AFF x Screen Presence: Highlights from the Asian Showcase
For our latest Screen Presence event, we shifted gears from feature-length documentaries to the bold, dynamic world of short films.
In collaboration with the Young Australian Film Festival (YAFF)—now in its third year—we hosted a dedicated Asian Showcase to celebrate the incredible work being produced by young Asian filmmakers from across Australia.
Through a diverse curation of films and a lively audience Q&A, the evening highlighted the creative realities and deeply personal inspirations driving the next generation of storytellers.
Here are the highlights from the showcase.
Intimate Themes: Family and Identity
Many of the films dug deep into the nuances of the Asian Australian experience. Filmmakers explored complex family dynamics, balancing the heavy weight of parental pressure and the grounding, universal comfort of a grandmother’s love. The showcase also provided a platform for powerful Asian queer stories that offered fresh perspectives on identity and belonging.
Genre-Bending: From Horror to Animation
The curation was a testament to the creative risks young directors are willing to take. Rather than sticking to conventional narratives, the lineup featured everything from quirky, stylised animation to experimental horror and mixed-genre storytelling. It proved that emerging creatives are eagerly pushing the boundaries of the medium to find their unique voice.
The Power of Community
Beyond the screenings, the true heart of the event was the informal industry networking. The post-screening Q&A provided a vital space for directors to unpack the realities of micro-budget filmmaking and share what it actually takes to get a short film over the line.
A huge thank you to YAFF for the collaboration, and to the brilliant filmmakers for sharing their stories. Thanks also to our audience, and our sponsors—Museum of Chinese Australian History, and Black Sheep Films—for helping emerging creatives keep the momentum going.
Images courtesy: Wilari Tedjosiswoyo
