The film series emphasizes hyperlocal governance, grassroots activism and participation, community movements, creative approaches to civic engagement, and elder and emerging voices in AANHPI communities across the United States. Six filmmakers from the A-Doc community answered our call to create powerful 2-minute films featuring inspiring film participants that can engage and revitalize voters, reminding us that our participation counts, and that disengagement is not an option.

MEET THE 2024 OUR STORIES, OUR VOICES FILMMAKERS:

Desi Mom – Directed by Chithra Jeyaram

Votes For Verona – Directed by Joseph Duque

Ohio is in the Heart – Directed by Sonia Desai Rayka

Uncommitted – Directed by Aisha Sultan

The Fight Continues – Directed by Eden Sabolboro

Apathy Is Not An Option – Directed by Mia Barnett

Each filmmaker receives $3,000 production funding, as well as $750 for participation in a funded impact campaign to be conducted in the months leading up to the November 2024 elections, in collaboration with APIAVote and our partner organizations. The cohort receives production support from the A-Doc Storytelling Initiative Team (Anuradha Rana, Pallavi Somusetty, Lily Qi, and Impact Producer Kitty Hu), and mentorship from two veteran filmmakers Jessica Q. Chen and Sergio M. Rapu, to further multi-generational alliances, knowledge sharing, and community building.

Working with the filmmakers, A-Doc will promote each piece on social media, help curate these projects as part of film festivals and impact screenings, and ultimately raise the overall visibility of AANHPI voices in the 2024 elections. The films will be launched digitally on A-Doc’s platforms starting in May, 2024. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Communications Manager, A-Doc: Neha Aziz (neha@a-doc.org)

Screener requests should go to:

Supervising Producer: Anuradha Rana (storytelling@a-doc.org)

Impact Producer: Kitty Hu (kitty@shoesoffmedia.com)

A-Doc’s Storytelling Initiatives

Each iteration of the Storytelling Initiative has furthered A-Doc’s mission to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field, to come together as a multi-generational force to advocate for our presence, and to advocate for equity and diversity in our field. Watch our prior series here:

Asian American Stories in the Time of Coronavirus, inaugural microdocs series in 2020

Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond, second microdocs series in 2021 

Asian American Stories of Resilience and Beyond, a series of 10-minute short films, in co-production with WORLD Channel and CAAM in 2022 

About the Key Art & Artist

Vivian Shih is a Cali-raised, Brooklyn-based, Taiwanese-American artist and illustrator. Her illustrative works explore women’s and POC voices, with themes of inner worlds, dreams, and self-discovery. Emotions play a huge role in her work and she strives to capture the range of feelings that every human being experiences. For this year’s key art, she depicts movement organizers through imagery of people working together to survive and rise above rough waters. Despite the turbulence that may be happening in the world, there is always the strength of humanity and outspoken voices that will push through together and reach the top of the mountain. You can view Vivian’s work at: https://www.vivianshih.com/ Instagram: @viv.shih

About Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc) 

The Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc)  is a national network of 1400+ members working to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans in the documentary field. A-Doc is committed to sharing ideas and resources, providing mutual support and mentorship, and advocating for equity and diversity in the production and distribution of non-fiction storytelling. In 2020, A-Doc launched its first Storytelling Initiative: Asian American Stories in the Time of Coronavirus, a collection of microdocs and personal essays sharing unique perspectives about the pandemic, created to disrupt mainstream narratives about Asian American communities.