CAAMFest returns to San Francisco, bringing with it a diverse slate of films and events that explore the heart of the Asian experience both in the US and abroad. This year’s festival, running from May 8-11, highlights stories that reflect on the past, illuminate present-day movements, and set the stage for future voices. “Ranging from intimate narratives on family and memory to experimental work that bends the conventions of storytelling, these films illuminate the many perspectives of Asian America,” says CAAMFest Program Manager Del Holton.
With nearly 40 films from around the globe, there’s something for everyone.
Timid had the privilege of experiencing a selection of these films, each weaving a unique narrative about legacy—this issue’s theme. The festival’s films offer powerful glimpses into how the legacies of history, culture, community, and personal experiences shape our daily lives.
Directed by Jon Osaki
Making Waves takes us from the 1960s to the present day, illuminating how both older and younger generations of Asian American activists are defining and redefining what it means to be “Asian American.” This documentary delves into the pivotal 1968 student strikes at UC Berkeley and San Francisco State, as well as other movements across the US that fought for the establishment of ethnic studies programs. These efforts laid the foundation for the younger generation, who are now emerging from the pandemic and the surge in anti-Asian hate, continuing that legacy and fight.
Doan Hoang Dy, a second-generation Vietnamese American and Senior Tour Manager at the Wing Luke Museum in Seattle, learned about Asian American history through the University of Washington. Now, as a guide at the Wing Luke Museum, she helps others connect to this history as well. “I am American, but folks don’t see me as that,” Dy continues. “All of these ethnic studies, regardless of whether they are ethnic or not, is American history.”
Through intimate interviews and archival footage, Making Waves traces the enduring and interconnected legacy of Asian American activism, showcasing its continued role in the fight against anti-Asian hate. In an era when diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are being pushed back, this film underscores the critical importance of ethnic studies in broadening our understanding of American history as a whole. Showing that the fight for inclusion is ongoing and ever more relevant today.
Directed by Emily Strong
Food is far more than just nourishment, it’s a bridge that connects Asian communities and cultures. The Grocery List Show explores how international grocery stores across the US serve as vital community hubs for immigrant populations, where food traditions thrive and evolve. Hosted by former Top Chef contestant Chrissy Camba, the show takes viewers on a journey through diverse markets, revealing how these stores reflect the histories, migrations, and shared experiences of the communities they serve.
The first episode highlights Seafood City Supermarket, a Filipino food haven that has become an essential cultural landmark for Filipino communities throughout North America. Not only are these grocery stores beloved institutions, offering more than just ingredients, but it also serves as a gathering space where food acts as a connector, preserving legacies while forging new community bonds across Asian and non-Asian cultures. This episode ends in true Asian fashion with a home cooked meal and shared plates.
The Grocery List Show sheds light on how food plays a critical role in preserving cultural identity and fostering a sense of home for immigrants across the country.
Directed by Elizabeth Lo
In Mistress Dispeller, a woman in China hires a professional to break up her husband’s affair in a desperate attempt to save her marriage. This documentary offers an intensely personal glimpse into the vulnerability, pride, and complexities of modern relationships. With strikingly intimate access, Lo invites viewers to question not only our expectations of traditional marriages but also the personal sacrifices that define love and infidelity.
Through its raw portrayal of human emotion and the lengths people go to for love, Mistress Dispeller challenges conventional perceptions of relationships and the societal and cultural norms that shape them. The film underscores how deeply rooted cultural expectations influence personal decisions and redefine the notion of family loyalty in contemporary China. By presenting a story that is as much about personal identity as it is about the public pressures that influence our choices, Mistress Dispeller becomes a provocative exploration of cultural legacies that persist in the modern age.
Directed by Vera Brunner-Sung
Set against the quiet backdrop of rural Montana, Bitterroot tells the story of a Hmong man, Wa Yang, grappling with the fallout of a failed marriage while caring for his aging mother. This CAAM-funded film delves into themes of family, identity, and healing within a Hmong-American community that often feels isolated from mainstream narratives.
The theme of isolation resonates throughout the film, as does the idea of personal legacies. What are we living for? Who are we living for? The quiet tension builds as Wa Yang navigates both external and internal conflicts. His mother’s expectation for him to move on from the divorce is tied to her sacrifices and desire for his happiness, while his own internal struggle revolves around family dynamics and his journey of self-discovery.
Bitterroot is a raw and poignant reflection on personal legacy—how we forge connections with others and with ourselves in the face of loss and transition.
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CAAMFest 2025 offers both an exploration and reminder of the power of storytelling—to educate, to connect, and to spark change. Whether through the lens of activism, food, or family the festival provides a platform for Asian voices to share stories that honor their past, existing, and emerging legacies.
Tickets are on sale now for CAAMFest, running from May 8 to May 11, 2025.
