Full Film Lineup Revealed for the 2026 Austin Asian American Film Festival

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 from all over the world, as well as short films by Texas filmmakers, narrative shorts, documentaries, and more. 

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. A media preview of “IN THE MIST” (VR short film) and corresponding short film “KISS,” by Director Chou Tung-Yen, who will be attending the festival, will take place 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.  

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.

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.

2026 Austin Asian American Film Festival Lineup

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

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