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Alex C. Villafuerte

@alviii

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Executive Director - @pacartsmovement / San Diego Asian Film Festival. County of San Diego Arts & Culture Commissioner

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Thank you @asmcaloza and @senchristophercabaldon for the early recognition of Filipino American History Month in California.

The contributions of pinoys to this state and country cannot be overstated. From healthcare and public service to the labor movement, arts, education, and entrepreneurship, Fil-Ams have helped shape California’s past and continue to build its future.

It felt like home to join folks from across the state as we celebrated our community and recognized the many individuals whose work strengthens California.

Barongs, Filipinianas, lumpia, and the spirit of bayanihan were on full display at the State Capitol today. 🇵🇭🇺🇸 taken in Sacramento, California by @alviii

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2 months ago

This week, we stood alongside arts and culture organizations across San Diego to speak out against proposed budget cuts that would eliminate funding for our sector.

Over the past year, we’ve already felt the impact. We lost federal arts funding. Longtime sponsors stepped away. We’ve had to make difficult decisions just to keep going.

So when we see a proposal like this, it feels like the city is walking away from us at a time when support matters most.

Organizations like Pacific Arts Movement create jobs, drive tourism, and shape the identity of San Diego while making sure residents feel like they belong.

The budget is not final.

👉 Take 30 seconds to share your voice at artsandculturesd.org
👉 Upcoming in-person public comment opportunities are May 4 at 6:00 PM and May 18 at 6:00 PM

For 27 years, Pacific Arts Movement has created spaces where people come together across generations. Where stories are shared. Where communities feel seen and connected.

This is what’s at stake.

Thank you to everyone who continues to show up for arts and culture in San Diego. by @alviii

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6 months ago

Today was a beautiful day. Our community came together to honor a pioneer and civil rights leader. Tita Jhigs was a devout Filipina transgender woman who poured love into her community every chance she got. She fought discriminatory laws, championed transgender rights, raised funds for causes she believed in, uplifted her church, and always supported the people she cared about.

Through her salon, Jhigs Hair Studio, she gave even more, styling the hair of filmmakers, cast, and crew for the San Diego Asian Film Festival Gala for almost two decades. That was part of how she cared for her community.

Her story is powerful and I am grateful that more people will continue to learn about her legacy long after her passing. As an immigrant, she showed how much immigrants contribute to this city and how deeply they shape the communities they call home.

Make sure to visit Penticton Way in Mira Mesa to see the honorary street name dedicated to her.

Thank you to Council President Pro Tem Kent Lee for bringing this forward and making today possible.

While I, like many, miss Tita Jhigs, I know she is celebrating her first heavenly birthday with her Lord and Savior in style. by @alviii

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a year ago

The 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival is in the books!!

We welcomed thousands of guests across San Diego and hosted more than 80 filmmakers from all over the world, including South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brazil, and more.

SDAFF is joyful, chaotic, warm, curious, emotional, and everything in between. It is all because of you. Thank you for showing up, supporting, and believing in this space.

Right before the festival kicked off, I came across a clip of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who is literally a product of Asian film (see Mississippi Masala). He talked about “understanding art beyond simply tourism, beyond simply the fiscal impact. Because so much of the beauty and the value of art is found in neighborhoods far from Museum Mile. And what we need is an administration that looks at those community-based organizations that are providing art to their neighbors as being equally valuable as the same ones we visit on Sundays.”

That lived in my head all SDAFF. That is what we are building here. And you all make it possible.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

@pacartsmovement by @alviii

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a year ago

I was able to sneak away from planning my own film festival to attend @hiffhawaii for the second time. It’s such an incredible festival that truly reflects the community it serves, and I was especially impressed by the new HIFILM Industry Conference, which created so many meaningful opportunities to connect with storytellers and creatives from across the region. It was also wonderful to be back home and spend time with family, friends, and loved ones.

Many of the talented filmmakers featured at HIFF will be joining us soon in San Diego for the 26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival. If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, reach out to me. I’m happy to share recommendations on what to see!

@pacartsmovement by @alviii

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a year ago

It’s here! We’re just about a month away from the 26th San Diego Asian Film Festival.

Our festival team just spent the weekend working through operations, diving into logistics, and learning about this year’s incredible lineup of films and special events.

This year has come with its own set of challenges, but I couldn’t be prouder of our board, team, and volunteers who’ve adapted quickly to make sure we put on an amazing festival.

The films are incredible. Support independent cinema. Support our filmmakers and our stories. Come out, experience it all, and give if you can.

🎬 Lineup and schedule drop this Thursday at 5 PM!

Donate and support: www.pacarts.org/donate taken in UltraStar Mission Valley Cinemas by @alviii

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a year ago

We are excited to introduce our September speaker, Alex Villafuerte!

Alex Villafuerte (he/him) is the Executive Director of Pacific Arts Movement, home of the San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), now in its 26th year as one of the largest showcases of Asian and Asian American cinema in North America. A Filipino American executive with nearly a decade of nonprofit and community leadership, Alex has advanced cultural equity through film, coalition-building, and advocacy for underrepresented communities.
Since becoming Executive Director in 2023, Alex has overseen the organization’s 25th anniversary celebrations, launched new community access programs such as free tickets for high school-aged youth and younger, and deepened partnerships across Southern California’s arts and cultural sectors. Under his leadership, Pac Arts continues to present hundreds of films annually, nurture the next generation of filmmakers through Reel Voices, and bring global stories to local audiences.
Beyond Pac Arts, Alex is co-chair and a founding member of the San Diego API Coalition, convening more than 50 AA & NHPI-serving organizations to foster collaboration and capacity-building across the region. His career has included leadership roles with San Diego Pride, the Asian Business Association San Diego, and NQAPIA, where he has championed intersectional communities and amplified underrepresented voices. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Diversionary Theatre and on the Trustee Advisory Council for the San Diego Community College District.
Born in Oʻahu and raised in San Diego, Alex is a proud graduate of Morse High School and San Diego State University, where he earned a B.A. in Economics.

Save the date September 26th!

#CMSD #CMBlossom #CMSDSpeaker #CreativeMorningsSD by @alviii

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a year ago

Meet the filmmakers behind To Kill a Wolf.

Join Pacific Arts Movement for two special Q&A screenings at Regal Edwards Mira Mesa with writer/director Kelsey Taylor and producer/cinematographer Adam Lee.

📅 Saturday, August 23 at 4PM – Moderated by Pac Arts founder Lee Ann Kim
📅 Sunday, August 24 at 4PM – Moderated by Executive Director Alex Villafuerte

Hear directly and ask questions to the creative team behind To Kill a Wolf!

We’re proud to welcome Kelsey and Adam to San Diego and to celebrate the storytelling journeys sparked by programs like Reel Voices.

🎟 Tickets available via @tokillawolfmovie bio. by @alviii

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a year ago

The final day of our 7-day Spring Showcase landed perfectly on the first day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — and what a way to close it out and ring in May! We were thrilled to partner with our friends at San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) to unveil a special commemorative Pronto card and an MTS bus wrap featuring artwork by Koy Sun - @koysun.

Closing Night felt like a big family reunion as we welcomed filmmaker Jota Mun and their documentary Between Goodbyes to a completely sold-out crowd. We were honored to have our former Executive Director and now–Councilmember Kent Lee join us to celebrate the MTS partnership, and our Founder Lee Ann Kim led a powerful panel with Jota and Ruth, who flew in all the way from Korea for the occasion.

Now, a few of our team members are heading up to LA to support our friends at Visual Communications for the 41st Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Thank you to everyone who showed love to our Spring Showcase and Pacific Arts Movement. Times are complicated, but your continued support reminds us of what’s steady: our audience, our members, and this incredible community.

If you’re looking for a way to give back this AANHPI Heritage Month, there’s still time to support my birthday fundraiser! Donate link in my bio! by @alviii

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a year ago

This past week, several members of our @pacartsmovement team had the incredible opportunity to attend Sundance Film Festival! We connected with fellow Asian Film Festivals across the U.S. and Canada, immersed ourselves in all things Sundance, and were able to experience the world premiere of @thirdactfilm, @weddingbanquetmovie, and other films.

A huge thank you to @sundanceorg for their commitment to equity, inclusion, belonging, and accessibility—providing subsidized tickets to national BIPOC, LGBTQ, and disability organizations supporting artists. This initiative allowed our team to engage with the festival in a meaningful way, gain fresh perspectives, and be inspired by the incredible work showcased at Sundance. Regardless of whether there’s an acronym behind it, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging is at the core of our work.

Grateful to Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience for continuing to create space for Asian and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander filmmakers at Sundance. @apfexp

Film festivals are doing the work to bring diverse stories to audiences around the world so support the ones in your region!

Save the dates for Pac Arts!
Spring Showcase: April 25 – May 1
26th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival: November 6 – 15 taken in Sundance Film Festival by @alviii

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2 years ago

Congratulations to Stephen Gong and the @caamedia team for an amazing first weekend of CAAMFest 2024! It was great to join community in San Francisco as we celebrated Asian and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander cinema and stories!

Our programming team came in full force to scope out the vibes, connect with filmmakers and supporters, and get even more inspired for our very own SDAFF in November. Plenty of planning ahead! Message me to find out how you can get involved. taken in San Francisco, California by @alviii

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Nala was easily the neediest, most anxious dog I’ve ever had. For 16 years, she always wanted to be right where I was including the bathroom and shower. Needless to say I’m going to miss her & it’s gonna take some getting used to.

Goodbye and thank you my little cutie butt. by @alviii

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