#APAParkCity Returns for Its 19th Edition

By Abraham Ferrer

Perhaps it hasn’t been such a long time to be away from the freezing cold of northern Utah — after all, what’s a mere two years away? But for the organizers of the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Park City, the time away from the snowy ski resort town that hosts the annual Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals has been a seeming forced eternity, as the lethal COVID-19 pandemic swept in almost immediately following the 2000 festivities and rendered virtually all cultural activities as potential super-spreader events. Sure, the time away from Park City compelled organizers to pivot to a virtual Experience in 2021 and 2022, thanks to online meeting technology Remo. Yet there was something…missing from 2021 and 2022, as if everyone was seen, yet missing in action. Surely, “Sundancing from Home” certainly didn’t feel like attending the Festival and all its complications (snow drifts, crowded sidewalks, even more crowded shuttle buses, long wait lines to gain entry into theaters, …you know, the whole nine). And two years of Remo receptions could not in any way make up for that sense of alienation that resulted when we couldn’t gather in-person. So it was a relief when — finally — #APAParkCity organizers could pull together an in-person gathering at arguably the premier showcase for independent cinema of the annual film festival season.

This time out, #APAParkCity organizers — Visual Communications, David Magdael & Associates, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, Center for Asian American Media, Kollaboration, Asian American Media Alliance, and Asians in Hollywood — weren’t presenting their event in a vaccuum. Also planting their flag at Park City was the Sunrise Collective — a coalition of AAPI organizations including 3AD, Gold House, and The Asian American Foundation — whose AAPI-themed house situated in the heart of Park City’s Main Street signified a monumental first in Sundance history. Also flexing their collective muscles were a group of organizations who organized its own house located just off of Main Street, and include Amplify Asian, OCA Greater Houston’s HAAPI Fest, and Iron Light Labs. The Asian Society – Northern California was back to present a Sunday morning panel of AAPI shorts filmmakers. And if that weren’t enough, a first-ever South Asian Lodge was established as part of Sundance activities. The participation of these and other organizations signified a critical mass of AAPI orgs to Park City. On the one hand, after way too many years, the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience would not be the only game in Park City. On the other hand…that was definitely a good thing. Through cross-organizational programming highlighted by a weekend unity breakfast as well as multiple venues and platforms from which to network and meet up, the efforts to CELEBRATE and CENTER our AAPI filmmakers would not occur in isolation.

The activities of the Sunrise Collective’s overflow engagements during Sundance Opening Weekend were well-documented through here and here. The Amplify Asian event, a “Red Rabbit Reception” to herald the Lunar New Year, was equally packed and plied party guests with non-stop soup dumplings and non-stop appetizers and drinks all night long. And not to be outdone, the South Asian Lodge (organized by the non-profit group 1497) packed in a full schedule highlighted by a 20th anniversary conversation celebrating Indo-Brit director Gurinder Chadha’s feature breakthrough BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM.

The activities of the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience capped a busy third and final day at the Sunrise Collective house, located at a spacious restaurant named Riverhorse just a few doors up from the Sundance Film Festival’s Filmmakers Lodge. Despite the inclusion of a cozy back lounge and a balcony bar, Sunrise programs remained at capacity the entire day. As a result, when co-organizers Minji Chang, Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Milton Liu, Michelle Sugihara, and David Magdael took the stage to get things started, the large dining space was already packed — in fact, the space was at standing-room-only status when moderator Anderson Le brought together director/co-screenwriter Sing J. Lee, Co-Producer Jes Vu, and lead actor Dustin Nguyen in a conversation spotlighting director Lee’s THE ACCIDENTAL GETAWAY DRIVER, a U.S. Narrative Competition selection. Lee, a British Hong Konger now living and working in Los Angeles, touched on the distinction of his being a non-Vietnamese American telling a uniquely Vietnamese story, as well as challenges of telling a compelling story in a language that is not his own native tongue.

#APAParkCity co-organizer Minji Chang engaged Milton Liu, David Magdael, and Michelle Sugihara in a short conversation assessing the current landscape for Asian Pacific Americans and other people of color as acculturation and increased opportunities for inclusion presents both pitfalls and opportunities for all. The talk, “Bird’s Eye View / What’s On the Horizon…” was highlighted by Liu’s sneak preview of a forthcoming Broadcast Network TV Assessment assembled by the Asian American Media Alliance. An annual reporting, the Assessment evaluates efforts by the major broadcast television networks to increase both short and long-term inclusion of peoples of color in motion pictures and TV. As David Magdael expounded, AAPI cinema is far more substantial and vital than merely “producing a preponderance of TikTok videos,” which drew hearty and derisive laughs throughout the Riverhorse dining hall. Quickly righting the ship, Magdael emphasized that AAPI cinema is composed of multiple voices, movements, and trends, and that artists and audiences both should embrace all forms of work being produced and presented by our creative community. Following a presentation of the annual Irene Cho Pioneer Award to APFE co-organizer Visual Communications and wrap-up comment by the co-founders of the Sunrise Collective, the traditional networking reception and party featuring treats from Ritual Chocolate and Pretty Bird closed out the afternoon.

As the collective activities of AAPIs in Park City overlapped with the Lunar New Year, anticipation was high for those in Park City who were set to celebrate the coming Year of the Hare. However, the events late Saturday evening back in Monterey Park, CA during which a lone gunman barged into the Star Dance Studio ballroom, killing eleven and wounding many others cast a pall throughout Sunday programming at Sunrise Collective house. However, organizers remain resolved to not let that horrific event ruin the day. “As the APFE returned for its 19^th edition at Park City, it was heartwarming to see our community and creatives come together during the beginning of the Lunar New Year” said Milton Liu, an award-winning filmmaker currently serving as interim Executive Director of the Asian American Media Alliance. Liu added, “And in light of the of the tragedies in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, we need our representation and voices heard, now more than ever.”

Ultimately, Asian Pacific Filmmaker experience organizers were appreciative of its audience, community of filmmakers, and partners for a successful 19th edition. “Many thanks to everyone who came out to a snowy and cold Park City, who stood in line (and to those who couldn’t get in – our apologies, we hit capacity!) — WE DO THIS FOR YOU,” said Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Chair, PBS SoCal KCET Community Advisory Board and an Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience co-organizer. Dacanay added, “Keep telling your stories and keep lifting each other up. See you all next year in 2024 for our milestone 20th Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience!”

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On behalf of the entire Organizing Committee, we thank you for joining us at the 19th Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience (APFE) on Sunday, January 23, 2023 at the Sunrise Collective – a historical first to be in the first official pan-AAPI house at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival.

Congratulations to Visual Communications, this year’s recipient of the IRENE CHO PIONEER AWARD! Named in honor of one of the original founders of APFE – Irene Cho – who passed away unexpectedly in 2017. The award is given in Cho’s memory to an artist, creator, or industry leader who exemplifies APFE’s mission in supporting API filmmakers in all aspects from resource building, networking, consulting and inspiration. Past recipients include Kim Yutani (Director of Programming – Sundance Film Festival), Nina Yang Bongiovi (Producer/Partner – Significant Productions) and Jean Tsien (Film producer, Emmy Award winner “76 Days” and Oscar nominee “Scottsboro: An American Tragedy”).

Thank you to Ronny Chieng for the beautiful limited-edition “HOPE YOU GET RICH” gold foil red envelopes; delicious chocolate courtesy of Utah locally-owned Ritual Chocolate; savory bites from Asian American-owned and Park City favorite, Pretty Bird, from Iron Chef winner Chef Viet Pham, and limited-edition Year of the Rabbit pin designed by James Jean.

Special thank you to Sunrise Collective for hosting our community space – including Daniel Dae Kim and 3AD Media; Bing Chen, Jeremy Tran and Gold House; Norman Chen, Joy Moh and The Asian American Foundation – your leadership and partnership defines #StrongerTogether. 

We also want to recognize the innocent lives lost in the recent mass shootings – Half Moon Bay, Des Moines, Oakland and Monterey Park. For the former, to help the victims, a GoFundMe has been set up by the Chinese for Affirmative Action in San Francisco, and other leading AAPI community organizations in the Bay Area – 100% of donations contributed will go to the victims and surviving families, many of whom have lost their homes, livelihood and are facing a myriad of unique challenges as a result of this horrific tragedy.

• To donate or learn more, visit Half Moon Bay Victims Fund.

To help the latter, a victims fund has been set up by Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California. Additionally, please share this important resource guide for the Monterey Park victims and community members. This guide contains crucial information on how to access mental health, medical, legal, and victim assistance from local organizations with cultural and language capacity. 

• To donate and learn more, visit Monterey Park Lunar New Year  Victims Fund.

What has happened the past few weeks is a reminder of why we do what we do – to lift our communities, to hold space for grief and celebration – all in the effort to move forward together.

In solidarity,
Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience