This collection of AAPI short films reflects the journeys, struggles, and triumphs of immigrant life. From the bittersweet act of leaving home to the challenges of building a new one, these stories capture the resilience, hope, and sacrifice woven into the immigrant experience. Through intimate portraits and universal themes, the films honor the courage it takes to cross borders—geographic, cultural, and emotional—while celebrating the legacies immigrants create for future generations.

As an undocumented immigrant, Wei's livelihood depends on delivering food, his car being his most crucial possession. When carjacked, he fights to retain his job, driven by the urgent need to fund his toddler son's heart surgery. Director Wenhwa Tsao<a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/670/925/original/9a1af3fe32-headshot.jpg?1739712381" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/670/925/thumb/9a1af3fe32-headshot.jpg?1739712381" width="287"></a> Wenhwa Tsao – BiographyBorn and raised in Taiwan, Wenhwa Tsao is an award-winning filmmaker, educator, and industry leader whose work delves into immigration, identity, and social justice. Her films have screened at over 100 international festivals across six continents, reaching audiences in North America (Canada, Mexico), Asia (China, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Iran, Turkey, Japan), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Ireland, the UK), South America (Argentina, Ecuador, Venezuela), Africa (Nigeria, South Africa), and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), as well as the Caribbean (Bermuda). With a global presence, her storytelling continues to engage and inspire diverse audiences.Wenhwa's films have received support from prestigious granting organizations, including, the Illinois Arts Council Artist Fellowship, and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Media Artist Fellowship and the Kodak Faculty Scholar Award. In recognition of her talent, the American Film Institute selected her for its prestigious Directing Workshop for Women.Her creative work reflects a deep commitment to telling authentic, underrepresented stories, particularly those of Asian immigrants and marginalized communities. She is dedicated to tackling important social issues through film, including the impact of racism and the experiences of undocumented immigrants. She is also a certified Intimacy Coordinator through the Intimacy Professionals Association, bringing industry-leading expertise to on-set safety and best practices.Beyond her filmmaking, Wenhwa has had a distinguished career in education, serving as Interim Co-Director for the School of Film and Television at Columbia College Chicago, where she is also a tenured professor. She has held key leadership roles, including Associate Chair and Director of Graduate Studies, and has been a driving force in curriculum development. Her contributions to film education earned her the Excellence in Teaching Award from Columbia College Chicago and the University Film &amp; Video Association.Wenhwa has been a key leader in film education, serving on the North America Board of CILECT (Centre International de Liaison des Écoles de Cinéma et de Télévision), the global association of the world's top film and television schools. Additionally, she has held leadership positions in the University Film &amp; Video Association (UFVA), serving as President and Conference Vice President. Through her advocacy and mentorship, she has played a pivotal role in shaping film education, ensuring that emerging filmmakers are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to succeed in the industry.For more information about her work, you can visit her websites at:https://www.novastudio.org/https://www.intimacycoordinatorforscreens.com/

Yummy Cuisine

A young man must escape a family party with a gun in his waist in order to get revenge on those who jumped. Director Aaron Velasco<a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/383/021/original/f20962531b-headshot.jpg?1751504194" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/003/383/021/thumb/f20962531b-headshot.jpg?1751504194" width="272"></a> Aaron Velasco is a Filipino writer and director from Chula Vista, a city located in San Diego county. Ever since he was young, there have been two things that have had a major influence on him, storytelling and religion (Christianity). So in the year of 2017, after watching Blade Runner 2049 he was surprised by the similar spiritual experience of watching the film with that of attending church. This inspired him to pursue filmmaking. However, when he found out there was no film major at his current university he dropped out. And after some time at a community college, he decided to go to Biola and graduate with a film degree emphasizing Screenwriting. To this day he pursues film making with the intent to express the spirituality of his religion implicitly through his storytelling.

Real One

A hustling father-daughter duo hatch a haphazard scam to pay rent, with mixed results. Director Kai Wen Hu<a href="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/877/556/original/bba6a15d61-headshot.jpg?1725640701" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com/press_kits/headshots/002/877/556/thumb/bba6a15d61-headshot.jpg?1725640701" width="254"></a> Kai Wen Hu is a NY-based writer and director who came to film by way of finance. His work examines the contradictions and ironies of social class, often through its most overlooked members, in order to challenge and decode the prevailing social hierarchy.

Pedigree

The story of Joe Wu, a Hong Kong immigrant who uses his love for cars to express his culture by restoring and driving one of Hong Kong's famous red taxi cabs. Director Tyler Saiki<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/eventive-static/1b8795c3b82a055f60bf19258b5a76f8.jpg" width="183">

Driven By Culture

Online - Immigrant Experience/Stories 2

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Thank&nbsp;you&nbsp;for your generous donation to the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, a production of CATS (Contemporary Asian Theater Scene), a non profit 501c3. EIN: 77-0402633 Thank&nbsp;You,Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest<a href="https://www.svapfilmfest.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.svapfilmfest.org</a>

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