Sunrise Collective, a Home for the Pan-AANHPI Community, Returns to Sundance Film Festival for a Third Year

January 17, 2025 (Los Angeles, CA) - Sunrise Collective, a home for the Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community at the Sundance Film Festival, will return to Main Street for a third year. A partnership of Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD, Gold House, and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Sunrise Collective will be at the private, invite-only venue Pine Cone Ridge on Main Street for two days of engaging panels, fireside chats, and celebrations during the festival’s opening weekend, Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25, 2025. 

The Sunrise Collective will feature influential and rising AANHPI and multicultural creatives, filmmakers, and industry leaders for inspiring conversations. The event will spotlight the vital role of storytelling in amplifying authentic AANHPI narratives, challenging prevailing stereotypes, and evolving the landscape of representation both on-screen and behind the scenes. Notable participants include: actors Tan France, Himesh Patel, Smriti Mundhra and Jim Sarbh, showrunners Nahnatchka Khan and Arika Lisanne Mittman, director Sean Wang and also filmmakers whose projects are in this year’s competition, including Cherien Dabis, Amber Fares, Geeta Gandbhir, Glenn Kaino, Rohan Kanawade, Meera Menon, Tadashi Nakamura, Bao Nguyen, Alex Russell, and Joseph Patel.

On Friday evening, the Sunrise Collective and Sundance Institute’s Artist Accelerator Program will bring together current and alumni artists for a private reception to celebrate representation in film and television. The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and Gold House are proud to support the Artist Accelerator Program through the TAAF Fellowship and Collab Scholarship and the One House Filmmakers Fund.

On Saturday evening, the Sunrise Collective brings back its annual Multicultural Dinner to celebrate the unity of diverse voices and leaders at the festival. This year’s dinner will be co-presented by Onyx Collective, with the stars of its upcoming series “Deli Boys” on Hulu, Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, and Poorna Jagannathan hosting the evening. Community co-hosts include leaders from Latinx House, GLAAD, MPAC, NALIP, MACRO, PEAK, 1497, and Disability Belongs.

The Sunrise Collective is made possible with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and programming partners Audible, Hulu and Onyx Collective, Elevate Prize Foundation, NBCU LAUNCH, Pop Culture Collaborative, P&G Studios, and Rotten Tomatoes.

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In the words of the three partners:

“As we reflect on the third anniversary of the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay shootings, and mourn the unimaginable losses of the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, we are reminded of the resilience and strength of our community,” said Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation. “Alongside Gold House and 3AD we envisioned Sunrise Collective to be a safe space for AANHPI artists and individuals to come together, celebrate our rich heritage, and, perhaps most importantly, find solace in each other. We are grateful to collaborate once again with our partners,and our special advisors, Tanya Selvaratnam and Shruti Ganguly—renowned filmmakers and Sundance alumni—to craft programs that amplify the rich diversity and collective strength of our voices. We’re also proud to continue our partnership with the Sundance Institute | TAAF Fellowship & Collab Scholarship, supported by our AAPI Giving Challenge partner Panda Express and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. It’s an honor to champion these fellows and scholars and extend a huge congratulations to Chheangkea Leng and Tadashi Nakamura, who are showcasing their work at this year’s festival, as well as to Sean Wang, this year’s Vanguard Honoree.”

“My partners and I are excited to build on the success of last year’s Sunrise Collective and spotlight even more of Sundance’s AANHPI participants,” said Daniel Dae Kim, CEO of 3AD. “Our programming has been thoughtfully curated to introduce innovative ideas and encourage thoughtful discussion, as well as celebrate the increasingly multicultural community convening for this year’s festival. I’m grateful to Gold House, TAAF and 3AD for once again joining forces to honor our past, applaud our present, and invest in our future.”

“Between macro-level political and economic shifts and, more recently, the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, our filmmaking community has been overwhelmingly challenged in recent months. Now, more than ever, it’s critical to carry out our mission to build an inclusive space that welcomes, supports, and connects,” said Bing Chen, CEO & Co-Founder of Gold House. “Independent stories are among the most powerful ways to spotlight unsung voices, empower new creative careers, and celebrate our original stories. We look forward to continuing our tradition of multicultural and collaborative celebration with our third annual Multicultural Unity Dinner with peers such as GLAAD, NALIP, Latinx House, and MPAC as well as celebrating our second annual One House Filmmakers Fund- Sundance’s first multicultural film fund established with the support of East West Bank Foundation. After all, we cannot just support our own community–we have an imperative to provide space for holistic creative innovation and collective cultural growth.”

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Programming at Sunrise Collective includes:

• Fireside Chat featuring Tan France and Himesh Patel
• Fireside Chat featuring Sundance Vanguard Award Winner Sean Wang (Director, DiDi)
• From Sound to Screen and Beyond, presented by Audible: As visionary creators harness innovative formats to captivate audiences with rich, interconnected storytelling, there’s never been a better time for audiences to discover and experience original stories across various entertainment mediums. Join us as we hear from multi-channel creators and industry veterans on how they push boundaries to create work that resonates with audiences around the world – from film and television to audio and beyond. Featuring Joseph Patel (Producer, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)), Kiran Doel (Comedian and Co-Host of Hysteria podcast), John Cheng (Head of Development, 3AD), Pat Shah (Global Head of Content Acquisition, Strategy and Partnerships, Audible), and moderated by Anthony D’Alessandro (Editorial Director, Deadline). 
• NHPI Stories and Storytellers, presented by P&G Studios and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Moderated by Daniel Dae Kim, this panel explores the critical importance of supporting and amplifying authentic NHPI narratives told by and for the community. Featuring filmmakers and talent from and throughout Pasifika, it focuses not only on the importance of preserving and sharing yet untold stories in an authentic way, but also how the community can empower itself to prepare for the everchanging future of the entertainment landscape. Together, we will reflect on the power of NHPI storytelling as a tool for cultural preservation, social change, and community empowerment, while also celebrating the resilience, innovation, and beauty of its many cultures. Featuring Kimberly Doebereiner (Group VP Future of Advertising, Head of P&G Studios), Angela (Angie) LaPrete (Producer), and Brian Keaulana (Actor & Assistant Director).
• 21st Century Love On Screen: Filmmaker Smriti Mundhra and actor/producer Jim Sarbh discuss their work in film and TV and how their characters on screen challenge or reinforce stereotypes, and how one creates meaningful ways for healthy representation and discussions. Moderated by Director/Writer Shruti Ganguly. 
• Can Music Save the World?: Music has always had a way of uniting people to rally for a shared cause or just to celebrate. These filmmakers have brought their boundary-breaking music documentaries to Sundance and to huge international audiences. In this conversation, they delve into the ways, both clear and hidden, that music transcends the forces that keep people separate. Featuring Drew Dixon (On the Record), Bao Nguyen (Director, The Stringer) Joseph Patel (Producer, SLY LIVES! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)) and Roger Ross Williams (Director, founder of One Story Up), moderated by Tanya Selvaratnam (Senior Advisor, Pop Culture Collaborative).
• Filmmaking Against the Odds: Getting a movie made is no small feat; getting it seen is an even bigger challenge. Identity, background, circumstance, and other factors can compound the odds against a filmmaker. How do these filmmakers get their films made and seen despite the odds? Featuring directors Cherien Dabis (All That's Left of You (اللي باقي منك)), Amber Fares (Coexistence My Ass!), and Rohan Kanakade (Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears)), moderated by Arij Mikati, Pillars Fund
• Milestones: Asian American Directors: Asian American directors explore moments of support and inspiration that helped them along the way. Featuring Geeta Gandbhir (director, The Perfect Neighbor), Glenn Kaino (Director and Producer, Hoops, Hopes & Dreams), Meera Menon (Director, Didn’t Die), Tadashi Nakamura (Director, Third Act; TAAF fellow), and Alex Russell (Director, Lurker) moderated by Michelle Sugihara (Executive Director, CAPE).
• Inspiring Impact: A New Era of Storytelling: Join The Elevate Prize Foundation and Sunrise Collective for a thought-provoking conversation with leaders across the entertainment and impact sectors to unpack how they’re working to create a more purposeful and multicultural future across creative fields. Featuring Abdullah Saeed (Executive Producer, Deli Boys), Dave Liu (Producer, DiDi), Sonya Passi (Founder & CEO, Freeform), Mpindi Abaas (Co-Founder & CEO, Media Challenge Initiative), and moderated by Kamala Avila-Salmon (Founder, Kas Kas Productions)
• Amplifying New Narratives: How Press, Studios, and Talent Elevate the Industry, presented by Rotten Tomatoes: Entertainment journalism and publicity efforts are more than just tools for promoting a project—they are essential for amplifying new and diverse voices across the industry. This panel will examine how press, talent, studios, and publicity collaborate to draw audiences to films and series that may otherwise be overlooked. Experts will share their strategies for building relationships that enable new films and series to break through the noise, attract diverse audiences, and create lasting cultural conversations. Moderated by Zachary Lee (Film Critic and Journalist), this panel will feature Siddhant Adlakha (Film Critic), Therese Lacson (Features Editor at Collider), Rishi Rajani (CEO, Hillman Grad), and Nicole Balgemino (VP, Comms, Slate Publicity & Special Events, Disney Entertainment Television).
• Inside the Writers’ Room with NBCUniversal: Join us for a behind-the-scenes discussion with showrunners and writers from Peacock's "Laid" and NBC’s “The Irrational.” Hear from Emmy-nominated writer Nahnatchka Khan (Showrunner/Director, "Laid"), Humanitas Prize-winner Arika Lisanne Mittman (Showrunner, "The Irrational"), Ria Sardana (Executive Story Editor, "Laid”), and Tommar Wilson (Staff Writer, "The Irrational") about their career journey, how they craft authentic and inclusive stories for broad audiences, and tips for being successful in the writers’ room.

For more information and the latest on the programming schedule, please visit sunrisecollective.us.

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ABOUT 3AD

3AD is committed to celebrating stories from new perspectives by creating content in all media and genres featuring those who have been traditionally underrepresented. We believe in a diverse, inclusive world whose stories deserve to be told in a way that is thought-provoking, challenging, and above all, entertaining.

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ABOUT GOLD HOUSE

Gold House is the leading cultural ecosystem that unites, invests in, and champions Asian Pacific creators and companies to power tomorrow for all. Our innovative programs and platforms include membership systems and events to fortify belonging among the Asian Pacific community and with other marginalized communities (Membership, Futures, #StopAsianHate, One House); first-of-its-kind investment vehicles and accelerators to propel the next generation of top Asian Pacific founders, creatives, and leaders (Gold House Ventures, Creative Equity Fund, Venture and Creative Accelerators); and industry-leading research, consulting, and marketing to promote authentic and affirming mainstream portrayals (Gold Story Consultation, Gold Open, Gold List, A100 List, Gold Gala). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, Threads, and LinkedIn.

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ABOUT THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION (TAAF)

TAAF serves the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community in their pursuit of safety, belonging, and prosperity that is free from discrimination, slander, and violence. Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and to address the long-standing underinvestment in AANHPI communities, TAAF mobilizes to fight against hate and violence, reclaim our narratives and celebrate our stories through our core pillars of Anti-Hate, Education, Narrative Change, and Resources & Representation. Through our high-impact initiatives, events, and investments in national and local nonprofits, we’re creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of AANHPIs in the United States. For additional information about TAAF, please visit www.taaf.org or follow @TAAForg on Instagram, LinkedIn, X or Facebook.

Media Contacts:

Joy Moh: Joy.Moh@TAAF.org

Jon Stone: Jon.Stone@TAAF.org

The Asian American Foundation