Friday, May 31, 2024 | 6PM to 8PM
CUNY Graduate Center – Martin Segal Theatre
365 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan
Since 2004, the CUNY Asian American Film Festival (AAFF) has recognized and awarded over $14,900 in cash prizes to student filmmakers enrolled at the City University of New York, including City College, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, Lehman College, College of Staten Island, and Queens College. The CUNY AAFF helps to promote the artistic visual talents and stimulate communication among CUNY students who are separated by the different campuses, and serve as a central location to display their creative works. Past participants have also had their films screened at the Asian American International Film Festival.
On the evening of the Film Festival, Friday, May 31, 2024, all winners and runner-ups will remain anonymous until after a screening of selected films that have been reviewed by our distinguished panel of judges. Following the screening will be an award ceremony and Q&A session with the filmmakers.
Winner ($200) and runner-up ($100) prizes will be awarded for each of the following categories: Fiction | Documentary
AAARI encourages all currently enrolled (or recently graduated in Spring/Fall 2023) CUNY undergraduate and graduate students, Asian and non-Asian, to participate in this great opportunity.
Sanjona Arzan (Hunter College)
Chomchom
Fiction
Hanjoo Kim (City College of New York)
A Circle of Repentance
A screenwriter and novelist loses his wife due to his selfishness and indifference. Seol regrets his folly, and falls into deep depression. At this very moment, a mysterious girl approaches Seol and shows him a door that is standing alone in the middle of the forest, and asks him to make a wish.
Nicholas Bueta (New York City College of Technology)
Screened Off
Fiction (Winner)
Grace Wijaya (City College of New York)
Singing in the Lifeboat
In the midst of the Covid pandemic, Jin, a Korean British woman, flees to the tranquil woods of Pennsylvania in search of solace. Isolated and yearning for connection, she begins an unconventional companionship with the forest. As days blend into each other, Jin’s routine becomes a lifeline, shielding her from the relentless chaos outside. Yet, beneath the surface, her thoughts take a darker turn.
Fahim Hamid (Hunter College)
Bengal Memory
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Festival Sponsor
Media Sponsors
Submission Guidelines
Extended Deadline: Monday, May 13, 2024
Submission Form | Festival Poster (Download)
Submitter must be a currently enrolled or recently graduated CUNY student. (Copy of CUNY College ID and current semester’s class schedule, or proof of recent graduation Spring/Fall 2023 is required.)
Film must satisfy any one of the following criteria:
- Production exclusively or majority-produced by CUNY personnel involving at least one Asian CUNY personnel in a key position, e.g. Director, Writer, or Editor
- Contains an Asian American / Asian theme or narrative
Submission form must be submitted no later than 5pm EST on Monday, April 29, 2024. Anything received afterwards will not be accepted. (In the event of a submission deadline extension, you may submit an updated version of your film for consideration.)
Submitter, or their authorized representative, must be available to attend the Film Festival, or else they will forfeit their award.
Festival Chairman
Ryoya Terao
Panel of Judges
NaRhee Ahn, Patrick Chen, Vinit Parmar, Bryan Powers, JT Takagi, Ryoya Tereao & Larry Tung
Coordinator
William Tam
Technical Assistance
Antony Wong & Zhu-Hui Wu