Posted on by apaparkcity

ASIAN PACIFIC FILMMAKERS EXPERIENCE HOLD IT DOWN IN AUSTIN AT SXSW ’23

As a crowd of guests look on, the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience’s Minji Chang greets the audience with Hanna Huang of the Austin Asian American Film Festival. Attracting over 100 film lovers, artists, and special guests, #APAAustin took place at Hold Out Brewing in the heart of SXSW activities. (Photo: Andrew Ge)

By Laarni Rosca Dacanay

Last month, the 2023 Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Austin celebrated five years at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) with festivities recognizing AAPI filmmakers, storytellers, creatives and community leaders. 

Beginning on Tuesday, March 14, the AAPI Film + Creatives Happy Hour Mixer (co-hosted with the Austin Asian American Film Festival), was held at Hold Out Brewing, where over 100 invited press and influencers, creatives, industry executives, SXSW filmmakers, local Austin and Texas-area AAPI filmmakers, community leaders, and AAPI allies and supporters, gathered for informal networking and connecting. Noted attendees include Writer and Director Liz Sargent, 2022 CAPE Short Program alum, whose film, TAKE ME HOME, played at SXSW; Director Mai Vu and Sam Rapley, Composer of SPRING ROLL DREAM, which also played at SXSW also attended, and Assistant Director Derek Kwan of Amanda Sum‘s DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE music video, which took home the 2023 Music Video Jury Award at SXSW networked with guests.

Later that week on Friday, March 17, the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience attended the world premiere of first-time director Adele Lim’s highly anticipated comedy, JOY RIDE, which featured an exclusive pre-panel with the director, writers and the all-Asian American women-led cast, including Academy Award Nominee Stephanie Hsu, Ashley Park, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu. During the festival, the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience supported other high profile AAPI projects, including Kelvin Yu’s AMERICAN BORN CHINESE (starring Daniel Wu and Academy Award Winners Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan) and Lee Sung Jin’s BEEF (starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong). Other festival highlights include these must watch picks curated by the Austin Asian American Film Festival. From panels to networking to premieres and screenings, the 2023 Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Austin was another success. Stay tuned for more information as the team heads into May’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a networking mixer at the 39th edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival with Asian CineVision in June!

The co-organizers of the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Austin (from left): Hanna Huang, Austin Asian American Film Festival; Milton Liu, Asian American Media Alliance; Minji Chang, Kollaboration; and Michelle Sugihara, CAPE. Not pictured: Laarni Rosca Dacanay and David Madgael, David Magdael & Associates (Photo: Andrew Ge)

Leave a comment