CAPE and Janet Yang Productions Fund Four Filmmakers

The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and Janet Yang Productions announced on March 11, 2024, that four filmmakers have been awarded $25,000 each to produce their short films. This funding is part of the inaugural Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge, aimed at supporting emerging cinematic talent.

The selected filmmakers are Keshni Kashyap Nilsson, whose project is titled “The Shoe Burglars”; Nayon Cho, with “Stigma”; Patricia Lee, presenting “Wasted Resources”; and Tiffany Lin, whose film is named “Hunger.” These individuals were chosen from a competitive pool of applicants, with their projects set to receive comprehensive support from CAPE and Janet Yang Productions throughout their production phases.

The jury for the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge includes notable figures from the entertainment industry. Among them are Auli‘i Cravalho, known for her role in Disney's "Moana," and producer Faris Al-Shathir, who was involved with the critically acclaimed film "Anora." The jury's selection process focused on identifying compelling narratives and innovative directorial visions, underscoring the challenge's commitment to fostering diverse storytelling.

Janet Yang, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and head of Janet Yang Productions, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. She highlighted the importance of providing resources and platforms for storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds. CAPE, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing Asian Pacific representation in entertainment, co-launched the challenge to amplify these voices and contribute to a more inclusive industry landscape. The grants are intended to cover production costs and facilitate the completion of the selected short films.