October 8, 2025 | Film,

The Boston Asian American Film Festival Returns on October 16!

New England’s largest Asian American film festival is back for another year, with feature screenings all around Boston – from Coolidge Corner Theater to the Museum of Science to our very own Emerson Paramount Center! The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serving as a resource to filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community. The festival runs from October 16-26, with feature films playing from October 16-24 and virtual shorts programming running until the 26th. Check out the feature films playing at the Emerson Paramount Center below!

Friday, October 17:

6:00PM Love, Chinatown (preceded by Shorts: Building Our Histories)

Chinatown resident Cynthia Yee embarks on an open-hearted walking tour of Boston’s Historic Chinatown in all its vibrancy—extending a discerning welcome to neighborhood newcomers while boldly confronting the community’s past trauma with the help of an unexpected local compatriot: bright-eyed undergrad, Gwen.

9:00PM The Rose: Come Back to Me

An intimate documentary chronicling the remarkable journey of The Rose— from their humble beginnings as a South Korean indie band to their emergence as a global sensation. Through heartfelt moments and honest reflection, the documentary captures how each member fell in love with music, as well as the challenges of navigating the K-pop system.

Saturday, October 18:

1:00PM Between Goodbyes

When a queer Korean adoptee visits her original mother in Seoul, long-held regrets and cultural misunderstandings come to the surface alongside tenderness, humor, and tenacity.

4:30PM Love, Chinatown (Encore Screening)

8:00PM Rosemead

In a race against time, an ailing woman is stricken by the discovery of her teenage son’s violent obsessions and must go to great lengths to protect him, and possibly others, in this portrait of a Chinese American family. Inspired by true events, ROSEMEAD marks the feature directorial debut of acclaimed cinematographer Eric Lin, and showcases tour-de-force performances by Lucy Liu and newcomer Lawrence Shou.

Sunday, October 19:

12:00PM Shorts: Across the Divide

The shorts programmed in this section explore stories of unlikely connections, whether cultural, economic, or even supernatural. These films demonstrate the power of creating new bonds against all odds.

3:00PM Year of the Cat

This film follows filmmaker Tony Nguyen on an extraordinary quest to solve the mystery of his father, lost in the chaos of the Fall of Saigon 50 years ago. Crafted as an investigative home movie, this intensely raw documentary weaves together moments of humor and heartache, offering an intimate look at how the children of refugees are shaped by war and loss. As Tony delves into his family’s history, the film reveals the emotional lengths we go to in confronting the past—and the possibility of healing as we reclaim and transform our futures.

6:30PM Mustache (Closing Night Film)

In the mid-1990s in Silicon Valley, Ilyas is a 14-year-old Pakistani-American who is forced to leave his private Islamic school to attend a public school. Adding to his struggles is a mustache that he has been growing since he was ten, to his chagrin.

To purchase a festival pass, please contact the Box office directly by phone: (617) 824-8400 or email: TICKETS@ARTSEMERSON.ORG. If you would like to purchase a virtual shorts pass, you can do so on our website. For more information on the screenings, visit baaff.org/2025-fest! Which screening are you most excited to see? Let us know in the comments below!