Press Releases, Spring Showcase 2026

The 15th SDAFF Spring Showcase Unveils Exciting Film Lineup, Opening with Local Filmmaker Benito Bautista’s THE ROAD TO SYDNEY

April 22, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carmela Prudencio, Carmela@sdaff.org, 951-265-1544
SAN DIEGO, March 30, 2026

The 15th SDAFF Spring Showcase Unveils Exciting Film Lineup, Opening with Local Filmmaker Benito Bautista’s THE ROAD TO SYDNEY

San Diego, March 30, 2026 — Pacific Arts Movement proudly announces the full film lineup for the 15th San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) Spring Showcase, returning April 24–26, 2026 for a dynamic, three-day celebration of Asian and Asian American cinema. 

Held at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley, this year’s Spring Showcase offers a curated and high-energy weekend experience, spotlighting bold storytelling and diverse perspectives from across the globe.

The festival opens with The Road to Sydney, directed by San Diego-based filmmaker Benito Bautista, founder of San Diego Filipino Cinema. A longtime champion of Filipino and diasporic storytelling, Bautista’s latest work brings a deeply personal and locally rooted voice to the festival’s Opening Night, underscoring San Diego’s role as a vital hub for Asian American filmmaking.

A highlight of the program is Bashu, the Little Stranger, the landmark Iranian film by Bahram Beizai. Widely regarded as a masterpiece of Iranian cinema, the film explores themes of war, displacement, and belonging through the story of a young boy navigating cultural and linguistic divides. Its inclusion in this year’s lineup reflects the festival’s commitment to showcasing globally significant works that continue to resonate across generations.

Also featured is I Want Your Sex, the latest film from acclaimed director Gregg Araki, known for his bold and subversive storytelling. The film features Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, and Charli XCX, and continues Araki’s exploration of desire, identity, and youth culture with his signature provocative edge.

Closing Night will feature Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon, a documentary on the legendary composer whose music shaped pre-1975 Saigon. Through archival footage and personal histories, the film traces how his legacy lives on across the Vietnamese diaspora.

Additional films in the lineup include:

• Bring Him Down to a Portable Size
• Diamond Diplomacy
• A Foggy Tale
• Marama
• Republic of Pipolipinas

The 2026 program features films from Aotearoa New Zealand, China, Iran, Japan, the Philippines, Taiwan, and more—highlighting emerging voices alongside acclaimed filmmakers whose work reflects the richness and complexity of the Asian and Asian American diaspora.

Tickets for the 15th SDAFF Spring Showcase go on sale March 30, 2026. For the full lineup and more information, visit sdaff.org.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Opening Night – The Road To Sydney | Friday, April 24, 7:00 PM: A Filipino traveler embarks on a personal journey abroad, confronting identity, distance, and the meaning of home along the way.

Diamond Diplomacy | Saturday, April 25, 1:30 PM: A gripping story where the high-stakes world of international baseball becomes entangled with power, politics, and the hidden economy behind the game.

Bashu, the Little Stranger | Sunday, April 26, 5:00 PM: A war-displaced boy finds refuge with a rural family, navigating language, culture, and belonging in an unfamiliar land.

Closing Night – Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon | April 26, 7:30 PM: A documentary tracing the life and enduring legacy of composer Y Vân, whose music continues to echo across generations of the Vietnamese diaspora.

Q&A OPPORTUNITIES*:

Cast and crew are scheduled to appear from The Road To Sydney, Diamond Diplomacy, and Y Vân: The Lost Sounds of Saigon may be available for Q&A sessions after their screenings, as well as for pre-festival interviews.

PRESS CREDENTIALS:

All press must be credentialed prior to Opening Night—April 18, 2026. Press can register for credentials by filling out a media accreditation form. For press kit materials, please contact media@sdaff.org.

*Interviews available: For interviews with filmmakers, actors, or festival staff and a list of available screeners, please fill out a media accreditation form and contact media@sdaff.org.

TICKETING:

Tickets for individual screenings can be purchased through film pages or the schedules page on this website sdaff.org/spring2026. Tickets are also available at the UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas concession stand and kiosk starting April 17th. All ticket sales are final. 

For ticketing info, full film details, and schedule, please visit sdaff.org or email boxoffice@pacarts.org. To learn more about Pac Arts membership, email membership@pacarts.org.

 

###