Years Running: 35
ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Visual Communications’ mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists who empower communities and challenge perspectives. Founded in 1970 with the understanding that media and the arts are powerful forms of storytelling, Visual Communications creates cross cultural connections between peoples and generations. The organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Learn more at vcmedia.org.
ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
The 36th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), presented by Visual Communications, runs online from September 24 – October 31, 2020 and features an exciting lineup of productions by Asian American & Pacific Islander artists from across the globe. The largest festival of its kind in Southern California, LAAPFF is also a proud Academy Award®-qualifying film festival for the Short Film Awards. For program and ticket information, please visit festival.vcmedia.org.
SHORTS AWARDS
Golden Reel Award for Excellence in Narrative/Animated Short Film
Golden Reel Award for Exellence in Documentary Short Film
Special Jury Award: Impact Award
Special Jury Award: New Voices Award
Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award—Short Film
DOCUMENTARY AWARDS
North American Documentary Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize
North American Documentary Feature Award: Special Jury Award
International Documentary Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize
International Documentary Feature Award: Special Jury Award
NARRATIVE AWARDS
North American Narrative Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize
International Narrative Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize
Other awards for each of these categories may be given, including Best Director, Best Actor/Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Breakthrough Performance, and Special Jury Awards.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Narrative Feature
Documentary Feature
Awards for this festival vary from year to year. This list is representative of the most common awards given out.
2019 Festival
Shorts Awards
Golden Reel Award (Excellence in Narrative/Animated Short Film)
MANILA IS FULL OF MEN NAMED BOY Dir: Andrew Stephen Lee [ Eligible for qualifying for the Short Live Action Film Oscar® ]Golden Reel Award (Excellence in Documentary Short Film)
ALL IN MY FAMILY Dir: Hao Wu
Special Jury Award Impact Award
RANI Dir: Hammad Rizvi
Special Jury Award New Voices Award
NO ONE EVER REALLY DIES Dir: Anika Kan Grevstad & Mari Young
Linda Mabalot New Directors/New Visions Award – Short Film
SPEAK EASY, B Dir: Becca Park & Jun Shimizu (Innovative Use of Cinematic Language)
North American Documentary Feature Awards
SEADRIFT Dir: Tim Tsai (Grand Jury Prize)
JADDOLAND Dir: Nadia Shihab (Special Jury Award)
ORIGIN STORY Dir: Kulap Vilaysack (Special Jury Award)
International Documentary Feature Awards
OUR TIME MACHINE Dir: S. Leo Chiang & Yang Sun (Grand Jury Prize – Tie) – China
FOR SAMA Dir: Waad al-Kateab & Edward Watts (Grand Jury Prize – Tie) – Syria, United Kingdom
FOR MY FATHER’S KINGDOM Dir: Vea Mafile’o & Jeremiah Tauamiti (Special Jury Award) – New Zealand
LAST NIGHT I SAW YOU SMILING Dir: Kavich Neang (Special Jury Award) – Cambodia, France
North American Narrative Feature Awards
YELLOW ROSE Dir: Diane Paragas (Grand Jury Prize)
ANTE CHENG | MS. PURPLE (Best Cinematography)
MAYA ERSKINE | PLUS ONE (Best Actress)
EVA NOBLEZADA | YELLOW ROSE (Breakthrough Performance)
International Narrative Feature Awards
HOUSE OF HUMMINGBIRD Dir: Bora Kim (Grand Jury Prize) – South Korea
SONG LANG Dir: Leon Le (Special Jury Award) – Vietnam
VAI Dir: ‘Ofa-Ki-Levuka Guttenbeil-Likiliki, Amberley Jo Aumua, Becs Arahanga, Dianna Fuemana, Marina Alofagia McCartney, Matasila Freshwater, Mīria George, & Nicole Whippy (Special Jury Award) – New Zealand
Emerging Filmmaker Award Winners
HAPPY CLEANERS Dir: Julian Kim & Peter S. Lee (North American Narrative Feature)
A WOMAN’S WORK: THE NFL’S CHEERLEADER PROBLEM Dir: Yu Gu (North American Documentary Feature)
Audience Award Winners
THE FAREWELL Dir: Lulu Wang (Narrative Feature)
JOURNEY TO IFUGAO Dir: Nicanor Evangelista, Jr. (Documentary Feature)