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.