HBO Max’s sixth annual Asian Pacific American Visionaries short film competition just announced its three finalists. The competition showcases filmmakers of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. From hundreds of submissions, the finalists were chosen by a panel of HBO Max executives, industry leaders, and APA filmmakers.
This year’s theme was the “Power of Love,” and judges based their decisions on films that embodied that message. The filmmakers who came out on top are Gauri Adelkar (“The Gift”), Lloyd Lee Choi (“Same Old”), and Chheangkea (“Skin Can Breathe”). The trio gets to debut their films during the 2022 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The big event takes place on Friday, May 6, at the DGA Theater. A reception celebrating the night will follow at Neuehouse Hollywood.
Inspired by Asian night markets, the reception will host local APA-owned food vendors and include games for guests and various goods from APA businesses. Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate will curate AAPI food vendor partners that will offer a variety of dishes at the event. Audrey Mika will be performing, and the night will include an exclusive DJ set from Amrit. HBO Max APA Visionaries are contributing funds to kickstart an upcoming initiative by Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate. It’s an emergency fund to assist AAPI-owned restaurants and small businesses affected by anti-AAPI hate crimes.
The top two films, Gauri Adelkar’s “The Gift” and Chheangkea’s “Skin Can Breathe,” will be available to stream on HBO Max on May 19.
Jackie Gagne, Senior Vice President of Multicultural Marketing for HBO Max and HBO, said in a statement, “At HBO Max, we are overjoyed to see how much the APA Visionaries Short Film Competition has grown and the continued impact it has created in the industry and beyond.” Gagne continued, “We congratulate the three finalists and can’t wait to celebrate at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.”
This year’s competition ambassador, Poppy Liu, offered her congratulations to everyone who submitted their short films to the 2022 APA Visionaries Competition. “It is a leap of faith to share your work, and short films are often deeply personal passion projects in which countless hours are spent, and so many hats are worn,” the “Hacks” actress said in a statement. “Your time, your energy, and, most importantly, your voices are all so palpable in the films you made. I commend your bravery in sharing your stories with the world and encourage you to keep making work no matter what.”
On May 25, a celebration of the winning films will be held in New York in partnership with Heart of Dinner. This organization works to combat food insecurity and isolation within NYC’s elderly Asian American community. HBO Max will spotlight select vendors that work with Heart of Dinner while contributing to the organization’s current operations.
The HBO APA Visionaries Short Film Competition was established in 2016, giving emerging filmmakers a platform to share their perspectives of the Asian and Pacific Islander community. Six years later, APAV continues to showcase cinematic storytellers of AAPI descent. The top winners come away with cash prizes. This year’s ultimate opportunity comes when their projects premiere on HBO Max on May 19, 2022. The event follows their theatrical screening at the 2022 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
Gauri Adelkar, Lloyd Lee Choi, and Chheangkea have each worked extremely hard in their studies and careers to get to this point. Gauri Adelkar, born and raised in India, is a San Francisco Bay Area-based screenwriter and director. Lloyd Lee Choi is a writer/director with a passion for telling stories about those on the fringes of society. He is passionate about representation in front and behind the camera and is deeply driven to highlight the minority and immigrant experience. Chheangkea is a Cambodian-American filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. He is currently in his third year as a Dean’s Fellow in the NYU Tisch Graduate Film program. Each has earned various accolades and continues to work to tell authentic, personal stories that highlight and honor their heritage.
