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Zhao-Chen Family AAPI Voices Fund

Note

Applications

Now Closed

Chinatown Futures (dir. Dave Yim)
Coming of Heritage, dir. Emily Strong
Nobuko Miyamoto: A Life in Movement,
dir. Quyên Nguyen-Le

Dedicated to supporting the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities, The Zhao-Chen AAPI Voices Fund recognizes the critical importance of funding for filmmakers developing and delivering their films and the value of investing in Kartemquin’s collaborative model of nurturing early-career filmmakers. Through this fund, Kartemquin is advancing impactful and dynamic stories reflecting on the varied experiences of the AAPI community that challenge and inspire – both filmmakers and the communities they represent.

Eligibility

The current round of the Zhao-Chen Family AAPI Voices Fund at Kartemquin Films is a production fund in two rounds in 2025 and 2026. 

 

The current round of the Zhao-Chen Family AAPI Voices Fund will invest funding, provide production and creative resources, and offer expert mentorship to produce three (3) original short documentary films that center AAPI voices and stories and the complexity of AAPI communities in the U.S. 

 

Each project will receive the following support and services towards completion of a 8-20 minute short documentary: 

  • $40,000 in production funding
  • Co-production partnership with Kartemquin Films with production services included but not limited to
    • Production support
    • Impact Consultation
    • Story Development
    • Masterclass Workshops
  • Tailored mentorship for each production

ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

The purpose of this initiative is to invest funds and critical support to short documentary films that center AAPI voices and stories that deepen their audiences’ understanding of the complexity and diversity of the AAPI communities in the US. 

In our consideration of applications, we will be prioritizing projects that adhere to the following:

  • Center AAPI-stories and communities in the U.S. with meaningful connections to the communities on which their project focuses;
  • Be working on a short documentary film project (NO features or series at this time);
  • Are not enrolled in a degree seeking program for the duration of the funding cycle;
  • Be in mid-to-late production.

In alignment with our KTQ Values, we strongly encourage and will give consideration to applicants that are from other underrepresented groups in documentary.

 

KEY DATES & FUNDING DECISIONS TIMELINE – ROUND 2, 2026

The timeline will be as follows (subject to change, please check back for updates):

Applications OPEN: Friday, May 29th, 9:00 AM CST

Applications DEADLINE: Tuesday, June 30th, 11:59 PM CST

Applications Review Period: Summer 2026

Notification of Decisions: mid to late September 2026

The fund begins in October 2026 and runs for 12 months

Link to FAQs can be found HERE.

Applications are now closed

Questions? Email us at aapivoicesfund@kartemquin.org

Past Participants

Co-Production Awardees

Kaylee Kim, Marisa Woo Grattan, Shuling Yong, Jason Rhee, Kimberlee BassfordJ oua Lee Grande, and Jiayan “Jenny” Shi

Seed Funding Awardees

Quyên Nguyen-Le, Emily Strong, Dave Yim

About the Funder

The Fund represents a substantial investment by the Zhao-Chen family, building on their long standing commitment to accelerating opportunity and prosperity for the AAPI community in the United States. Mr. Zhao is a founding board member of The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), which has become a catalyzing force for improving AAPI advocacy, power, and representation across American society. The Zhao-Chen family have also convened and funded a variety of other initiatives elevating AAPI voices, including through their support of the award-winning documentary “Finding Yingying,” a Kartemquin film directed by Jenny Shi.