2023 SAAFF Awards

This year’s jury and festival awards will be announced on Monday, February 27. Audience choice awards will be announced on Friday, March 10. Stay tuned to our social media to find out who the winners are!

Grand Jury Awards

Narrative Feature

Rice Boy Sleeps (directed by Anthony Shim)

If still waters run deep, then RICE BOY SLEEPS by Anthony Shim is a crystal blue lake that reflects the immigrant experience with clarity and depth. Relatable to the immigrant experience, the characters feel true to the settings and situations. It captured growing up Asian in the nineties Pacific Northwest very well. With a beautiful musical score and high production value, this film is a reflective journey that is sure to ring true for many of us.

Documentary Feature

Liquor Store Dreams (directed by So Yun Yum)

LIQUOR STORE DREAMS is a touching and intimate first-person documentary by So Yun Um, a self-confessed child of liquor store owners. The documentary closely follows two different stories about making it in America, overcoming racism and racialization, and pulling seemingly disparate community members together. Raw, intimate, and fiercely independent, viewers will be brought along a thought-provoking and reflective journey.

Narrative Short

Georgia (directed by Jayil Pak)

GEORGIA by Jayil Pak is a masterful piece of storytelling about two parents struggling to make sense of their daughter’s alleged suicide. As you are drawn towards their characters, you almost forget you’re watching a movie, you just slowly realize you’re in for a heartbreaking roller coaster ride. Visually gripping and deeply emotional, this film tackles a timely and relevant subject matter with honesty and humanity.

Documentary Short

The Return (directed by Hena Ashraf)

THE RETURN is a beautiful and heartbreaking film by director Hena Ashraf, grappling with the sudden loss of her father. Through a blend of narrative and documentary lens, the audience experiences the way she works through her grief in the making of this film. The way she shares her heartaches and regrets, and the realization of the commonality of their experiences of being outsiders, is raw and heartfelt.

Narrative Feature Nominations

Golden Delicious
directed by Jason Karman

Istikhara, New York
directed by Yasir Masood

We Don’t Dance For Nothing
directed by Tai Stefanos

Riceboy Sleeps (Winner)
directed by Anthony Shim

Narrative Short Nominations

Srikandi
directed by Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto

Georgia (Winner)
directed by Jayil Pak

Heading South
directed by Yuan Yuan

The Gold Teeth
directed by Alireza Kazemipour

Missile
directed by Christopher Hwisu Kim

Documentary Feature Nominations

Finding Her Beat
directed by Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett

Crossings
directed by Deann Borshay Liem, Chris Callister, Laurie Coyle

Jeanette Lee Vs.
directed by Ursula Liang

Sam Now
directed by Reed Harkness

Wisdom Gone Wild
directed by Rea Tajiri

Liquor Store Dreams (Winner)
directed by So Yun Yum

 

Documentary Short Nominations

Empire of My Melodious Mind
directed by Jeannette Louie

Conversations at the Register
directed by Brandon Soun, Lan Nguyen

God Can’t Give You Double Eyelids
directed by Sarah Tang

Echoes of Kef Time
directed by Avo John Kambourian

The Return (Winner)
directed by Hena Ashraf

Narrative Feature Nominations

Golden Delicious
directed by Jason Karman

Istikhara, New York
directed by Yasir Masood

We Don’t Dance For Nothing
directed by Tai Stefanos

Riceboy Sleeps (Winner)
directed by Anthony Shim

Documentary Feature Nominations

Finding Her Beat
directed by Dawn Mikkelson, Keri Pickett

Crossings
directed by Deann Borshay Liem, Chris Callister, Laurie Coyle

Jeanette Lee Vs.
directed by Ursula Liang

Sam Now
directed by Reed Harkness

Wisdom Gone Wild
directed by Rea Tajiri

Liquor Store Dreams (Winner)
directed by So Yun Yum

Narrative Short Nominations

Srikandi
directed by Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto

Georgia (Winner)
directed by Jayil Pak

Heading South
directed by Yuan Yuan

The Gold Teeth
directed by Alireza Kazemipour

Missile
directed by Christopher Hwisu Kim

Documentary Short Nominations

Empire of My Melodious Mind
directed by Jeannette Louie

Conversations at the Register
directed by Brandon Soun, Lan Nguyen

God Can’t Give You Double Eyelids
directed by Sarah Tang

Echoes of Kef Time
directed by Avo John Kambourian

The Return (Winner)
directed by Hena Ashraf

Festival Awards

Cinemetropolis Award

for best local short film (made in WA state and/or by a filmmaker(s) currently residing in WA state)

Namba (directed by Emily Hanako Momohara)

The life and wisdom of a humble but storied local educator and activist is displayed in this touching and thoughtful short documentary. Artfully crafted as a conversation between the generations, this film shines a light on the heart, grace, and no-frills attitude of May Namba, while providing an honest and frank discussion on the impacts of Japanese American incarceration.

Nominations

Reckless Spirits
directed by Vee Hua

Outlanders
directed by Azure Kwok

Diaspora Recipes
directed by Frances Grace Mortel

Mak Fai Insider: Building Culture & Community
directed by Han Edward So Eckelberg

Eliseo Art Silva: Finding the Wide American Earth
directed by Loren A Roberts, Roberto San Luis

Death’s Diner
directed by Ravenna Tran, Frances Grace Mortel

Vampyr Summer
directed by Sean Masahiro Conwell

Namba (Winner)
directed by Emily Hanako Momohara

Eliseo Art Silva: Finding the Wide American Earth
directed by Loren A Roberts, Roberto San Luis

Death’s Diner
directed by Ravenna Tran, Frances Grace Mortel

Vampyr Summer
directed by Sean Masahiro Conwell

Namba (Winner)

directed by Emily Hanako Momohara

Reckless Spirits
directed by Vee Hua

Outlanders
directed by Azure Kwok

Diaspora Recipes
directed by Frances Grace Mortel

Mak Fai Insider: Building Culture & Community
directed by Han Edward So Eckelberg

Robin Award

for best animated short film

Mileage (directed by Jennifer Wu, Kym Santiana, Ruyee Lu, Christopher Hsueh, Nicole Taylor-Topacio, Joy Zhou, Ruby Saysanasy, Miranda Li, Saul Benavides)

With strong and distinctive character designs and a story that left us on the edge of our seat, MILEAGE from Fuzzy Die Studios captured our staff’s attention. Displaying strong technical skills and creative vision, the bold style and thoughtful composition brought its unique characters to life, while its thrilling story dared to ask its audience: how far would you go to preserve your youth? 

Nominations

Take Care 
directed by Ben Alderman

Flowing Home (Như một dòng sông)
directed by Sandra Desmazières

Mileage (Winner)
directed by Jennifer Wu, Kym Santiana, Ruyee Lu, Christopher Hsueh, Nicole Taylor-Topacio, Joy Zhou, Ruby Saysanasy, Miranda Li, Saul Benavides

Boundless
directed by David Chai

A Guitar in the Bucket
directed by Boyoung Kim

A Fleeting Moment
directed by Allyanna Demafeliz

MeiHouWang
directed by Justin L Ni

Blue Garden
directed by Matalie Murao

Eyes and Horns
directed by Chaerin Im

OrHoDa
directed by Tigris Alt Sakda

Reyna
directed by Jenielle Ramos Salarda

What You Can’t Take With You
directed by Shirley Camia

Handwritten
directed by Jaime Sunwoo

Quests are For the Broke
directed by Jewel Racasa

Joss Lotuses To Grandma
directed by Stefie Gan

Take Care 
directed by Ben Alderman

Flowing Home (Như một dòng sông)
directed by Sandra Desmazières

Mileage (Winner)
directed by Jennifer Wu, Kym Santiana, Ruyee Lu, Christopher Hsueh, Nicole Taylor-Topacio, Joy Zhou, Ruby Saysanasy, Miranda Li, Saul Benavides

Boundless
directed by David Chai

A Guitar in the Bucket
directed by Boyoung Kim

A Fleeting Moment
directed by Allyanna Demafeliz

MeiHouWang
directed by Justin L Ni

Blue Garden
directed by Matalie Murao

Eyes and Horns
directed by Chaerin Im

OrHoDa
directed by Tigris Alt Sakda

Reyna
directed by Jenielle Ramos Salarda

What You Can’t Take With You
directed by Shirley Camia

Handwritten
directed by Jaime Sunwoo

Quests are For the Broke
directed by Jewel Racasa

Joss Lotuses To Grandma
directed by Stefie Gan

Audience Choice Awards

Make sure to vote for your favorite films after you finish watching them!
For virtual screenings you can vote directly through Eventive. For in-person screenings, we will have QR codes at the venue that will direct to a form to cast your votes; if you include your email you will be submitted into a raffle for a Daniel Broilers gift card!

Check back here on Tuesday, March 7 when we announce the Audience Choice Awards.

Narrative Feature

Riceboy Sleeps (dir. Anthony Shim)

Narrative Short

House Rules (dir. Aimee Pham & Kai Sampadian)

Documentary Feature

Liquor Store Dreams (dir. So Yun Um)

Documentary Short

Conversations at the Register (dir. Brandon Soun & Lan Nguyen)

Narrative Feature

To Be Announced

Documentary Feature

To Be Announced

Narrative Short

To Be Announced

Documentary Short

To Be Announced