APFE Celebrates 20th Edition in Park City

Festival Highlights
Written By

By Laarni Rosca Dacanay

Three events celebrating two decades marking one impactful weekend - this was the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience (APFE) 20th Edition in Park City, Utah. 

Held over the opening weekend (alongside the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals from January 19-21, 2024), over 50 Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander films and filmmakers who presented their projects at these festivals were honored and recognized at three APFE events:

Thank you to our 20th Edition Partners, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Warner Bros. Discovery Access, NBCUniversal Launch, and the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) – for which none of this would be possible.

Thank you to everyone who came out to a snowy Park City and filled the room with inspiration (we sold out in 39 mins!). Thank you to the entire APFE team -- David Magdael, Minji Chang, Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Abe Ferrer, Michelle Sugihara, Milton Liu,Marvin Yueh, Rhian Moore, Jes Vu, and Grace Kao -- for your tireless (volunteer) work to bring the 20th Edition to life. Thank you Chef Viet Pham and Pretty Bird Hot Chicken Restaurant for the deliciousness. Thank you Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images and Andrew Ge for capturing the moments so beautifully. And thank you to Sara Sergent and the entire Alpine Distilling staff for the incredible hospitality! 

>> See all APFE in Park City photos from Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images and Andrew Ge.

Learn more about the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience and how it all began in 2002.

Stay tuned for more APFE events in 2024 – next stop, SXSW in Austin, Texas, in partnership with the Austin Asian American Film Festival! We can’t wait to see y’all!

Be sure to follow APFE (@apfexp) on Instagram for more updates.

Photo Above: APFE “Roll Call” Group Photo at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Continue reading below.

Kick-Off at Asian Texan BBQ Night

Kicking off the weekend, Amplify Asian presented the “APFE & HAAPIFEST Asian Texan BBQ Night” on Friday, January 19, 2024, which was co-hosted by the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience, OCA Houston’s HAAPIFest, CAAM, and the Houston Film Commission. Guests were treated to a Texas BBQ catered by the James Beard-nominated Blood Bros. BBQ from Houston, sponsored by the Texas Beef Council, where filmmakers, creatives, industry and community leaders and supporters networked. Gift bags were handed out which included a special journal for Lunar New Year’s Year of the Dragon. Notable guests included Los Angeles-based celebrity chef and James Beard winner, Chef Susan Feniger, Sundance alumni filmmaker Tony Bui, and San Francisco Film Commissioner Jack Song.

Caption: “Asian Texan BBQ Night” hosts and Blood Bros. BBQ chefs pose on the red carpet at the Amplify Asian House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Kevin Chin.

Caption: Celebrity Chef Susan Feniger (right) with partner and filmmaker Liz Lachman (left) at the “Asian Texan BBQ Night” red carpet at the Amplify Asian House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Kevin Chin.

Caption: “Asian Texan BBQ Night” hosts, along with APFE leaders on the red carpet at the Amplify Asian House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Kevin Chin.

See more photos by Kevin Chin.

Closing the Sunrise House

The second APFE event of the weekend was the “Filmmakers Forum and Fireside Chat” hosted at the Sunrise House – under the unifying banner of the Sunrise Collective, Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD, Gold House, and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), who co-hosted the official pan-AAPI House at the Sundance Film Festival with interactive programming during opening weekend. APFE was honored to return to Sunrise, where our event concluded the weekend at the Sunrise Collective House on Sunday, January 21, 2024.

Caption: Actor, producer and APFE Leader Minji Chang welcomes guests to the APFE 20th Edition event at the Sunrise Collective House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

The program began with a short address from Neil Ruiz, Head of New Research Initiatives at Pew Research. 

Caption: Pew Research’s Neil Ruiz speaks at the APFE 20th Edition event at the Sunrise Collective House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Following that, APFE presented a panel discussion reflecting on the progress made by AANHPI filmmakers over the last few decades, recognizing the trailblazers along the way, and looking ahead to the next generation of filmmakers. The panel, moderated by acclaimed producer Nina Yang Bongiovi, featured veteran and emerging AAPI filmmakers Tony Bui (Director, Three Seasons), Ramona Diaz (Director, And So It Begins), and Luciane Buchanan (Screenwriter/Actor, Lea Tupu’anga/Mother Tongue).

Caption: Acclaimed producer Nina Yang Bongiovi with filmmakers Tony Bui, Ramona Diaz and Luciane Buchanan, speak on the Filmmakers Forum at the APFE 20th Edition event at the Sunrise Collective House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Then, guests heard from a special Fireside Chat with actor and filmmaker Sung Kang and veteran film publicist and Peabody Award Winner David Magdael, who were both involved with the Sundance premiere of the seminal Asian American film Better Luck Tomorrow. They spoke about the groundbreaking moment when the film premiered at Sundance 2002 leading to the film’s enduring legacy and its overarching influence on the trajectory of the current AANHPI filmmaking movement. Milton Liu, filmmaker, APFE leader and Executive Director of the Asian American Media Alliance, moderated.

Caption: Filmmaker, APFE Leader and Executive Director (AAMA), Milton Liu moderates special fireside chat with actor and filmmaker Sung Kang and veteran film publicist and Peabody Award Winner David Magdael, at the APFE 20th Edition event at the Sunrise Collective House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

“He was like Moses… he defended us,” said Kang, remembering the pivotal moment when the late, revered film critic Roger Ebert stood up and countered criticism from an audience member who said the film did not portray Asian Americans in a positive light, which went against the stereotype of Asian Americans being a ‘model minority.’

Magdael went on to describe what happened next, “...we got it on tape and spent the night duping VHS tapes and we sent the tapes to every press outlet… it was a true Sundance moment for an ally to stand up… it sparked us and got us excited!" Kang added, "MTV bought the film… and Jon M. Chu (Director, Crazy Rich Asians) was in the front row at the Park City Library in 2002 for the BLT screening when it all went down… we didn’t know that this small film would have an impact but Jon said is was then that he decided to become a filmmaker…” Following the theme of wins, Liu added “....we need to celebrate our wins for hope, we can not be jaded like, ‘I didn’t get into Sundance’,” and Liu closed by reminding the full house that “...we have to be at the table and our stories need to be told... this is what the late U.S. Secretary and AAMA’s first Chair Norman Mineta said…”, on the importance of AANHPI inclusion in entertainment and media.

Presentation of the 2024 Irene Cho Pioneer Award

APFE closed out the Sunrise House ending with the presentation of the 2024 Irene Cho Award, which is named in honor of one of the original founders of APFE, filmmaker and Asian American storytelling advocate – who passed away unexpectedly in 2017. Given in Cho’s memory to an artist, creator or industry leader who exemplifies the mission of the organization in supporting AANHPI 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”). David Magdael was named this year’s recipient for his visionary work as a publicist, producer and social impact leader (see award below).

Caption: APFE Founder, veteran film publicist and Peabody Award Winner David Magdael receives the 2024 Irene Cho Award from APFE Leaders at the APFE 20th Edition event at the Sunrise Collective House at Sundance 2024. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: The 2024 Irene Cho Award presented to David Magdael. Photo Credit: Laarni Rosca Dacanay.

See more photos from Andrew Ge.

20th Edition Celebration at Alpine Distilling

Wrapping the weekend was the “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling, where nearly 700 RSVP'd and joined on the cold, snowy Sunday, January 21, 2024 evening. Hosted by The Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience, in partnership with the Asian American Media Alliance, Asians in Hollywood, CAPE, Kollaboration, David Magdael & Associates, and Visual Communications – the festive event was a full room until the very end.

Caption: Guests stand outside a cold, snowy Sunday evening for the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Guests networked and were treated to delicious bites by local AAPI-owned business Pretty Bird Hot Chicken, owned by renowned Iron Chef winner Chef Viet Pham, along with festive drinks and mocktails compliments of APFE. 

Caption: Guests mingle and network at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Guests mingle and network with actor and filmmaker Sung Kang (center) and Anderson Le, Artistic Director, Hawaii International Film Festival (far right) at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Award-winning Vietnamese American filmmakers Tony Bui (left) and Bao Nguyen (right) with entertainment journalist Dino-Ray Ramos (center) at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Guests ordering drinks and mocktails at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Special 20th Edition of APFE drinks and mocktails beverage menu at the “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Film Programmer Irene Soriano and filmmakers Bao Nguyen and Tony Bui, pose with NBCUniversal Launch executives Jeanne Mau, Michael Pogarian, Jaunice Sills, Robert Baltazar and Warner Bros. Discovery Access executive Grace Moss, with retired Comcast NBCUniversal executive Steve Proper (left-right) at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Filmmaker Fawzia Mirza (center) poses with NBCUniversal Launch executives Jaunce Sills, Michael Pogarian and Warner Bros. Discovery Access executive Grace Moss, with NBCU Launch executive Jeanne Mau (left-right) at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: Director and Founder of Cinema Sala, Marie Jamora (left) with NBCUniversal Launch executive Robert Baltazar (right) at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Actor and producer Minji Chang, APFE Leader, former Kollaboration Executive Director and mentee of the late Irene Cho, thanked the full room for attending and gave nod to Daniel Dae Kim for his support and leadership to hosting Sundance’s first official pan-AAPI house – which the guests delighted in the perfect timing as Kim walked into the event, arriving to jubilant applause! Following the tradition of the “Roll Call”, guests posed for an APFE group photo (see below).

Caption: Actor, producer, APFE Leader and former Kollaboration Executive Director Minji Chang, thanked the full room for attending and gave nod to Daniel Dae Kim for his support and leadership to hosting Sundance’s official pan-AAPI house, at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: APFE “Roll Call” Group Photo at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Photo Credit: Andrew Ge.

Caption: APFE Leaders and Organizing Team, including Michelle Sugihara, Minji Chang, Milton Liu, Laarni Rosca Dacanay, Marvin Yueh, Rhian Moore, and David Magdael (left-right) at the 20th Edition of APFE “Meet the Filmmakers” Reception at Alpine Distilling in Park City, Utah. Not pictured: Abe Ferrer, Jes Vu, and Grace Kao. Photo Credit: Tommaso Boddi / Getty Images.

Learn more about the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience and how it all began in 2002.

Stay tuned for more APFE events in 2024 – next stop, SXSW in Austin, Texas, in partnership with the Austin Asian American Film Festival, we can’t wait to see y’all!

Be sure to follow APFE (@apfexp) on Instagram for more updates.

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