EXCLUSIVE: CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) and Janet Yang Productions announced the completed films of the four winners of the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge for Asian and Pacific Islander Women and Non-Binary Filmmakers.
The four short films will premiere February 25th at AMC Theater in Santa Monica. Additionally, the four filmmakers were recognized earlier this week during the Asian Women Empowered luncheon as part of the Asia Society’s 2024 U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit.
The four filmmaker grantees and their funded short films are:
ONLY IN THIS WORLD by Dorothy Xiao | When an empty nester loses her ability to summon her daughter back from the afterlife, she is forced to find help from the person she resents the most: her ex-husband’s mistress.
YOU LEFT ME A GHOST by Kristy Choi | A strange spirit reunites Bennie Kim with her brother in a heaven for those who have died by suicide. Will Bennie stay, too?
FLIGHT 182 by Rippin Sindher | A year after the deadliest attack on the holiest Sikh shrine, a woman must protect her husband from taking a flight that could end his life.
ZARI by Shruti Parekh | Amidst preparations for her sister’s wedding in India, young American Neelu forges a brief and unexpected connection with Zeyb, a quiet sari store clerk harboring a secret.
The second cohort of the Short Film Challenge received $25K per filmmaker thanks to ongoing support from Julia S. Gouw and additional support from the Asian Women Leadership in Philanthropy Fund, Sandra Choi, Cindy Huang, Luyi Khasi, Priscilla S Y Lim, Jean Shim, Monica Suryapranata, and Toni Wang.
The filmmakers also received networking opportunities with Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning Hollywood producer and President of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, Janet Yang, and the CAPE network, along with the opportunity to submit films to potential buyers and platforms with access to industry professionals including agents, managers, producers and studio executives.
Year Two in-kind partners included AMC, Tunnel Post, APM Music, Film Independent, Mrs. Bakewell’s, and more. Dana Ledoux Miller (Showrunner, Thai Cave Rescue), Geena Rocero (Founder, Gender Proud), Geeta Malik (Writer & Director, India Sweets and Spices), Jessica Henwick (Director, Bus Girl & Actor, Glass Onion), Ianeta Le’i (Senior Manager, Indigenous Program, Sundance Institute), Karen Chau (Director, Kids Originals, DISNEY+), Kelly Marie Tran (Raya and the Last Dragon, Lily Topples The World), Mirsada Abdool Raman (Head of Development, Sri & Company), Munika Lay (VP, Film, Miramax), Naomi Scott (Producer, Gettin’ Rad Productions) and Niti Shah (Director, Inclusion and Alumni Program, Academy Gold) served as part of the Year 2 selection jury.
“I never imagined when we launched this initiative that such a plethora of exciting filmmakers would emerge. It made the decision-making very challenging, but also extremely rewarding to discover these four very talented individuals. I am so thrilled that their films will now be spotlighted for all to see,” said Janet Yang.
“With the success of Year 1, including having one of the films premiere at Sundance and become long-listed for an Academy Award, and another winner getting hired to direct a series overseas, we are incredibly excited to support the Year 2 cohort of talented filmmakers,” said Michelle K. Sugihara, CAPE Executive Director. “Given the huge response we’ve received, it is abundantly clear that this program is sorely needed and we are thrilled to be bringing it back for Year 3 – stay tuned for more details.”
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