By Desa Philadelphia

This year the spotlight shines brightly on Trojan filmmakers at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), one of the nation’s premier showcases for AAPI cinema, and a standout on the calendar of events for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrated in May.

The festival kicks off on April 30, 2026 with a screening of Lucky Lu, produced by SCA alumna and Peter Stark Associate Chair Nina Yang Bongiovi. The film tracks a New York City delivery rider whose life unravels after losing his job, blending urgency, empathy, and social commentary. 

And that’s just the beginning. Trojans are represented across the festival lineup with feature films, narrative shorts, and short and feature documentaries, including: 

• Pinch directed by Uttera Singh ’16,  SCA alumna and Professor in the Kevin Fiege Division of Film & Television Production Division | May 2, 2026 at 8:00 PM at the AMC Atlantic Time Square
• Tuimaseve: A High Chief Story directed and written by Benjamin Pola ’19, USC Annenberg alum and SCA Communications Manager | May 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM at the Director’s Guild of America (DGA)
• Adult Sitters directed by Ann Sun, SCA alumna | May 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM at the AMC Atlantic Time Square
• Silicon Valley Girl directed by Yeon Jin Lee ’20, SCA alumna | May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the AMC Atlantic Time Square
• Nikkei of Norwalk directed and written by Jeffrey Chin ’16, SCA alum |  May 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Democracy Center at Japanese American National Museum (JANM)
• Mr. Ramen directed by Shubhra Dubey ’24, SCA alum |  April 30, 2026 at 9:00 PM at the Landmark Theatres Sunset
• Saint Andrews directed by Erin Ramirez, current SCA student | May 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the AMC Atlantic Time Square

Presented by Visual Communications (VC) Media, a non-profit dedicated to supporting non-stereotypical portrayals of AAPI cultures in film, LAAPFF has long been a force, uplifting AAPI filmmakers and preserving the stories, histories, and artistic legacies of their communities. From youth programs to groundbreaking new cinema, VC builds bridges across generations through the power of media.

“When I first moved to Los Angeles, VC was my entry point into the AANHPI filmmaking community,” says Angela Park, Managing Director and Armed With A Camera Fellowship Mentor at Visual Communications. “I found collaborators, was accepted into the Armed With a Camera Fellowship for emerging filmmakers, and built my creative foundation here.”

Now in its 42nd year, Park says she remains inspired by LAAPFF and VC’s unwavering commitment to championing authentic, artist‑driven storytelling. She underscores the importance of supporting emerging voices and honest narratives shaped through the lens of communities, especially now during a time of political and economic upheaval.

Park, who has stayed connected to VC for more than a decade as a mentor, staff member, and now programmer, adds: “It’s incredibly meaningful to give back to a space that has given me so much and to help spotlight unique stories and emerging filmmakers.”

 

Benjamin Pola ‘19, a 2026 VC Armed With A Camera (AWC) Fellow, will make his directorial debut with a documentary short exploring the evolving expressions of Samoan culture within the diaspora. Reflecting on the experience, Pola, who graduated from the Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism and works in the Office of Communication & PR at SCA, says just being at SCA has helped his filmmaking work: “I didn’t go to film school, but working at the No. 1 film school in the world, taught me so much from just being around amazing filmmakers and creatives everyday at SCA.” The great thing about working with Visual Communications, he said, is being able to be true to himself and his culture as a storyteller. “It was such a blessing to try my hand at directing through the AWC fellowship and tell a Samoan story that I hope many can relate to, even if you are not Samoan.”

Yeon Jin Lee ’20, an MFA graduate of the Kevin Feige Division of Film & Television Production, is the writer and director of Silicon Valley Girl, a short thriller inspired by her experience as a young woman working in tech, which will be screening in the festival’s Life Is Short segment.

The project came to life with the support of several Trojan collaborators: including Devon Johns (Cinematographer), Mochii Mengqing Yuan (Production Designer), Nobu Emura (1st AC), and Ryan Vaughn (Sound Editor), as well as many more who contributed through the film’s Kickstarter campaign and other means of support. Along with working alongside fellow alums on this project, what makes LAAPFF feel extra special for Lee is the marquee film being Lucky Lu, a feature where Lee shadowed fellow SCA alum Nina Yang Bongiovi and other producers as a Gold House Producers Accelerator Fellow. “ I can’t wait to see everyone and celebrate the films,” says Lee. 

Be sure to support the Trojan filmmakers sharing AAPI stories at LAAPFF, running April 30–May 3, 2026. Fight On!

For a lineup of all the films and screening times go to: https://festival.vcmedia.org/2026/