An observational-participatory documentary capturing the fierce struggle against anti-Asian hate in the wake of COVID-19. Told through the lens of a community filmmaker, Guardians of Oakland Chinatown reveals the physical and cultural guardians—elders, business owners, women—who refuse to let violence erase their neighborhood. As attacks escalate, these protectors deploy everything from patrols to intergenerational storytelling, transforming trauma into resistance.

Director Biography - Jiayi Li

Jiayi Li (Kayi) is a Chinese-American director, cinematographer, and editor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her work bridges the intimate and the urgent, crafting deeply personal narratives that illuminate the broader struggles of immigrant communities. Fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Toishanese, Li creates fiction and non-fiction films that center immigrant community narratives, addressing housing inequality, language access barriers, and anti-Asian hate. Her work explores themes of resilience, memory, and cultural preservation while amplifying underrepresented voices through community-centered storytelling.