5 AAPI Short Films I'm Supporting in 2024

Keep an eye out for these 5 AAPI indie short films and the filmmakers behind them!

From a ‘60’s Healthclass Educational Video to a remix(ed) Asian-American cuisine, 2024 has some promising independent AAPI short films on the horizon. Of these 5 AAPI films: 2 are currently in pre-production and shooting later this year, while the other 3 are currently in or wrapping up post-production.

Many of these AAPI filmmakers, I’ve crossed paths with before. We’ve connected through festivals, fellowships, and work. I’m proud to support their projects in the ways that I can.

Keep an eye out for these films and storytellers.

1. THE WHISTLING WOMAN

   Written and Directed by Kristy Choi

Desperate to reunite with her dead brother, Bennie Kim accepts a spirit's invitation into a special afterlife for those who have died by suicide. When she learns how this "heaven" works, Bennie must decide for herself if and how she lives.

Kristy and I met through Visual Communication’s Armed with a Camera program in 2019. Since we met, THE WHISTLING WOMAN is now the fourth short film Kristy’s created. Her prior work includes a hybrid short film entitled HERSELVES (available for viewing on The New Yorker), a narrative about striking workers entitled RISE WITH THE SUN and EXCERPTS FROM A FIELD GUIDE for REI.

Kristy created THE WHISTLING WOMAN through the Julia S. Gouw Short Film Challenge, where the film is currently in post-production. I’m proud to join the project as an Associate Producer. If you would like to support Kristy’s latest vision, check out her Kickstarter (live for 24* more days).

*Could be less when you read this

2. GOLDEN GARDEN TAKEOUT

   Written and Directed by Maggie Wong

   

A nosy Chinese American mother investigates whether her teenage daughter has a secret boyfriend - only to accidentally witness her devastating breakup.

FRUITY PEBBLE CONGEE? Welcome to the world of Golden Garden Takout, Maggie Wong’s latest short film. Maggie is a NY based filmmaker focused on stories that explore intimacy through a feminine lens. Her script GOLDEN GARDEN TAKEOUT won the WeScreenplay Short Script Lab 2022 and was a finalist in 5 other competitions including the Austin Film Festival and ScreenCraft’s Short Film Screenplay Competiton.

Maggie and her team ran a successful Seed & Spark campaign in 2023 and is currently wrapping post-production on her short. I’m proud to join the project as an Associate Producer.

3. PUBERTY FOR HUMANS

   Written and Directed by Wester Demandante

   

   Puberty for Humans is perfect for your nervous health class students as they approach their inevitable cybernetic bodily changes. In this short educational video, Linus, an insecure prepubescent teenager, learns that everything will be okay… for everyone else.

Wester’s previous work KAAWAY screened across the county at festivals including the 42nd New York Asian American International Film Festival, the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and the National Film Festival for Talented Youth.

A special shout out to Producer Justin Ricafort. I personally loved the Twitch streams and programming the PUBERTY FOR HUMANS team planned during their crowdfunding campaign where they successfully raised $15,000 through Seed & Spark. The film is currently in pre-production. I’m proud to be a supporter of the project and a friend of Justin (we also met through Visual Communications and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival).

If you would like to support PUBERTY FOR HUMANS, check out the film’s Fiscal Sponsorship page with Film Independent.

4. GOD & BUDDHA ARE FRIENDS

   Written and Directed by Anthony Ma

   

   Inspired by a true story, “God & Buddha are Friends” is a comedic drama filled with a lot of heart that follows a young Taiwanese American boy who falls into an existential crisis when a charismatic Christian pastor comes between him and his overprotective Buddhist mother.

You might recognize Anthony Ma from episodes of N.C.I.S. Los Angeles or Scandal or his indie film performances and sketch comedy, but when he’s not in front of the camera, he’s creating films as well.

GOD AND BUDDHA ARE FRIENDS is currently in pre-production. The film had a successful Seed & Spark campaign where the team raised over $20,000 to bring Anthony’s latest vision to life.

5. A HURT LIKE MINE
   Written and Directed by Kahea Kiwaha

A young boy, haunted by a dark figure, struggles to support his mom and baby sister as they start a new life in a women's shelter.

Kahea and I are both alums of OutSet: The Young Filmmakers Project through Outfest. We have also crossed paths repeatedly through the film festivals we’ve worked at throughout the year(s).

Kahea received $25K in support for A HURT LIKE MINE from the Pacific Islanders in Communication Shorts Fund and raised an additional $8,000+ through a successful Seed & Spark Camapign. A HURT LIKE MINE filmed in September 2023 and is in post-production.