12 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Filmmakers Selected for the Annual Program to Strengthen Representation in Independent MediaSAN FRANCISCO, CALIF., February 13, 2025 - The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and the nonprofit Sundance Institute have partnered for a third year of the Sundance Institute | The Asian American Foundation Fellowship and Scholarship, providing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) artists working in film and television with professional development resources and opportunities to connect with peers and mentors. The initiative supports creatives at all stages of their career from emerging artists to more seasoned professionals with the goal of meaningfully increasing AANHPI representation in independent media.
TAAF's support for the program underscores its commitment to narrative change, promoting more diverse and nuanced portrayals of AANHPIs on screen. Authentic representation in media is about more than just visibility-it's about creating a sense of belonging for our communities, and fostering greater safety and prosperity, said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF. When our stories are told by us with depth and complexity, they can challenge and dismantle stereotypes, strengthen our shared identity, and contribute to a more inclusive society where everyone can thrive.
Each year, the Fellowship program provides six AANHPI artists at critical junctures in their career with a year-long fellowship that focuses on advancing their creative and technical development. Fellows receive creative guidance, practical support, and a $20,000 unrestricted grant. In addition, six emerging AANHPI creatives are awarded Scholarships, which include a year-long artist development experience that offers mentorship from a Sundance artist alumnus, personalized career and project support , and opportunities to engage with Sundance staff and the broader creative community virtually and in person at the Sundance Film Festival. Artists may work in either film or television, across both fiction and nonfiction genres.
Our ongoing partnership with The Asian American Foundation reaffirms our commitment to uplifting AANHPI artists and ensuring their stories influence independent film and television. By offering essential financial and career development support at a pivotal moment in an artist's career, we empower them to thrive and create work that resonates beyond their immediate communities. We're honored to celebrate the third year of the Fellowship and Scholarship and eagerly anticipate the incredible impact these artists will make, said Hajnal Molnar-Szakacs, Director, Artist Accelerator and Women at Sundance at Sundance Institute.
The Sundance Institute | The Asian American Foundation Fellowship and Scholarship was created in 2022 through the generous financial support of founding partners Panda Express, who provided the grant to TAAF, and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to provide artists with grants and year-round resources to help facilitate professional growth and industry connections.
The artists selected for the year three cohort of fellows are:
Nicole Docta
About the Artist: Nicole Docta is an award-winning filmmaker who's focused her career on socially impactful projects and BIPOC stories. Docta was a Special Initiatives Producer at Firelight Media, is a DOC NYC 40 Under 40 Alum, Producers Guild of America Create Alum, Sundance Institute Producer Fellow and Impact Partners Producer Fellow.
Project: Adopting | All adoptions start with a trauma. Through this lens, Adopting explores adoption practices in need of reform. The film explores the emotional journey unique to adopted people and the life-long lessons generations of adoptees have to offer.
Masami Kawai
About the Artist: Masami Kawai is a Los Angeles-born filmmaker of Ryukyuan descent. She was a Sundance Institute Screenwriting and Directing Fellow, participated in Gotham Project Market and Film Independent's FastTrack. Her films have screened in various venues the Rotterdam Film Festival, LACMA, and Palm Springs ShortFest.
Project: Valley of the Tall Grass | A TV/VCR combo set is thrown out, but it survives and circulates through the lives of various working-class indigenous characters of color in an Oregon town. They find forgotten memories, love, and connection through this seemingly obsolete object.
Courtney Loo
About the Artist: Courtney Loo is a writer-director & entrepreneur. She's a 2024 Sundance Institute Screenwriting Fellow and 2023 Almanack Screenwriting Fellow. Her latest short premiered at SXSW 2023. As an entrepreneur, Loo co-founded a management company that reps multi-platinum musicians. Bangbang Teahouse will be her debut feature.
Project: Bangbang Teahouse | Hayley and Mimi - a Chinese American music duo - stop at absolutely nothing to convince their label to release their long-awaited album over a raucous, self-destructive 48 hours in New York City.
Jess dela Merced
About the Artist: Jess dela Merced is a Sundance Institute Episodic Lab fellow, a director in the Disney-ABC Directing Program, one of Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film, a SFFILM Rainin grant recipient, and a Hamptons Screenwriters Lab participant. Her recent writing credits include a feature comedy for Sony.
Project: SPARES | An aging Filipina mother's belief in putting family first is put to the ultimate test when she unexpectedly reignites her passion for bowling, setting off a high-stakes journey of self-discovery.
Jing Wang
About the Artist: Jing Wang, was born in China, where her name means quiet, Wang has made a stark contrast by vocally advocating through her films. They are powerful stories about the immigrant experience, which highlight her commitment to both her craft and her community.
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