The Napa Valley Asian American Film Festival is heading back to Napa Valley College this February for a two-day showcase built around Asian American women in film. The program is set to open with HIKARI’s feature Rental Family and to present a Lifetime Legacy Award to veteran actress and producer Kiều Chinh. Organizers say screenings are expected to be followed by post film Q&As and panels that keep attention on women’s work both in front of and behind the camera.
The festival is scheduled for Feb. 6–7 at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center, which regularly hosts local arts events. Local listings and event calendars place the festival at the college’s Performing Arts Center on those dates, and Napa River Inn notes the Feb. 6–7 run on its community events page.
Opening Night Film
Guest director HIKARI is slated to launch the program with Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser as an American actor who takes paid gigs as a stand-in family member in Tokyo. The festival’s film listing lists Rental Family as the opening-night selection, and international outlets have been tracking the movie throughout its festival circuit. The official lineup appears on the program page, alongside reviews that walk through the Tokyo-based premise. NVAAFF, the Financial Times and the Hawai‘i International Film Festival all provide context about the film and its reception.
Lifetime Legacy Award For Kiều Chinh
This year’s program will honor Kiều Chinh with the festival’s Lifetime Legacy Award for Courage in Cinema, spotlighting a career that spans Vietnam and Hollywood. U.S. audiences may know her from The Joy Luck Club and from the Emmy winning documentary Kieu Chinh: A Journey Home. The festival’s announcement, which echoes recognition detailed in profiles of her work, and a quoted statement from Bill Imada both point to an effort to celebrate the filmmakers, artists, and innovators in this year’s program, with the award cited as part of that push. PBS SoCal has outlined her documentary honors, and AsAmNews reported the festival’s decision to name her this year’s honoree.
Festival Focus and Student Programs
For 2026, the festival is branding its spotlight as “Asian American Women in Film,” a theme organizers say will guide curated screenings, industry panels and community discussions. NVAAFF also highlights its investment in local students through scholarships and mentorship opportunities, presenting the festival as both a public showcase and a learning resource for Napa Valley College and the wider region. The NVAAFF about page outlines the programming focus and student initiatives in more detail.
Tickets and Related Events
Organizers are reminding prospective attendees to watch registration windows and gala cutoff dates. AsAmNews noted a registration deadline tied to a related Common Ground conference and awards gala in San Francisco on Jan. 24. For nuts and bolts information about the Napa screenings, including box office contacts and parking details, the college’s Performing Arts Center site lists venue logistics for visitors. The Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center page includes box office information and the campus address.
How This Fits Locally
Only in its second year, the NVAAFF is returning to a community that has already shown interest in Asian American storytelling at the local level. Coverage of last season’s inaugural event described strong engagement with the series and the decision to base it at Napa Valley College, noting a growing regional appetite for film programming centered on AANHPI voices in Wine Country. The Press Democrat reported on the debut and the choice of venue in its write-up of the festival’s first year.
