“Bad Axe” — A Raw and Riveting Documentary About Family, Identity, and Resistance in Rural America
Winner of multiple festival awards and hailed by critics as "the most essential film made about this era" (RogerEbert.com), Bad Axe is a documentary that transcends the screen. Directed by David Siev and executive produced by actor and advocate Daniel Dae Kim, Bad Axe captures the intimate story of an Asian American family’s survival and resistance in the face of rising tensions in small-town America.
Set in rural Michigan during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bad Axe follows the Siev family as they fight to keep their local restaurant alive while navigating the turbulent realities of anti-Asian hate, political division, and the lingering trauma of Cambodia’s “killing fields.”
This is not just a film about the pandemic—it's a story about what it means to be American, when everything you believe in is put to the test.
🎬 Film Title: Bad Axe
🎥 Director: David Siev
👤 Executive Producer: Daniel Dae Kim
📽️ Genre: Documentary
⏱️ Running Time: 100 minutes
📅 Special In-Person Screening: June 1 at 2:00 PM
📍 Location: DoubleTree by Hilton – 10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042
🎟️ Tickets & Passes: Buy Now
Why Bad Axe Is a Must-See at HAAPIFest 2025
🌾 Authentic Small-Town Representation – Rarely do we see Asian American families portrayed in rural America. Bad Axe shines a light on voices too often overlooked.
🧠 Critically Acclaimed Insight –
"Among the finest and most important films of the year" – San Francisco Chronicle
"A penetrating assessment of American society" – Los Angeles Times
🔥 Timely and Unflinching – From confronting white supremacists to reconciling generational trauma, Bad Axe tackles the very real consequences of being a minority in a divided nation.
👨👩👧👦 Family-Centered and Deeply Personal – This isn’t just about activism or politics—it’s about love, loyalty, and legacy in a family that refuses to be broken.
See It Live in Houston
Join us for a special in-person screening of Bad Axe on Saturday, June 1 at 2:00 PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton (10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042). This event is part of the 2025 Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival (HAAPIFest 2025) and promises to be one of the most powerful experiences of the festival.
🎟️ Reserve your tickets now at:
👉 www.haapifest.org/tickets