On Saturday night, September 25, 2021, the HBO Asian Pacific Visionaries Short Film Competition, a unique filmmaker support initiative sponsored by HBO, premiered their finalist films at Regal L.A LIVE in DTLA. Select guests were invited to attend the afterparty, which was held at an exclusive venue for the special night.
This short film competition provides emerging directors of Asian and/or Pacific Islander descent the chance to showcase their work. The judge’s panel included various HBO executives, industry leaders, and fellow APA filmmakers.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 25: A general view of atmosphere at the HBO APA Visionaries After-Party at Majordomo on September 25, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for HBO)
HBO APA Visionaries Short Film Competition: Sizzle Reel | HBO
The theme for this year’s competition was “Taking the Lead,” highlighting pieces portraying Asian Pacific Americans at the forefront of a given narrative, embracing the spirits of heroes and trailblazers with a unique twist.
In addition to receiving cash prizes, the finalists selected to make their debut at this exclusive, invite-only event were also offered the opportunity to premiere their films on HBO and stream on HBO via HBO Max.
Meet the winners of the 2021 HBO APA Visionaries Competition: Unmothered, directed by Urvashi Pathania, a tragicomedy about the lies we tell the ones we love, and Neh, directed by Jesse Gi, a young Korean-American on a date gone wrong. The screenings were followed by a Q&A portion with the filmmakers, both of whom were in attendance.
Unmothered Film Poster
2021 APA Visionaries Short Film Competition: Urvashi Pathania on Unmothered | HBO
Neh Film Poster
2021 APA Visionaries Short Film Competition: Jesse Gi on Neh | HBO
Little Sky Film Poster
Also premiered that night was Little Sky, directed by Jess X. Snow.
Little Sky tells the heartfelt, brave journey of a Chinese-American pop star who returns to their hometown to confront their estranged father.
Later that night, guests were treated to an afterparty at Majordomo, where they partook in tasty bites and delicious drinks. Music kept the party vibes going, thanks to Amrit spinning the latest hits. Plus, a special performance by Eric Nam, a singer, songwriter, television host, and content creator of Korean descent.
The event left guests mingling with the likes of Daniel Dae Kim, Jamie Chung, and Jimmy O. Yang, among others.
Be sure to catch the 2021 APA Visionaries films, now streaming on HBO Max.