We are excited to present the important and robust 2025 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival slate of films. The line up includes themes of resilience, community, identity and family.
The opening night film of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is the Los Angeles Premiere of MOLOKA’I BOUND directed by Alika Tengan. His second feature is a deep and compelling film that follows Kainoa De Silva, a wayward Hawaiian man who is on parole and committed to reconnecting with his family. As he attempts to rebuild, he makes mistakes along the way which affects his relationship with his son. This cinematically beautiful film explores themes of second chances and strong cultural identity.
The World Premiere of the thoughtful and graceful MAYBE IT’S JUST THE RAIN directed by Reina Bonta (member of the Philippine World Cup Female Soccer Team) is a poetic short film that explores the intersection of womanhood, sports, and perseverance. This emotional and moving film reflects on the importance of remembering where a person came from and how family history shapes identity and purpose.
The World Premiere of the moving WHERE THE LIGHT ENTERS YOU directed by Hemal Trivedi and Matt Alesevich. This beautiful and emotional short film follows Aney, a New York Medical student who finds her purpose in providing healthcare in nomadic communities in India after her mother passes away due to the lack of medical care. During this volunteer work, Aney meets a young girl in one of the nomadic communities named Farida and sees her life as a child in India. This film shines a light on the inequality in global health and the limits of one’s wants.
On the 50th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, we are proud to present the Los Angeles Premiere of the acclaimed award-winning ON HEALING LANDS, BIRDS PERCH directed by Naja Pham Lockwood explores two families on both sides of the Vietnam War that are connected through a world-famous photograph. Through interviews, the audience gets a glimpse of the polarization between the two families and the trauma that is left to unpack decades after. All while highlighting the generational trauma among the Vietnamese community and the lingering effects of war.
The Los Angeles Premiere – TRANSPLANT directed by Jason Park, starring Korean pop star, Eric Nam. In his narrative debut, Eric Nam stars as Jonah Yoon, a Korean American navigating a demanding medical career while juggling personal struggles. TRANSPLANT is a film that many can relate to and explores various themes including immigration and mental health in the workplace.
The Los Angeles Premiere of the Sundance hit documentary, THIRD ACT directed by Tadashi Nakamura will have a centerpiece screening on Saturday May 3. This moving and heartfelt film showcases a personal story about the director’s relationship with his own father, Robert Nakamura, a pioneer in Asian American cinema – known as THE GODFATHER OF ASIAN AMERICAN CINEMA. In a reversal of roles, Robert steps in front of the camera, sharing glimpses of his life growing up in the Japanese internment camps and his journey living with Parkinson’s disease.
