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Since 2004, the CUNY Asian American Film Festival (AAFF) has recognized and awarded over $14,300 in cash prizes to student filmmakers enrolled at the City University of New York, including City College, Brooklyn College, Hunter College, Lehman College, College of Staten Island, and Queens College. The CUNY AAFF helps to promote the artistic visual talents and stimulate communication among CUNY students who are separated by the different campuses, and serve as a central location to display their creative works. Past participants have also had their films screened at the Asian American International Film Festival.
On the evening of the (Virtual) Festival, tentatively on June 2, 2023, all winners and runner-ups will remain anonymous until after a screening of selected films that have been reviewed by our distinguished panel of judges. Following the screening will be an award ceremony and Q&A session with the filmmakers.
Winner ($200) and runner-up ($100) prizes will be awarded for each of the following categories: Fiction | Documentary
AAARI encourages all currently enrolled (or recently graduated in Spring/Fall 2022) CUNY undergraduate and graduate students, Asian and non-Asian, to participate in this great opportunity.
Submission Guidelines
Submitter must be a currently enrolled or recently graduated CUNY student. (Copy of CUNY College ID and current semester’s class schedule, or proof of recent graduation Spring/Fall 2022 is required.)
Film must satisfy any one of the following criteria:
- Production exclusively or majority-produced by CUNY personnel involving at least one Asian CUNY personnel in a key position, e.g. Director, Writer, or Editor
- Contains an Asian American / Asian theme or narrative
Submissions must be emailed to info@aaari.info no later than 5pm EST on Friday, May 5, 2023. Anything received afterwards will not be accepted. (In the event of a submission deadline extension, you may submit an updated version of your film for consideration.)
Submitter, or their authorized representative, must be available to attend the film Festival on June 2, 2023 at the CUNY Graduate Center – Martin Segal Theatre 365 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, or else they will forfeit their award.
Attached you will find the film poster and submission form. Please share with your colleagues and students, please don’t let your students miss this great opportunity.