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CAPE and Janet Yang Productions Unveil Short Film Challenge Grants With Auli‘i Cravalho and ‘Anora’ Producer on Jury (EXCLUSIVE)
The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and Janet Yang Productions have awarded four filmmakers grants to make short films through the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge. The initiative aims to support Asian Pacific Islander women and non-binary filmmakers, providing funding and industry exposure at a time when Hollywood diversity gains are described as uneven.
Each selected filmmaker will receive $25,000: Keshni Kashyap Nilsson for “The Shoe Burglars”, Nayon Cho for “Stigma”, Patricia Lee for “Wasted Resources” and Tiffany Lin for “Hunger”. The fifth-year programme’s jury includes Auli‘i Cravalho and “Anora” producer Samantha Quan, and will conclude with a November screening; an earlier supported short by Liz Sargent later became her Sundance-recognised feature “Take Me Home”.
In short
- Four filmmakers receive $25,000 short-film grants.
- CAPE supports API women and non-binary storytellers.
- The programme concludes with a November showcase.
Explained simply
The Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge is a funding scheme run by the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and Janet Yang Productions. It awards grants to independent filmmakers to produce short films and gain experience in the entertainment industry.
The programme targets Asian Pacific Islander women and non-binary filmmakers, who remain underrepresented in Hollywood despite efforts to increase diversity. Each winning filmmaker receives $25,000 to bring their project to life.
The current jury includes actress Auli'i Cravalho and producer Samantha Quan from the film "Anora". The programme has a track record of success: a previous winner, Liz Sargent, later developed her short into a feature that won recognition at Sundance.
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