Can we still dream beyond the world we know? This year, the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) is asking that exact question with its 2025 theme, “Dreaming of Other Worlds.”
PAAFF programmer Arzhang Zafar explains that the phrase works on a few levels. On the surface, we’ll find plenty of speculative stories—sci-fi, magical realism, alternate futures—but underneath, there’s something bigger. “I hope audiences come away with a broader understanding of the world, of history, of cultures they were previously unfamiliar with,” he notes. “And maybe, they’ll leave inspired—or even a little angry—enough to want to change the world outside the cinema.”
After five years of hybrid and online formats, there are some exciting changes to the festival: PAAFF’s shorts blocks are finally back on the big screen. It’s the first time since the pandemic that the festival will show its entire lineup in person—a big deal for both filmmakers and audiences who’ve been craving that shared theater energy. With many Philly premieres programmed in the festival, it’s a great opportunity to rediscover the joy of watching films together with others. Short films have always been PAAFF’s beating heart: a space for experimentation, local storytelling, and big ideas in small packages.
For those keeping tabs on the next wave of Asian American cinema, you’ll be excited to see that this year’s lineup is stacked with emerging voices. On November 8, PAAFF will spotlight Jess Dang’s debut feature Surrender—about a queer Asian woman navigating gambling addiction—and Chelsie Pennello’s short Cherry-Colored Funk, a sharp, offbeat character study that resists easy sympathy. Both stories refuse the tidy versions of Asian American representation in interesting and engaging ways.
The recipient of PAAFF’s first ever “Rising Voice” award, Shutter Bird is another must-watch. Director Réi started their creative journey in Philadelphia. “We’re proud to celebrate filmmakers who come from our own backyard,” Zafar notes. The film follows Mia Marquez, a young photographer with a learning disorder, and Ray Chang, a juvenile delinquent, as they fight to leave their small farm town—only to confront the psychological, cultural, and mystical forces that bind them to it.
Other feature highlights include Jing Yi’s The Botanist, a tender magical-realist friendship story set in Xinjiang; Kenny Riches’s Mouse, a crime drama exploring the shadow side of the American Dream; and the documentary Union, which tracks the fight to form the first Amazon union in the US—a grounding reminder that dreaming can also mean organizing.
All year, PAAFF has been in a period of transformation. The organization shifted names from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival to the Philadelphia Asian American Film Foundation. This has allowed the organization to expand its reach and reimagine what community-centered film programming can look like, even outside their festival season.
“This year has been marked by both growth and uncertainty,” Zafar reflects. “We’ve had setbacks like everyone else, but also a lot of support from our partners: Vox Populi, Asian Arts Initiative, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, cinéSPEAK, Asian American Arts Alliance, and others.”
In the past year alone, PAAFF has launched the “Storyteller Spotlight” speaker series, collaborated with Twelve Gates Arts on an Iranian shorts showcase, and hosted its first Spring Showcase. These programs have helped the festival stay connected to Philly’s broader creative ecosystem.
Of course, PAAFF is never just about sitting in a dark theater. There’s truly something for everyone this year: cinephiles, art lovers, families—anyone curious about what Philly’s AANHPI communities are dreaming about right now. The lineup spills out into the city with events that mix film, music, food, and community. Highlights include a free AANHPI Block Party at Gather Food Hall, a closing night party at Vox Populi featuring DJs and drag performances, and a slate of panels and talks—including a conversation with legendary actress Kieu Chinh and the latest Storyteller Spotlight featuring Shogun creator Rachel Kondo.
“All in all, anyone curious about PAAFF 2025 will find that we have a diverse array of programming,” Zafar notes. “It should appeal to anyone looking for an interesting, inspiring, entertaining, or even educational experience.”
PAAFF 2025 runs from November 6-16. Check out the full schedule here.
*Featured Image: Still from Cherry-Colored Funk, directed by Chelsie Pennello. Courtesy of the filmmaker.
Chen-Yi Wu is a Taiwanese writer based in the Greater Philadelphia Area. She lives with a neighbor’s tuxedo cat.
