Festival Coverage • Austin, Texas

Austin Asian American Film Festival

AAAFF • AFS Cinema • est. 2008

Austin’s home for stories by Asian, Asian American, and Middle Eastern filmmakers — now in its 18th year. Our complete guide to the 2026 edition, plus a spotlight on the documentary you shouldn’t miss.

Now
2026

18th Austin Asian American Film Festival

June 24–28 at AFS Cinema. 34 films, parties, and the festival’s first-ever Taiwan VR activation. Opens with Honeyjoon, centerpiece Traces of Home, closing Gloaming in Luomu.

Full Guide & Spotlights → 📅 Full Schedule →
Festival Spotlight
★ The one to see

The Gas Station Attendant

dir. Karla Murthy • documentary • Sun, June 28 · 2:00 PM + Q&A

A daughter’s portrait of her father — from poverty in India to the overnight shift at a Texas gas station — assembled from home movies and recorded phone calls. World-premiered at Sheffield DocFest, Best Documentary Feature in Nashville and San Diego, and a CAAMFest 2026 Centerpiece. Devastating, surprising, and deeply human.

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★ Centerpiece

Traces of Home

dir. Colette Ghunim • documentary • Fri, June 26 · 7:45 PM + Q&A

The festival’s Centerpiece. Colette Ghunim traces her parents’ histories across Mexico and Palestine, sitting with inherited grief and asking how “home” survives when the map keeps changing — bracketed by Friday’s red carpet and the Centerpiece Corral after-party.

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🔴 Live • Fri June 26

Live from the Red Carpet

Centerpiece Night • The Mane Event · Traces of Home · the Corral Party

We’re on the carpet for Friday’s Centerpiece Night — photos and video land on our live page as the night unfolds.

See the live coverage →
All Our AAAFF Coverage

Spotlights, news, and Austin event coverage across the network — the full schedule guide, both film spotlights, and reporting from the carpet and closing weekend, gathered in one index.

See all our AAAFF 2026 coverage →

Coverage by Year
2026 ★
About AAAFF

The Austin Asian American Film Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that has spotlighted Asian, Asian American, and Middle Eastern cinema in Austin since 2008. Its home base is the AFS Cinema, the Austin Film Society’s theater. The 2026 edition runs June 24–28 with 34 films, filmmaker Q&As, food-stop socials, and a first-ever Taiwan VR program. Tickets and badges at aaafilmfest.org. This is an independent guide by Asia Film Fests; confirm details on the festival’s official schedule.