Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience Returns to Austin for 7th Time at SXSW ‘25!
APFE at the Seventh Edition of the APFE @ SXSW “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event in collaboration with Austin Asian American Film Festival and AZN Americana at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas, in the heart of SXSW activities. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
By Minji Chang
During SXSW’s first weekend, the 2025 Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience (APFE) marked its Seventh Edition at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW), bringing together AANHPI filmmakers, storytellers, creatives and community leaders for a dynamic and celebratory networking reception – “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour”. The evening was a vibrant gathering, honoring the talent and contributions of AANHPI voices in film while fostering meaningful connections in a lively, engaging atmosphere.
Co-hosted with local lead partner, the Austin Asian American Film Festival, alongside AZN Americana, the festive event took place on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Hold Out Brewing. Nearly 200 attendees – including creatives, industry executives, SXSW filmmakers, influencers, and AANHPI filmmakers -- came together with community leaders, allies and supporters for a day of meaningful networking, collaboration and celebration.
Guests and panelists were treated to delicious drinks and Asian snacks from local AANHPI vendors - an array of artisan rugelach from Little Twist Bakery and handcrafted drinks from Kinship Milk Tea. Adding a unique artistic element to the event, Lian Soy Custom Portraits captured the moment with live custom portraits, offering attendees and speakers a one-of-a-kind keepsake.
Guests mingle at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” networking event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Guests tune in to a variety of filmmaker panels at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Notable attendees included SXSW filmmakers and industry leaders such as local filmmaker, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences member and AMPAS AANHPI Affinity Group Leader PJ Raval and actor Celia Au (Netflix’s Wu Assassins).
The event featured an engaging panel “Asian Femme Filmmakers Exploring Grit and Irreverence”, moderated by AZN Americana Executive Director Gabby Nguyen. Panelists included Asian American SXSW filmmakers Leela Varghese (I’m the Most Racist Person I Know, Narrative Short), Sally Tran (Grandma’s Four Color Card, Narrative Short), and Winnie Cheung (Last Call, Narrative Short) – who shared insights into their work and experiences as boundary-pushing storytellers.
Another standout discussion, “Forging More Independent Asian American Narratives”, spotlighted the team behind the feature narrative film Forge, with actor Kelly Marie Tran (The Wedding Banquet, Star Wars), actor Brandon Soo Hoo (Tropic Thunder, From Dusk Til Dawn), director Jing Ai Ng, and producer/casting director Damian Bao. Moderated by Jes Vu from CAPE, the panel delved into the challenges and triumphs of bringing independent AANHPI stories to life.
The event concluded with a compelling fireside chat highlighting the feature documentary Forever We Are Young, exploring the BTS Army fandom. Co-directors Grace Lee (The Grace Lee Project; Asian Americana) and professor Patty Ahn (Warrior Women) shared their perspectives, with actress/filmmaker Minji Chang (Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, ASHIMA) moderating.
A special thank you was extended to Hold Out Brewing for hosting the event, as well as to 2025 APFE partners Warner Bros. Access and NBCUniversal, whose generous support made this event possible.
Co-hosts Hanna Huang (Austin Asian American Film Festival), Gabby Nguyen (AZN Americana), Minji Chang (Kollaboration, APFE Leader), and Michelle Sugihara (CAPE, APFE Leader) open the program with welcome remarks at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Filmmaker Winnie Cheung and actor Celia Au meet attendees at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Azn Americana CEO & Co-Founder Evelyn Rude and Co-Founder Gabby Nguyen get their portraits painted by Lian Soy at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
David Magdael (Publicist, David Magdael & Associates; APFE Leader) with guests including Evelyn Rude (far right, AZN Americana Community Lead) at the APFE@SXSW 2025 networking event at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Filmmaker Jing Ai Ng (center) speaks about her SXSW 2025 narrative feature film Forge at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Jes Vu (Head of Communications, CAPE, far left), casting director and producer Damian Bao (second from left), actors Brandon Soo Hoo and Kelly Marie Tran (Forge, second from right & far right). Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Actor Kelly Marie Tran (right) speaks about her career as well as her role in the SXSW 2025 narrative feature film Forge next to her co-star Brandon Soo Hoo (left) at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Co-director and Professor Patty Ahn (far right) speaks about the SXSW 2025 documentary feature film Forever We Are Young next to her co-director Grace Lee (center) and moderator/filmmaker Minji Chang (far left) at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
Co-hosts Evelyn Rude (AZN Americana), Hanna Huang (Austin Asian American Film Festival), Minji Chang (Actor/Filmmaker; APFE Leader), Gabby Nguyen (AZN Americana), and Michelle Sugihara (CAPE, APFE Leader), Anh Lan Pham at the “ATX Film Talks & Happy Hour” event at Hold Out Brewing in Austin, Texas. Photo Credit: Kelly Zu @kellyzuphoto.
The 2025 Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Austin was a resounding success! Stay tuned for more details as we gear up for May’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a networking mixer at the 41st Edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and CAAMFest. We’ll be heading to the Tribeca Film Festival in June in partnership with Asian CineVision. More to come – see you there!!
ABOUT APFE: Established in 2002 in Park City, Utah to honor and recognize the cinematic artists whose works premiered at the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals, the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience foregrounds and celebrates the creative products of Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Asian international cinema artists. APFE is a collective whose core programmers include the Asian American Media Alliance (AAMA), CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), David Magdael & Associates, Kollaboration, and Laarni Rosca Dacanay.
Learn more about the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience and how it all began in 2002 and follow APFE (@apfexp) on Instagram for more updates.
See more photos from Kelly Zu (@kellyzuphoto)
