Special event to celebrate our 10th year!

Friday, October 4th, AMC Eastridge, 2190 Eastridge Loop, San Jose
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm, 

Feature Film: DÌDI (弟弟)

Dìdi (Chinese: 弟弟; lit. 'Younger Brother') is a 2024 American coming-of-age comedy drama film, written, directed, and produced by Sean Wang in his directorial debut.

Q&A Guests -  Dave Liu, Producer for Didi

Moderator - Yvonne Y. Kwon,  SJSU Associate Professor for Asian American Studies

Special Price $8

------------------------------------------------------------------

For tickets to our online festival, go to

SVAPFF Online Festival, October 18 - 27, 2023

------------------------------------------------------------------

In-Person Schedule:

Friday, October 18th, AMC Dine-In Sunnyvale 12- OPENING NIGHT - includes bento dinner and gift
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm 

Feature Film:  HOME COURT

Ashley Chea is a Cambodian American basketball phenom. HOME COURT, filmed over three years, is a coming-of-age story that relays the highs and lows of her immigrant family, surmounting racial and class differences, as well as personal trials that include a devastating knee injury. Despite the intensity of basketball recruiting, Ashley’s humor shines through and her natural talent inspires the support of those around her.

Q&A Guests- Producer, Jenn Lee Smith; Director, Erica Tanamachi; Jean Kawahara, Editor

Evening Emcee and Moderator:  Robert Handa, NBC Bay Area Reporter

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, October 19th
10:00 am - 11:30 am  

Feature Film: Builders of the Silicon Dream

Builders of the Silicon Dream chronicles the profound impact early Asian immigrants have had on Silicon Valley's growth and the global tech economy while navigating the complexities of assimilation and identity in America. The film sheds light on the individuals who fought for AAPI representation in corporate America through personal anecdotes, historical context, and expert commentary. It also explores how the 'glass ceiling' led many engineers and tech professionals to return to Taiwan, igniting the current advanced tech industries there.

Q&A Guests - Tony Shyu, Director; Diana Ding, Producer

Q&A Moderator - Gerrye Wong, Co-founder of the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm 

Never Too Late featured shorts 

American Daydream  *  THE CARRY ON STORY  *  It's Never Too Late To Live Your Dream  *  Fragmented  *  SANSEDAI (三世代)      *  Stories Told, Secrets Kept  *  Follow the Sun

American Daydream - An undocumented immigrant has always relied heavily on her legal daughter to get through life in America. Now that The obedient daughter wants to leave to pursue her own dreams. How is this illiterate mother going to survive?

THE CARRY ON STORY - Carry On was a garage band in Los Angeles during the Asian American dance era 1965-1985. The era was a right of passage and undoubtedly the best times of our lives. Carry On was the most popular band of the era. They performed at hundreds of dances held at dance halls and ballrooms. This is their story.

It's Never Too Late To Live Your Dream - As a child, Parker Dean loved to paint. This passion remained with him throughout his life. He had a successful career but it left him with no time for his art. See how he made decisions in his life that brought joy to both him and his community.

Fragmented - In an Asian American family, a devoted wife cares for her frail husband in the late stage of dementia. As she recalls hard and happy times during their marriage, she is reminded of why she perseveres and finds hope in their enduring love.

SANSEDAI (三世代) - Through intimate conversations over old photobooks and home movies from the 1930s, SANSEDAI (三世代) explores themes of identity and belonging as it follows the filmmaker’s 92-year-old grandmother’s journey growing up during war, migrating to a country that was once deemed an enemy, and what it means to be Japanese-American.

Stories Told, Secrets Kept - Many Chinese family immigration stories are entwined within the United States exclusion era. Some of the laws almost entirely banned Chinese from entering the country. Wing and Young Shee Leong implemented complicated measures in order to start their life in the United States. Their story was a secret until now.

Follow the Sun - Born in postwar Japan, Akemi searches for the unknown American sailor who was her biological father. At age 65, she embarks on a journey of discovery with her sister using DNA data and US census records from the 1940s. Their findings lead them to a new set of family and shed light on a long-forgotten love affair that changed the course of their lives.

Q&A Guests - Ziyu Luo- Director, American Daydream, Tracy Quan-Nichols - Director, It's Never to Late to Live Your Dream, Kayli Kimura - Director, SANSEDAI (三世代), Patty Fong - Director, Stories Told, Secrets Kept, Sybil Wendler - Director, Follow the Sun, T.L. Quach- Director, Jiming Sun Lindal- Producer/Writer, Fragmented

Q&A Moderator -  David Louie, Retired business and tech reporter at KGO-TV.

These films are being sponsored by AARP of California  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2:30 pm - 4:30 pm 

Feature Film: Above the Clouds

A lost dog, a cassette tape, and a backyard comedy show lead these two Asian American strangers on a day they’ll never forget.

Q&A Guests - Jon Hill - Writer/Director

Q&A Moderator - TBD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Bay Area Shorts - Local short films from filmmakers or producers from the Bay Area

Seoul Switch *  KOI  *  Sonder  * Sammy's Final Arrangement  *  Dos Mujeres (Two Women)  *  Project 212: Engineering the Future * Roots & Wings Ep3

Seoul Switch - When an insecure, Korean American boy meets an International K-Pop Star who looks just like him, they decide to switch identities.

KOI - KOI follows the misadventures of four Asian American roommates (RJ, David, Jihoon, Will) in their mid-twenties learning to work hard and play harder.  In this pilot, the gang gets into a predicament on the day of Will’s birthday bash, and through a series of twists, turns, spilt boba, and a near death experience, the boys’ lives are forever changed as they each learn something new about themselves and grow up… just a little.

Sonder - In a brilliant white void, “Sonder” explores the multifaceted lives of passersby through individual and collective expression. “Sonder” references the sensation of realizing every person you encounter is living a life as complex and vivid as your own. Through abstract swirls of interlocking gestures and fluid athleticism, the dancers explore moments of epiphany and exchange. 

Sammy's Final Arrangement - After more than a decade with his own business and a firstborn child, Samuel Go must now come to terms with the stresses and the dwindling creative freedom that have resulted in his decision to end his practice and begin a new life. As Sammy directs his own cycle of self preservation, he must navigate the final stages of packing the remnants of his studio, a 2nd child with his wife, and the stresses of a final large scale wedding. 

Dos Mujeres (Two Women) - Through the lives of Raima, an Indian techie on a work visa, and Maria, a Mexican house cleaner, this film sheds light on the flaws of the immigration system, highlighting the diverse challenges faced by immigrants.

Roots & Wings Ep3 - Roots & Wings profiles WOC chefs who use food as a conduit for cultural awareness and as a means of perpetuating their cultural traditions. Roots + Wings Ep 3. Iranian-American multi-disciplinary visual artist and culinary creative behind Savage Taste, Parisa Parnian hosted pop-up dinners in Los Angeles that not only illuminated Persian cuisine but also brought together the LGBTQ community.

Project 212: Engineering the Future - In the world of high school robotics, it is blindingly clear students are not competing on a level playing field. Project 212 hails from Ygnacio Valley and faces more challenges than most. Just over the hill from the Bay Area and Silicon Valley, four out of five students are economically disadvantaged. Experience is short and resources limited. Project 212 believes in itself though. But is grit, devoted mentors, and a teacher committed to building young leaders enough to compete against the best teams in the world?

Q&A Guests - RJ Siu - Director, KOI, Mia J. Chong – Choreographer, Sonder, Chad Panday Santo Tomas – Director, Sammy's Final Arrangement, Shankey Srinivasan– Director, Dos Mujeres (Two Women), Lisa Yadao – Director, Roots & Wings Ep3, Brady Anderson – Director, Project 212: Engineering the Future

Q&A Moderator - Ellina Yin - Founder & CEO of Only in San José (OSJ) a civic education and media organization

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Feature Short: The Well

An Asian-American man drives from his home in Chicago to a small lake town in rural Iowa, to confront a bar owner with whom he suspects he shares a traumatic childhood experience. What ensues is a tension-filled night where two men must find the courage to be honest and vulnerable with each other.

=============================

Feature Film: Unbroken Ties

In the 1990s, "Unbroken Ties" captivates with the story of Min, a grown-up orphaned Burmese man who embarks on a journey to find his place in America after securing a US diversity visa. As he navigates his new life, Min unravels a web of secrets, betrayals, and connections that challenge his identity, friendships, and sense of belonging. This potent film celebrates immigrant, mother, and LGBTQA resilience, illuminating the global struggles of orphans and minorities. Their unyielding determination shines, crafting a heartfelt portrayal of hope and the indomitable human spirit.

Q&A Guests - Peter K Yap, Producer and EP, Unbroken Ties

Q&A Moderator - TBD

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, October 20th
10:00 am - 12:45 pm

Feature Film: Kintsukuroi

With a stroke of his pen President Roosevelt destroyed the lives of 120,000 Japanese Americans at the onset of World War II. From the windswept prison camps of the American West to the the battlefields of Europe, KINTSUKUROI follows the lives of two of those families who lost everything except their dignity.

Q&A Guests - Kerwin Berk, Director - Kintsukuroi

Q&A Moderator - Chizu Omori, Activist and filmmaker

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Animation and Short Stories

re:connection * uprooted * Shahzia Sikander: Melting Boundaries * Daisy is Gone * INFINITY * The Qingming Kid * CHECK PLEASE * Have I swallowed your dreams * Dear Watsonville * Joss Lotuses to Grandma

re:connection - A 3D animated short film about a mechanic, her robot companion, and the path they take to reconnect their relationship.

UPROOTED - After the bombing of Pearl Harbor 8 year old Hanako and 120,000 other Japanese Americans are abruptly ordered to leave everything they once called home to live inside deserted internment camps. Based on my grandmother, Hisako Kido Yasuda's, real experience.

Shahzia Sikander: Melting Boundaries - Known for addressing colonial histories and erasures through traditional Indian and Persian manuscript paintings, Artist Shahzia Sikander is creating two sculptures for her first major public art commission in New York City.  Shahzia's work is especially timely in light of recent legislative battles surrounding women’s reproductive rights in the United States, as well as the ongoing fight for equitable representation in society at large.

Joss Lotuses to Grandma - Meimei grows up in Taiping, Malaysia with Grandma and learns the traditional practices of her culture. Grandma introduces Meimei to the gods, and Meimei teases them. When Meimei moves to New York City, she loses her connection with her culture. Meimei returns to Malaysia after her grandma’s death.

INFINITY! - A famous Japanese American ballroom dance duo must choose between their passion or their lives as WWII concentration camps begin to rise in the U.S.

The Qingming Kid - A Chinese American boy wants to celebrate his birthday, but as a part of the Qingming Festival, must instead follow tradition and pay respects at the graveyard to his grandfather who he’s never met.

CHECK PLEASE - Dinner for two turns deadly when Korean and a Korean American fight for the check — and their honor — in this zany martial arts comedy.

Have I Swallowed Your Dreams - A poetic conversation between an immigrant daughter and her mother about sacrifices and dreams.

Dear Watsonville - “Dear Watsonville” is a mixed-media documentary offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of the manong generation, the first generation of Filipino migrants to arrive en masse to the U.S., as seen through the eyes of their children. 

Daisy is Gone - An absurdist sci-fi with comedic overtones, Daisy is Gone follows an anthrophobic Chinese poet, Meng, as he tries to return a cloned Goldfish, which he believes to be a botched imposter of his lost pet and best friend.

Q&A Guests - Judy Lung - Producer, re:connection, Becca Joy Jackson - Director, UPROOTED, Benjamin To – Director, Infinity!, Austin Chen - Director, Qingming Kid, Shane Chung – Director, Check Please, Ziyao Liu - Writer/Director, Daisy is Gone

Q&A Moderator - Mike Inouye, NBC Bay Area’s weekday morning traffic anchor.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm 

Feature Film: Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song In Movement

Performance: 

NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT is a sweeping documentary that follows the life of 84-year-old artist-activist Nobuko Miyamoto and her work that changed Asian America forever. After decades of groundbreaking cultural work that unites communities and sets the bar for Asian American storytelling, Miyamoto reflects on a life that has bridged coasts, industries, families, and history. Featuring rare archival footage, NOBUKO MIYAMOTO: A SONG IN MOVEMENT is a story of a changing community told through the singular life of one of its most beloved storytellers.

Q&A Guests - Co-Director - Tadashi Nakamura, Performer/Activist - Nobuko Miyamoto , Composer-Derek Nakamoto

Q&A Moderator - Duane Kubo, Filmmaker and co-founders of Visual Communications

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To purchase tickets for our online films, please go here: https://svapfilmfest2024.eventive.org/welcome

-All films and guests are subject to change without notice-