Submit your film to LAAPFF 2017

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is now officially an Oscar-qualifying festival.



Hey filmmakers! Share your film with one of best fests around. This is your last-minute reminder that the final deadline is quickly approaching to submit your film to the 2017 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Presented by Visual Communications, LAAPFF is the leading showcase for new Asian Pacific American and Asian international cinema, providing a crucial launching point for the discovery and sustained support of Asian Pacific independent filmmakers and media artists from around the globe.

All films -- feature-length, shorts, narrative, documentary, animation, experimental -- need to be submitted and received through Withoutabox or Filmfreeway by Monday, January 2 at 5:00 PM PST.

HBO APA Visionaries Short Film Competition

The deadline to enter is November 7.



Attention, filmmakers! HBO invites you to submit your short film to the Asian Pacific American Visionaries Short Film Competition. HBO's first initiative of its kind, the contest seeks to identify new voices in APA cinema and provide emerging director an opportunity to showcase their work.

Here's Jimmy O. Yang of HBO's Silicon Valley with the call for submissions:

Submit your work to the 1st annual ISA Digital Film Shootout

Wong Fu, Far East Movement and ISA are searching for the next generation of digital creators.



Hey, filmmakers! Are you ready to show your stuff? Wong Fu Productions, Far East Movement, and International Secret Agents are proud to present the 1st annual ISA Digital Film Shootout.

To discover and support the next generation of digital creators, they're putting out an open call to individuals around the nation to submit their work in a variety of short categories, including narrative drama, narrative comedy, documentary, vlogger/personality and music video.

Here's a video with some more information:

YOMYOMF re-launches "Interpretations" short film initiative

Submit a short film for a chance to make a film produced by Justin Lin.



Hey filmmakers! Justin Lin's YOMYOMF recently announced the relaunch of the "Interpretations" short film initiative -- a unique filmmaking competition to find the next generation of Asian American filmmakers, in partnership with Comcast and NBCUniversal.

The challenge: produce and shoot a three-minute short film using a prescribed four-line script. For this edition of the initiative, the four lines are supplied by one of our greatest American writers, none other than acclaimed Tony Award-winning playwright David Henry Hwang.

Here's the script:

Call For Entries: AAIFF16

Asian CineVision presents the 39th Asian American International Film Festival, July 21-30.



Hey, filmmakers! Asian CineVision is putting out the call for entries for the 39th Asian American International Film Festival, happening July 21-30 in New York City. They're seeking narrative and documentary features, short films, youth films, music videos, works-in-progress and screenplay competition submissions.

Here are some more details:

Apply to the 2015-16 Armed With a Camera Fellowship

For emerging media artists. Application deadline: Friday, October 2



Hey filmmakers! Visual Communications, the nation's premiere media arts center dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayal of Asian Pacific Americans, is putting the final call for applications submissions for its latest cycle of the Armed With a Camera Fellowship for Emerging Media Artists.

The AWC Fellowship nurtures the next generation of APA media artists to capture their world, surroundings and outlook on life. Visual Communications works with the Fellows for seven months and provides special training, mentoring and networking opportunities, access to facilities and equipment, plus a cash stipend to create four to five-minute digital shorts that premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

But heads up: the application deadline is this Friday, October 2. Here's some more information on how to apply:

Apply to the Sundance Institute's Asian American Feature Film Fellowship

Deadline extended to June 22.



Hey filmmakers! Got a story to tell? Here's an awesome opportunity for you... The Sundance Institute's Asian American Feature Film Fellowship aims to further the presence of Asian American voices in independent film. Made possible in part by the A3 Foundation and Naja and David Lockwood, the Fellowship will support an Asian American writer (or writer-director) on the development of their feature screenplay through participation in a Screenwriters Lab, Screenwriters Intensive, or Creative Producing Summit.

The Fellowship, which is currently accepting applications, is open to writers or writer-directors developing their first or second narrative feature film and of Asian American descent, or with significant themes and/or characters relating to the Asian American experience in their screenplay.

Here are some more details about the Fellowship:

Apply to the Jubilee Project Fellowship 2015

An intensive two-week mentorship program for aspiring filmmakers who want to inspire change.



Our friends at the Jubilee Project aim to make stories that inspire change. Now it's your turn.

The Jubilee Project Fellowship is a transformative experience for aspiring filmmakers, producers, storytellers, and changemakers. They're looking for twelve young, aspiring filmmakers to join them in Los Angeles this summer to live together for two weeks, August 2-16, to write, direct and produce films together.

Here's a video with your invitation:

Celebrate AAPI Filmmakers at Sundance & Slamdance

Asian Pacific Filmmakers Reception, Sunday January 25 in Park City



If you are one of the bundled up cinephiles making the snowy trek to Park City, Utah for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, you might be interested to know that there is some serious AAPI representation in the programming this year, at both Sundance and the rival upstart festival Slamdance.

Whether you're a filmmaker or film supporter, come help celebrate at the 11th Annual Asian Pacific Filmmakers Reception, happening Sunday, January 25 at Club 301 - The Funn Networks Space in Park City.

Here are some more details about the reception:

Call for Proposals: 2015 CAAM Documentary Fund

Production or post-production funding available for documentaries intended for public television broadcast.



Hey you, documentary filmmakers. The Center for Asian American Media is putting call out for independent producers who are interested in producing documentaries for public television broadcast. With the support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CAAM is accepting applications for the 2015 Documentary Fund.

The CAAM Documentary Fund provides awards that typically range between $15,000 and $50,000. Documentaries are eligible for production or post-production funding and must be intended for public television broadcast. The application deadline is February 16.

Support APA Filmmakers! Donate to Visual Communications.

All end-of-the-year donations will be matched dollar for dollar.



Hey, folks. If you're interested in donating some holiday cash to a worthy cause, how about supporting an organization that is trying to help up-and-coming Asian Pacific American filmmakers tell their stories?

Donate to Visual Communications.

Founded in 1970, Visual Communications is the first nonprofit organization in the nation dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian Pacific American peoples, communities and heritage through the media arts. Its mission continues today through a variety programs for APA mediamakers, including screenings, media education, the Armed With a Camera Fellowship and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

For more information, check out this fundraising video:

Apply to the Muslim Youth Voices Project

Free summer filmmaking workshop presented by the Center for Asian American Media



The Muslim Youth Voices Project is a national initiative of the Center for Asian American Media. This three-year initiative is an effort to amplify the expressions and celebrations of Muslim youth ages 12-18 by providing the tools to tell their stories -- stories often invisible to the national public.

This round, CAAM is offering free filmmaking workshops for youth in the Bay Area and New York City. But heads up -- the application for the one in Fremont is due this Friday, July 18. (Sorry for the short notice.)

Here's some more info:

Fund This: Armed With a Camera 2015

Help Visual Communications raise up the next generation of Asian Pacific American filmmakers



Do you want to help the next generation of Asian American filmmakers tell their stories?

Visual Communications, the nation's premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, recently launched its first-ever crowdsourcing campaign through Indiegogo to raise funds for the 2014-15 Armed With a Camera Fellowship for Emerging Media Artists (AWC). And they could use your support!

Since 2002, the Armed With a Camera Fellowship has nurtured a new generation of Asian Pacific Americans to articulate their experiences and perspectives through the medium of film. Fellows are provided with funding, mentorship, training, resources and an elite presentation venue -- the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Watch this video for more information about Armed With a Camera:

A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America

Calling photographers and filmmakers far and wide to document a global experience.



This May, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center collaborates with Flickr to capture the vast and nuanced universe of experiences that embody Asian Pacific America. You're invited to capture snapshots and take part in A Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America, happening May 10, 2014.

Sign up to take part! #Life2014 is an open call. Capture your content sometime between 12am and 11:59pm on May 10, 2014 (respective to whichever timezone you're in that day) and upload it to the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center's Flickr group. They'll curate their top picks to create a digital exhibition.

Here's some more information:

14th Annual CAPE New Writers Fellowship

Submit your scripts by January 31



Hey, screenwriters! Got that awesome feature or television script you want to share with the world? Do you have material, but need some guidance on how to successfully pitch your project? Then CAPE, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment, invites you to submit your work to the 14th annual CAPE New Writers Fellowship. Up to ten fellows will be selected to attend an intensive writing fellowship with exclusive opportunities to meet top industry professionals. Here are some more details:

Call for Submissions: 3rd Annual Project Catalyst

Project showcase seeks narrative feature films and original television pilots

Attention, filmmakers! Visual Communications, the nation's premier Asian Pacific American media arts organization, is now accepting submissions for the 3rd Annual Project Catalyst, to be held at the Directors Guild of America, May 3-4, during the 2014 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Project Catalyst provides a unique opportunity for media creatives of Asian descent to showcase their project to studios, networks, financiers, producers, production companies, agents and managers. They are currently seeking submissions for narrative feature films and original television pilot projects.

Up to ten narrative creatives will be chosen for Project Catalyst. In addition to participating in the panels, a pitch session with the jury and one-on-one industry meetings, selectees will have the opportunity to meet with industry participants from the new media and interactive world looking for distinct and new voices.

The early submission deadline is December 20 (submit early and take advantage of the discounted entry fee). For further information and detailed submission guidelines, go to the LAAPFF website.

C3: The Conference for Creative Content, October 26

Presented by Visual Communications



Hey, Los Angeles! Visual Communications presents the 3rd annual C3: The Conference for Creative Content, the premiere digital media and content conference happening October 26 at SAG-AFTRA.

C3 will shed light on the changing nature of entertainment media and allow larger audiences to connect with Asian American talent through a diverse array of panels, seminars and features approaching media platforms from all angles. This year, they've put together another great lineup that further expands the conversation.

Here's a brief trailer for the conference:

Call For Entries: CAAMFest 2014

Submit your film by the extended deadline, October 7.



Hey, filmmakers! Got another opportunity for you... The Center for Asian American Media invites you to submit your work to CAAMFest 2014 (formerly the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival), which takes place March 13-23 in San Francisco and Berkeley. This is a chance to have your work presented at the largest festival in North America devoted to presenting the best in Asian American films, music and food. Here are a few more details:

Personal tragedy becomes a filmmaker's inspiration in the fantasy action short The Forge

Eric Lim honors his sister's memory with a powerful message of hope.



When Tanya Lim committed suicide, she left her savings to her younger brother Eric Lim to chase his dreams of becoming a film producer. Eric teamed with writer/director Stephen Reedy and used the money to create The Forge, a powerful, visually-stunning action short that grapples with grief, destruction and hope.

The Forge was released several months ago with the hope of reaching out and touching anyone facing similar hurt and struggling with suicide. I'm re-posting this amazing film today in observance of National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8-14). Take a look:

Call for Entries: 2014 Seattle Asian American Film Festival

Submit your film by September 15, 2013.

Attention filmmakers! You are invited to submit your film for consideration for the upcoming 2014 edition of the Seattle Asian American Film Festival, going down January 23-26 in Seattle's Chinatown-International District.

SAAFF features works by Northwest Asian American filmmakers, as well as films from across the country dealing with Asian American people, issues, and themes. They'll accept films of any length and genre that were completed in 2011 or later.

But the deadline for entries is coming up quick: September 15, 2013. So get going. For further information about festival, visit the SAAFF website. To get started on the submission process, go here.