AAS Film Expo 2027 Submissions is NOW OPEN
The Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies (CEAPS) at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in partnership with the Association for Asian Studies (AAS), is pleased to announce an open call for films for the AAS 2027 Film Expo. The Film Expo will be held concurrently with the AAS 2027 Annual Conference in Boston, MA, March 18-21, 2027. Documentary and independent films addressing issues reflecting contemporary life in Asia will be programmed and projected in dedicated screening rooms from Thursday, March 18 through Saturday, March 20 during the conference. On-site Q&As and moderated conversations with filmmakers will also be offered as part of the Film Expo program. In addition, the Film Expo offers a virtual on-demand screening option to registered conference attendees who are unavailable for scheduled screening times. The virtual on-demand option is available only to registered attendees on-site in Boston. Films will be accessed through private links provided by the filmmakers/distributors and will be available from Thursday, March 18 through Sunday, March 21, 2027.
All selected films are promoted in a special AAS Film Expo booklet distributed to conference attendees and are listed in the print and digital AAS Annual Conference Program, the Conference Mobile App, and on the AAS and CEAPS websites.
We welcome the submission of films related to Asia produced by scholars and independent filmmakers. Selection criteria include timeliness, broad appeal to the scholarly community, and quality of filmmaking. In considering your submission, please note that attendees viewing films may be seeking titles for research, for classroom use, or for their institutional libraries.
Approximately twenty to twenty-five films will be selected for screening.
The AAS Annual Conference is the premier gathering of more than 3,600 Asian Studies scholars from around the world, featuring emerging research, impactful programming, and networking opportunities across more than 30 academic disciplines. For programming consideration for the 2027 Film Expo, please complete the AAS 2027 FILM EXPO SUBMISSION FORM. Our selection committee reviews films through Vimeo, YouTube, or comparable secure streaming platforms accessible in North America. Submission links must allow films to be streamed without downloading files. Films must be available for review in Full HD (1080p) resolution or higher.
Our film submission deadline is October 16, 2026. We aim to have the selection process completed by December 30, 2026. The program staff will be in touch to confirm acceptances and coordinate Film Expo programming. The official program will be published by January 31, 2027.
Please note:
- All film entries must have English subtitles to be considered.
- Films must have been completed in 2024, 2025, or 2026 to be eligible for consideration.
- We do not accept any films that have been screened at previous AAS Annual Conferences.
- AAS does not pay rental or royalty fees, nor does it charge filmmakers for publicity and exposure. AAS considers the program mutually beneficial to filmmakers and AAS members.
- AAS does not offer financial or travel support for filmmakers to attend the conference screenings. Complimentary conference registration (one registration per film) will be provided to selected filmmakers attending the conference for in-person Q&As.
- Selected films will be required to submit two high-quality promotional images, which may be uploaded at the time of submission or confirmation of acceptance.
- Upon acceptance, selected films will be required to provide a digital film file for Film Expo presentation and a private screener link for virtual on-demand screening.
The AAS Film Expo is curated and organized by the Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies (CEAPS) at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in partnership with the Association for Asian Studies. Questions may be sent to ceaps@illinois.edu with the subject line “AAS 2027 Film Expo/NAME OF FILM.”