First Look: 26th San Diego Asian Film Festival Brings Highly Anticipated Films from Busan, Cannes, TIFF, Tribeca, and Venice to San Diego

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carmela Prudencio, media@sdaff.org

SAN DIEGO, October 3, 2025

‍

First Look: 26th San Diego Asian Film Festival Brings Highly Anticipated Films from Busan, Cannes, TIFF, Tribeca, and Venice to San Diego

October 3, 2025—Pacific Arts Movement is excited to announce the first film reveal of the 26th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), returning to theaters across San Diego County from November 6–15, 2025. This year’s festival brings an extraordinary lineup of internationally acclaimed films and celebrated talent to the big screen at theaters across San Diego County including La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas, Southwestern College Performing Arts Center in Chula Vista, and Ultrastar Cinemas Mission Valley. The full festival schedule will be unveiled at a special event at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego on October 9, 2025.

SDAFF 2025 features a lineup of films that have generated international buzz at the world’s most prestigious film festivals, including Busan, Cannes, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Tribeca, and Venice.This is a rare opportunity to experience award-worthy films and celebrated talent in one festival:

Forge, directed by Jing Ai Ng, starring Kelly Marie Tran, marking a comeback following acclaimed projects like The Wedding Banquet and the upcoming Rock Springs; premiered at SXSW.

Magellan, directed by Lav Diaz, starring Gael García Bernal, a highly anticipated work by the internationally celebrated Filipino auteur; premiered at Cannes Film Festival, further cementing Diaz’s global reputation for ambitious, boundary-pushing cinema.

No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook, starring Lee Byung-hun; opened the Busan International Film Festival and screened at Venice Film Festival to a standing ovation, generating major international buzz as one of the most anticipated films of the year.

Project Y, directed by Lee Hwan, starring Han So-hee; recently screened at TIFF, adding to the festival’s reputation for highlighting rising international stars.

Resurrection, directed by Bi Gan, starring legendary actress of Taiwanese cinema Shu Qi, celebrated at Cannes Film Festival; Bi Gan is best known for Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

The Rose, directed by Eugene Yi, featured at Tribeca Film Festival; a new documentary titled after the popular South Korean indie-rock band.

Rosemead, directed by Eric Lin, starring Lucy Liu; Audience Award winner at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival and Official Selection at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, lauded for its resonant storytelling.

“Asian cinema has long been the toast of the international film festival circuit,” said Brian Hu, Artistic Director. “And we at SDAFF are honored to bring the best of the best here to San Diego.”

The festival will kick off with Opening Night on November 6, 2025, at the La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas. Tickets for individual screenings and festival passes will be available on October 9, 2025 at sdaff.org. Attendees can look forward to critically acclaimed films and new discoveries, live Q&As with filmmakers, and community experiences celebrating the excellence of Asian and Asian American cinema.

For updates and festival announcements, visit sdaff.org or follow @PacificArtsMovement on social media.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• Organization: Pacific Arts Movement
• Dates/ time: November 6 through 15, 2025
• Locations: AMC UTC 14, La Paloma Theatre, Southwestern College Performing Arts Center, and UC San Diego Price Center Theater, and Ultrastar Cinemas Mission Valley.
• Tickets: Available October 9 at https://sdaff.org/
• Interviews available: For interviews with filmmakers, actors, or festival staff and a list of available screeners, please fill out a media accreditation form and contact media@sdaff.org.
• Link to use in your story: sdaff.org

‍

###

ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL: 

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is the most comprehensive portrait of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America. Located in San Diego, California, Pac Arts is the presenter of the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival, the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, and the Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema. 

‍

ABOUT PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT:

Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) launched in 2000 when it debuted the San Diego Asian Film Festival, a showcase of Asian American and Asian international cinema. Rooted in the love of film and the arts, global citizenship, and Asian culture and communities, Pac Arts became an official nonprofit media arts organization in 2002, and is now one of the most significant exhibitions of Asian cinema in North America.

‍