For over 40 years, CAAM (Center for Asian American Media) has been dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. As a nonprofit organization, CAAM funds, produces, distributes, and exhibits works in film, television, and digital media. This year they are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their CAAMFest event.

CAAMFest is the world’s leading showcase for new Asian American and Asian film, food, and music programs. This year they are excited to spotlight the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District and Filipinx films and filmmakers in San Francisco, California. The event takes place May 12-22, 2022, and will hold in-person and virtual events in celebration of Asian and Asian American voices.

MYX is proud to be partnering with CAAMFest as an official Media Partner for this year's event. We will be conducting an exclusive interview with participating talent, Kiyomi who you can catch at the "Pinays On The Rise" program during CAAMFest, and we will also be covering some of the in-person events as well. So stay tuned. For now, check out some program highlights below and get full details for the event HERE.

IN-PERSON EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

Saturday, May 21, 2022

SOMA Pilipinas Community Engagement
12:30PM | Yerba Buena Gardens, Free Event
Thúy Trần, Festival and Exhibitions Director at CAAM, introduces our spotlight for CAAMFest40 on the SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. A celebration of the generations of Filipinos throughout San Francisco and beyond, the event partners with community organizations such as Bindlestiff and Balay Kreative. SOMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District organizations and supporters are invited to participate in creating the art installation that will find a home later in the district. 

DIRECTIONS IN SOUND: Pinays On the Rise
1:00PM | Yerba Buena Gardens, Free Event
Following the introduction of the SOMA Pilipinas Community Engagement, and, in partnership with the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, revel in an outdoor music showcase featuring emerging Pinay voices. Up-and-coming turntablist and SOMA resident, DJ Bitesize, will start the event by spinning and scratching party tunes. Ouida, named one of Nylon Magazine's rising musicians, blends catchy pop melodies with jazz, R&B, and blues. Closing out the concert will be Union City’s own singer-songwriter Kiyomi, who brings R&B stylings based on personal experiences. 

• Artists Kiyomi, Ouida, and DJ Bitesize are all Filipinx and originally from the Bay Area 

CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION, NARRATIVE FILM: LEONOR WILL NEVER DIE* 
5:30PM | SFMOMA Phyllis Wattis Theater
Directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar 
What if you could change what was happening before your very eyes? Genres collide in this wild tale of an aging filmmaker who becomes the hero of her own unfinished script, after she's knocked into a coma by a television. 

• Filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar is Filipinx
• Actors Sheila Francisco, Bong Cabrera, Rocky Salumbides, Anthony Falcon are Filipinx
• The film was acquired by Music Box Films and won the Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit at Sundance, making filmmaker Martika Ramirez Escobar the first Filipinx feature director to win an award

Sunday, May 22nd

LOVE & CORONA*, directed by Nicole Maxali
Part of the Shorts Program: HOMEGROWN
2:30PM | New Parkway Theater 1
After losing her job during the pandemic, an energetic wallflower conducts virtual dates on a subscription service site—and perhaps love will go from URL to IRL along the way.

• Filmmaker Nicole Maxali is Filipinx and local to Daly City. Nicole is also Program Manager of Balay Kreative, a Filipino Arts Accelerator in SOMA.
• Actors Kristiana Torregosa, Francis Lansang, Jeff Francisco, and Giancarlo Cariola are Filipinx. Giancarlo is also an active member of the local SOMA theater company, Bindlestiff.