2023 Awards

Award for Best animation – Boundless

Directed By David Chai

Nominated Films:

  • Boundless
  • hao hao wan wan
  • MeiHouWang
  • w(Ho)

Award for Best Short Documentary –
Cambodian Futures

Directed By Dustin Nakao-Haider

Nominated Films:

  • Cambodian Futures
  • Stamp Our Story
  • Dear Corky
  • Gund Kwok

Award for Best Short narrative –
Lunchbox

Directed By Anne Hu

Nominated Films:

  • Avalanches
  • Copeless
  • A Dire Strait
  • Don’t Be Sorry
  • Lunchbox

Award for Best Feature Documentary –
Finding Her Beat

Directed By Keri Pickett and Dawn Mikkelson

Nominated Films:

  • 80 Years Later
  • Crossings
  • Finding Her Beat
  • Liquor Store Dreams
  • Searching For Kapwa

Award for Best Feature narrative –
Land of Gold

Directed By Nardeep Khurmi

Nominated Films:

  • Above the Clouds
  • Golden Delicious
  • No No Girl
  • Land of Gold

We Generation Award –
80 Years Later

Directed By Celine Parreñas Shimizu

Using the legacy of internment, the film effectively makes us think about what is passed down and what is lost with each generation, which is a core experience of Asian American and immigrant communities.

JASON D. MAK AWARD FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE –
Crossings

Directed By Deann Borshay Liem

Nominated Films:

  • 80 Years Later
  • Avalanches
  • Crossings

Special Recognition

Kinship Award –
Searching for Kapwa

Directed By Larry Daguino Lariosa and Terrence Ralph Marcotte

Good production with a nice mix of history, sociology, and personal stories to shed light on the disconnect that many Filipino-Americans have with their culture in the context of the traumatic history of wars, invasion, and colonialism. All of the interviews are insightful, and the film succeeds in letting the viewer understand and feel the meaning of “Kapwa.”

Excellence in Storytelling Award –
Golden Delicious

Directed By Jason Karman

The filmmaker demonstrates immense skill in storytelling making a beautifully empathetic coming of age film. The time was well utilized to create and fully develop the characters.

Legacy Award –
Dear Corky

Directed By Curtis Chin

The film pays tribute to an inspiration and an unsung hero, Corky Lee. He dedicated his life to documenting activism to the Asian American community. His photographs show perspectives that haven’t been captured by mainstream media.

Heritage Award –
Stamp Our Story

Directed By Kaia Rose and Robert M. Horsting

This film not only highlights the history of the 442nd and the stamp campaign, but it shows elders continuing to lead and make a difference in their communities.

Courage Award –
Avalanches

Directed By Liz Lian

The film deserves acknowledgment for having the courage to tackle a taboo subject. Timely film that addresses the increasing number of stories about high-level athletics and abuse that is ignored. The casting of Asian American leads gives it a DisOrient lens

Audience Choice Awards

Audience Choice Best Feature Narrative –
Land of Gold

Directed By Nardeep Khurmi

Audience Choice Best Feature Documentary –
Finding her beat

Directed By Keri Pickett and Dawn Mikkelson

Audience Choice Best Short Narrative –
White Now Please

Director by Kyle Lau

Audience Choice Best Short Documentary –
Feeling Asian American

Directed by Janet S. Kim

Audience Choice Best Animation –
MeiHouWang

Directed By Justin L. Ni

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