Southeast Asian American Journeys Screening + Special Preceding Film: Dear Watsonville
📅 June 7, 2026 | 1:30 PM
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Westchase
📍 10609 Westpark Dr, Houston, TX
🎥 Documentary Feature | Texas Premiere
🌏 Languages: English, Lao, Bunong, Vietnamese, Hmong, Mien, Khmer | Runtime: 70 minutes
Looking for AAPI films in Houston, Southeast Asian stories, or documentaries about refugee communities? Southeast Asian American Journeys at HAAPIFEST 2026 is a must-see screening that brings powerful, local voices to the big screen.
🌏 Stories That Shaped Communities — And Continue to Shape America
Southeast Asian American Journeys is a five-part documentary series that explores the lived experiences of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) refugee communities.
Through deeply personal storytelling, the film highlights how these communities — shaped by displacement, resilience, and rebuilding — have become an essential part of the cultural and social fabric of the United States.
Audiences will experience stories rooted in:
Identity and belonging
Refugee resettlement journeys
Intergenerational perspectives
Cultural preservation and transformation
Community resilience and impact
This film stands out among Houston documentary screenings in 2026 for its authentic, community-driven storytelling and its focus on voices that are often overlooked.
🎥 A Collaborative Vision from AAPI Filmmakers
Directed by Quyên Nguyen-Le, Joua Lee Grande, and Oanh-Nhi Nguyen, this project brings together a diverse group of storytellers committed to amplifying Southeast Asian American narratives.
Produced in partnership with the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center and the Center for Asian American Media, the film reflects a broader movement to document, preserve, and uplift AAPI histories and voices.
🎞️ Special Preceding Film: Dear Watsonville
Before the feature presentation, audiences will also experience:
🎬 Dear Watsonville
Directed by Sondy Lucille
⏱ 17 minutes | English
This mixed-media documentary offers an intimate look at the manong generation — the first wave of Filipino migrants who arrived in the United States — as seen through the eyes of their children.
Together, these two films create a powerful, interwoven narrative of migration, memory, and legacy across generations of Asian American communities.
🌟 Why This Film Matters at HAAPIFEST 2026
As part of HAAPIFEST 2026 (Houston Asian American Pacific Islander Film Festival), this screening reflects the festival’s mission to highlight diverse AAPI experiences and untold stories.
With growing conversations around immigration, identity, and representation, Southeast Asian American Journeys offers a timely and necessary perspective — especially for audiences in Houston, one of the most diverse cities in the United States.
🎟️ Get Tickets for This Houston Screening
Don’t miss the Texas Premiere of Southeast Asian American Journeys at HAAPIFEST 2026.
🎟️ Reserve your seat today:
👉 www.HAAPIFEST.org
This is more than a film — it’s a reflection of history, resilience, and the communities that continue to shape our future.
🌏 About HAAPIFEST (Houston AAPI Film Festival)
Founded in 2004 by OCA-Greater Houston, HAAPIFEST is a leading Asian American film festival in Texas, celebrating culture, storytelling, and artistic expression through film, music, and art.
From documentaries to narrative features, HAAPIFEST continues to be a platform for independent filmmakers in Houston and beyond, sharing stories that matter.
This OCA-Greater Houston event is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.