Letter from the Directors
Welcome to the 11th annual Seattle Asian American Film Festival!
Seattle Asian American Film Festival returns in-person this year for our 11th annual festival! We are excited to share space with everyone again, while continuing to provide virtual programs during this ongoing pandemic.
SAAFF 2023 will kick off with a 4-day in-person weekend at Northwest Film Forum and an Opening Night Party at Washington Hall. There will be one in-person screening per program at NWFF, before transitioning to 7 days of watch-when-you-want virtual programs, which offers a majority of the films that were shared during the in-person weekend. Perfect for folks who want to watch from the comfort of their homes, or those who can’t make it to an in-person screening.
This year we are showcasing 91 films – 10 features and 81 shorts – from North America and beyond. From micro short animations from Wing Luke Museum’s Teensway youth program, to following the journey of an all-women Taiko (Japanese drumming) troupe coming together right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s something in every program that will speak to you or spark inspiration. Through the power of creative storytelling and truth sharing, independent films continue to break boundaries and reveal valuable untold histories of our community by our community. It allows us to amplify and embrace who we are and spotlight difficult conversations with diverse voices and perspectives. We should be the determiners of how we tell our stories, from inception to execution to celebration.
And as we head into the next decade of SAAFF, our staff came together to update our organization’s missions and values, and renew our investment in our goals and intentions. These statements will guide what we do and how we connect.
Our Mission: Our purpose, what we do, who we serve, how we do it
Seattle Asian American Film Festival (SAAFF) is the only film festival to provide a space for pan-Asian American voices, perspectives, and histories told through multimedia arts in Seattle. Our volunteer-run organization empowers and uplifts Asian American creatives and builds community connections through our annual festival and other year-round events. We aim to be a platform that broadens the understanding of our community’s stories through elevating independent films that reflect the diversity and richness of Asian Americana and Asian diasporas.
These values guide our approach to fulfilling our mission:
Diversity, Inclusion, and Transparency
Community and Relationship Building
Advocacy and Social Equity
Collaborative Learning
Cultivating Joy
Commitment to Uplift Independent Artists
Our theme this year is inspired by the ‘90s, multi-layered with throwbacks to Polly Pocket and grandma’s cookie tin sewing stash. With artwork by staff member Anna Zeng, we’ve created a pocket replica of the film festival experience for SAAFF audiences inside the classically iconic Danish Butter Cookie Tin! As we enter the late tween years of our festival, we’re leaning more into playfulness, embracing joy, and learning to heal our inner children.
To our festival attendees, new and returning, we hope you feel the warm community spirit of our festival through the stories and connections we all bring together when we’re gathered. We hope the films this year will provide the opportunity to spark new ideas, blossom growth, and embrace new discoveries as we embark on it all together as a community.