HAAPIFEST 2026 Announces Grand Jury and Audience Award Winners
HOUSTON, TX — September 1, 2026 — 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.
🏆 2026 GRAND JURY AWARDS
The HAAPIFEST Grand Jury recognized four films for exceptional achievement in narrative and documentary filmmaking.
🎬 Narrative Feature Film
Grand Jury Award: Ky Nam Inn
Directed by Leon Le, Ky Nam Inn captivated the jury with its beautifully crafted story, nuanced characters, and evocative exploration of human connection, memory, and life in a changing Vietnam.
🎥 Documentary Feature Film
Grand Jury Award: Light of the Setting Sun
Directed by Vicky Du, Light of the Setting Sun offers an intimate and moving exploration of family, identity, migration, and the stories passed from one generation to the next.
🎬 Narrative Short Film
Grand Jury Award: After What Happened At The Library
The Grand Jury recognized After What Happened At The Library for its compelling narrative filmmaking and distinctive storytelling.
🎥 Documentary Short Film
Grand Jury Award: We Were The Scenery
We Were The Scenery received the Grand Jury Award for Documentary Short Film, recognizing its powerful storytelling and thoughtful examination of history, memory, and lived experience.
🏆 SPECIAL JURY MENTION
Breakthrough Performance
Erin Choi — Gyopo
The jury awarded a Special Jury Mention for Breakthrough Performance to Erin Choi for her memorable performance in Gyopo.
Her performance stood out for its emotional depth, authenticity, and ability to bring the film's story and characters to life.
❤️ 2026 AUDIENCE AWARDS
The Audience Awards celebrate the films that resonated most strongly with HAAPIFEST audiences.
After sharing their reactions and casting their votes throughout the festival, audiences selected the following films:
🎬 Narrative Feature Film
Audience Award: Ky Nam Inn
Ky Nam Inn received both the Grand Jury Award for Narrative Feature Film and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature Film, making it one of the standout films of HAAPIFEST 2026.
🎥 Documentary Feature Film
Audience Award: Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon
The audience honored this moving documentary celebrating the musical legacy of legendary Vietnamese composer Y Vân and the journey to preserve and rediscover his lost recordings.
🎬 Narrative Short Film
Audience Award: Shoes Off
Audiences selected Shoes Off as their favorite Narrative Short Film, recognizing its engaging storytelling and memorable cinematic experience.
🎥 Documentary Short Film
Audience Award: Walk With Death
Walk With Death received the Audience Award for Documentary Short Film, connecting with viewers through its powerful and thought-provoking story.
🎉 Congratulations to All of Our Winners!
HAAPIFEST extends our heartfelt congratulations to all of this year's award recipients and nominees.
These films represent the passion, creativity, courage, and unique perspectives that make independent filmmaking so meaningful. We are grateful to every filmmaker who shared their work with our audiences and helped make HAAPIFEST 2026 a celebration of stories that deserve to be seen and heard.
We also thank our Grand Jury, audiences, volunteers, sponsors, partners, and supporters for helping us celebrate and elevate AAPI storytellers through film.
The festival may be coming to a close, but the stories continue.
Congratulations to the HAAPIFEST 2026 award winners!
HAAPIFEST 2026
May 29 – June 14, 2026
Houston, Texas
Celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Stories Through Film
This OCA-Greater Houston event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.