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As CAAMFest returns for its 44th year, the nation’s leading showcase for Asian American cinema is stepping into 2026 with renewed energy, bold storytelling, and a lineup that feels both deeply timely and true to its roots. Following what the organization describes as a challenging year for the media landscape, this year’s festival arrives with a sense of momentum, featuring more than 60 films, including five world premieres and a greater emphasis on CAAM-supported documentaries.
Why it matters
CAAMFest is a crucial platform for amplifying Asian American voices and perspectives in the film industry. After a difficult year for the media landscape, the festival’s return with a focus on defiant, morally complex characters and stories that challenge stereotypes is an important step in continuing to diversify and elevate Asian American narratives.
The details
The festival’s lineup includes the HBO Original documentary ‘The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas’ as the Opening Night film, which explores the question ‘What does it mean to be AAPI?’ through reflections from trailblazers like Sandra Oh, Tammy Duckworth, Kumail Nanjiani, and Connie Chung. CAAMFest will also host the Filmmaker Summit and Industry Hub, a free gathering for independent creatives championing under-told stories.
- CAAMFest 2026 will take place May 7–10.
- The festival’s Opening Night film will premiere on May 7th.
The players
Donald Young
Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM).
Sapana Sakya
CAAM’s Director of Talent Development and Special Projects.
Dino-Ray Ramos
CAAMFest Program Manager.
Tina Cheung
A longtime supporter and volunteer of CAAMFest.
Eugene Yi
Director of the Opening Night film ‘The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas’.
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What they’re saying
“After 2025, a year of historic challenges and change for the media, 2026 is shaping up as a time of renewed vigor for Asian American independent storytellers. The energy of the future is palpable. CAAMFest 2026 in many ways returns us to our roots, with an ethos that is scrappy, inspired, and full of attitude.”
— Donald Young, Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM)
“CAAM doesn’t just showcase Asian American stories, we also play an integral role in the pipeline of unique stories that reflect the experiences of our communities.”
— Sapana Sakya, CAAM’s Director of Talent Development and Special Projects
“Pick something a little outside your usual interests and stay curious. That’s where CAAMFest really surprises you.”
— Tina Cheung, Longtime CAAMFest supporter and volunteer
“Each feature film that we programmed included characters that were morally conflicted, went against the grain, and shook the status quo. The stories featured flawed people that defied the model minority myth and subverted stereotypical ‘good Asian’ behavior. Along with similarly themed and defiant documentaries, we were subconsciously building a program of bad Asians causing good trouble.”
— Dino-Ray Ramos, CAAMFest Program Manager
What’s next
Tickets for CAAMFest 2026 will go on sale to the general public on April 15th.
The takeaway
CAAMFest’s return in 2026 with a focus on bold, defiant storytelling and complex Asian American characters represents an important step forward in diversifying and elevating Asian American narratives in the film industry.