JoySauce Film Festival (1)

Festival start: 06 February 2027      Festival end: 20 February 2027

Support the filmmakers. Support the culture.

Great films deserve to keep finding audiences. The inaugural JoySauce Film Festival celebrates AAPI filmmakers and storytellers by connecting exceptional independent cinema with new audiences, industry voices, and a community that believes in the power of representation. Whether your film is completing its festival journey or looking for its next opportunity, we want to help meaningful stories continue to be discovered.

Your story deserves an opportunity to be seen. Submissions to the inaugural JoySauce Film Festival are completely free.

ONE FESTIVAL. TWO DISTINCT EXPERIENCES.

A digital celebration of independent AAPI cinema, complemented by an intimate Los Angeles showcase bringing filmmakers, audiences, and industry voices together. Submissions can be reserved for in- person only, Video on demand (behind sign-in) and Streaming A film invited to screen in Los Angeles is not required to stream, and apart from the winners, who all screen in Los Angeles, selection for the digital festival does not guarantee an in-person screening.

The digital festival : Selected films that stream are on demand on JoySauce from February 6 to 27, 2027. Feature films and shorts stream only if the filmmaker opts in. From February 6 to 20, curated showcase blocks run on JoySauce's mobile app and free streaming (FAST) channels on Roku, Prime Video, Plex, YouTube and more, for films eligible for FAST. Viewers vote for Fan Favorite in an online poll. For featured films who decide not to opt in for streaming will be considered for our in person film festival in Los Angeles but will not be eligible for the fan favorite award.

The Los Angeles showcase: An intimate celebration of cinema and community on February 20, 2027. Join filmmakers, storytellers, and film lovers for screenings of the festival winners and a curated selection of films, plus filmmaker conversations.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

Pilots/Series (20–60 minutes), Shorts (40 minutes or less) and features (41 minutes or more) with an Asian or AAPI filmmaker in a key creative role, or an Asian or AAPI lead or majority cast. Filmmakers anywhere in the world can enter. We especially welcome films nearing the end of, or that have completed, their festival run.

Films are evaluated on storytelling, originality, and creative merit. There is no rating restriction, but anything the JoySauce Jury deems R-rated or above cannot run on FAST (it can still stream on demand). Exhibition opportunities are determined separately based on available rights, platform standards, and programming considerations. FAST channel placement is an additional opportunity for eligible films and is not required for festival consideration.

YOUR FILM, YOUR RIGHTS

Selected filmmakers may be invited to participate in digital programming, in-person screenings, or both, subject to separate agreements and applicable eligibility requirements. Select films will be invited to participate in the in-person film festival, streaming not required to be eligible for selection.

KEY DATES:

Submissions open: October 27th, 2026
Submission deadline (free entry): December 20th, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific
Selections announced: January 20, 2027
Digital festival: February 6–27, 2027 (FAST showcase blocks February 6–20)
Los Angeles showcase and awards: February 20, 2027 (Subject to change).

Questions? Email: filmfestival@joysauce.com
More at joysauce.com/film-festival

BEST FEATURE
Determined by the JoySauce Jury: A film can win without streaming.

BEST SHORT
Determined by the JoySauce Jury. A film can win without streaming.

BEST SERIES/PILOT EPISODE
Determined by the JoySauce Jury. A film can win without streaming.

FAN FAVORITE
Determined by an online poll of viewers during the digital festival, February 6–13, 2027, giving audiences who would not otherwise have access to these films a say. Only films that stream are eligible.

Winners are celebrated at the Los Angeles showcase on February 20, 2027, where the winning films screen.

ELIGIBILITY
1. Films must have an Asian or AAPI filmmaker in a key creative role (director, writer or producer), or an Asian or AAPI lead or majority cast.

2. Filmmakers from any country may enter.

3. Films must be completed by the submission deadline, December 20, 2026.

4. Shorts must be 40 minutes or less, including credits. Features must be 41 minutes or more. Series/Pilot Episodes must be 20–60 minutes.

5. Non-English films must include English subtitles.

6. Submissions are free. You may submit more than one film; each film is a separate entry.

CONTENT
7. There is no rating restriction. Films are evaluated on storytelling, originality, and creative merit.

8. Any film the JoySauce Jury deems R-rated or above cannot run on FAST. FAST channel placement is also subject to each platform's content standards. It is an additional opportunity, not a requirement for the in-person festival consideration. Films that do not meet FAST standards may be offered on-demand (VOD) exhibition only. Filmmakers are not required to create an alternate cut, but may submit an alternative version if they wish to meet streaming eligibility.

COPYRIGHT
9. The filmmaker must hold the rights to all elements within the film, including but not limited to music, footage and images to be eligible for fast streaming. Filmmaker must hold festival license to all elements within the film including but not limited to music footage and images to be eligible for VOD.

EXHIBITION AND RIGHTS
10. Submission does not automatically grant exhibition or distribution rights after the film festival completes. Selected filmmakers may be invited to participate in digital programming, in-person screenings, or both, subject to separate agreements and applicable eligibility requirements.

11. Feature films stream only if the filmmaker explicitly opts in, in writing. Shorts selected for the competition are invited to stream in the digital festival. Any streaming agreement will clearly define the platforms, territories, exhibition period, and promotional permissions before anything goes live.

11.B All filmmakers selected to advance will be required to sign a contract confirming opt in for streaming and licensing type where appropriate.

12. The digital festival and the Los Angeles showcase are separate opportunities meaning you do not have to stream on our fast channels to participate in person. The winners screen in Los Angeles; otherwise, digital selection does not guarantee an in-person screening.

13. Some festivals restrict films that have been available online or premiered elsewhere. Check the rules of festivals you are still applying to before agreeing to stream.

JUDGING AND AWARDS
14. A screening committee reviews every eligible submission, with shorts, features, and Series/Pilot Episodes scored separately. The JoySauce Jury determines Best Feature, Best Short, and Best Series/Pilot Episode.

15. Best Feature, Best Short, and Best Series/Pilot Episode are open to all selected films, including films that do not stream or are not featured on our app. Fan Favorite is determined by an online poll of viewers during the digital festival and is open only to films that stream. Full poll rules are published when voting opens; votes or entries may be disqualified for vote manipulation.

SELECTED FILMS
16. Selections are announced January 20, 2027.

17. Films that stream deliver a final digital master meeting JoySauce's streaming specifications, closed captions, and a signed agreement by January 25, 2027.

18. No DCP is required. If a film invited to screen in Los Angeles is not already theater-ready, JoySauce prepares the screening version from the streaming master.

18a. Filmmakers may submit promotional materials (e.g. key art, trailers). JoySauce has the right to not use these materials, or to use some or all of them in the promotion of the festival.

DEADLINE
19. The submission deadline is 11:59 pm Pacific Time on December 20th, 2026.

GENERAL
20. JoySauce's programming decisions and the JoySauce Jury's decisions are final.
21. JoySauce may change festival dates or format if necessary and will notify entrants.

Questions: filmfestival@joysauce.com