New York, July 31 – August 10, 2025 – The 48th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF), the oldest Asian American film festival in the United States, took place in New York. This year’s documentary program featured 12 films from around the world, three of which received nominations.

The Kazakh documentary Gingerbread for Her Father, My Great-Grandfather, Her Grandfather was honored with the Sikay Tang Critical Lens Award. Named after the distinguished director and editor Sikay Tang, this award is presented to documentary works that explore significant social and cultural themes with depth and innovation. Though introduced only last year, it has already become one of the most prestigious honors in AAIFF’s documentary program.

Directed by Alina Mustafina, the film was produced with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the National Film Support Center. Gingerbread for Her Father, My Great-Grandfather, Her Grandfather is an autobiographical journey of three generations of women from one family, traveling through Kazakhstan, Tatarstan, and Poland in search of their roots, language, and self-identity.

The project has previously gained international recognition, including its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, European premiere in Turin, the “Bright Debut” award at the Bastau Film Festival in Almaty, and the Best International Feature Film award at the Cinéma Vérité festival in Tehran. It has also been screened at the Bolzano Film Festival Bozen (Italy) and the ORAI Festival (Kazakhstan).

Since its inception in 1978, AAIFF has been held annually, serving as an important platform for Asian and Asian American filmmakers to present their unique stories and artistic visions to the world.