The full film lineup for the 2026 Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) has been revealed, with this year’s screenings taking place June 24 – 28, 2026 at AFS Cinema in Austin. AAAFF will present films by diverse filmmakers with origins from all over the world, as well as short films by Texas filmmakers, narrative shorts, documentaries and more. The full lineup of films can be found below and at AAAFF’s website. This year, the festival will include a special virtual reality (VR) short film experience sponsored by the Taiwan Ministry of Cultural and Taiwan Academy in Houston. Media are invited to a preview of “IN THE MIST” (VR short film) and corresponding short film “KISS,” by Director Chou Tung-Yen, who will be attending the festival, on Thursday, June 25, from 1 – 4 p.m. at the new Torch Literary Arts Center at the Linc located at 6406 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd. There will also be a VIP red carpet at AFS Cinema on Friday, June 26 at 6:30 p.m. with details to be announced. Media may RSVP to the either event, request festival passes or secure early interview opportunities by emailing here.
The public are invited to purchase limited Insider Badges (a new opportunity for supporters, offering reserved seats in the theater, invites to private filmmaker BBQ dinner, secret Karaoke party, and priority access to any films and events) and All-Access badges which are on sale now at the AAAFF website, including five-ticket packages and individual screening tickets.
“For our 18th festival, our artistic team has curated a slate of films that are a bit more provocative, touching upon current social issues that are definitive of our diverse Asian, Asian American and international communities,” said Hanna Huang, AAAFF Executive Director. “Attendees can expect that we’ll continue to push some boundaries and bring you into the know. They will definitely also be doing more than just watching films during these five exciting days.”
AAAFF, one of the preeminent AANHPI arts organizations in town, champions Asian and Asian American stories via media arts and empowers Asian Americans to explore opportunities in cinema. This year, the annual event will feature headliners produced in the US and China and the full lineup of films can be found below:
AAAFF, one of the preeminent AANHPI arts organizations in town, champions Asian and Asian American stories via media arts and empowers Asian Americans to explore opportunities in cinema. This year, the annual event will feature headliners produced in the US and China and the full lineup of films can be found below:
AAAFF, one of the preeminent AANHPI arts organizations in town, champions Asian and Asian American stories via media arts and empowers Asian Americans to explore opportunities in cinema. This year, the annual event will feature headliners produced in the US and China and the full lineup of films can be found below:
FEATURES:
“100 Sunset”
Directed by Kunsang Kyirong
Country of Origin: Canada
Texas Premiere
“Before the Call”
Directed by James Choi (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: South Korea, United States
Austin Premiere
“Do You Love Me”
Directed by Lana Daher
Country of Origin: France, Germany, Lebanon, Qatar
“Filipiñana”
Directed by Rafael Manuel
Country of Origin: Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands
Texas Premiere
“The Gas Station Attendant”
Directed by Karla Murthy (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Austin Premiere
“Ghost School”
Directed by Seemab Gul
Country of Origin: Pakistan, Germany, Saudi Arabia
Texas Premiere
“Gloaming in Luomu”
Directed by Zhang Lü
Country of Origin: China
North American Premiere
“Honeyjoon”
Directed by Lilian T. Mehrel (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Austin Premiere
“Lali”
Directed by Sarmad Sultan Khoosat
Country of Origin: Pakistan
Texas Premiere
“TikTok Never Dies”
Directed by Hao Wu (expected to be in attendance with featured subjects Chloe Sexton and Steven King)
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
“Traces of Home”
Directed by Colette Ghunim (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Austin Premiere
TEXAS SHORTS:
“Winter Ceremony”
Directed by Sidi Wang (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
“Taemong”
Directed by Sophia Lim (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
World Premiere
“How We Grieve”
Directed by Meghan Ross and Justin Ross (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
“Firewall”
Directed by Bita Ghassemi (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Austin Premiere
“Cindy Tran: From Here to Here”
Directed by Xinyan Yu
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
NARRATIVE SHORTS:
“Paper Daughter”
Directed by Cami Kwan
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
“Vital”
Directed by Amir Zargara
Country of Origin: Canada, Iran
Texas Premiere
“Pilot”
Directed by Sonia Mackwani
Country of Origin: India
Texas Premiere
“11:11”
Directed by Mahnoor Euceph (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
“Another Daughter”
Directed by Hongyu Chen
Country of Origin: China
Texas Premiere
“Praying Mantis”
Directed by Joe Hsieh
Country of Origin: Taiwan
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS:
“Barrio Chino Havana”
Directed by Jalena Keane-Lee and Dr. Kiona (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
“Memories of a Window”
Directed by Mehraneh Salimian and Amin Pakparvar
Country of Origin: Germany, Iran, United States
Texas Premiere
“Daily Worker”
Directed by Ting Su
Country of Origin: China, United States
Austin Premiere
“A Flower Falling Back Into the Earth”
Directed by Rajee Samarasinghe
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
“Unfolding”
Directed by Meghna Chakraborty and Iris (Yi Youn) Kim (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
World Premiere
“Cookie Love”
Directed by Sari Arambulo (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
NOT-SO-SHORT SHORTS DOC EDITION
“MĀHŪ: A Trans-Pacific Love Letter”
Directed by Lisette Marie Flanary (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Austin Premiere
“This House of Ours”
Directed by Jay Ngo
Country of Origin: Estonia
World Premiere
“Light on the Hill”
Directed by Myles Mikio Matsuno (expected to be in attendance)
Country of Origin: United States
Texas Premiere
PRE-FEATURE SHORTS
“KUCHAR (The Itch)”
Directed by Vaidaangi Sharma
Country of Origin: India
Texas Premiere
“Beneath Which Rivers Flow”
Directed by Ali Yahya
Country of Origin: Iraq
Texas Premiere
“Caught in the Stream”
Directed by Adela Kwok
Country of Origin: Canada
US Premiere
The poster for this year’s fest, designed by Emily No Good, is a fiery tribute to the Lunar Year of the Horse we are currently in. Emily (aka Bad Chuck) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Austin, working as a tattoo artist with a background in songwriting and audio production, as well as ceramics and graphic design. She is the founder and owner of No Good Tattoo, recently named Best Tattoo Shop by the Austin Chronicle.