The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the establishment of the Janet Yang Endowment to Celebrate and Preserve Asian and AAPI Filmmaking. This initiative, part of the Academy100 global outreach campaign, aims to secure the future of the organization by expanding its international scope and acknowledging the crucial role of Asian and AAPI filmmakers.
The endowment is named in honour of Janet Yang, the first Asian American president of the Academy, whose career has been marked by a commitment to advancing diversity and promoting greater representation within the entertainment industry.
Academy Museum Director and President Amy Homma stated, “As a proud Asian American, it has been a privilege to serve alongside Janet Yang in support and celebration of Asian and AAPI filmmakers. This endowment builds upon the work the Academy has been doing for decades… to share Asian cinema through preservation, public programming, and exhibition.”
Academy President Janet Yang emphasized the importance of this initiative in the context of the Academy’s expanding global reach. “As the Academy continues to expand its global presence, the future of our non-profit cultural institution is strengthened by deepening our reach and impact with the international film community, including Asian and AAPI communities,” she said. The endowment will provide essential funding and resources to support Asian and AAPI programming at the Academy Museum and to acquire and preserve Asian and AAPI film-related items in the Academy Collection.
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To mark the launch of the endowment, the Academy Museum will present “Raising the Lantern: A Celebration of Chinese-Language Cinema,” a film series curated by Yang, running from April 10 to May 24. This series will showcase films submitted by mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan for consideration in the Academy Awards International Feature Film category.
A highlight of the program will be a special event on May 9, featuring a conversation between director Ang Lee and Janet Yang, following a 35mm screening of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), presented from a print from the Academy Film Archive.
The Academy Museum has also been actively engaged in showcasing Asian and AAPI films and filmmakers through its year-round programming, featuring notable figures such as Bong Joon Ho, Yasujirō Ozu, and S.S. Rajamouli. This endowment further solidifies the Academy’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating the diverse contributions of Asian and AAPI filmmakers to the global cinematic landscape.
