HBO has launched its 2018 Asian Pacific American (APA) Visionaries short film competition.
Following a successful first year, the competition returns to invite APA filmmakers to present their works. The three winning films will be awarded cash prizes and their films will premiere exclusively at next year’s LA Asian Pacific Film Festival and on HBO in May 2018.
Westworld star Leonardo Nam will be the ambassador for the competition, which encourages filmmakers to explore themes of home whilst addressing issues such as belonging, identity and culture.
Entries for the competition are now open, with a deadline of 1 November 2017 (11:59pm ET / 8:59pm PT). To enter the competition, click here.
Judges for the competition consist of HBO executives and a panel of industry experts, including representatives from the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and Visual Communications.
General submission criteria includes:
- Running time: 8-12 minutes, inclusive of credits
- Films must have been directed by a person of Asian or Pacific Islander descent
- Director must be a resident of one of the 50 United States or Washington, D.C.
- Films must be in the English language or contain English subtitles (common phrases acceptable)
- Films must be a major festival premiere
- Films must have commenced principal photography on or after October 1, 2016
- Films must not have had any previous exhibition on broadcast or cable
- Employees of HBO and any other Time Warner entity and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate
To join in the conversation about the competition on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, use the hashtag #HBOVisionaries.
Last year’s winning short films are available on HBO NOW and GO until September 2017.
