Cultural Illuminators – Celebrating Heritage, Legacy & Identity
Start your Saturday morning at HAAPIFEST 2025 with Cultural Illuminators—a powerful collection of short films that spotlight AAPI trailblazers, traditions, and untold stories. These films uplift legacy, identity, and resilience in diverse cultural communities across generations.
Each short documentary in this showcase honors the people and traditions that illuminate the rich tapestry of AAPI experiences—from lion dancers to barbershop pioneers, and family memories to generational strength.
📅 June 7 @ 10:00 AM
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton – 10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX 77042
🎟️ Get tickets/passes: www.haapifest.org/tickets
🌟 Featured Short Films:
🕺 DALE
📽️ Director: Justin Streichman
🕒 9 minutes
Dale Hikawa was the first Asian American woman to ever join the Los Angeles Philharmonic, playing with the orchestra from 1980-2023 and serving as the acting principal of the viola section. Taking stock of her long career, this trailblazing violist reflects on her life and work.
🥁 THE GOLDEN 50: A MAK FAI ANNIVERSARY
📽️ Director: Han Edward So Eckelberg
🕒 10 minutes
This celebratory documentary pays tribute to 50 years of San Francisco’s Mak Fai Dragon and Lion Dance Team, highlighting their role in preserving Chinese martial arts, tradition, and community pride.
🕯️ IN LOVING MEMORY
📽️ Director: Lucas Lin
🕒 7 minutes
In Loving Memory follows the life of Chapel Hill-based Japanese artist Chieko Murasugi and explores how her artistic style and philosophy is inspired by the survival of her parents during the bombings of Tokyo in World War II.
🌱 BECAUSE OF YOU, I AM
📽️ Director: Doug Menuez
🕒 30 minutes
Meet PJ and Roy Hirabayashi, whose lifelong partnership is dedicated to taiko, the Japanese drum. After founding San Jose Taiko 50 years ago, they combined Japanese folk taiko with complex polyrhythms from American influences to form an original Japanese American musical art form.
✂️ MIRA CHAI – THE GODMOTHER OF MEN'S GROOMING
📽️ Director: Nadia Voukitchevitch
🕒 70 minutes
A behind-the-scenes look at Mira Chai, a Chinese American trailblazer in men’s fashion and grooming, whose visionary style helped shape generations of pop culture, from hip hop icons to fashion elites.
🎟️ Don’t miss this uplifting film block honoring cultural heritage, creative pioneers, and personal legacies.
🌏 Watch stories that shine a light on the people and traditions shaping our world.
🎫 Tickets & passes: www.haapifest.org/tickets
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