GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina is home to a number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and this month, the Greensboro History Museum partnered with an advocacy group to host a film festival showcasing the creativity within the area's Asian community.

What You Need To Know

  • AAPI Short Film Fest hosted by Pave N.C. at the Greensboro History Museum

  • The festival organizer says the films help to break stereotypes surrounding the Asian community

  • Six film makers from the Triad showcased their short films highlighting the Asian and Asian American community

Paul Beyun submitted a film on his Kenya travels for the AAPI Short Film Fest, hosted by Pave N.C. at the Greensboro History Museum.

“Let's embrace Asian community, but let's also address some issues that we need to talk about and strengthen our community. And, also celebrate, you know,” Beyun, a Greensboro filmmaker and videographer, said.

The festival organizer says the films help to break stereotypes surrounding the Asian community.

“It's always good to talk about just individuality and then talk about just hard topics such as, like, different races, different religions having to mix together,” Beyun said.

Six film makers from the Triad showcased their short films highlighting the Asian and Asian American community.

Beyun says showing the films and discussing them with the audience after gives all the filmmakers a sense of pride.

“The panel is important because it makes people say their truth. Like sometimes they say good things about the world, and sometimes it talks about the pains that we had,” Beyun said.

When it comes to the films Beyun creates, he showcases the different backgrounds of his travels.

“I just want to show, like the real, real side of things, like, so my Kenya video, I didn't want to just show zebras and lions and resorts and hotels,” he said.

Beyun is Korean, and says even though people are from different backgrounds, their experiences bring people together, which is why he began filming all of his travels.

“All cultures are beautiful and we shouldn't be so scared to go to certain countries, or we shouldn't stereotype like continents, you know, like that's what happens here. Most people don't go to certain parts of the world,” Beyun said.

There are more than 20 Asian Film Festivals worldwide, according to the AsianFilmFestivals.com.