/Film
United Nations Association Film Festival 2025. Messages for the Future:
Oct 16 - 26, 2025
Venues in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto, San Francisco, Stanford University
Event WebsiteAbout
Founded in 1998 by Jasmina Bojic, film critic and educator, UNAFF is an international documentary film festival originally established to honor the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It has grown and earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike for its fearless independence and integrity. In addition to providing early outlets for films, many of which have gone on to win major awards and accolades, UNAFF takes pride in creating a community forum for discovery and dialogue about different cultures, social issues and solutions.
SF/Arts Curator Insight
With so many outstanding features, it’s hard to cite a few, but here goes. The prolific Isaac Asimov, considered the father of science fiction, returns thirty years after his death, courtesy of the AI he predicted, an irony detailed from beyond the grave in “Isaac Asimov: Message to the Future,” while “Nice Girls Don’t Ask” looks back, pondering the “social guidance” films designed to mold, read suppress, female behavior in the 1950s, that wicked decade. And take it higher with “WE WANT THE FUNK!” charting the music’s rhythms and grooves, from its African and gospel roots to James Brown and Funkadelic.
Sura Wood
Contributing Writer, Film
UNAFF - United Nations Association Film Festival
As one of the oldest documentary film festivals in the US, UNAFF has earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike for its fearless independence and integrity. UNAFF prides itself in creating a community forum with year-round programs.
As one of the oldest documentary film festivals in the US, UNAFF has earned the respect of audiences and filmmakers alike for its fearless independence and integrity. UNAFF prides itself in creating a community forum with year-round programs.