2022 Awards

Written by Joe Har
March 27, 2022

Award for Best Feature Documentary – Omoiyari

Directed by Justin Taylor Smith, Kaoru Ishibashi

Nominated films:

A Tale of Three Chinatowns
Blurring the Color Line
Ricochet

Award for Best Feature Narrative – Dealing With Dad

Directed by Tom Huang

Nominated films:

Silent River
Lumpia With A Vengeance

Award for Best Short Documentary – Stories Within

Directed by PJ Raval

Nominated films:

Not Your Model Minority
Dear Dad
Reparations
Honor Thy Mother

Award for Best Short Narrative – Wo

Directed by Jiemin Yang

Nominated films:

BJ’s Mobile Gift Shop
Leftovers
Mother: A Visual Poem
Hawaiian Soul
Eye of the Needle
A Father’s Son
Reverse

Jason D. Mak Award for Social Justice – Ricochet

Directed by Jeff Adachi, Chihiro Wimbush

Nominated films:

Food For the Rest Of Us
Dear Thalia
Reparations
Blurring the Color Line
Hawaiian Soul

Special Mentions

Award for Social Relevance – Dear Thalia

Directed by Rex Moribe

Reliable housing and shelter are one of the most urgent issues of our time. Dear Thalia provides a poignant portrayal of those facing barriers to permanent housing, as well as the connection that is drawn to long standing racism and colonialism. With humanity and compassion, this film changes the way we see “others” in our broader community.

Courage Award – Blurring the Color Line

Directed by Crystal Lee Kwok

This award recognizes the filmmaker’s courage in examining her own family’s history. She uses this uncomfortable history to disrupts racial narratives and encourage allyship across communities; to dismantle white supremacy and to elicit a more compassionate country.

Outstanding Music Video – Rooted

Directed by Mia Kami

This award honors the powerful representation of Pacific people in this music video. This film uplifts the Pacific Islander communities–celebrating the resilience that comes from culture, art, ancestors and community. Beautifully done.

Animation – Illegitimate Voice

Directed by Taylor Bazile, Will Casse, Uma Chatterjee,, Ashley Clark, Victoria Cruell, Pedro Edmond, Stefie Gan, Kacey Layson, Oscar Li, Guilia Pan, Aaron Parris, Rachel Priebe, Ashley Lynn Raymer, Maria “Lupita” Roa, Lau Rodriguez, Armando Sepulveda Mendoza

This award acknowledges the skill and collaboration of this team of animators. The use of many distinct animation styles successfully creates an honest, beautiful and affecting personal story that gives voice to an underrepresented perspective.

Award for Activism in Film – Jon Osaki

Director of Reparations, Not Your Model Minority

This award recognizes Jon’s body of work and films. We appreciate ongoing commitment to social justice, and his ability to cover important topics with wide reaching clarity. Jon’s films inspire us to call out injustice and to take action.

Emerging Leader Award – Aigagalefili Fepulea’i Tapua’i

This award acknowledges Fili for her ability to lead and advocate for her community with courage, humanity and wisdom. Her voice deserves to be amplified and the compassion with which she holds humanity deserves to be recognized.