Filmmaker Panel, Fireside Chat at Sunrise House to Observe Twentieth Edition of Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience
As part of our Year Twenty activities, organizers of the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience in Park City will once again organize filmmaker panels and talks that allow audiences to learn more about the craft of making moving pictures through the perspectives of our communities’ artists. This year, we start off with a fireside chat with veteran actor/filmmaker Sung Kang, whose pivotal star turn in Justin Lin’s 2002 narrative feature BETTER LUCK TOMORROW announced the arrival of a vital voice in independent cinema. Then, we celebrate the impact of the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience through a talk with filmmakers Tony Bui (THREE SEASONS, Sundance 1999), Luciane Buchanan (Producer, MOTHER TONGUE), and Ramona Diaz (AND SO IT BEGINS), moderated by veteran APFE honoree Nina Yang Bongiovi. Lots of ready stuff, we look forward to having you join us!
The 2024 edition of #APAParkCity will be held at the Sunrise House at Riverhorse on Main, in the heart of Park City. The Sunrise House is organized by the Sunrise Collective, a joint effort of 3AD, Gold House, and The Asian American Foundation. Learn more about the Sunrise Collective here. And click here to learn more about our venue for our “Meet the Filmmakers” reception, Alpine Distilling, just a few doors north of Main Street’s iconic Egyptian Theatre. Complete event details can be found here.
SUNG KANG (Actor)
Sung Kang has starred in numerous TV and film projects over the last 30 years. His iconic character, Han, has been an integral member of Universal Studios’ biggest franchise of all time: THE FAST & FURIOUS. Kang also starred as John Mak on Starz’ #1 most watched series, POWER; as well as Fifth Brother in the OBI-WAN KENOBI mini-series. Kang has also produced multiple projects that have run the gamut of the film festival circuit, including BETTER LUCK TOMORROW which premiered at Sundance in 2002 and was bought by MTV Films. In 2023, Kang made his directorial debut with the horror/comedy SHAKY SHIVERS. He currently hosts the podcast CAR STORIES WITH SUNG KANG & EMELIA HARTFORD and recently wrapped production of THE RIDE LIFE WITH SUNG KANG, an unscripted docuseries set to release later in 2024. With a huge social media footprint, Kang’s name is synonymous with car culture across the globe. He’s the spokesperson for multiple product brands throughout Asia, making him an iconic figure in pop culture, street fashion and all things car related.
MILTON LIU (Screenwriter / Producer)
Milton Liu, a recent Stage IV cancer survivor, was born in Kansas but raised in Chicago (which explains the terrible accent). He co-founded Kulture Machine (the first ProdCo listed in Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Indie Film), producing Student Academy Award winner JESUS HENRY CHRIST and the feature FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN (starring Julia Roberts, Ryan Reynolds, Emily Watson and Willem Dafoe). A Tribeca Feature Screenplay Winner, Disney Feature Fellow and Fox TV Writing Fellow, Milton wrote and produced the feature AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS, and created the webseries JOHN HUGHES RUINED MY LIFE and short documentary I HATE BIG PHONY. He most recently associate produced the features LUCKY GRANDMA and LOVE & BUSKING. Milton is the Executive Director of the Asian American Media Alliance, a member of the WGA/west and has served as a Big Brother Mentor for the past seven years.
DAVID MAGDAEL (Publicist)
With over two decades in PR/marketing for award winning documentaries, films and broadcast content, David Magdael and his company David Magdael & Associates have become an important leader in the field. A recent Peabody Award Winner as well, he leads Oscar/awards campaigns, theatrical releases, and streaming and broadcast premieres. Magdael is one of the top media strategists in entertainment, a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy, and was the co-director of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival since 1997. He continues to serve as a mentor at the Sundance Institute Producers Lab, Global Media Makers, Film Independent, Berlinale European Film Market, IDFA, Women Make Movies, Brown Girls Doc Mafia, DOC NYC, and other media organizations. He is on the board of Gamechanger Non-Profit, and is one of the founders of the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience (APFE) since 2002 creating events for AAPI filmmakers at Sundance, Tribeca, Toronto, LAAPFF, SXSW and CAAMFest. Taking a more active role in filmmaking, Magdael has become recently involved with films in various producer capacities, including:
ASHIMA (Executive Producer)
76 DAYS (Co-Executive Producer) Emmy Award Winner; Peabody Award Winner; Oscar Shortlist – PARAMOUNT +
MR. SOUL! (Co-Associate Producer) Critics Choice Award; Peabody Award; Oscar Shortlist; Now on Max
LIKE A ROLLING STONE: THE LIFE & TIMES OF BEN FONG TORRES (Co-Producer) Critics Choice Honor; Tribeca Film Festival; Mill Valley Film Festival Now on NETFLIX
BLACK MOTHERS: LOVE & RESIST (Co-Associate Producer) SF Film Festival; Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Fest; Sidewalk Film Festival; Big Sky
TRY HARDER! (Co-Associate Producer) – Sundance Film Festival; PBS
PIER KIDS (Associate Producer) – GLAAD Award Nominee; OutFest; PBS; Criterion Collection
RAMBLIN’ FREAK (Associate Producer) – SXSW Film Festival – AMAZON PRIME
DROPS IN THE OCEAN (Executive Producer)
Publicity and Marketing for films include: 20 DAYS IN MARIUPOL; THE ETERNAL MEMORY; LAKOTA NATION VS. THE UNITED STATES; STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING; DESPERATE SOULS, DARK CITY AND THE MAKING OF MIDNIGHT COWBOY; THE LAST REPAIR SHOP; THE ABCS OF BOOK BANNING; OASIS; BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY; ISLAND IN BETWEEN; BAD AXE; A HOUSE MADE OF SPLINTERS; MINK!; LEONOR WILL NEVER DIE; MIDWIVES; THE ACCIDENTAL GETAWAY DRIVER; TWICE COLONIZED; STRANGER AT THE GATE; HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR; QUEENDOM; FANNY; FREE CHOL SOO LEE; TIKTOK BOOM; BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITTLE BLURRY; WHO WE ARE – A CHRONICLE OF RACISM IN AMERICA; THE NEUTRAL GROUND; TRY HARDER!; PRAY AWAY; IN THE SAME BREATH; FAYA DAYI; ASCENSION; THE MOLE AGENT; WRITING WITH FIRE; THE QUEEN OF BASKETBALL; WHEN WE WERE BULLIES; LIKE A ROLLING STONE – THE LIFE & TIMES OF BEN FONG TORRES; 76 DAYS; WUHAN WUHAN; LOWNDES COUNTY – THE ROAD TO BLACK POWER; A THOUSAND CUTS; MR. SOUL!; MUCHO MUCHO AMOR; SOFTIE; FOR SAMA; 63 UP; MINDING THE GAP; ABACUS: SMALL ENOUGH TO JAIL; TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM; QUEST; THE DISTANT BARKING OF DOGS; SCIENCE FAIR; LA 92; THE SQUARE; MIDNIGHT FAMILY; THE APOLLO; CONCERTO IS A CONVERSATION; WALK RUN CHA CHA; ERNIE & JOE; HALSTON; MCQUEEN; UNITED SKATES; CHARM CITY; MAD HOT BALLROOM; TROUBLE THE WATER; SUPER SIZE ME and more.
NINA YANG BONGIOVI (Moderator)
Nina Yang Bongiovi is a BAFTA-nominated, award-winning film producer who alongside Forest Whitaker founded Significant Productions, focusing on multi-cultural narratives with an eye on authenticity, diversity, and inclusion; a producer with stellar reputation for having in-depth knowledge of film financing, creative and physical producing, and a knack for discovering talent.
She has produced critically acclaimed motion pictures such as Fruitvale Station (2013), Dope (2015), Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), Roxanne Roxanne (2018), Sorry to Bother You (2018), Passing (2021) and more recently, Fancy Dance (2023) -- launching some of the most prolific, auteur filmmakers’ careers (Ryan Coogler, Chloe Zhao, Boots Riley, Rebecca Hall, Erica Tremblay) through their feature directorial debuts, which all premiered in U.S. Dramatic Competition at Sundance Film Festival within the last decade.
Nina also executive produces the premium tv series, “Godfather of Harlem” at MGM+ with ABC Studios and develops television shows through Significant’s first-look deal at Amazon Studios. Notably, Nina is the recipient of Variety’s Creative Impact Award in Producing (2023).
Nina is on the board of Producers Guild of America and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment); she also serves on Executive Committee of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences’ (AMPAS) Producers Branch and is a voting member of the Television Academy. She received her graduate degree at USC in Entertainment Management at The Annenberg School and is currently the Associate Chair of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.
LUCIANE BUCHANAN (Actor / Producer)
New Zealand-Tongan actor Luciane Buchanan started acting as a young teen in Aotearoa landing roles on local series THE BLUE ROSE and FILTHY RICH. In 2018, Luciane was cast as the lead protagonist Tripitaka in 2 seasons of the Netflix series THE NEW LEGENDS OF MONKEY. Successive roles include Netflix's SWEET TOOTH and Apple TV+'s MR. CORMAN. 2022 was a breakout year internationally for Luciane when she was cast in THE NIGHT AGENT, playing the lead role of Rose in Netflix's most watched series of 2023.
In 2020, Luciane was a recipient of the Script to Screen 'Fresh Shorts' program for her first short screenplay LEA TUPU'ANGA/MOTHER TONGUE, which is world premiering in the International Fiction Short Film competition at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. With a passion for elevating Pasifika stories, Luciane worked alongside Tavake Productions as associate producer on the hit show local show PANTHERS, based on the true story of the Polynesian Panther movement in New Zealand during 1970s. The show had its world premiere at TIFF in 2021. Luciane's latest lead role as Queen Ka'ahumanu in Apple TV+ series CHIEF OF WAR is set to release in late 2024.
TONY BUI (Director)
Tony Bui is a writer, director and producer. His films include YELLOW LOTUS, THREE SEASONS, GREEN DRAGON, and THE THROWAWAYS. His short film, YELLOW LOTUS, received over 15 national and international festival prizes. His feature debut, THREE SEASONS, received the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award and Best Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival and two Independent Spirit Awards nominations. He is a recipient of the Humanitas Prize and a graduate of the Sundance Institute's Screenwriting and Directing Labs. He has written and developed projects for NBC, Warner Bros. and HBO, and is currently developing a narrative feature film about Nick Ut's Pulitzer Prize winning "Napalm Girl" photo from the Vietnam War.
Tony has taught film directing at Loyola Marymount University and previously served on the Board of Directors of Film Independent; he is currently on the Global Advisory Board of Fulbright University Vietnam. Tony is currently an Artist-in-Residence at Columbia University and teaches in the university's graduate film program.
RAMONA S. DIAZ (Director)
Ramona S. Diaz is a Peabody, Gotham, IDA, Emmy award-winning, PGA and Independent Spirit award-nominated Asian American filmmaker best known for her compelling character-driven documentaries that combine a profound appreciation for cinematic aesthetics and potent storytelling. Ramona’s films have demonstrated her ability to gain intimate access to the people she films – be they rock stars, first ladies, dissidents, mothers, teachers, or journalists – resulting in keenly observed moments and unforgettable nuanced narratives. Her films have been screened and won awards at Sundance, Berlin, Busan, Tribeca, SXSW, IDFA, HotDocs, and many other top-tier film festivals. Ramona’s feature-length independently-produced films — IMELDA (IL, 2004), THE LEARNING (POV, 2011), DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’: EVERYMAN’S JOURNEY (IL, 2012), MOTHERLAND (POV, 2017), AND A THOUSAND CUTS (Frontline, 2020) — have been nationally broadcast on PBS, Arte, and the BBC amongst others. Ramona is both a Guggenheim Fellow and a USA Fellow – prestigious awards given to artists with singular visions who have significantly contributed to the arts in the United States. She was recently named the inaugural McGurn Family Trust Resident in Film by the American Academy in Rome. Ramona is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the Producers and Writers Guilds of America. In 2017, she received a Women at Sundance Fellowship, a Creative Capital Award, and a Chicken & Egg Pictures Filmmaker Award. For the past ten years, Ramona has served as a film envoy for the U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase in partnership with USC and, more recently, for Film Independent’s Global Media Makers program. Ramona is a graduate of Emerson College and holds an MA from Stanford University.
NEIL G. RUIZ
Neil G. Ruiz is Pew Research Center’s Head of New Research Initiatives. In this role, he is responsible for inspiring and advancing new opportunities for organizational growth and evolution. He works closely with the Center’s president to conceptualize and drive new strategies that expand the Center’s scope and capacity to do new research and serve broader audiences.
Neil is also the principal investigator of the Center’s award-winning project “Being Asian in America”— a multi-year, multi-lingual comprehensive study of Asian Americans. This project was awarded the 2023 Inclusive Voices Award from the American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) — for improving the ability to study complex social phenomena related to understudied populations. Neil has a background in applying demographic, qualitative, and survey research methods in the U.S. and around the world. He utilizes this mixed methods approach to studying Asian Americans, other racial and ethnic groups, and immigrant populations.
Prior to joining the Center, Neil worked as a migration and economic development expert at the Brookings Institution, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. He is a political economist with a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree from Oxford University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley.