AAAFF 2026 submissions are open for our juried film festival June 24-28. Apply on Filmfreeway.com/aaaff
2026 Submission Details
Submission fees for Narrative Features (60 minutes or longer) and Documentary Features (45 minutes or longer):
Early Bird Deadline (December 19)
$35
Regular Deadline (January 23)
$45
Late Deadline (February 27)
$60
Last Chance Deadline (March 20)
$75
Submission fees for Narrative Shorts
and Documentary Shorts
(both under 45 minutes):
Early Bird Deadline (December 19)
$25
Regular Deadline (January 23)
$35
Late Deadline (February 27)
$50
Last Chance Deadline (March 20)
$65
Please submit to the Texas Shorts category if you meet one or more of the following criteria: - Texan filmmaker - Shot in Texas - Story takes place in Texas - Texas connection*
Early Bird Deadline (December 19)
$15
Regular Deadline (January 23)
$25
Late Deadline (February 27)
$40
Last Chance Deadline (March 20)
$55
Please submit to the Texas Features category if you meet one or more of the following criteria: - Texan filmmaker - Shot in Texas - Story takes place in Texas - Texas connection
Early Bird Deadline (December 19)
$25
Regular Deadline (January 23)
$35
Late Deadline (February 27)
$50
Last Chance Deadline (March 20)
$65
*The Texas Shorts section is contingent upon the number of submissions received and at the discretion of the AAAFF Programmers. If there is no Texas Shorts section, films submitted to this category that are accepted will be placed in Narrative and Documentary sections.
Awards & Prizes
Jury Award for Narrative Short: $500
Jury Award for Documentary Short: $500
Jury Award for Narrative Feature
Jury Award for Documentary Feature
Audience Award for Narrative Short
Audience Award for Documentary Short
Audience Award for Narrative Feature
Audience Award for Documentary Feature
Rules & Terms
The Austin Asian American Film Festival seeks to screen films that meet any of the following criteria:
Films written, directed, and/or produced by Asian or Asian American filmmakers, made inside or outside the United States.
Films featuring Asian or Asian American actors or subjects.
Films that engage with the lives and experiences of Asian or Asian American people and communities, inside or outside Asia.
For these purposes, Asia is defined broadly, including the countries of East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Western Asia.
The 17th Austin Asian American Film Festival will be held at the end of June at AFS Cinema. All finalized works must be completed and shipped at least one month prior to the screening date. This contract is binding and you will be held responsible for the information in your submission.
At this time AAAFF is unable to pay screening fees, but works to assist all filmmakers with travel, housing, transportation, etc when feasible.
AAAFF wants to be as accessible as possible and encourage filmmakers to add closed caption files if their film is selected.