Co-hosted by actress and winemaker Kara Wang and actor Ryan Alexander Holmes, NVAAFF bridges the intersection of traditional filmmaking with the new frontiers of storytelling while giving audiences a taste of Napa Valley’s finest.

The inaugural Napa Valley Asian American Film Festival (NVAAFF) debuts on Friday, February 7, 2025, in Napa, California, celebrating Asian and Asian American excellence in storytelling and highlighting the creativity and innovation at the forefront of contemporary American cinema. The event aligns with Napa Valley’s iconic location and multicultural heritage, uniting filmmakers, creative technologists, and culinary leaders for a unique and intimate conversation around the newest frontiers in storytelling.

This partnership was inspired, in part, by IW Group, a creative multicultural agency aligned with Interpublic Group and its founder, Bill Imada, in conversation with Napa Valley College, filmmakers, producers, and community leaders.

“Napa Valley is a place where cultures thrive,” said Bill Imada, who has resided in Napa for more than a decade. “The region attracts people of all interests, from artists to agronomists and from entrepreneurs to high-tech innovators. And like many diverse communities that have thrived in Napa for years, Asian Americans are also making a positive impact here. One way to showcase the richness of Asian American stories is through films, and Napa Valley College’s Performing Arts Center is the perfect venue to screen the cinematic achievements of several talented filmmakers.”

The two-day festival kicks off with an intimate, fine-dining experience prepared by RO Restaurant and Lounge Chef de Cuisine Jeffery Hayashi the night before the film screenings. The culinary experience continues on Friday morning with local and regional vintners, restaurateurs, and small business owners sharing their food and beverage inspirations at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. The festival continues with opening remarks followed by a selection of AI cinematic films, two spotlight feature films, three narrative short films, and culminating with a centerpiece animated feature, “The Glassworker,” incorporating hand-drawn images and traditional styling.

“Usman Riaz’s “The Glassworker,” Pakistan’s official entry to the Academy Awards, completes the selection of eight remarkable films for this inaugural festival,” said Sanjay Sharma, founder and CEO of MARGINAL MediaWorks. “MARGINAL is excited to partner with Napa Valley College, CAPE, and the many storytellers, technologists, investors, and cultural leaders involved to forge a new kind of community-based cinematic experience in the heart of the world-famous Napa Valley. Asian Americans are at the forefront of America’s cultural and technological industries, but are rarely seen in this way – as storytellers and founders. This type of representation is critical, now more than ever.”

Actress and AMRYN winemaker Kara Wang (Top Gun: Maverick, Freeform’s Good Trouble) and actor and content creator Ryan Alexander Holmes (Back on the Strip, The Morning Show) will serve as co-emcees, providing attendees details on each of the films and the Q&A discussions that follow with directors, writers, producers, and AI film technologists. Among the panel moderators will be Napa Valley College Professor of Ethnic Studies Nicollette Morales, who will talk about the importance of representation in film; MARGINAL’s’ Sanjay Sharma, who will address cinematic innovations in AI filmmaking; Nielsen VP of Communications Patricia Ratulangi, who will discuss the significance of Asian American filmmakers in popular culture; and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) Executive Director Michelle K. Sugihara, who will address how representation has led to greater opportunities for Asian Americans in all facets of filmmaking.

Highlights Include:

• AI-Cinematic Short Films: Showcasing the latest in AI-inspired filmmaking and how new technologies can expand creative freedom and democratize access to storytelling for new voices.
• Critically Acclaimed Features: Stories that explore themes of resilience, identity, and community through an Asian American lens.
• Narrative Shorts: Personal, vibrant stories capturing the breadth of human connection and cultural intersectionality.

CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) is serving as a co-presenter of the Napa Valley Asian American Film Festival. The organization curated three short narrative films by rising filmmakers. These films were made possible through the support of executive producer Julia S. Gouw in partnership with Janet Yang Productions.

“CAPE is a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing Asian American and Pacific Islander representation in film and television,” said its executive director, Michelle K. Sugihara. “For more than three decades, CAPE has championed AAPI stories and the people and cultures that serve as the foundation for our work. We’re proud to be a part of the NVAAFF and welcome everyone to learn more about our programs and events.”

Extending beyond the theater, the festival experience will transform the Performing Arts Center into an immersive cultural celebration where cinema intersects with cuisine. Collaborations with local Asian American businesses, vintners, and restaurants will allow guests to engage with storytelling through sight, taste, touch, and sound. 

“Napa Valley College has a strong commitment to supporting diverse communities and fostering inclusive programming throughout the region,” said Patricia van Leeuwaarde Moonsammy, Ph.D., senior director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the college. “Serving as a co-host for this first-ever film festival aligns with our core mission to transform lives and to provide excellent educational and professional opportunities that are student-centered, equity-focused, and community-oriented.”

NVAAFF is a first-of-its-kind festival, aspiring to uplift storytellers, educators, epicureans, and tech innovators through a creative partnership with Napa Valley College and its office of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Full NVAAFF Lineup

Centerpiece Feature Film

• The Glassworker | Directed by Usman Riaz

Vincent and his father, Tomas, run the best glassworks in the country, but the onset of war turns their lives upside down. Vincent falls in love with Alliz, the daughter of a colonel, and they both must find the courage to confront their fathers. Riaz wrote, directed, composed the film’s score, and with his small team in Pakistan, hand drew all of the animation.

Opening Feature Film

• Nurse Unseen | Directed by Michele Josue

Explores the genuine humanity of unsung Filipino nurses who risked their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing a resurgence of anti-Asian hate in the streets.

Special Spotlight Feature

• A Great Divide | Directed by Jean Shim

The Lee family leave the Bay Area for a fresh start in the rural expanses of Wyoming, only to encounter hostility and xenophobia in their new community. How they confront these issues will break them – or make them stronger.

Spotlight AI-Cinematic Short Films

• Saving Nine | Created and produced by Chikai Ohazama

A mysterious person investigates a shocking event that brings into question what is real and what is a simulation. This short film examines our sense of reality and truth through the lens of surveillance and alternate realities. It is a commentary on humanity’s relationship with technology and it is a unique meta introspection given that it was entirely created using generative AI video.

• Macau Omen | Created and produced by Tony Shyu

The story centers on Thomas Hahn, a man haunted by fragmented memories and supernatural experiences in Macau, following the mysterious death of his wife.

CAPE/Janet Yang Productions/Julia S. Gouw Spotlight Short Narratives

• Hearsay | Written and directed by Banban Cheng

Set in a suburban Chinese beauty salon, HEARSAY follows Lili, an outgoing and talkative hairdresser who goes a little too far when she tries to help a customer in need, inflaming the community.

• Happy Rakhi | Written and directed by Ragini Bhasin

A feisty Indian girl’s relationship with her brothers is tested when she starts her period during their festive celebration of Raksha Bandhan.

• Zari | Written and directed by Shruti Parekh

American teen Neelu feels like a fish out of water amidst preparations for her sister’s wedding in Delhi until she forges a brief and unexpected connection with Zeyb, a quiet sari store clerk who moonlights as an internet drag queen.

NVAAFF Information

Made possible by patron sponsors Bill Imada, Julia S. Gouw and Cindy Y. Huang, NVAAFF will be hosted at Napa Valley College – Performing Arts Center on Friday, February 7, 2025, between 11:30 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.NapaValleyAsianFilmFest.com.

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