The APAHM Project 2025: Established 2024
- Lauren
- Apr 30
- 5 min read
It's one day til May which means it's one more day until Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month officially kicks off!
For anyone who is new, I created The APAHM Project in 2020 as a way of celebrating AAPI Month during a time where I was too afraid to show my Asian pride. Too scared to wear my usual t-shirts or repost my favorite AAPI actor's Instagram posts. But since its inaugural year, I have found more than courage in the face of racism. I found community, purpose, collaboration. I found a voice that is uniquely my own about a mission I am passionate about.
Here is a highlight of what the last 5 years have brought us!
59 Movies watched
14 Television Series viewed
13 Interviews with friends
Over $2,224 raised for organizations working to better AANHPI voices and/or victims of Asian-related hate crimes
Every year, I tell myself I'm going to get ahead of the project and still always seem to fall behind. I knew months ago that I wanted this year's theme to be "Established 2024" just based on the sheer amount of new releases we had last year. But with more options comes difficult choices. It's incredible to me how we all asked for more, more, more and in a few short years, we now finally have an adequate library of titles to choose from!
What does Established 2024 mean, besides the obvious? To me, it means it is never too late to start.
When I was making the graphics package for this year's APAHM, I chose the color yellow and chose ginkgo leaves as the motif. When I walk my dog in the neighborhood, there is a single ginkgo tree in a neighbor's yard. We pass by it, never giving it a second thought when its leaves are green. But every fall, like clockwork and without fail, the leaves turn a beautiful yellow that captivates you and leaves you in awe. And as the weeks pass, it quietly returns to the inconspicuous tree that it is 50 weeks out of the year.
As an artist, writer, aspiring director, etc. it is all too easy to feel like you are behind. Maybe someone else came up with a similar idea. Maybe you are afraid the Asian and diversity "moment" will be the next "trend" to fade out. Maybe you are afraid your art will drown in a sea of similar art. Maybe you are looking from the outside, wondering when you will have your moment to shine.
But the truth is, it is never too late to have your beginning. Never too late to have your moment that you have been quietly working towards for 50 weeks. No matter how many yellow ginkgo trees we see, no matter how many yellow sunsets and sunrises we experience, we will always welcome them with wonder and amazement. We will always stop to savor the moment, admire the beauty, and store this memory in our minds.
The movies and shows in this year's line up have been waiting patiently for their moment. Jon M. Chu had 3 children during his time making his Oscar-nominated film "Wicked." Sean Wang spent 7 years writing and making his directorial debut "Dìdi". James Clavell wrote his novel "Shōgun" in 1975. Almost 50 years later, it would be adapted into an award-winning series.
For those of you just getting started or starting over, remember that any time can be the right time. You are on your own path to your shining moment. And people will be ready to see your leaves turn yellow and will admire it in all its beauty.
Enough with the leaf metaphors! May I present to you the 2025 APAHM Project line up!
Day 1: Wicked on Peacock
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 4: Interior Chinatown, Episode 3 on Hulu or Disney + Day 5: Interior Chinatown, Episode 4 on Hulu or Disney +
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 12: Moana 2 on Disney +
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 13: The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, Episodes 1, 2, 3 on Amazon Prime
Day 14: The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, Episodes 4, 5, 6 on Amazon Prime Day 15: The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, Episodes 7, 8 on Amazon Prime
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 16: Lolo and the Kid on Netflix
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 17: Shogun, Episode 1 on Hulu
Day 20: Shogun, Episode 4 on Hulu
Day 21: Shogun, Episode 5 on Hulu
Day 22: Shogun, Episode 6 on Hulu
Day 23: Shogun, Episode 7 on Hulu
Day 24: Shogun, Episode 8 on Hulu
Day 25: Shogun, Episode 9 on Hulu
Day 26: Shogun, Episode 10 on Hulu
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 27: Didi on Amazon Prime
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 28: Laid, Episodes 1, 2, 3 on Peacock
Day 29: Laid, Episodes 4, 5, 6 on Peacock
Day 30: Laid, Episodes 7, 8 on Peacock
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 31: Twisters on Amazon Prime
✨New Blog Post!✨
These films and TV shows were picked based on the following criteria:
Written/Directed/Produced by an East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian or Pacific Islander American or
Has an East Asian, Southeast Asian, South Asian, or Pacific Islander American in a Leading Role
Additionally, films preferably need to be accessible through popular streaming sites for easy viewing.
This list does not include:
Foreign films or shows
Sequels, unless it had a great significance
In 2021, I introduced "donation likes" to The APAHM Project where every like on Instagram = $1 I personally donated to an AAPI cause. While I have not yet finalized which cause we will be donating to, I am committed to honoring this tradition! At the end of the month, I will tally up all the likes and donate to a worthy cause! So be sure to spread the word and share the posts! Each blog post will also have a spotlight for an AAPI owned business!
Happy AANHPI Month! I am excited to kick off another year with you all to watch new shows and movies to broaden our views and to bring awareness and support to a cause in need. As always, I encourage you to read books, listen to podcasts and interviews, ask your family members about your history, and get involved in your local community's events this month and every month. Our golden hour is just on the horizon! 💛
Hashtags to follow along: #TheAPAHMProject2025 #BeJeubilant
Support, Follow, Diversify Your Feed: Year of the Ox: Ways to Celebrate and Advocate
The History of APAHM: The APAHM Project: The 30th Anniversary
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