Curatorial Statement

This year, CAAMFest reflects on the histories that have shaped our present. In this pressing moment, as diversity and funding in education and the arts are being threatened, it is more vital than ever to share stories and learn from each others’ experiences. CAAMFest 2025 honors our inheritance of CAAM’s four decades-long legacy of community-based media and the power of film to bring together seemingly disparate communities. By leaning into the triumphs, shortcomings, and complexities that define all of us, we move forward together. 

As the festival returns to San Francisco Japantown, we are reminded of the enduring impact of place and memory. The combination of American and international films included in this year’s program invite us to contemplate the origins and bounds of Asian America, while shining a spotlight on movement-building within and beyond the United States. The program also commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, a crucial chapter of history whose ongoing legacy illustrates the inextricable entanglement between American, Asian American, and Southeast Asian communities. 

CAAMFest 2025 wraps up on Mother’s Day, with dedicated events that highlight the strength and visionary artistry of Asian American women. Honoring “mothering” also includes celebrating the nurturing of community and pioneering of aesthetics. Thus, we reflect on the contributions of Asian American women’s work while looking to the future of storytelling.