2021 AAAFF Documentary Winners

Doc Jury: Matthew Monagle, Robert Sims, Cecilia Lai

Feature Winner, Radiograph of a Family

Few documentaries are as adventurous in form as Radiograph of a Family, the biographical film from Tehran-based filmmaker Firouzeh Khosrovani. Period footage, scripted conversations, and archival media combine to craft a textured look at a woman working towards an uncertain future. In deconstructing family and country from the inside out, Khosrovani also presents an ethereal snapshot of the Iranian Revolution and the disconnected systems of values that left the country ripe for change. Her exploration of her family's shifting dynamics is as challenging as it is beautiful, assembling a tragedy from the fragments and pieces that one mother left behind.

Shorts Winner, Atomic Café: The Noisiest Corner in J-Town

Too often, the Asian-American experience depicted in Hollywood is the experience of the other. Not so in Atomic Café: The Noisiest Corner in J-Town. In this documentary from Akira Boch and Tadashi Nakamura, Atomic Nancy reigns supreme, a second-generation restaurateur who turned her family business into the epicenter of Los Angeles’s 1970s punk scene. This vibrant short offers only a brief glimpse into the world of sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll that put her establishment on the map, but one thing is clear: the ‘70s belonged to the Atomic Cafe. The rest of L.A. just did its best to keep up.

2021 AAAFF Narrative Winners

Narrative Jury: Luxy Banner, Lisa Dreyer, Ananyaa Ravi

Narrative Shorts

Winner, Lucy Dreams

The short film Lucy Dreams defies the ‘shot during quarantine’ restrictions and tropes, with nary a recorded Zoom call in sight. Director Elaine Chu has crafted a tense psychological thriller, ramping up the tension with visuals that grow gradually more and more disturbing. With impressive sound design, imaginative use of a single space, and tight pacing, Chu has an impeccable eye for detail and storytelling.

Honorable Mention, Fishbowl

Director Annie Ning’s Fishbowl is an emotionally honest, beautifully-acted film that resonates on a universal level.

Narrative Features

Winner, Inbetween Girl

Inbetween Girl’s emotional and honest storytelling crafts an endearing coming of age story that captures the nostalgia of growing up without feeling trite or out of touch. This impressive directorial debut by Mei Makino balances charming visuals and a breakout young cast that stole our hearts in this fresh and vulnerable story of growing up and finding yourself.

Honorable Mention: Fan Girl

Our Honorable mention pick goes to Fan Girl, an inventive and thrilling story that keeps audiences on the edge of their seat.