-*+ will showcase a rich array of South Asian films and narratives, celebrating the diverse experiences of Asian American communities from May 7-10 in San Francisco.
CAAMFest 2026 is gearing up for its 44th year, set to take place from May 7 to 10 in San Francisco. This year’s festival promises a vibrant selection of over 60 films that highlight the contemporary narratives of Asian American communities, with a particular focus on South Asian and Indian diaspora stories.
Screenings and panel discussions will be held at the AMC Kabuki in San Francisco Japantown, providing a platform for filmmakers and audiences to engage with the themes presented in the films. The lineup includes a mix of political documentaries and narrative explorations that delve into identity and immigrant life.
The festival will kick off with the opening night documentary, The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas, directed by Eugene Yi. This HBO Original features prominent figures such as Kumail Nanjiani, DJ Rekha, and Nergis Mavalvala, who reflect on their experiences of identity and community.
Among the centerpiece documentaries is The Gas Station Attendant, directed by Karla Murthy. This intimate film explores the immigrant experience through the story of a father’s journey from the streets of India to working night shifts at an American gas station.
The documentary slate for 2026 offers an expansive look at the South Asian American experience across various fields, including technology, sports, and politics. Breaking the Code, directed by Ben Rekhi and Swetlana, follows a son retracing his father’s journey from Indian immigrant to Silicon Valley tech pioneer.
Hoop Like This, directed by Shubhangi Shekhar, showcases the 12 best Indian basketball players from around the globe as they compete for a $1 million prize on ESPN, challenging stereotypes about South Asian athletes.
Seat at the Table, directed by Sarita Khurana and Yoav Attias, chronicles the rise of South Asian Americans in U.S. politics, offering a behind-the-scenes look at campaigns during the 2024 elections. Additionally, Meals that Made Us, directed by Nisha Balaram, explores how food shapes identity within Bay Area Asian American communities.
Another notable documentary is Uncommitted, directed by Razi Jafri, which follows Arab and Muslim grassroots leaders as they strive to redefine American political priorities.
The festival also features narrative films that resonate with the South Asian experience. Jersey Boy, directed by Jaskaran Singh, tells the story of a young Sikh boy grappling with his identity and family in the aftermath of 9/11. Meanwhile, Shakti, directed by Nani Sahra Walker, takes viewers into Kathmandu’s supernatural underworld through the eyes of a single mother.
CAAMFest 2026 will also showcase a diverse range of short films directed by and featuring South Asian artists. 11:11, directed by Mahnoor Euceph, tells the story of a Pakistani American teenager whose wish to become white leads her to struggle with her identity. Comfort Food, directed by Reena Dutt, depicts the clash between an Indian American activist chef from Oakland and her Japanese American mother-in-law.
Other shorts include The Last Resort, directed by Sarita Khurana, which documents a tight-knit community of immigrants at the first-ever Indian retirement complex in the U.S., and Harvest at Camp Two, directed by Rajan Gill and Reaa Puri, a love letter to Yuba City that highlights the history of Punjabi-Sikh farmworkers.
Additional short films include Skin by Urvashi Pathania, which follows an Indian American woman confronting her insecurities about her skin tone, and Two Questions and a Wish by Suhashini Krishnan, which reimagines the Hindu god of the dead navigating the mortal realm. Ghusl, directed by Zaid Hassan, portrays a son confronting mortality while performing a traditional Islamic burial rite for his father.
Other notable shorts featured at the festival include A Very Normal Seeming Man by Allamaprabhu Pattanashetty, Halal Bodies by Nausheen Dadabhoy, Just Potential by Aizzah Fatima, The Boy with the Dinosaur Head by Imran J. Khan, and The Sale by Meera Angelica Joshi.
Tickets for CAAMFest 2026 range from $13 to $80. For more information on tickets and the full programming schedule, visit CAAMFest.com.
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the diversity of Asian American experiences through film, television, and digital media. India Currents is a media partner of CAAMFest.
According to a press release, CAAMFest 2026 promises to be a significant event for celebrating South Asian narratives in the film industry.