Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest, 565 N 5th Street, San Jose, CA (2026)

The Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest (formerly, San Jose J-Town FilmFest) is a celebration of the multi-ethnic community and rich history of Silicon Valley. An all volunteer-run effort by a diverse team of community members, the film festival showcases independent films primarily by Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) filmmakers and offers quality programming, giving the community a chance to interact with the creative talents behind these films.

03/31/2026

👀 As we look ahead to the 12th Annual Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival (SVAPFF) this October, we’re looking back at some of the highlights from last year’s festival.

From screenings and live performances to book signings, filmmaker conversations, and shared community moments, SVAPFF 2025 was a vibrant celebration of AAPI storytelling through film.

Thank you to the filmmakers, audiences, volunteers, sponsors, donors, community partners, and media partners who helped make it all possible. We couldn’t do it without you. 🫶

If you’re a filmmaker, we’re still accepting films for 2026. Head to https://svapfilmfest.org/

See you in October 2026!

03/27/2026

🎬 Now Online!

Catch the comedic drama 𝙂𝙤𝙙 & 𝘽𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙝𝙖 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 (GABAF), which screened at our 2025 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival (SVAPFF). It’s now available to watch free online over at Omeleto’s YouTube channel (head to our IG Stories for the link to watch it)! It’s presented by .

🌟 𝗦𝗩𝗔𝗣𝗙𝗙 𝗔𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗡𝗜 𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 🌟
GABAF is written and directed by Anthony Ma. He’s an award-winning actor, filmmaker, and voiceover artist based in Los Angeles, and the film recently won Best Narrative Short and Best Short Screenplay at the Studio City International Film Festival.

God & Buddha Are Friends: A young Taiwanese American boy falls into an existential crisis when a charismatic pastor comes in between him and his overprotective mother.

If you missed GABAF at our film festival in October, or want to revisit it, now’s your chance. Check it out and celebrate and support independent AAPI storytelling.

🔗 Link to GABAF film is in our IG Story (Alumni Spotlight IG Highlight).

02/17/2026

We’re proud to share and support the 15th Annual “Films of Remembrance” presented by the Nichi Bei Foundation. 🎟️ Tickets and information: https://2026.filmsofremembrance.org/

📍 Feb. 21–22 — San Francisco | San Jose
📍 Mar. 28–29 — Los Angeles | Gardena

The 2026 program features works by filmmakers including Tadashi Nakamura, Emiko Omori, Kayla Jem Ling, Chris Jones, Rachel Michiko Whitney, Jeff Mizushima, Bruce Tetsuya, Glenn Mitsui, Koji Lau-Ozawa, Barre Fong, Willie Ito, Tony Tarantini, Sharon Yamato, and Evan Kodani.

02/04/2026

🎥 Film submissions are now open for the 2026 Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Festival!

SVAPFF invites filmmakers with an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) connection through story, cast, or creative team to submit their work for consideration.

📍 In person: October 23–25, 2026
AMC DINE-IN Theatres, Sunnyvale, CA
💻 Online: October 23 – November 1, 2026

🎞️ Submit your film via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/SiliconValleyAsianPacificFilmFest

We can’t wait to discover and celebrate your work.

12/29/2025

🥁 Drumroll, please…

We’re excited to announce the 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 🏆

This year’s honorees reflect the power, depth, and diversity of AAPI storytelling — from deeply personal journeys to stories that spark dialogue and change.

🎬 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀

🏆 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥 𝘈𝘤𝘵
🏆 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆: MĀHŪ: 𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴-𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳
🏆 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆: 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴
🏆 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆: 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘞𝘢𝘷𝘦
🏆 𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁: 𝘐𝘬𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘪
🏆 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆: 𝘈𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺
🏆 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘢
🏆 𝗝𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱: 𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦
🏆 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝘉𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵
🏆 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦

Thank you to our filmmakers, judges and jurors, audiences, and community for making SVAPFF 2025 unforgettable. 🧡

12/19/2025

Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest (SVAPFF) is just one of the many ways Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS) supports AAPI artists and storytellers year-round. 🧡

From the film festival to staged readings, live performances, music, and community partnerships, CATS works to uplift AANHPI voices and bring our communities together through the arts.

As we approach the end of the year, we’re grateful for everyone who attends, supports, and believes in this work. If SVAPFF and the films featured our screenings has ever moved you, inspired you, or made you feel seen, we invite you to support the organization behind it.

👉 Support CATS’ programs and artists:
https://vist.ly/4j8sg

Thank you for being part of the SVAPFF & CATS community.

Address

565 N 5th Street
San Jose, CA
95112

Website

http://www.svapfilmfest.org/

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