A film and a conversation: see In Waves with its director in Santa Ana

A Southern California story, in animation

A skateboarder who draws and a surfer who loves the ocean meet in Southern California. Their relationship, and the illness that tests it, are at the center of In Waves, an animated film scheduled to close Viet Film Fest’s in-person screenings on Friday, October 23, 2026.

The Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association, or VAALA, organizes the festival. For readers near Little Saigon, the encore offers both a film and a chance to hear from the people behind it: The Frida Cinema and the festival catalog list a post-screening question-and-answer session with director Phương Mai Nguyễn and author AJ Dungo.

Nguyễn adapted the film from Dungo’s 2019 graphic novel. The festival’s description follows AJ and Kristen as their shared life is disrupted by Kristen’s illness. Drawing and surfing connect the characters to each other.

That premise is worth distinguishing from a children’s outing. Animation is the medium, not an age recommendation. The festival catalog gives the film a PG-13 rating for thematic material, nudity that includes a full nude image, and some language.

A festival milestone — shared with another film

The screening also marks a change in the festival’s program. According to the festival catalog, In Waves and The Cricket and the Muddy Adventure are its first accepted animated features. In Waves is screening outside the competition.

Nguyễn has a previous connection to the festival. The Frida’s event page says her animated short Chez moi (My Home) won Viet Film Fest’s Grand Jury Trống Đồng Award for Best Short Film in 2016.

For this screening, both the cinema’s description and the festival catalog specify the English-language dub. Their general film metadata also lists French; the event-specific description identifies the version audiences are scheduled to see.

Plan your evening

Eventive lists the film’s running time as 91 minutes. The scheduled Q&A follows the screening; the film’s running time does not include that conversation.

On October 21, 2026, the official ticket page displayed $20 general admission plus a $2.05 fee for one ticket, totaling $22.05 before any optional donation. That is a price checked at a particular time, not a promise of remaining seats.

The Frida directs drivers to the city parking structure behind the cinema and says it does not validate parking. Check its parking page before choosing an entrance.

The evening’s distinguishing feature is the chance to ask the filmmaker and author about the move from page to screen.

If you go

• When: Friday, October 23, 2026, 7 p.m., California time.
• Where: The Frida Cinema, Theater 1, 305 E. 4th Street, Suite 100, Santa Ana, CA 92701.
• Tickets: Official Eventive showing. Check price and availability before traveling.
• Website: thefridacinema.org.
• Parking: The Frida’s parking and bus information.

Translation assisted by AI and reviewed by an editor.