HAAPIFEST 2026 is proud to announce the winners of this year's Grand Jury Awards, Special Jury Mention, and Audience Awards, recognizing outstanding films and performances from across the festival.

From powerful narratives and deeply personal documentaries to compelling short films and breakthrough performances, this year's award recipients represent the remarkable diversity, creativity, and artistry of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander storytellers.

Every bid helps support HAAPIFEST's mission to elevate underrepresented voices and bring meaningful stories to audiences through film, education, and community engagement.

Week 2 features an incredible collection of short films from emerging and established filmmakers, bringing stories of family, identity, humor, history, community, resilience, and belonging to the big screen.

Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon không chỉ là một bộ phim — mà là hành trình đi tìm lại âm nhạc, ký ức và linh hồn của một huyền thoại: nhạc sĩ Y Vân.

HAAPIFEST 2026 invites filmmakers, creatives, and industry professionals to an insightful discussion on one of the fastest-growing production landscapes in the country — Texas.

From action-comedy and documentary to fantasy and heartfelt drama, these films reflect the diversity and innovation shaping the future of independent cinema.

Through intimate portraits and personal storytelling, these films offer audiences meaningful reflections on belonging and the evolving experiences of diasporic communities worldwide.

Through personal storytelling and historical reflection, these films offer audiences meaningful perspectives on community and identity.

Ky Nam Inn (Quán Kỳ Nam) — a beautifully crafted story set in post-war Saigon, where love, identity, and quiet resistance unfold in unexpected ways.

LIGHT OF THE SETTING SUN is a poetic family portrait of what’s been left unsaid. Filmmaker Vicky Du examines her family's war-torn past across three generations and three countries.

This five-part docu-series shares the real stories of Southeast Asian refugee communities — shaped by their journeys, and now shaping the communities around them.

Before The Moon Falls follows acclaimed Samoan writer Sia Figiel as she confronts a life-altering diagnosis of mental illness.

At the height of the pandemic, the Auntie Sewing Squad — a collective of mostly BIPOC women — came together to sew and donate masks to communities in need.

Featuring independent filmmakers from diverse backgrounds, the program highlights fresh creative voices and entertaining storytelling across genres.

Through intimate drama and human-centered storytelling, these short films reflect the challenges and hopes connected to finding one’s place in the world.

From sci-fi action and supernatural horror to intimate drama and coming-of-age comedy, this shorts block offers a compelling look at the next wave of independent cinema.

The “Houston & Texas Filmmakers Showcase 1” program offers audiences an opportunity to discover local filmmakers telling authentic and emotionally resonant stories rooted in personal experience and cultural identity.

The Never List — a heartfelt and empowering coming-of-age story about grief, courage, and the freedom to redefine your life.

Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon tells the epic story of Y Vân, a legendary Vietnamese composer, and his granddaughter Khoa as she journeys to uncover and preserve his lost music.

This year, HAAPIFEST is proud to showcase a collection of films that celebrate the cultures, histories, resilience, and voices of Pacific Islander communities through unforgettable storytelling.