San Francisco, CA — SEARAC is proud to announce the world premiere of Southeast Asian American Journeys, a powerful docuseries produced in association with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). This landmark series, part of the Our Roots, Our Power campaign, commemorates the 50th anniversary of Southeast Asian American (SEAA) refugee resettlement and uplifts unique stories of community strength, survival, and self-determination.
Under the visionary leadership of SEAA filmmakers, Southeast Asian American Journeys explores the lived experiences of five communities across the United States. Three of the five episodes (two episodes forthcoming) recently premiered at CAAMFest 2025, the nation’s leading showcase for films from Asian America and beyond.
The featured short films shown at CAAMFest 2025 included:
- Threads by Quyên Nguyen-Le – A powerful look into the histories and present-day lives of Montagnard communities, the largest indigenous group resettled in North Carolina following the Vietnam War.
- Teb Chaw (Land) by Joua Lee Grande – A celebration of Hmong refugee farmers in Minnesota, preserving ancestral agricultural knowledge while transforming local food systems.
- The Market by Oanh-Nhi Nguyen – A vibrant portrait of the Southeast Asian Market at FDR Park in South Philadelphia, built by refugee vendors as a space for cultural exchange and belonging.
“Growing up in America as a child of Lao refugees, the history of how we got here was never taught in school and what was shown about us in the media was never presented in a positive light — if we were even lucky enough to be acknowledged as Southeast Asians. Being included in the telling of this narrative about the vendors in FDR Park who have been an integral part of my ’80s South Philly childhood means alot for me to be able to represent them. War may have displaced and resettled our diasporas, while immigration and assimilation was definitely a struggle—but the way we found community in each another and now thrive together is a special story I’m proud to share.” — Catzie Vilayphonh, Founder of Laos in the House and Southeast Asian Market Community Cultivator for the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia.
“The growth, prosperity, and vitality of our cities can directly be linked to immigrant communities and their unsung contributions. In Philadelphia, the Southeast Asian community has been active cultivators and stewards of various city spaces to become vibrant and welcoming hubs. As former refugees, we were relocated in neighborhoods from which we continued to live, work, and play. From local parks, commercial corridors, and shopping plazas throughout our city, the Philly Southeast Asian community has only increased worth, value, and pride.” — Sarun S. Chan, Executive Director, Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
“Growing up in North Carolina, I didn’t know who I was or much about my tribe. Now I know better — I come from a legacy of strong community fighters, healers, and storytellers. Our elders and ancestors have endured imperialism, war, and persecution, and as a descendant of that legacy, I feel their strength pulsing through me. The launch of Southeast Asian American Journeys makes us — and our stories — visible. It stands as a testament to our community’s power, the resilience of our elders, and the pride our youth carry in their Montagnard heritage. Our ancestors have long fought against erasure on so many levels, and I’m thrilled to see our stories uplifted. We are a resilient people who have planted roots in cities and towns where we were never meant to thrive. Our roots are deeply connected; we are intertwined with the struggles of Black and Brown communities, planting a future where all of us can thrive.” — Sun H, Community Engagement & Power Building Director at SEAC Village
“Preserving culture isn’t about staying in the past — it’s about honoring where we came from so we can move forward with strength, pride, and heal.” — Sachi, a community leader featured in Threads.
“This is a small offering to deepen our coalition with one another as Southeast Asian Americans. Though our migrations were shaped by the same interconnected militarized violence, it oftentimes diverged into vastly different experiences of resettlement across the United States. The intertwined story of the Viet Nam War, the Secret War in Laos, and the Khmer Rouge’s genocide in Cambodia remains largely under-discussed — especially how it affected indigenous and ethnic minority communities. I’m hoping this series will inspire thoughtful conversations about what we can still forge together even half a century later.” — Quyên Nguyen-Le, Series Producer and Director of Threads
“This series recognizes the hard truths of the past while celebrating the ways Southeast Asian American communities have become vital threads in the tapestry of America, making waves that have gone rather unnoticed in the mainstream. It invites viewers in, offering an authentic glimpse into our communities’ experiences over the past half century and giving us an idea of what’s to come.” — Joua Lee Grande, Director of Teb Chaw (Land)
“Southeast Asian stories deserve to be amplified, and it’s high time to elevate Southeast Asian filmmakers who can authentically portray what happened to our communities during and after the war — from our perspective, in our voices, and with our truths — to showcase the struggle and resilience we’ve experienced over the past 50 years.” — Oanh-Nhi Nguyen, Director of The Market
“Our Roots, Our Power represents how Southeast Asian American stories must be invested in, and for CAAM, working with the team behind the camera was transformative and inspiring.” — Donald Young, Executive Director of CAAM
“This series is an act of remembrance, reclamation, and resistance. For 50 years, Southeast Asian American communities have turned trauma into transformation. Our docuseries honors that journey and makes space for new generations to see themselves in stories of strength, healing, and joy.” — Quyên Đinh, Executive Director of SEARAC
Those interested in hosting a screening may fill out the form linked here.
About Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC):
SEARAC is a national civil rights organization that builds power with diverse communities from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to create a socially just and equitable society. As representatives of the largest refugee community ever resettled in the United States, SEARAC stands together with other refugee communities, communities of color, and social justice movements in pursuit of social equity.
About Center for Asian American Media (CAAM):
For 45 years, the CAAM has been dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. As a nonprofit organization, CAAM funds, produces, distributes, and exhibits works in film, television, and digital media. For more information, please visit CAAMedia.org.
