Now in its 22nd year, HAAPIFest is Houston’s leading film festival showcasing Asian American and Pacific Islander stories. Our mission is to elevate AAPI voices through the power of film, spark meaningful dialogue around identity and diversity, and build bridges between communities. HAAPIFest features narrative films, documentaries, shorts, panels, and special events designed to inspire, educate, and entertain.
2026 FILM SCHEDULE
Come enjoy a FILM FESTIVAL full of meaningful films in our industry. Lots of food, fun, meet film directors, producers and film business professionals.
Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! We can't wait to share the magic of Asian American cinema with you!
2026 ONLINE FILM SCHEDULE
Thanks to our awesome filmmaker we are allowed to screen so many films and showcase AANHPI untold stories.
All online films will be available on demand. Please note: some films will have restrictions.
Also note, some films available in person are not available online and some films are available online but not in person.
Thank you for your continuous support.
Complete HAAPIFEST film line up and film descriptions will be available soon.
MAY THE SOIL BE EVERYWHERE (May 31, 2026)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | Texas Premiere | Mandarin | 93 mins
What do we leave behind… when we leave home?
In a remote village on China’s Loess Plateau, one family survived war, revolution, and famine — before being scattered by time and change. Now, filmmaker Yehui Zhao returns to uncover a story buried in memory, land, and legacy.
🌾 A poetic journey through identity, ancestry, and belonging
✨ Quiet. Powerful. Deeply human.
📅 May 31, 2026 | 1:45 PM
🎥 Texas Premiere
🎤 Meet & Greet with director Yehui Zhao
🎟️ Tickets available now
👉 www.HAAPIFEST.org
Some stories are rooted in the soil — waiting to be remembered.
ISLE CHILD (may 31 2026)
NARRATIVE FEATURE | Texas Premiere | English, Korean | 87 mins
What would you do if your past came calling?
A Korean American adoptee discovers a hidden letter — his birth mother is dying. Now, he must choose between the life he built… or the truth he left behind.
💔 A powerful story of identity, adoption, and belonging
✨ Emotional. Intimate. Unforgettable.
📅 May 31, 2026 | 1:30 PM
🎥 Texas Premiere
🎤 Meet & Greet with director Thomas Percy Kim
🎟️ Tickets available now
👉 www.HAAPIFEST.org
Some stories don’t let you go — until you face them.
MOLOKA’I BOUND (May 30, 2026)
NARRATIVE FEATURE | Texas Premiere | English, Pidgin English, 'Ōlelo Hawai'i | 112 mins
Can you really start over?
After years behind bars, Kainoa returns home to Hawai‘i determined to rebuild his life — and reconnect with the son he left behind. But redemption isn’t easy… especially when the past won’t let go.
A powerful story of fatherhood, identity, and second chances.
📅 May 30, 2026 | 7:00 PM
🎥 Texas Premiere
🎤 Meet & Greet with director Alika Tengan
🎟️ Tickets available now
👉 www.HAAPIFEST.org
Come experience a story of healing, culture, and what it truly means to come home.
LOVE CHAOS KIN (may 30, 2026)
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | Texas Premiere | English, Tamil | 98 mins
What defines a family?
This powerful documentary follows an Indian immigrant mother and her adopted twin daughters as they navigate an unexpected pregnancy — and a journey to reconnect with their White birth mother and estranged Native American father.
✨ Raw. Emotional. Unfiltered.
A story about identity, belonging, and the ties that shape us.
📅 May 30, 2026 | 4:00 PM
🎥 Texas Premiere
🎤 Meet & Greet with director Chithra Jeyaram
🎟️ Tickets available now
👉 www.HAAPIFEST.org/tickets
Come for the film. Stay for the conversation.
THE A LIST: 15 STORIES FROM ASIAN & PACIFIC DIASPORAS
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE | Southern U.S. Premiere | English, Tagalog, Hmong, Korean | 84 mins
What does it mean to be AAPI today?
This powerful documentary brings together voices like Sandra Oh, Kumail Nanjiani, Connie Chung, Tammy Duckworth, and Amanda Nguyen — sharing real stories of identity, resilience, and belonging.
✨ Honest. Powerful. Unfiltered.
A film about navigating culture, community, and what it truly means to be seen.
📅 May 30, 2026 | 11:15 AM
🎥 Southern U.S. Premiere
🎤 Includes Meet & Greet with director Eugene Yi
🎟️ Tickets available now
👉 www.HAAPIFEST.org/tickets
Be part of the conversation.