Shorts Collection:
From hate to hope
Saturday october 24, 2026
4:15 pM - 6:30 PM
Discrimination and prejudice can fuel hate speech and dangerous attacks against Asians in our communities. These films highlight the resilience, bravery, and strength of those who stand against hate—and show how courage and community can transform hate into hope.
Q&A line up coming soon!
A mother’s desire to make sense of a well-intentioned school play date results in an unfortunate chain reaction
Play Date was inspired by a true event at a local elementary school and briefly touches upon complex societal topics such as the nuances of the minority experience, internalized racism, the desire for community/safe spaces and the effect of anonymity on the Internet.
Play Date
In Joseph Ileto’s Eyes
“In Joseph Ileto’s Eyes” is a story about Joseph Ileto, a Filipino American postal worker tragically murdered by a white supremacist. Joseph's story is told through the voices of his brother, Ismael Ileto, and sister in law, Deena. Ismael reflects on Joseph’s life with tenderness and pride, describing him as a hardworking and humble man who took joy in simple routines like delivering mail and being present for his family. But grief and anger was followed by determination and resolve to honor Joseph’s memory by speaking out against violence and discrimination.
Invisibility and Rage: Asian Americans, Racial Trauma, Mental Health
Asian American artists, politicians, scholars, and mental health professionals express personal grief, frustration and anger triggered by the wave of Covid-19-related anti-Asian hate and violent attacks, and reckon with the invisible history and reality of AAPI raced-based trauma in a Western mental health system ill-equipped to deal with it.
In 2008, on the first day back from winter break, senior year, Abhirup, an Indian American teen desperate for an invite to the party of the year, has to drive his cousin to school. To win over the cool kids, he hides everything that marks him as different, even what his fresh tattoo really means.
Skin-Deep
Gilbert Gong, Äì The Heart of Lincoln Square
CAAM Festival 2026
A neglected park in Oakland’s historic Chinatown becomes the unlikely stage for a neighborhood’s renewal as recreation director and local son Gilbert Gong rallies seniors, teens and children to confront growing fear and division by restoring safety, connection, and pride in their community.
On a scorching summer day, Shelly and her mom pull up to a gas station. When the gas station attendants refuse to serve them for looking “foreign,” Shelly’s mom refuses to leave. All the adults are soon yelling at each other in their different native languages. It feels like it’s up to Shelley to make the day go right. Set in 1985.