Programs title image

AAPI Futures Impact Producer Fellowship

In 2024, A-Doc launched the Impact Fellowship, an initiative for social justice-oriented leaders, filmmakers, impact strategists, thinkers, doers, and believers with ideas for projects that organize within and support AAPI communities to bring about long-term, equitable social change by leveraging nonfiction film, narrative strategies, or storytelling.

We awarded J. Faye Yuan, Tanzila (Taz) Ahmed, and Vivian Chang each a $20,000 grant towards the implementation of their project paired with a year-long program, designed for the Impact Fellows to be in community with a cohort of peers, collaborators, co-conspirators, and leaders within the documentary film and social justice ecosystem. Learn more about our fellows and their projects below

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.

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
A recording of the info session can be found HERE.

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
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

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.