Grab your popcorn, San Diego. The San Diego Asian Film Festival is back for its 27th year with its biggest lineup yet: 190 films from more than 30 countries in more than 30 languages.

As the city’s largest film festival and one of the country’s top showcases of Asian and Asian American cinema, SDAFF brings acclaimed filmmakers, award winners, and fresh new voices to screens across San Diego for ten days this November.

Find Your Next Favorite Film

The lineup is split into categories, so there’s something for every mood:

• Asian American Panorama – The heart of the festival, from an explosive near-future LA to comedic takes on wellness culture.
• Asia Pop! – Dancing gangsters, alternate universes, and films made for ugly-crying, ugly-laughing, or a racing heart.
• Masters – Standout works from internationally recognized directors, including films from Cannes and Venice.
• Unknown Pleasures – New filmmakers, new stories, and even a film smuggled out of Iran.
• Classics Restored – Influential films from cinema history, back on the big screen.
• Shorts – Inventive storytelling and overlooked histories in bite-sized form.

Titles to Put on Your List

In Waves, which premiered at Cannes, is headed to Netflix later this year, so this is your chance to see it on the big screen first. Sundance award winners Bedford Park and Take Me Home are also on the schedule, along with Look Back.

With titles like these, you can catch some of the year’s most talked-about films before they land on your couch. The festival will also present Hilda Koronel with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Special Nights to Plan Around

The festival opens with In Waves, with author and creator AJ Dungo on hand for the celebration. Later in the week, the San Diego Asian Film Festival Awards at UC San Diego Park & Market pair award announcements with a night of local food from:

• Glass Box San Diego
• Udon ya Nofuzou
• Sovereign Modern Thai
• Cherryfish
• Zen Modern Asian Bistro
• Boat to Table Sushi
• PARU Tea
• Esquina Wine Bar

Don’t miss the world premiere of Reel Voices, where 12 student filmmakers debut original shorts on the big screen after an eight-week summer program with professional mentors.

The festival closes with the US premiere of Ba’s Book, with director Ashley Duong, who is also one of the film’s subjects, scheduled to attend.

Screenings Across San Diego

Films play at the San Diego Natural History Museum, UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley, and AMC UTC 14, so you can catch a screening close to home.

With venues spread across Balboa Park, Mission Valley, and the UTC area, it’s easy to mix and match screenings based on where you’re headed. Check the schedule to see which films are playing where, then build a festival lineup that fits your week.

Bring the Whole Family

Free programming includes the Shorts for Shorties program for younger audiences, select Taiwan Film Showcase screenings, and weekday afternoon screenings.

High school-aged youth and younger can attend screenings free with tickets at the door. Discounts are available for students, seniors, Pac Arts members, and San Diego Public Library cardholders, and an All-Fest Pass covers the whole ten days.

See you there!

With 190 films, big premieres, and a night of local eats, SDAFF is a great excuse to discover something new on the big screen.

📆 Thursday, November 5 – Saturday, November 14, 2026 | 11 AM – 8:30 PM
📍 Multiple venues across San Diego
🎟️ Grab your tickets here
ℹ️ Visit the website here to learn more

See you there, San Diego!