Short films and documentaries exploring Asian American stories take over the Guild Cinema in Nob Hill this Saturday, as the New Mexico Asian American Film Festival returns for its fourth year with a lineup drawing filmmakers from across the country alongside local talent.
According to KOB 4, the idea for an Asian film festival in New Mexico originated with the New Mexico Asian Expo and was later created by the Asian Business Collaborative, with the public backing the concept from the start. The festival has grown enough since then that, per the same report, it has had seasons with standing-room-only attendance. Festival organizer Lava Khonsuwon is affiliated with the event and recommends buying tickets ahead of time given that history.
Tickets run $5, and the station reports they are available online through the Guild Cinema website as well as at the Guild Cinema itself. A separate 2026 listing from Guild Cinema confirms that $5 covers the entire day of screenings, with free entry for Guild Cinema members.
Scheduling Details Vary Slightly by Source
KOB 4 places this year’s festival on Saturday, running from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Guild Cinema in Nob Hill, Albuquerque. A separate account from Yahoo Entertainment lists the date as November 14th, with hours from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Yahoo’s report also describes the lineup as split into three distinct blocks, each featuring multiple short films.
The festival showcases a wide variety of short films made by Asian and Asian American filmmakers, according to a listing from nmfilm.com. That same source describes the event’s mission as lifting up Asian American voices and empowering emerging artists to share their experiences, challenge perspectives, and celebrate their heritage and culture. Those with questions about the lineup or logistics can reach organizers at [email protected], per the nmfilm.com listing.
A $15,000 Prize Headlines This Year’s Awards
Filmmakers in competition can win awards, and this year’s top prize is a notable one: Panavision is providing a $15,000 in-kind gear grant to the best local New Mexico Asian filmmaker, according to KOB 4. Yahoo’s coverage corroborates the award, describing it as a $15,000 in-kind gear grant from Panavision for the best New Mexico filmmaker. The best short film overall will also receive professional software from DaVinci Resolve, per KOB 4.
Festival director Lava Khonsuwon has described the event’s popularity in blunt terms. “We tend to sell out and have standing room only,” Khonsuwon told KRQE in coverage of a prior edition of the event. That report described the festival it covered as the event’s third year, while KOB 4 describes this year’s edition as its fourth.
How the Festival Has Evolved
The festival’s format and price point have shifted over time. The 2023 edition, held Nov. 17 at the Black Cat Cultural Center in Nob Hill, featured two blocks of short films and charged $20 plus fees for admission, according to a report from the Albuquerque Journal. That year’s awards went to Andy Bui’s “Hair Like Snow” for Best New Mexico Filmmaker and Keli’i Grace’s “APPA” for Best Film, per the same report.
This year’s event moves the action to the Guild Cinema with a lower ticket price and an expanded roster pulling in filmmakers from across the U.S. alongside local New Mexico talent, according to KOB 4. With a history of sold-out, standing-room-only crowds, organizers are again urging attendees to grab tickets early.