DEI STATEMENT

At the Asian Film Festival of Dallas, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for filmmakers, audiences, and communities. Our mission is to celebrate and support emerging and established Asian and Asian-American filmmakers while sharing the rich diversity of Asian culture through the medium of cinema. We believe that diversity strengthens creativity, enriches storytelling, and broadens perspectives. Through our annual film festival, we provide a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard, showcasing films from across the world, including those by Asian filmmakers right here in the USA. We actively seek to amplify underrepresented voices, promote cross-cultural understanding, and create a space where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.

DEI Initiatives and Actions

The Asian Film Festival of Dallas (AFFD) has implemented several initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion:

  1. Representation in Programming: AFFD actively seeks out films from diverse Asian backgrounds, including those by underrepresented communities. We showcase a wide range of genres, languages, and perspectives.

  2. Community Engagement: AFFD collaborates with local organizations, schools, and community groups to engage audiences from various backgrounds. They are regularly invited to participate in co-presentation of films and are provided chances to speak about their organizations and communities before films.

  3. Accessibility: AFFD ensures that their events are accessible to all. This includes providing closed captioning on most films and closed captioning is provided for films without burned in captions when available. All venues are wheelchair accessible.

  4. Youth Outreach: AFFD works with schools and youth programs to introduce Asian cinema to young audiences. We offer discounted tickets and have run a film student block for the last 15 years. This block allows students of all backgrounds to bring their personal, cultural experiences to our audiences.

  5. Filmmaker Support: AFFD provides internship and networking opportunities for emerging film students. Additionally we host filmmaker meetups, mixers, and other events where local filmmakers can come to build their networks.

Remember that these initiatives are just a snapshot of AFFD’s commitment to DEI.