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Oscar Contender

Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor (“The Elephant Whisperers”) and Michelin-starred chef and filmmaker Vikas Khanna (“The Last Color”) have boarded Oscar-qualified animated short “American Sikh” as executive producers.

The film tells the true story of an American-born, turban-wearing Sikh illustrator, writer, performance artist, diversity speaker and creator of Sikhtoons.com, Vishavjit Singh, who after a lifetime of facing prejudice, self-doubt and violence, finally finds acceptance in a superhero costume. Singh is publicly known for his Captain America persona — a turbaned and bearded Sikh — fighting against bigotry, intolerance and perceptions of what an American should look like post 9/11.

“American Sikh” was created in partnership with Singh as the director-producer and director Ryan Westra. It was animated by Studio Showoff, a Melbourne-based production house founded by Ivan Dixon and Sean Zwan that has produced work for Childish Gambino, HBO and Cartoon Network.

The film has won best short animation at Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham,...

The who’s who of Asian and Asian American talent and artists gathered for an evening of celebration at the 19th annual Unforgettable Gala, nearly two years after the Covid-19 pandemic brought live and in-person events to a screeching halt. The Character Media awards show, held at the Beverly Hilton and hosted by Good Trouble actress and comedian Sherry Cola, recognized notable Asians in culture and media including Sandra Oh, John Cho, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings‘ Destin Daniel Cretton and Simu Liu.

“There are so many people here tonight fighting the good fight…showing me what it means to be unapologetically Asian,” said Liu who received the night’s Breakout in Film honor. “The more I think about it, the more it feels like a super power.”

While Liu may be one of the latest stalwarts of Asian representation on screen, he recognized the artists...

Exclusive: John Cho will receive the Legacy Award, presented by Lexus, at the 19th annual Unforgettable Gala at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 11.

The Cowboy Bebop and Searching star will receive the top honor at the annual gathering that seeks to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander artists and change-makers who represent the community through their creativity and excellence. Additional honorees for the upcoming ceremony are Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu, 88rising Collective founder Sean Miyashiro and Shohei Ohtani. Additional creatives receiving honors will be Sandra Oh, Justin Chon, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Adele Lim and Destin Daniel Cretton.

“Asian Americans have made tremendous strides in the arts, entertainment and culture, with more representation than ever before, which the Unforgettable Awards is proud to celebrate,” said James Ryu, publisher at Character Media and founder of the Unforgettable Gala. “At the same time, given...

Exclusive: Sony Pictures Television has signed a first-look deal with 88rising to develop scripted television series angled around Asian and Asian-American culture.

88rising is a U.S.-based Asian music and media company, which started life as a record label in 2015. Since then, it has launched the Head in the Clouds Music & Arts Festival festival, launched an Asian-themed SiriusXM radio channel, and is developing feature projects with actor Jon “Dumbfoundead” Park and Twilight star Justin Chon.

Alex Lin, a former NBCUniversal comedy development executive, is working as a development executive on 88rising’s film and TV efforts.

Glenn Adilman, EVP of comedy development at Sony Pictures Television, said: “We are incredibly impressed with all that 88rising has achieved in music, media and storytelling. We love everything they stand for and are thrilled to help bring their very unique and important Asian and Asian American stories to television and for the...

Sean Miyashiro’s 88rising, the self-described hybrid media collective spotlighting Asian and Asian-American rappers such as Rich Brian and Joji, is the subject of a new documentary dropping on Friday — for which an exclusive clip is available to watch here.

Miyashiro’s company produced Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip-Hop in partnership with Red Bull’s music initiative, and the film is available on Red Bull’s YouTube and the Red Bull TV site. Rich Brian, Keith Ape, Higher Brothers, Suboi, Jin Dogg and Awich star in the documentary,...

Nobody in the crowd at 88rising’s early October show in New York City, an unapologetic riot on the brand-new open-air rooftop at Pier 17, is confused about where they are and what they’re doing there — except the security staff, who wander around most of the night in abject confusion. A few of them watch the whole concert from the edges, looking lost; one, when I ask for directions to the elevator, asks me in return to fill him in about what’s going on.

The audience suffers no such bewilderment.