Chen)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR EDITING
Before the Moon Falls (Dir. Kimberlee Bassford, Editor Jessica Lee Salas)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD WINNERS 🎉

This year's documentary films go to places we might never reach, shaped by years of attention to inaccessible lives and unknown realities. Timeless, poignant, and immersive, the films this year offer a lens through which we encounter the world more closely, expanding our understanding of the microcosms that surround us. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GRAND JURY AWARD - Best Documentary Feature
Always (Dir. Deming Chen)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR EDITING
Before the Moon Falls (Dir. Kimberlee Bassford, Editor Jessica Lee Salas)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 NARRATIVE FEATURE AWARD WINNERS 🎉

This year's narrative feature films spanned across landscapes and cultures. Characters moving through cities, villages, and personal crossroads, discovering that the journey itself shapes the stories of our lives. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GRAND JURY AWARD - Best Narrative Feature
Lucky Lu (Dir. Lloyd Lee Choi)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR WRITING
Pinch (Dir. Uttera Singh, Writers Uttera Singh and Adam Linzey)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 NARRATIVE FEATURE AWARD WINNERS 🎉

This year's narrative feature films spanned across landscapes and cultures. Characters moving through cities, villages, and personal crossroads, discovering that the journey itself shapes the stories of our lives. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GRAND JURY AWARD - Best Narrative Feature
Lucky Lu (Dir. Lloyd Lee Choi)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR WRITING
Pinch (Dir. Uttera Singh, Writers Uttera Singh and Adam Linzey)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026

#LAAPFF2026 NARRATIVE FEATURE AWARD WINNERS 🎉

This year's narrative feature films spanned across landscapes and cultures. Characters moving through cities, villages, and personal crossroads, discovering that the journey itself shapes the stories of our lives. Today, we are thrilled to announce awards and recognitions to these especially moving films from this year’s festival:

🏆 GRAND JURY AWARD - Best Narrative Feature
Lucky Lu (Dir. Lloyd Lee Choi)

⭐ SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR WRITING
Pinch (Dir. Uttera Singh, Writers Uttera Singh and Adam Linzey)

Congratulations! We are honored to have presented your film at this year's #LAAPFF2026 💫 View the full list of award winners here: bit.ly/laapffawards2026