The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and Janet Yang Productions have announced the recipients of the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge, providing $25,000 grants to four filmmakers to develop their projects. The selected filmmakers are Keshni Kashyap Nilsson for “The Shoe Burglars,” Nayon Cho for “Stigma,” Patricia Lee for “Wasted Resources,” and Tiffany Lin for “Hunger.”
The jury evaluating the submissions includes entertainment industry figures spanning multiple sectors. The panel consists of “Moana” star Auli’i Cravalho, “Anora” producer Samantha Quan, “Take Me Home” director Liz Sargent, “Bridgerton” actor Yerin Ha, and “Stop! That! Train!” executive producer Chris Quintos Cathcart.
Janet Yang, the program’s founder and an Emmy award-winning producer, characterized the initiative as successfully achieving its objectives after five years of operation. She noted that emerging filmmakers have gained recognition at major festivals and industry events, while also gaining the opportunity to fully develop their creative visions and bring ambitious projects to completion.
The Short Film Challenge has demonstrated impact within the industry, with past participants advancing to larger projects. Notably, director Liz Sargent received support through the program in 2022 for a short film that developed into her 2026 feature “Take Me Home,” which earned Sundance’s top screenwriting award earlier this year.
Rhian Moore, head of programs at CAPE, emphasized the program’s role in supporting underrepresented voices. She highlighted that despite ongoing challenges with gender and racial diversity in Hollywood, the success of Asian Pacific Islander and non-binary women filmmakers emerging from this initiative underscores the value of continued investment in diverse storytelling. The short film program will conclude with a screening showcase scheduled for November.
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