FAAIM First Thursday’s
AAPI Film Night
Join us on the first Thursday of every month at Haibayo for a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander cinema! From acclaimed classics to overlooked gems and exciting new independent films, our monthly screenings will highlight AAPI stories and filmmakers that deserve an audience. Each month we will be showcasing different short and feature films.
6:00 PM, Every 1st Thursday of the Month
Haibayo Cafe
1132 W Argyle St, Chicago, IL 60640
Southeast Asian American Journeys
October 1st, 2026 - 6 PM
These six short films centering Southeast Asian diasporic voices are all about honoring cultural tradition while fighting for a better future, whether that’s through local activism, community spaces, storytelling, art, or culinary practices.
The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook
October 22nd, 2026 - 6 PM (Special Screening)
The Auntie Sewing Squad is a collective of mostly Asian American and BIPOC women sewists who saved the world at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, addressing feminism, anti-racism, allyship, and destroying white supremacy.
Mystery Movie
November 5th, 2026 - 6 PM
Join us for our special screening of a mystery movie, hand picked by our in-house AAPI Master Film Programmer Tim Hugh! We will be dropping clues in our social media and newsletters soon! Please follow us on Instagram and Bluesky and subscribe to our newsletter!
Past Screenings
Goh Namakura
September 3rd, 2026 - 6 PM
FAAIM First Thursday is proud to present GOH NAKAMURA - A Career Retrospect (so far). Join us and Goh for a lively discussion on his life in front of the microphone as a musician, behind the camera as a composer, and in front of the camera as a actor, then stay for a live musical performance.
Second Helpings
August 6th, 2026 - 6 PM
Whether it’s running a multi-generational family business or building identity and community through familiar flavors, these 6 short films are about cooking, serving, and eating through the lenses of AAPI filmmakers and storytellers.