Letter from the Executive Director

Welcome to the 17th Annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival!  

Apropos of this year’s theme, “Reflections,” it has been a year of transitions, adjustments, and anticipation for us at PAAFF. Since assuming the role of Executive Director in May, I have been fully immersed in its history, the supportive community, and the promising opportunities ahead.

As we reflect on the progress over the past 17 years, we are grateful for the contributions of the founders of PAAFF and our past leaders.  It is their foresight and determination that enables us to continue our mission today.  With the gift of a strong foundation, we are poised to grow and evolve to meet the current needs of our community. I thank our brilliant and dedicated core team, Arzhang, Joseph, and David who fully embrace our WHY as they thoughtfully develop impactful programs and partnerships year-round. I also want to thank our generous board, who have been an invaluable resource as we embark on this period of reflection and growth.  And of course, our extended team of designers, PR/Communications, social, web, logistics, and all the volunteers… you are a dream team and we thrive because of you! 

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming name change to the Philadelphia Asian American Film Foundation, (still known as PAAFF). This refresh will allow us to expand our year-round offerings to include various forms of creative storytelling and cultural experiences, such as performance, visual, and culinary arts. Additionally, we are committed to collaborating with and advocating for other community organizations with similar missions. We will also endeavor to partner with local schools to provide a platform for future creatives and storytellers. This aligns with the original vision for PAAFF 17 years ago, which was to create a safe space and a supportive environment to showcase the works of underrepresented AANHPI filmmakers and creatives.

Please take a moment to check out our updated mission and vision statements on our website. It is through reflection that we can envision our future. 

The AANHPI community has much more to say and do! There is power (and fun) in numbers! We invite you to join us on this exciting journey!  

With gratitude,

Nani Shin
Executive Director