As 2025 draws to a close, we at CAAM are grateful for our creative partners and supporters who share our belief in the power of Asian American stories during a pivotal time for our community―and our nation. Over the past 12 months, Asian American communities have seen the growth of our onscreen representation dampened, with some government and corporate entities pulling back on initiatives focused on inclusive storytelling, and the public media system experiencing devastating cuts to federal funding. But here at CAAM, elevating narratives from Asian America isn’t a “diversity program”, it has been the heart of our mission for our 45-year history. We were founded during a time before it became mainstream to advocate for Asian American narratives, and we have no intention of stopping now.
These times have only renewed our belief that Asian American stories are essential to the fabric of the United States. Here at CAAM, we are digging deep, finding inspiration from our origins as we carefully re-evaluate the scope of our work and seek ways to carry out our mission in the changing environment. We see it as our responsibility not just to survive, but to continue to innovate, invest in building the creative community, and lead in the independent filmmaking space making authentic, high-quality stories available to all Americans.
Join us in reflecting on 2025 and looking ahead to our renewed commitment for the future of storytelling about Asian American experiences.
New Leadership
This spring, our new Executive Director Don Young assumed the helm of CAAM, following the retirement of our longtime leader Stephen Gong. Bringing three decades of experience in the Asian American and documentary filmmaking space, Don has brought a valuable perspective to this critical year.
“I’ve been at CAAM for 30 years. I can say full heartedly, I’m more excited for our story telling community than ever before,” says CAAM Executive Director Don Young. “I recognize it’s a difficult moment, but it’s a time in which we’ve got to focus on building community, supporting one another, standing by one another, defending the work we all care about. And I think the payoff of that will be some of the most incredible storytelling we’ve ever seen.”
CAAMFest Returns to Japantown
In May, we celebrated the 43rd annual CAAMFest, anchored in San Francisco’s Japantown, beginning at the AMC Kabuki with the Opening Night screening of Third Act, director Tad Nakamura’s deeply personal look at his father Robert Nakamura’s life and coming into his own as a Japanese American. The festival concluded with the sold-out Closing Night presentation of Yellow Face, with stars Daniel Dae Kim, Tony Award-winner Francis Jue, and Shannon Tyo in the house. Our homecoming at this historically Asian American neighborhood represents a return to our roots and also plants the seeds for renewed grassroots engagement with the community.
Filmmaker Summit and Industry Hub
Hundreds of people packed the KOHO creative space for three days of programming at the Filmmaker Summit and Industry Hub featuring networking, activities, and discussions with leaders in Asian American filmmaking, including our 2025 Fellows and Mentors, and industry partners from NBC and WBD. Recordings of all of our panels are now available on the CAAM Channel on YouTube.
“Our expanded Filmmaker Summit and Industry Hub proves that CAAMFest is not just for presenting finished works, but also an opportunity for CAAM to provide inspiration and respite for our creative community,” says Talent Development and Special Projects Director Sapana Sakya. “This space provided much needed nurturing for filmmakers, industry representatives, and community to joyfully celebrate Asian American storytelling in all its diversity and nuance.”
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Our annual pitchfest took place in person this year, with the 2025 CAAM Fellows Sue Ding, Manish Khanal, and Angad Singh vying for a $10,000 grant from CAAM. Khanal took home the award for his film Sukha.
See more photos and highlights of CAAMFest 2025.
Strengthening the Asian American Storytelling Community
This summer, we at CAAM faced the greatest challenges in our 45-year history, as lawmakers in Washington D.C. moved to rescind federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) which has supported CAAM since our inception. Along with other public television stations and production organizations, CAAM staged an online campaign to raise awareness about the critical role public media has played in providing high-quality programs reflecting many facets of the American population. Among the many leaders who voiced the importance of public media for Asian American storytelling were director Tad Nakamura and actor Daniel Dae Kim.
“At no other time has it been so crucial to tell the story of CAAM’s work and our integral role in paving the way for other stories about Asian America,” says CAAM Communications and Engagement Director Grace Hwang Lynch. “And it’s been heartening to see other leaders in our field speak up in support.”
Ultimately, CPB announced that they will be closing at the end of 2025. While the initial effects have been crushing, representing a loss of 40% of our annual income, we are seeking alternate philanthropic funding to support our public media mission. As we navigate these new waters,we are guided by our North Star of creating independent stories about Asian American experiences that are widely available to the American public, free of charge. We are continuing to steward the funds that have already been received and are continuing to seek distribution of programs that are in the pipeline. The defunding of CPB in 2025 does not interrupt our commitment to make these projects available to the American public. Read more here.
Documentary Fund
This year, CAAM funded dozens of projects, including five new titles. These include three new documentary features: About Face: Disrupting Ballet, Finding Ma, and From Kudzu. As viewing habits become more centered around online platforms, we are also funding two new short digital series: a Bay Area food series, Generation, and an untitled short series co-produced with Flash Cuts, spotlighting nonfiction and fiction works about Asian America.
Building Bridges Documentary Fund
At a time when independent storytelling has been hit hard, we are especially proud of our Building Bridges Documentary Fund, a $4.5 million initiative made possible by the Doris Duke Foundation to support filmmakers and works that contribute to a fuller spectrum of narratives that illuminate what it means to be Muslim in the United States. In 2025, we launched the first and second cohorts of our Building Bridges Documentary Fund Fellows, with 30 filmmakers at varying stages of their careers. Through this support, we were able to send some of the fellows to key convenings at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, as well as our own CAAMFest.
Thank You to Our Supporters
“We express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our many funders, corporate supporters, and individuals who have generously stepped up to help make it possible for us to continue to uplift Asian American stories,” says CAAM Director of Development Frances Pomperada. “Your support means everything, especially during this time when authentic stories about Asian America are in need of funding more than ever.” Our community of leading contributors are acknowledged here.
In May, we launched our major fundraising initiative–CAAM’s Campaign for the Future of Storytelling–to build on CAAM’s promise to strengthen and sustain vital stories about Asian Americans, now and in the future. Your support ensures that CAAM can continue to be a home for the stories that shape who we are and who we’ll become–stories that reflect the full continuum of the Asian American experience, and in turn, expand the understanding of what it means to be American. Donate and learn more.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As we look toward the next year, we here at CAAM are continuing to determine how to best serve our storytellers and audiences, with a pledge to hope and transformative possibilities. Our team is already beginning to plan for the next CAAMFest, slated for early May 2026 in San Francisco Japantown. Stay tuned as we announce the dates and lineup, along with other new initiatives. We are grateful for all of our fellow storytellers and audiences as we close this year and take some time to rest, so we can return to our important work, invigorated for our next chapter.
Support the Future of Storytelling
If you care about the future of storytelling in America, please consider making a 100% tax-deductible donation to CAAM. Supporting CAAM isn’t just about helping one organization; it’s about investing in the infrastructure that allows more diverse, challenging, and necessary stories to exist. Your gift will make a deep impact on CAAM’s work to support and sustain Asian American stories, now and in the future.
