The festival, initiated in 1994, seeks to inform the general public and Asian American communities about the rich diversity of Asian experiences primarily in America. Despite a long history in the United States, Asian Americans continue to be perceived as foreigners, in part due to a lack of visibility in popular culture. Images of Asian Americans on screen and on television have been generally in roles scripted by non-Asians, and often depict characters that reinforce negative stereotypes. As an alternative, the Asian American Film Festival is intended to promote viewership of films and videos highlighting the Asian diaspora and Asian American experiences, and to encourage the creation of additional works. The Festival has come to be an annual consciousness-raising celebration of Asian America that serves to present educational and thought-provoking works in an entertaining context.

For more information, contact Yvonne Lau.