Join CAPE and Baobab Studios for a special virtual screening of NAMOO, introduced by Executive Producer John Cho (SEARCHING, COWBOY BEBOP)! MTV News correspondent Yoonj Kim will lead a Q&A with the creative team behind the film, including Director/Writer Erick Oh, Producers Maureen Fan and Kane Lee, and Art Director Eusong Lee.

NAMOO ("Tree" in Korean) is an animated short directed by 2021 Oscar nominated Erick Oh (OPERA) and produced by 9x Emmy Award winning Baobab Studios. Inspired by the passing of Erick’s grandfather, NAMOO illustrates the journey of an artist — the beautiful and heartbreaking moments of a man's life — from beginning to end.

Erick Oh is a filmmaker whose films have been introduced and awarded at numerous festivals including the Annie Awards, Annecy International Animation Festival, Animafest-Zagreb, SIGGRAPH and Anima Mundi. With a background in fine art from Seoul National University and film school at UCLA, Erick became an animator at Pixar from 2010 to 2016. His recent project, OPERA, was nominated for this year’s Academy Award® for Best Animated Short.  Erick joined Baobab Studios to create NAMOO and will be working on a variety of projects in film/animation and will also contribute to the contemporary art scene in the USA and South Korea.

Maureen Fan is CEO & Co-Founder of 9-time Emmy-award winning and leading independent interactive animation studio Baobab Studios, whose mission is to "Bring out your sense of wonder. Inspire you to dream. Make YOU matter.” Previously she was vice president of games at Zynga, where she oversaw three game studios including the FarmVille's, and she worked on Pixar's TOY STORY 3 film and at eBay in product management and UI design. Her collaboration, THE DAM KEEPER, was nominated for the 2015 Oscar Best Animated Short. Maureen was also named an Exec to Watch by Variety.

Kane Lee heads content at Baobab Studios and is a multi-Emmy Award-winning executive producer and producer of the studio’s groundbreaking works, from BABA YAGA (starring Kate Winslet, Daisy Ridley, Jennifer Hudson, Glenn Close) and CROW: THE LEGEND (starring John Legend, Oprah Winfrey), to JACK (starring Lupita Nyong’o) and most recently NAMOO. Previously Lee was Vice President at Jane Startz Productions, with credits including 20th Century Fox’s HORTON HEARS A WHO!, ICE AGE: THE MELTDOWN, and ROBOTS. He is an advisor in interactive media for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Eusong Lee is a director and an art director actively working in the US animation industry. After studying at CalArts, he began his career with the short film WILL (2012), which went on to win a Student Silver Oscar. Eusong continued directing at Jibjab and Chromosphere-LA on numerous shorts and opening title sequences, such as Storybots’ music videos (Netflix, 2016), CARMEN SANDIEGO (DHX, Netflix, 2019), GREEN EGGS AND HAM (WB, 2019), and Sprint Vector VR game (2018). On the art side, Eusong has been working on various formats of projects, such as VR, TV series to feature films as an art director, or a concept designer. Notable work would be POWERPUFF GIRLS reboot (2016) he art-directed and Glen Keane’s OVER THE MOON (2020) as a concept designer. Currently Eusong is working at Pixar as a senior designer.

Yoonj Kim is an award-winning journalist, correspondent, and producer who has reported from four continents. She has received recognition for her coverage of environmental and indigenous rights, drug trafficking, the housing crisis, and the 2020 presidential race. Currently she’s the Social Impact Correspondent at MTV News where she covers social and political issues for Millennials and Gen Z, and before that hosted documentaries for Playboy, Mic, and Pivot TV. Her awards include the 2017 Los Angeles Press Club Award for Best Investigative Series, the 2020 WOWIE Award for Outstanding Political Correspondent, and a Webby Honor. An immigrant from South Korea, Yoonj is the daughter of an anchorwoman and a dentist and holds a BS in Journalism from Northwestern University.

CAPE is excited to partner with Diaspora, Cinema Sala, and FilAm Creative to spotlight Filipinx/a/o American directors! Join us for a panel featuring on-the-rise filmmakers Geena Rocero, Dante Basco, and Rain Valdez, moderated by DIASPORA Founder Dino-Ray Ramos.

Geena Rocero is an award-winning producer, director, model, writer, public speaker, trans rights advocate, and television host. She is currently directing and executive producing CARETAKERS, a four-part original documentary series with PBS/WNET featuring stories of Filipino American frontline healthcare workers that premiered on October 8, 2021 as part of the celebration of Filipino American History Month.

Dante Basco is well known for his voice acting roles in AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, AMERICAN DRAGON: JAKE LONG, and CARMEN SANDIEGO, as well as his performance in live-action HOOK. He made his feature directorial debut with family comedy THE FABULOUS FILIPINO BROTHERS, which made its world premiere at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival and was picked up by 1091 Pictures to make its debut on digital platforms in February 2022.

Rain Valdez got her start playing COCO in season 2 of TV Land’s Lopez and doubling in Amazon's TRANSPARENT as Miss Van Nuys on screen and a producer behind the scenes. She has been named one of Outfest LA's Next Generation of Filmmakers and is Inside Out Pitch Please! Contest 2019 winner. Rain just received her first Primetime Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series” for her lead role in RAZOR TONGUE, which she created, crowdfunded and produced.

Dino-Ray Ramos is a journalist and founder of DIASPORA, a news platform covering multicultural film, TV, media and culture in the entertainment industry. Ramos is also the co-host and creator of the New Hollywood Podcast, which champions people of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community, and other underrepresented voices in film and television.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will be donated to CAPE

A Virtual Play Festival amplifying Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices. 5 new plays written and directed by AAPI artists, inspired by the current iteration of the movement for racial justice, equity, and AAPI representation in the arts.

Hosted by IAMA member Parvesh Cheena and writer/comedian D'Lo.

Written by: Adam Gwon, Kit Yan, Alaudin Ullah, Charlie Oh, Nina Ki, Nicholas Pilapil, Jeanne Sakata, Nandita Shenoy, and Noa Gardner.

Directed by: Rodney To, Nelson T. Eusebio III, Gaven Trinidad, Jennifer Chang, Chay Yew, Kat Yen, and Jully Lee.

Special Performances by: Deborah Craig, Noa Gardner, Alladin Ullah, Futaba Shioda, and Po'ai Lincoln.

Stay with us for the post-show discussion with select artists and a representative from CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) and FilAm Arts about the importartance of representation and the creative process.

CAPE, Lifetime, Kelly Hu, Kimura Marketing Group, Emerson College Los Angeles, and Gold House invite you to an exclusive advance screening of LIST OF A LIFETIME, in honor of #BreastCancerAwareness Month!

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Kelly Hu, Sylvia Kwan (GREY'S ANATOMY), and Director Roxy Shih.

Doors open at 6:00 PM PT.

Light snacks provided by Kikka Sushi.
Sparkling farm-to-can cocktails inspired by the global cultures of Los Angeles provided by Vervet.

Join Disney Channel, CAPE, and ASIFA-Hollywood for a special advance virtual screening and Q&A for Disney Channel's THE GHOST AND MOLLY MCGEE ahead of its premiere on October 1!

Date: Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Time: 4:00pm-5:30pm PT (7:00pm-8:30pm ET)

THE GHOST AND MOLLY MCGEE follows Thai American tween Molly, who lives to make the world a better place, and grumpy ghost Scratch, whose job is to spread misery. When one of Scratch’s curses backfires, he finds himself forever bound to Molly, creating an unlikely friendship that leads to humorous misadventures as they navigate Molly’s new school and town.

Speakers include:

• Ashly Burch (Molly)

• Bill Motz and Bob Roth (Creators and Executive Producers)

• Paul Chang (Staff Writer and CAPE Alum)

Moderated by Laura Sirikul (Managing Editor, The Nerds of Color)

The panel will be followed by a learn-to-draw Scratch session with character designer Karl Cruz! CLICK HERE to download free coloring pages of Molly and Scratch!

It was just a few years ago that animation was denigrated as an exclusive "boys club." But today, most Hollywood studio heads in feature animation are now women. Similarly, the pathways to becoming a director in animation have evolved as well, as the desire for authentic storytelling and diverse ideas appears to be opening the door to historically underrepresented creatives. How does one navigate this new landscape? Because it takes more than just artistic skill to become a director! Join a producer and a film exec and a talent manager as they discuss this new paradigm shift, and how you might prosper in it.

Presented by CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), and featuring Michelle Wong (producer of VIVO & Surf's Up 2) and Justinian Huang (VP, Creative, Sony Pictures Animation). Moderated by Alison Mann (Talent Manager & Co-President, Fourth Wall Animation Production Company).

In the month of September 2021, CAPE is accepting submissions for their inaugural CAPE Animation Directors Accelerator, co-chaired by Wong and Huang, which aims to identify and train the next generation of animation leaders, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment. More information can be found at capeusa.org/cada!

Join us on Sunday, July 11th for the Los Angeles theatrical premiere of I’LL MEET YOU THERE from CAPE New Writers Fellowship alumnus Iram Parveen Bilal. This will be a red carpet event, film screening will be followed by Q&A with the cast, that’s flying in internationally just for this event!

IndieScene presents this film as part of our Screening Series to support the 2020 SXSW films & filmmakers canceled due to the pandemic.

This event will follow current COVID-19 guidelines for county, state, and federal safety. All attendees shall understand and acknowledge this. In respect of the pandemic situation, we strongly suggest that attendees are either fully vaccinated or have tested negative within 72 hours of the event’s start time.

As a precaution, and in compliance with the theaters’ request, we do require everyone to wear masks while in the lobby and social areas outside the auditoriums. This is a requirement whether you are vaccinated or not.

Celebrate National Go Skateboarding Day on June 21 with a Q&A discussion with the creators and stars of SKATER GIRL, now streaming on Netflix! This Top 10 Netflix film follows the journey of a young teen in rural India, who discovers a life-changing passion for skateboarding when a London-bred advertising executive arrives in the village to learn more about her late father’s childhood.

Panelists include:

• Manjari Makijany | Director, Co-Writer, and Producer

• Vinati Makijany | Co-Writer and Producer

• Rachel Saanchita Gupta | Actor - “Prerna"

• Amy Maghera | Actor - "Jessica"

Moderated by Netflix Creative Manager and CAPE Leaders Fellowship alumnus Caroline Mak

For this virtual panel, the Writers Guild Foundation, in partnership with the WGAW’s Asian American Writers Committee, the Coalition for Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity (TTIE), discuss how Asian American film and TV writers are updating and revising onscreen and behind-the-screen narratives to be more inclusive, multi-dimensional, and authentic.

Panelists:

• Liz Hsiao Lan Alper (Writer/Producer, Day of the Dead; Co-Founder #PayUpHollywood),

• Teresa Hsiao (Co-creator/Executive Producer, Awkwafina is Nora From Queens; writer/producer, American Dad, Fresh Off the Boat)

• Adele Lim (Screenwriter, Raya and the Last Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians; writer/producer, Lethal Weapon, Reign)

• Y. Shireen Razack (Writer/Co-Executive Producer, New Amsterdam; Co-Founder, Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity)

• Alexander Woo (Co-creator/Executive Producer, The Terror: Infamy)

Moderated by Tawal Panyacosit, Jr., (Co-Creator/Co-Executive Producer, Life After First Failure, Co-Founder, Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity).

Filmed on May 6, 2021.

FROM LITTLE TOKYO, WITH LOVE author Sarah Kuhn is joined by COBRA KAI's Tamlyn Tomita, NO MISTAKES artist and PRODIGAL SON's Keiko Agena, and Olympic ice dancers and KUDO KIDS authors Maia & Alex Shibutani to speak on finding, cultivating, and protecting joy as Asian American artists.

Join us for a conversation with Oscar-shortlisted short film BITTU director Karishma Dev Dube and producer/cinematographer Shreya Dev Dube, moderated by Oscar-nominated director Mira Nair (SALAAM BOMBAY!, MONSOON WEDDING, QUEEN OF KATWE).

The film won a silver medal at the 2020 Student Academy Awards, making it eligible for the 2021 Oscars in the best live-action short category. BITTU is based on an infamous food poisoning incident at an Indian government school in 2013. The film’s focus is on the resilience of an eight-year-old girl whose close friendship with her best friend is tested on a seemingly ordinary day at school.

Indian Women Rising in partnership with Educate Girls USA, an NGO founded by Safeena Husain, has launched a fundraiser for the two young leads from the film BITTU – Rani and Renu Kumari. The film and the fundraiser have the support of Priyanka Chopra Jonas who gave a shout-out, standing in solidarity with the right to education for young girls. Consider donating here: http://bit.ly/educateBittu

Learn more about the film here: https://www.bittufilm.com

Join CAPE for a roundtable of writers as we celebrate and highlight multi-racial Black and Asian creatives!

Panelists:

• Arun Vir | Filmmaker

• Deric A. Hughes | Co-Executive Producer, Arrow and The Flash

• Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence | TV Writer, Boomerang and Twenties

• Monica Macer | Showrunner/EP, MacGyver and Gente-fied

• Velina Hasu Houston | Playwright & Professor

Join CAPE for a roundtable of actors as we celebrate and highlight multi-racial Black and Asian creatives!

Panelists:

• Asia Jackson (@aasian)

• Denyce Lawton (@denycelawton)

• Merle Dandridge (@merledandridge)

• Ryan Alexander Holmes (@ryanalexh).

Get a look under the pink box with the creative team Gold List nominee, THE DONUT KING! THE DONUT KING premiered at SXSW 2020 and received a Special Jury Recognition for Achievement in Documentary Storytelling.

Panelists:

• Alice Gu | Director

• José Nuñez | Producer

• Carol Martori | Editor

• Mayly Tao | "Donut Princess LA" CEO & Founder

Moderated by CAPE’s Director of Programs and Operations Jess Ju.

THE DONUT KING follows the story of Cambodian-American businessman Ted Ngoy. Ted’s story is one of fate, love, survival, hard knocks, and redemption. It’s the rags to riches story of a refugee escaping Cambodia, arriving in America in 1975 and building an unlikely multi-million-dollar empire baking America’s favorite pastry, the donut. Ted sponsored hundreds of visas for incoming refugees and helped them get on their feet teaching them the ways of the donut business. By 1979 he was living the American Dream. But, in life, great rise can come with great falls.

Join CAPE, Warner Bros., and Rideback for a Fireside Chat with Director Jon M. Chu and Producer Dan Lin, and get a chance to ask your questions during our live Q&A!

Get into the holiday spirit with A SUGAR & SPICE HOLIDAY: A VIRTUAL CELEBRATION with the cast and creative team of the first Lifetime original movie centering an Asian American family!

Panelists:

• Jennifer Liao | Director

• Eirene Donohue | Screenwriter

• Jacky Lai | Actor (“Suzie”)

• Tony Giroux | Actor (“Billy”)

Moderated by Dr. Nancy Wang Yuen.

Join CAPE for a conversation with the cast and director of THE NEVER LIST, an upcoming indie film! After the sudden death of her best friend, a straight-laced teen sets out to fulfill the secret list of outrageous acts the two of them said they'd never do. Learn more at: www.neverlistmovie.com

Panelists:

• Michelle Mower | Director

• Fivel Stewart

• Keiko Agena

• Andrew Kai.

Moderated by Michael Tow

Join UCLA's Center for Scholars & Storytelling, Pearl Studio, and CAPE for ANIMATION NATION: Finding Hope After Loss in Children's Media. We'll explore these these through Pearl Studio's hit feature film OVER THE MOON, now streaming on Netflix, and ABOMINABLE, streaming on Hulu.

Panelists:

• UCLA Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Bridget Callaghan

• Pearl Studio's Head of Development Justinian Huang

Moderated by UCLA Professor and Screenwriter George Huang.

Learn more about The Center for Scholars and Storytellers at: www.scholarsandstorytellers.com