The 2025 Austin Asian American Film Festival Celebrates Storytelling, Community, and Representation
Written by Lorenzo dela Cruz | July 18, 2025
photos by Lorenzo dela Cruz
The 2025 Austin Asian American Film Festival held its 17th annual event on June 25–29 at the AFS Cinema, where filmmakers from Austin and around the globe showcased their work to the Austin film community.
“The work we do is really about championing Asian and Asian American stories through media arts. But most importantly, it’s about the filmmakers behind the screen—the filming crew behind the camera—that are making it possible to increase our representation on screen,” said Executive Director Hanna Huang. “It’s really about growing our family and making sure that people feel supported in the chosen path they have.”
Nopality Magazine was able to participate in the festivities during the weekend, where various narrative shorts, features, and documentary films were presented for all to see. Before the day started, badge holders were welcomed in with “Morning Matcha & Chai,” a great way to greet the coming films ahead. In between screening sessions, an “Onigiri Break” was held, as attendees mingled in the lobby, discussing with new and old friends the films they had just seen.
Winning both the Narrative Short Jury Award and the Audience Award was Gloria, a short film set in the Bay Area. It follows Gloria, a Chinese woman in her 70s living alone and struggling with memory loss. She finds respite—and an unexpected friend—when she decides to teach herself Spanish.
“It’s been such an amazing community—so warm, so supportive. The films we’ve seen this week, so inspiring,” writer, director, and producer Kim Blanck told Nopality post-screening.
“It’s been mind-blowing, the warm reception from everybody. We’re not from here, so for everyone to give us that ‘southern hospitality’ has been great,” said associate producer Keili Fernando.
“For us who are getting back into film, or are new to film, it’s been really interesting to have that rich conversation with our fellow filmmakers and viewers,” Fernando added.
Moving forward was the documentary features, the highlight of which being “Third Act,” where the filmmaker, Tadashi Nakamura explores his relationship with his father, Robert A. Nakamura, a pioneer in Asian American cinema, while tackling his father’s battle with Parkinson's. In the Q&A session after the film, Tadashi revealed that his father had just passed a few weeks prior to the screening. In fact, it was the first time he had viewed the film after his death. Tadashi approached the matter with a calm and composed demeanor, saying that viewing the film that day was good in the sense that he was able to reflect upon the past, and begin the healing process ahead. He delivered a powerful message to all in the room saying, “Make the films that are meaningful to you.” For Tadashi, he was so happy that he was able to make this film for his father, but most importantly for himself. In the process of doing so, he discovered that he didn’t have to walk the journey alone, and thus, none of us have to either, a powerful message to conclude with.
All in all, this year’s Austin Asian American Film Festival brought underrepresented voices and stories to the forefront, providing a beacon of light and inspiration for both young filmmakers and veterans in the space.
Follow the Austin Asian American Film Festival:
Instagram: @aaafilmfest
Website: aaafilmfest.org
