The Montreal Asian International Film Festival (MAiFF) is the annual film festival of Arts East-West, a Montreal non-profit media arts organisation founded as Ciné-Asie by Mi-Jeong Lee. Launched in 2013 as the Korean Film Festival Canada (KFFC), it takes its current name with its 13th edition in 2026. Korean cinema continues as the festival’s KFFC category, alongside AmérAsia for Asian-Canadian and Asian-American work, East Meets West for films from across Asia and the wider diaspora, and, from 2027, a student section. Each theme runs over two editions, and screenings come with media art exhibitions, workshops, artist talks and roundtables. Under the KFFC name the festival also toured beyond Montreal: in 2023 it screened in Kingston and Vancouver as well.
The juried Dancheong Competition, named after the Korean art of painted temple decoration, is for first and second features by Asian and Asian-Canadian directors; the Silk Thread Awards are drawn from all sections. Audience-voted AEW Public’s Choice Awards were introduced in 2023. The 14th edition, on the theme “Tangibility: Soil, Body, Stories”, runs from 27 May to 12 June 2027.
Awards and prizes
Dancheong Competition (juried): for a director's first or second feature, over 60 minutes and completed after 1 January 2023; films from all programming categories except Student Film are considered. Prizes: Grand Prix / Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Actor, Best Editing.
Silk Thread Awards (juried, chosen from all festival sections): Best Director, Best Actor, Best Artistic Direction, Best Music Score.
Student Film Competition: introduced for the 2027 edition; prizes to be announced.
Competition awards are chosen by an international jury of filmmakers, critics and industry professionals. The Dancheong Competition and the Silk Thread Awards were launched in 2026.
AEW Public's Choice Awards: audience-voted awards introduced in 2023 for the most popular feature films, short films and media artworks. In 2023 the categories were East-West, Wave, Cloud and Soil, and each of the 15 awardees received a handmade bojagi and a cash prize of CAD 60 funded by community donations.
Festival rules
Submissions through FilmFreeway. For the 2027 edition: withdrawal without refund until 28 February 2027; filmmakers are notified by 25 March 2027.
Eligibility: independent films made between 2023 and 2027 that centre Asian perspectives, fit one of the programming categories (AmérAsia, KFFC, East Meets West; Student Film for current students, including high school, CEGEP, undergraduate and graduate) and align with the theme "Tangibility: Soil, Body, Stories". One submission per director. Films centred on gratuitous violence, horror or thriller content are not reviewed.
Language: all languages are accepted; English subtitles are required for non-English films, French subtitles are encouraged.
Premiere status: world, international, North American, Canadian or Quebec premieres are preferred; films shown at festivals outside Quebec and films available online are eligible.
Selected films may be screened up to twice during the festival, at venues and on an online platform; filmmakers keep all rights. Selected filmmakers provide a screening file (DCP or ProRes preferred), promotional materials and rights clearances, and are asked to take part in a Q&A in person or online. Travel and accommodation are not guaranteed.
Filmmakers facing financial barriers can request a fee waiver at info@artseastwest.ca.
