Introduction to the film festival
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF) / VC Film Fest is the largest film festival in Southern California dedicated to showcasing films by and about Asians & Pacific Islanders around the world. The Festival was established in 1983 by VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS, the first non-profit organization in the US dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian American and Pacific American peoples, communities, and heritage through the media arts.
In addition to VC Archives, Armed With A Camera and Digital Histories filmmaker programs, the Festival is an extension of VC’s utilization of media and the arts as important vehicles to organize and empower communities. The Festival reflects VC’s intention to build connections between peoples and generations through the development of film, video and audio storytelling.
Through the Festival and its year round programing, VC continues to be a pillar of arts advocacy and activism; connecting attracts Industry thought leaders, entertainment celebrities, civic and community organizers and leaders, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts in a week-long celebration of the ongoing accomplishments by artists from Asian and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. In doing so, the Festival has been recognized as one of the “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” in 2025 by MovieMaker Magazine. LAAPFF / VC Film Fest is a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film Festival for the Short Film Awards.
The Festival has brought established, emerging, and award-winning artists to the public's attention, including Anthony Banua-Simon, Andrew Ahn, Alika Tengan, Gregg Araki, Rhi Bergado, Shonali Bose, Lino Brocka, Aneesh Chaganty, Justin Chon, Tanuj Chopra, Davy Chou, Milda Chu, Sujata Day, Bing Lu, Christopher Kahunahana, Chen Kaige, Christine Choy, Curtis Choy, Michael Kang, Lena Khan, Stanley Kwan, Ciara Lacy, Ang Lee, Chris Chan Lee, Justin Lin, Bao Nguyen, Miko Revereza, Roxy Shih, Miike Takashi, Renee Tajima-Peña, Alika Tengan, Justin Tipping, Ham Tran, Wayne Wang, Chelsea Winstanley, Hao Wu, Wong Kar-wai, John Woo, Ruby Yang, Christopher Makoto Yogi, Jessica Yu, Sean Wang, Celine Song, Lulu Wang, Alice Wu, and many more.
Awards
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival / VC Film Fest has celebrated filmmaking achievement through presentation of juried and balloted awards.
AWARDS FOR FEATURE FILMS may include:
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
EMERGING FILMMAKER AWARD – Presented to a director screening their first or second feature without US distribution at the Festival.
AWARDS FOR SHORT FILMS include:
GOLDEN REEL AWARD* (Narrative/Animation Short and Documentary Short)
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - NARRATIVE SHORT FILM
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE - DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
LINDA MABALOT NEW DIRECTORS/NEW VISIONS AWARD
*Recipients of the GOLDEN REEL AWARD for Narrative/Animation Short Film and Documentary Short Film will be eligible for consideration in the Animated Short Film/Live Action Short Film and Documentary Short Film categories of the ACADEMY AWARDS® without the standard theatrical run, provided the film otherwise complies with the Academy® rules.
Rules
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival / VC Film Fest uplifts films and mediaworks that are principally made by and/or about Asian Pacific Islander individuals and communities around the world.
Films shared for consideration must have been completed on or after November 1, 2024,
Films invited to the Festival should have hardcoded subtitles in their exhibition file to ensure a D/deaf and hard of hearing audience can experience your film. If your film is invited to screen at the Festival, it is the responsibility of the film team to provide English subtitles for their exhibition file and promotional screener – even if your film is in English.
*Works eligible for feature film categories MUST have a running time of at least 41 minutes. Works eligible for short film categories MUST have a running time not to exceed 40 minutes. All works are expected to be presented at the Festival as a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) or as otherwise required.
| Jury Name | Judge photos | Jury Profile |
|---|
Authorization type
Duration (several sessions)
Film Festival Features
Dates & Deadlines
2025-09-04
Submission start time
2025-09-29
Earlybird Deadline
2025-10-30
Regular Deadline
2025-11-29
Late Deadline
2025-11-29
Submission end time
2026-04-04
Finalist notification start time
2026-04-04
Finalist notification end time
2026-04-30
Award ceremony start time
2026-05-07
Award ceremony end time
Categories and fees
2025/09/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
2025/10/30
Regular Deadline
Standard: 45 Dollar
2025/11/29
Late Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
2025/09/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
2025/10/30
Regular Deadline
Standard: 45 Dollar
2025/11/29
Late Deadline
Standard: 50 Dollar
2025/09/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 30 Dollar
2025/10/30
Regular Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2025/11/29
Late Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
2025/09/29
Earlybird Deadline
Standard: 30 Dollar
2025/10/30
Regular Deadline
Standard: 35 Dollar
2025/11/29
Late Deadline
Standard: 40 Dollar
Related film festivalMore
View in the applet
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