Pacific Arts Movement
Pacific Arts Movement is a San Diego 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces the San Diego Asian Film Festival (150+ films from 30+ countries annually) and the Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema, serving San Diego County audiences and the AAPI community through festival programming, filmmaker engagement, and youth education via the Reel Voices documentary program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Pacific Arts Movement does
Pacific Arts Movement is a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit media arts organization founded in 2000 that presents Asian and Asian American Pacific Islander cinema to local audiences. Its core product is the annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), self-described as the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, which in its 26th edition (November 6-15, 2025) screened 150+ films from 30+ countries across six partner venues in San Diego County. A secondary product, the Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema, is a three-day spring event in its 15th edition (April 24-26, 2026). Supporting programming includes the Chew the Scene culinary launch event (paused in 2025), the Reel Voices high school documentary filmmaking program (operating 20+ years), an internship pipeline, and school partnerships.
The organization has no proprietary technology stack, software platform, or AI/ML infrastructure disclosed; operations are event-driven and rely on venue partnerships, online ticketing at sdaff.org, and grassroots marketing across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and an email newsletter. Its primary assets are curatorial (programming expertise under Artistic Director Brian Hu), relational (filmmaker and international festival connections including Cannes, TIFF, Venice, Busan, and Tribeca), and reputational (26 years of continuous festival operation).
Revenue is diversified across five streams: ticket sales ($12-$35 per individual screening, festival passes starting at $215), recurring membership fees, tax-deductible individual donations (including a Sustaining Donor Program), corporate sponsorships for the festival and events, and an annual Awards Gala that functions as the signature fundraiser. Pricing includes a $2 General Admission discount for students, seniors, and San Diego Public Library cardholders, and free admission for high-school-aged youth and younger. The organization does not publish revenue figures, and as a private nonprofit has no parent company, institutional investors, or subsidiaries.
Pacific Arts Movement firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pacific Arts Movement
- Legal name
- Pacific Arts Movement
- Website
- https://pacarts.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pacific Arts Movement is a San Diego 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces the San Diego Asian Film Festival (150+ films from 30+ countries annually) and the Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema, serving San Diego County audiences and the AAPI community through festival programming, filmmaker engagement, and youth education via the Reel Voices documentary program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pacific Arts Movement industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Film Festival and Media Arts Programming
- NAICS
- Other Performing Arts Companies (71119), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits (BPAGAHAJ), Visual Arts & Media Arts Programs (Art Club, Photography, Film) (EDAJAJAF)
Keywords
Where Pacific Arts Movement is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pacific Arts Movement business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual film screenings and festival passes at the San Diego Asian Film Festival and Spring Showcase events.
- Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, including a Sustaining Donor Program for recurring support.
- Membership Program: Annual membership program providing benefits and access to Pac Arts events and community.
- Gala and Event Sponsorships: Annual Awards Gala serves as signature fundraising event with sponsorship opportunities for corporate partners.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship packages for film festivals and events from local and national businesses.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual Screening Tickets |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Festival Passes |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Student/Senior/Library Discount |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Free Admission |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Pacific Arts Movement product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media arts organization that produces and presents the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) and related year-round film programming, educational programs, and community events that showcase Asian and Asian American cinema and filmmakers.
Product overview
Pacific Arts Movement operates as a nonprofit media arts organization presenting a portfolio of film festival and education programs. The core offerings include the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) — the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast — and the Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema, both spanning multiple venues across San Diego County. Supporting programs include Chew the Scene (a culinary-themed festival launch event), the Reel Voices documentary filmmaking program for high school students, Internships for developing creatives, and School Partnerships. The organization also hosts an annual Awards Gala as its signature fundraising event.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF): The largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast, presented annually by Pacific Arts Movement
- Spring Showcase of Asian Cinema
- Chew the Scene
- Reel Voices
Products and services
- San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF)
Quantifiable outcome
- 26th annual festival edition demonstrates sustained community engagement and organizational longevity
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Pacific Arts Movement
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pacific Arts Movement technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Pacific Arts Movement partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Pacific Arts Movement competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Dallas Asian Film Festival: Regional AAPI film festival presenting Asian cinema to Dallas-Fort Worth audiences. Comparable as a regional-scale Asian film festival with similar educational and community programming components.
- Austin Asian American Film Festival: Smaller-scale regional AAPI film festival serving Texas audiences with Asian and Asian American cinema programming. Comparable in festival model and educational mission though operating in a different region with a smaller programming footprint than SDAFF.
Direct peers
- Hawaii International Film Festival: Long-running fall film festival presenting Asia-Pacific cinema alongside Pacific Islander programming. Peer based on 40+ year legacy of showcasing Asian and Asian American cinema through multiple venues with educational and cultural programming components.
- Center for Asian American Media (CAAM): Bay Area nonprofit that produces CAAMFest, the largest Asian American film festival in San Francisco. Directly comparable as an AAPI media-arts nonprofit presenting a flagship annual film festival alongside year-round education and community programming.
- Visual Communications: LA-based nonprofit media arts organization that produces the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Peer based on shared AAPI media-arts nonprofit mission, annual festival platform, and educational/community programming for emerging Asian American filmmakers.
- New York Asian Film Festival: Annual showcase of contemporary Asian cinema held in New York. Comparable as a regional AAPI film festival with curated international programming, filmmaker Q&As, and theatrical venue partnerships serving a major metropolitan Asian American audience.
- Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival: Canadian festival dedicated to Asian and Asian diaspora cinema with year-round programming. Comparable as a North American AAPI film festival operating a multi-venue annual showcase plus education and community engagement components.
Broad incumbents
- Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: National AAPI cultural institution presenting programming in media arts, film, and storytelling. Comparable as an AAPI cultural/arts presenter at a larger institutional scale, with year-round programming that intersects Pacific Arts Movement's media arts mission.
Emerging players
- CAAMFest (presented by Center for Asian American Media): Spring-summer festival presented by CAAM. Closely overlaps with SDAFF in mission, programming, and education components, and competes for filmmakers and audience attention from the same Asian American cinema ecosystem.
- Asian American Film Centre: AAPI-focused cinema organization developing educational and exhibition initiatives. Comparable in mission and Asian American media-arts focus, though operating at a smaller scale than Pacific Arts Movement's annual festival platform.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Pacific Arts Movement social profiles
Digital presencePacific Arts Movement financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pacific Arts Movement leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Pacific Arts Movement funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pacific Arts Movement M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pacific Arts Movement
What does Pacific Arts Movement do?
Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit media arts organization that produces and presents the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF) and related year-round film programming, educational programs, and community events that showcase Asian and Asian American cinema and filmmakers.
Is Pacific Arts Movement a public or private company?
Pacific Arts Movement is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Pacific Arts Movement founded?
Pacific Arts Movement was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pacific Arts Movement based?
Pacific Arts Movement is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pacific Arts Movement make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising, membership Program, gala and Event Sponsorships and corporate Sponsorships.
Who are Pacific Arts Movement's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Dallas Asian Film Festival and Austin Asian American Film Festival. Direct peers are Hawaii International Film Festival, Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Visual Communications, New York Asian Film Festival and Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is listed as a broad incumbent. Emerging players are CAAMFest (presented by Center for Asian American Media) and Asian American Film Centre.
Does Pacific Arts Movement have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pacific Arts Movement.
What industry is Pacific Arts Movement in?
Pacific Arts Movement's product category is Film Festival and Media Arts Programming. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGABAM, Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking), with a secondary code of BPAGAHAJ, Media Arts & Film/Photography Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 71119 and its SIC code is 7829.