AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship
The Asian American Documentary Network and Asian American Futures are seeking proposals from Impact Producers with documentary films they are currently working on and actively engaged in an impact campaign to participate in the AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship.
We see the vital value of cultural production alongside movement work, and are looking for Impact Producers who seek to place documentary films—both features and shorts—at the intersection of political organizing and narrative change, that organize within and support Asian American and Pacific Islander communities to bring about long-term, equitable impact by leveraging film.
We are looking for films that:
- Fit the theme of legacy in AAPI communities, which encompasses historical contributions, social and political impact, and addressing present and future challenges.
- Will reach and resonate with broad AAPI audiences, including people who are earlier on in their political development.
Four (4) Fellows will be awarded a grant ($17,000) towards their film’s impact campaign and a fellowship program from April-December 2025. Identifying a need for more training and expansion in the Impact Producing space, the Fellowship is designed for the Impact Producers to level-up in a community of peers, collaborators, and leaders within the documentary film and social justice ecosystem. The AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship will be tailored towards each Fellow’s needs and provide the optimal amount of support and mentorship required. Impact Producer Fellows are expected to complete their proposed Impact Campaigns by the end of the fellowship.
Theme: AAPI Legacy
The AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship aims to support Impact Producers attached to a film—currently in post-production or recently completed—with a built-in impact campaign that aims to bring about long-term, equitable social change within AAPI communities.
In our view, there are numerous, intersecting issues that have historically and continue to impact our AAPI communities—for example, working-class immigrants fighting exploitation and gentrification; combating the rise of anti-Asian hate; campaigns to decriminalize massage therapy; undocumented immigrants fighting for a pathway to citizenship; as well as efforts to envision and create alternatives to our current systems and structures that negatively impact AAPI communities. We expect applicants to make the case that their film and their impact campaign have the potential to contribute something valuable to the legacy of AAPI communities and movements.
We are living in unprecedented times, where issues impacting the AAPI communities are exceptionally complex and involve an array of interrelated social, economic, political, and historical dynamics. As such, to the extent that it’s relevant to applicants’ proposed work, we encourage applicants to demonstrate how their film and their impact campaign fit within the current social and political moment, and AAPI movement and organizing work past and present. We encourage applicants to contextualize their projects, and propose how the films and their impact campaigns move us toward a more just and equitable society for our AAPI communities. We are looking for films that firmly center AAPI communities that highlight solidarity frameworks, actively fight stereotypes, and amplify stories of abundance—that are able to reach stretch audiences.
Some examples of stories that advance our theme of AAPI legacy include:
- Interdependence: AAPIs look out for each other. We work to ensure people and the environment are safe, healthy, and thriving.
- Solidarity: AAPIs can connect to the struggles and experiences of people within and outside our communities. We are stronger and more powerful when we act in solidarity with others.
- Pride: AAPIs are not a monolith. We can be proud of our diversity in language, culture, ethnicity, and experience. How we unite and build strength in numbers may depend on the issues at hand.
- Belonging: AAPIs deserve to be included, with intersectionality in mind, in politics, in pop culture, news, social justice, and more.
- Self-determination: AAPI communities deserve to govern themselves beyond war, imperialism, and violence.
Guidelines
Eligibility Requirements
Ideal Impact Producers have some experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects that involve the AAPI community and incorporate key elements of film, narrative strategies, or storytelling. They can be experienced in Impact Producing work or be interested in and committed to becoming one. Candidates are in alignment with A-Doc values and promise to contribute to a collaborative learning environment. We value applications with diverse backgrounds, experiences, abilities, and expertise.
Eligible AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellow Candidates:
- Have been working in the capacity of an Impact Producer on a film, OR are interested in or committed to becoming an Impact Producer, OR have some experience with developing collaborative or community-based projects that involve the AAPI community.
- Are attached to a film project and actively designing or executing an impact campaign for the film. These films should be recently completed or very close to completion.
- You may hold additional roles with a film (including Director/Producer) if you are applying. You will need to make the case of your role as Impact Producer of the film and impact campaign, and the overall intention of this fellowship to support and build up Impact Producers within our field.
- Intend to use the grant towards execution of the film’s Impact Campaign (e.g. payment of Impact Producer fee, event space rental, travel costs for film team or protagonists, etc).
- Are in alignment with A-Doc values.
- Demonstrate a practice or deep interest in supporting the AAPI community through film, art, and storytelling.
- Are familiar with the cultural history and issues impacting the AAPI community.
- Projects must focus and center AAPI communities and/or participants.
- Participants must be prepared for their participation in the AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship, including the in-person cohort retreat in May 2025. See below for more information.
- Only one proposal per applicant will be accepted.
- Must be based in the U.S.
- Are at least 21 years of age.
Applications that are NOT eligible:
- The film does not focus on social issue topics relevant to the AAPI experience, or does not advance the theme of AAPI legacy.
- The film does not center Asian and/or Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities and/or participants.
- The film does not demonstrate intended impact with nonfiction film, narrative strategies, or storytelling.
- Applicants that intend to use the grant towards production or post-production costs of a film.
Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:
- Intended impact of the film.
- The issue the project is addressing.
- Exhibits a high level of demonstrative skills of impact producing.
- Can be accomplished within the proposed budget and timeline.
- Connection to the community.
Info Session
Members of the A-Doc Impact Initiative team will lead an info session that will be shared with the entire A-Doc network, AAPI led organizations, and leaders within the documentary and social justice ecosystem. A recording of the session will be available for all to reference on our website. REGISTER HERE to attend.
Application Review
The selection process will transpire through a robust panel process that includes A-Doc and Asian American Futures team members. We commit to acknowledging positionality and biases, while challenging and examining our own perspectives throughout the selection process.
Key Dates
Key Dates
Applications Open: Feb 3, 2025
Info Session: Friday, Feb 14, 2025, Noon PT / 3pm ET
Applications Closes: Feb 28, 2025
Award Notification: March 28, 2025
Fellowship Period: April-December 2025
Format & Schedule
AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship
The fellowship consists of the following components:
- Cohort Retreat at CAAMFest (San Francisco, CA // May 9-11, 2025)
Through a series of formal cohort meetings and individual mentorship, the Cohort Retreat will take place at CAAMfest 2025, to focus on developing and strengthening the Fellows and their Impact Campaign. The Cohort Retreat is a crucial part of the program, and this will be an important dedicated time and space to focus on further developing your Impact Campaign and your overall Impact Producing skills. - Support from Asian American Futures (virtual // April-December 2025)
Asian American Futures will provide support on partnership development with AAPI organizations aligned with the film and towards its impact campaign. Community stipends will be provided from AAF for community partnerships to support in the partnership development process that honors the mutual labor required for impact campaigns. Additional content around AAPI audience insights and consultations to support each of the fellow’s impact campaigns will be available throughout the duration of the fellowship. - Individual Mentorship (virtual // April-December 2025)
We will offer quarterly opportunities for one-hour meetings with A-Doc filmmakers and change-makers as well as leaders within our documentary and social justice ecosystem. Mentorship will be tailored specific to your project goals and needs. Throughout the year, the A-Doc Impact Initiative working group will also be available to provide mentorship and assistance, as needed. - Reports and Questionnaires
You will be required to submit or fill out reports and evaluations throughout the year.
Make sure to follow us on social media at @aadocnetwork and subscribe to our newsletter at a-doc.org/join-us to stay updated on the latest A-Doc news.
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to email us at aadocnetwork@gmail.com and ash@a-doc.org
About the A-Doc Impact Initiative
The Asian American Documentary Network (A-Doc), is a member-driven network of 1,300+ Asian American storytellers and film professionals working to increase the visibility and support of Asian Americans and Asian transnationals in the documentary/nonfiction field.
While the work of A-Doc has largely focused on advocacy and representation within the nonfiction media ecosystem, A-Doc members have long understood the vital role their films play in elevating Asian American history, perspectives and experiences in the public sphere. As a collective, A-Doc has a strong track record of collaborating with civic and cultural organizations. Understanding the need for greater coordination between filmmakers and organizers, A-Doc aims to elevate the network’s role within the social justice ecosystem. The network is committed to expanding the pipeline of stories about Asian Americans and ensuring those stories are informed by justice movements.
Previous offerings from the A-Doc Impact Initiative include our 2023 Impact Speaker Series and the 2024 Impact Fellowship.
About Asian American Futures
Asian American Futures (AAF) activates the next generation of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders to build a multiracial future in which everyone can thrive. We work to ensure AAPIs are seen, heard, empowered, and united as agents of change in solidarity with other communities.
We conduct research on the diverse perspectives, attitudes, and mindsets that comprise our communities and create evidence-backed content and programming for Asian American & Pacific Islander audiences.
Our priority audiences are next generation AAPIs who are earlier on in the development of their political consciousness and engagement with racial justice issues, and are susceptible to harmful narratives.