CAAM proactively seeks out Asian American storytellers producing undertold narratives from the Asian American experience. Recently, CAAM has been reflecting on how best to respond to the evolving perspectives of a widely diverse Asian American community. We are proud to develop new opportunities that support innovative projects from our storytellers. And we are excited to announce a handful of filmmakers and projects CAAM is uplifting with resources from generous donors and foundations. We believe in the vision and voice of these storytellers and we look forward to seeing their projects come to fruition.
Bitterroot
Directed by Vera Brunner-Sung and produced by Yeej, Karin Chien, Kazua Melissa Vang, Giulia Caruso and Ki Jin Kim
NARRATIVE-DRAMA / DOCUMENTARY FEATURE / USA: A Hmong man in Montana hides the truth about his lost job and failed marriage from his mother. But when she suddenly falls ill, he must finally reckon with his painful past to save them both.
Liquor Store Dreams
Directed by So Yun Um and produced by Eddie Kim, executive produced by Diane Quon & Daniel J. Chalfen
NARRATIVE-DRAMA / DOCUMENTARY FEATURE / USA: Tracing back to the ‘92 LA Uprisings to the current day BLM movement, LIQUOR STORE DREAMS is an intimate portrait of two Korean American children of liquor store owners who set out to bridge generational divides with their immigrant parents in Los Angeles.
Larry The Musical
Written by Gayle Romasanta and Kevin Camia, composed by Bryan Pangilinan and Sean Kana, directed by Billy Bustamante, directed for film by Christopher J. Sotelo, and produced by Melvign Badiola
MUSICAL THEATRE / FEATURE / USA: Larry The Musical, based on the book Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong by Dr. Dawn Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta, tells a rich and complex story of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong, who organized West Coast farm workers in the 1930’s and started the 1965 Delano Grape Strike, ultimately birthing the United Farm Workers.
An Act of Worship
Directed by Nausheen Dadabhoy and produced by Sofian Khan, Heba Elorbany and Kristi Jacobson
NARRATIVE-DRAMA / DOCUMENTARY FEATURE / USA: A portrait of the last 30 years of Muslim life in America, An Act of Worship offers a counter-narrative and collective memory of pivotal moments in US history by exploring the impact of anti-Muslim rhetoric and policy on young Muslims who came of age after 9/11.
Bad Axe
Directed by David Siev and produced by Jude Harris, Diane Quon, Kat Vasquez, and executive produced by Daniel Dae Kim and Jeff Tremaine
NARRATIVE-DRAMA / DOCUMENTARY FEATURE / USA: Bad Axe captures a closely-knit Asian American family living in rural Michigan during the pandemic as they fight to keep their local restaurant and American dream alive. With rising racial tensions, the family uses their voice and must unite as they reckon with backlash from a divided community, white supremacists, and intergenerational trauma from Cambodia’s “killing fields.”
Bitterroot, Liquor Store Dreams, Larry the Musical, and Bad Axe are made possible with support from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation.
An Act of Workshop is supported by CAAM through funding by the Doris Duke Foundation.
