Los Angeles, CA – Visual Communications has officially launched its call for entries for the 2026 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), marking the 42nd edition of the event. The festival, one of the largest in Southern California dedicated to Asian and Pacific Islander cinema, will run from April 29 to May 4, 2026 (dates subject to change), featuring a mix of in-person screenings in Los Angeles and virtual programming accessible to audiences worldwide.
Established in 1983 by Visual Communications—the first U.S. nonprofit organization committed to authentic portrayals of Asian American and Pacific American peoples, communities, and heritage through media arts—the LAAPFF has screened over 6,000 films, videos, and digital works by Asian and Pacific Islander artists. The festival includes seminars, panels, guest appearances, filmmaker awards, and a focus on uplifting diverse storytellers amid social, cultural, and political challenges.
LAAPFF emphasizes films and media works principally created by and/or centered on Asian Pacific Islander individuals and communities globally. The festival accepts submissions of short and feature-length films across all genres. As an Academy Award®-qualifying festival for Short Film Awards (in Documentary, Narrative, and Animation categories), winners of the Golden Reel Award for Narrative/Animated and Documentary Short Films become eligible to submit for consideration in the corresponding Academy Awards® categories.
The organization highlights its mission to foster spaces for expression, engagement, and empowerment. By celebrating narratives from ancestors and elders to emerging voices, LAAPFF bridges generations and reinforces a movement rooted in rebellion and liberation. In an era where media can be divisive, the festival positions filmmakers as community builders who use storytelling to drive change and connection.
Filmmakers interested in submitting can do so through FilmFreeway. Submission deadlines and fees are as follows:
- Early Deadline: October 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST
- Regular Deadline: November 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST
- Final Deadline: December 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PST
For features, the early deadline entry fee starts at $35 USD, with additional details available on the official submission page.
More information, including full guidelines and submission links, is available on the Visual Communications website at vcmedia.org or via the festival’s FilmFreeway profile.
The LAAPFF continues to stand as a key platform for amplifying underrepresented voices in global cinema, inviting creators to contribute to its legacy of cultural celebration and artistic rebellion.
