Sunrise Collective, a Home for the Pan-AANHPI Community, Returns to Sundance Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)
Sunrise Collective, a home for the Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, is returning to Park City’s Main Street.
In partnership with Daniel Dae Kim’s 3AD, Gold House and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), Sunrise Collective will be situated at Pine Cone Ridge. The Sunrise Collective is invite-only and will feature AANHPI and multicultural creatives, filmmakers and industry leaders in conversation.
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Tan France, Himesh Patel and Jim Sarbh, showrunners Nahnatchka Khan and Arika Lisanne Mittman and filmmakers whose projects are in this year’s competition, including Cherien Dabis, Amber Fares, Geeta Gandbhir, Glenn Kaino, Rohan Kanawade, Meera Menon, Tadashi Nakamura and Joseph Patel, are among the featured panelists.
In a statement, Bing Chen, CEO and co-founder of Gold House, said, “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.” He went on to say, “Independent stories are among the most powerful ways to spotlight unsung voices, empower new creative careers, and celebrate our original stories…After all, we cannot just support our own
community–we have an imperative to provide space for holistic creative innovation and
collective cultural growth.”
Among the highlights are the Sunrise Collective and Sundance Institute’s Artist Accelerator Program, which will bring together current and alumni artists for a private reception to celebrate representation in
film and television. 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 cast of Hulu’s upcoming “Deli Boys,” Asif Ali, Poorna Jagannathan and Saagar Shaikh. The dinner will be hosted by Latinx House, GLAAD, MPAC, NALIP, MACRO, PEAK, 1497 and Disability Belongs.
Moderated conversations will cover the breadth of the industry; “Amplifying New Narratives: How Press, Studios, and Talent Elevate the Industry” will look at how film journalism and PR are key to amplifying new and diverse voices across the industry. The “Can Music Save the World?” will look at how filmmakers behind music can unite people to rally for a shared cause.
Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation, said, “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,.” He added, “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.”
Daniel Dae Kim, CEO of 3AD, said, “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.”
Programming below.
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 Dabi (All That’s Left of You (? ?((, 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.
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