Shows & Events
The Boston Asian American Film Festival

Past Event

Oct 20—24, 2021

The Boston Asian American Film Festival

New England's Largest Asian American Film Festival

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. BAAFF is a co-production of Asian American Resource Workshop and ArtsEmerson.

View Features View Shorts

Info

Venue

Virtual Event
On Demand Streaming

Dates

Oct 20, 2021 - Oct 24, 2021

Special Offers

All-Access Festival Pass: $100
(All 2021 Film Programs)
Get Package

Shorts Pass: $30
Watch all 5 Film Shorts Programs
Get Package

Details

Streaming viewing window listed per film below

Shorts Program

The Boston Asian American Film Festival: Shorts Program

Available On Demand OCT 21–31

Learn More

Feature Films

A group of protesters with signs that say

A Tale of Three Chinatowns

Directed by Lisa Mao and Produced by Penny Lee

$12 | 90 Minutes

Wed, Oct 20 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

LIVE Q&A with filmmakers OCT 20 @ 9:15PM

Exclusive one night only screening

OPENING NIGHT FILM

A TALE OF THREE CHINATOWNS explores the survival of urban ethnic neighborhoods. Specifically examining Chinatowns in three American cities, the film looks at the forces altering each community and the challenges that go with them. The film profiles Chinatowns in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston and features the voices of residents, community activists, developers, government officials, and others who have a connection to this ubiquitous neighborhood. Through these perspectives, the film presents the present day pressing topic of urban development and gentrification through the eyes of those on the frontlines.

Chicago’s Chinatown is a story of growth where the Asian-American population has increased and its borders have expanded. In contrast, Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown has dwindled to an estimated population of 300 residents of Chinese descent. The Chinatown neighborhood in Boston finds itself somewhere in between these two extremes as various groups fight for the land on which it sits.

Viewing of this video is available in the US.

Tickets

Waikiki

Directed by Christopher Kahunahana

$12 | 77 Minutes | Ages 13+ (Mature Content/Violence)

Thu, Oct 21 @ 7:00 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

CENTERPIECE NARRATIVE

When a Native Hawaiian hula dancer escaping her abusive boyfriend crashes her beat-up van into a mysterious homeless man, she finds herself flung into a surrealistic journey of self-exploration and enlightenment. Director Christopher Kahunahana’s eagerly awaited feature debut breaks down the enduring, stereotypical image of paradise we have of Waikiki to reveal a vulnerable and authentic portrait of indignity. Leaving behind the touristic image of paradise and island culture, WAIKĪKĪ tackles the often-unspeakable generational trauma of postcolonial cultures through a mixing of genre conventions, experimental storytelling, and perspectives.

“In his feature debut, director Christopher Kahunahana unravels a hauntingly beautiful film that depicts the complicated and intertwined sides of paradise, both darkness and light…” – Variety Magazine, Chris Lee, November 29, 2020

Q&A with filmmaker to follow.

View Trailer

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Asian American - Eyz'd: An Immigrant Comedy Special (preceded by Crouching Comic)

Directed by Felipe Figueroa

$10 | 80 Minutes | 13+ (Mature Content/Self-Harm)

Thu, Oct 21 @ 9:15 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

Set in pre-pandemic Los Angeles 2020, three Asian American immigrants comics come together for a one – night comedy special. Ana Tuazon Parsons (Adam Ruins Everything, Dexter) Nicky Endres (The Dropout, One Day at a Time), and Aidan Park (Tosh.0, Laugh Factory) all came to the US as immigrants: Ana (Pinoy) smuggled from the Philippines as human treasure, Nicky (Korean, transgender) adopted by a White Family and sent here with w/ Korean cookbook, and Aidan (Korean, queer) learned English by watching Sister Act. They share their stories and struggles with identity, sexuality and survival in modern day America.

https://vimeo.com/623609003

Crouching Comic

Directed by Alberta Poon | 11 minutes
A surreal act unfolds as an Asian-American comedian battles her insecurities manifesting across her apartment before an open mic.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Smiling woman taking a selfie in the car while man is driving

Wherever We May Be

Directors: Adrian Ellis Alarilla, Jed Yabut, Joseph Unsay, Kenneth Cardenas, Pat R., Pauline M., Zoé Ciela Guenne

$10 | 79 Minutes | All Ages
English & Tagalog with English subtitles
Documentary

Fri, Oct 22 @ 5:30 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

Through a traveling video camera that circumnavigates the globe, a group of friends share their migration stories as they search for themselves and their place in the world wherever they may be.

Q&A with filmmaker to follow.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Bundle and Save

It’s Filipino Friday! Enjoy all three Filipino films (Wherever We May Be, The Girl Who Left Home, and Lumpia with a Vengeance) for a special price of $24.

Ticket Bundle

And for a bonus, add amazing Filipino food to go with amazing Filipino films! Available Friday, Oct 22 – last day to order is Tue, Oct 19: Filipino Friday Dinner Boxes from Catering by Jules and Bits & Bites by Kristine

The Girl Who Left Home

Directed by Mallorie Ortega

$10 | 100 Minutes | All Ages
Narrative Musical

Fri, Oct 22 @ 7:30 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

After finally landing her breakthrough role in Los Angeles, Christine (Haven Everly) receives news that her father suddenly passed away. She immediately makes her way home to Maryland to face the bitter past she left behind. After becoming close to her family and friends once more, Christine must choose to either stay home and keep the family business alive, or go back to LA to continue her own dream.

Q&A with filmmaker to follow.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Bundle and Save

It’s Filipino Friday! Enjoy all three Filipino films (Wherever We May Be, The Girl Who Left Home, and Lumpia with a Vengeance) for a special price of $24.

Ticket Bundle

Lumpia with a Vengeance

Directed by Patricio Ginelsa

$10 | 109 Minutes | 13+ (Strong Language/Mature Humor)
Narrative

Fri, Oct 22 @ 9:45 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

The LUMPIA-armed avenger reappears in Fogtown and teams up with high school student Rachel to prevent a crime syndicate from selling drugs masked as food in this crowdfunded action comedy.

FREE Digital Lumpia with a Vengeance Comic book with ticket purchase

Q&A with filmmaker to follow.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Bundle and Save

It’s Filipino Friday! Enjoy all three Filipino films (Wherever We May Be, The Girl Who Left Home, and Lumpia with a Vengeance) for a special price of $24.

Ticket Bundle

A Letter to A'ma

Directed by Hui-Ling CHEN

$10 | 105 Minutes
In Chinese & Japanese with English subtitles
Documentary

Sat, Oct 23 @ 3:00 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

An art teacher returns to her childhood home to mourn the passing of her grandmother. As she pieces together the fragmented memories of her youth she finds herself coming face-to-face with the problematic issue of her country’s fractured history.

Through an artistic duty that this teacher gives to students, a performance art process that has lasted for more than 10 years, a representational portrait of the island’s collective memory begins to emerge; and in so doing, these young artists have initiated a process by which Taiwan, an island forgotten by the world and in the midst of forgetting itself, can now remember itself and construct a new postcolonial identity through art.

View Trailer

Q&A with filmmaker to follow.
(In Chinese with English subtitles)

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Two people in wheelchairs, one resting their head on the other

Sky Blossom

Directed by Richard Lui

$10 | 87 Minutes | 13+ (Brief physical violence)
Closed Captioning

Sat, Oct 23 @ 6:00 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

LIVE Q&A with filmmakers OCT 23 @ 7:45PM

CENTERPIECE DOCUMENTARY

When viewers say they cried, they say it was because of the uplifting hope of the courage and beauty the students share with us. As young as eleven years old, they are taking care of parents and grandparents who are battling sickness. We call them Care Heroes. And there are five million of them in America.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Two people smiling and talking outside at night

Americanish

Directed by Iman Zawahry

$10 | 91 Minutes | All Ages
Narrative

Sat, Oct 23 @ 9:00 pm –
Sun, Oct 24 @ 10:00 pm

In Jackson Heights, Queens two sisters and their fresh off the boat cousin try all the conventional ways to earn the love and respect of the matriarch of their family only to learn that life works out in the most unconventional ways.

Q&A with filmmaker to follow.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Who is Lun*na Menoh?

Directed by Jeff Mizushima

$12 | 81 Minutes | All Ages
Documentary

Sun, Oct 24 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

CLOSING NIGHT FILM

“Who Is Lun*na Menoh” follows the life and work of the extraordinary Japanese artist. From her early career in Japan to the underground music scene in Los Angeles, from fashion show runways featuring her sculptural designs to art galleries showing her fantastical work, Lun*na’s edgy, witty and beautiful creations are explored.

Q&A with filmmakers to follow.

Viewing of this video is available only to those in New England (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT).

Tickets

Shorts Program

The Boston Asian American Film Festival: Shorts Program

Available On Demand OCT 21–31

Learn More

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Oct 20—24, 2021

The Boston Asian American Film Festival

New England's Largest Asian American Film Festival

Info

Venue

Dates

Oct 20, 2021 - Oct 24, 2021

Special Offers

Details

Streaming viewing window listed per film below

Shorts Program