The APAHM Project 2026: With Women, We Rise
- Lauren
- Apr 30
- 7 min read
Hi friends! Welcome back to only time I ever post anything from Jeubilant Productions: AANHPI Heritage Month!! Yay, yay, yay!
If you are new here, my name is Lauren and I am the creator of The APAHM Project, a passion project I created during the 2020 Covid stay-at-home lock down as a way to combat rising Asian hate by celebrating our culture through movies. What began as a way to pass time and prove that maybe there were more Asian American-made films than we realized has quickly evolved into a new community of people who watch movies to raise money for worthy causes and organizations.
As per tradition, here are our APAHM Project stats from 2020-2025!
64 Movies watched
18 Television Series viewed
13 Interviews with friends
Over $2,792 raised for aiding, uplifting, and supporting AANHPI
voices, peoples, and communities.
While every year, I want to expand or scale back The APAHM Project (live events, giveaways, etc.) I seem to always run out of time (or don't plan accordingly). I am the sole creator of this project: I choose the films, I make the graphics, I post to social media, and, out of my own pocket, make the donations. There is no sponsor or team or AI involved. It's just me, my sister as my proofreader, and my friends as my guest speakers from time to time. And it can get to be...a lot. I have been extremely fortunate to be someone in the film industry who is finding consistent work. I am so incredibly grateful to be employed, but it does not allow me almost any free time to plan The APAHM Project and potential events and giveaways in advance.
But this time last year, I received an email to my jeubilant account (something that never happens). It was from a family friend of mine who was organizing an event for the 1882 Foundation's Rural Chinatown conference. She connected me to Larissa Lam (Far East Deep South, which we covered in 2022) and, eventually, Dolly Li, the director of this video I saw yearsss ago about Chinese in the Delta and, most recently, the cultural consultant for Ryan Coogler's SINNERS. The three of us were to submit a proposal for a panel at the conference focusing on visual and social media. After being accepted, I was at first hit with a wave of imposter syndrome. But I had to remind myself this is what I have built my entire career around, This is a topic I can get on my soapbox about and talk about for days. It didn't matter that I hadn't directed anything. My experiences as a young, Asian American woman were not invalid and allowed me to speak on the matter from a unique point of view. Speaking at that panel and attending that conference was a privilege that I didn't think I would ever have. I was the only speaker on the panel born and raised in the South. To be able to speak in my hometown about something I'm passionate about was a dream I didn't realize I had. Okay, okay, so why am I telling you this (I have a tendency to be long winded)? Because I wanted to give the good people of Memphis a sneak peek into the 2026 APAHM Project, I had already decided on the theme for this year. Announced first and exclusively to the 50+ people at the conference, the theme of The APAHM Project 2026 is Asian American women in film!!
Inspired by the works of my co-panelists, as well as the influx of work from Asian (and Canadian) American women this year, the theme seemed obvious. I have wanted to do this theme before, but surprise surprise, the works were made by the same handful of Asian American women. And while this year's lineup does include some familiar names, I hope you learn about a new actress or filmmaker from this year's lineup.
The logo this year also got a facelift! In Chinese culture, the dragon represent the husband at a wedding. The phoenix represents the wife. While I haven't done a deep dive cross comparing men and women filmmakers, I have often noticed many male directors simply...direct. Their first credit on IMDb isn't a PA or an AD. It's Director. Whereas many women directors work in other departments and roles first. Like the phoenix, we women have ashes that are the result of us being burned. Years of people telling us we are too emotional, too young, too pretty, too weak, too much. That women belong in secretarial roles. That your short film or script are garbage, that you'll never make it or have what it takes. We probably all have a story that burned us.
Some more extreme than others. A moment where we felt like we were at the bottom. Deduced to a pile of ashes. But the ashes are a reminder of all the obstacles and hardships we've been through. As the cliche saying goes, we rise from the ashes to be born again. I obviously do not know the women attached to these projects (except Dolly) or their hardships. But I have no doubt they had them and their art is a testament to their resilience, bravery, and determination.
I think I have rambled quite enough, so without further ado, here is this year's APAHM LINEUP!
Day 1: Joy Ride on Netflix
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 2: Expats, Episode 1 on Amazon Prime
Day 3: Expats, Episode 2 on Amazon Prime
Day 4: Expats, Episode 3 on Amazon Prime
Day 5: Expats, Episode 4 on Amazon Prime
Day 6: Expats, Episode 5 on Amazon Prime
Day 7: Expats, Episode 6 on Amazon Prime
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 8: Lucky Grandma on Tubi, Roku, Kanopy, PlutoTV
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 9: Past Lives on HBOMax
✨New Blog Post!✨
Day 10: Deli Boys, Episodes 1 & 2 on Hulu
Day 11: Deli Boys, Episodes 3 & 4 on Hulu
Day 12: Deli Boys, Episodes 5 & 6 on Hulu
Day 13: Deli Boys, Episodes 7 & 8 on Hulu
Day 14: Deli Boys, Episodes 9 & 10 on Hulu
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 15: Hamnet on Peacock
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 16: Umma on Hulu, FX
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 17: People We Meet on Vacation on Netflix
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 18: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 1 on Hulu
Day 19: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 2 on Hulu
Day 20: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 3 on Hulu
Day 21: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 4 on Hulu
Day 22: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 5 on Hulu
Day 23: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 6 on Hulu
Day 24: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 7 on Hulu
Day 25: Little Fires Everywhere, Episode 8 on Hulu
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 26: SINNERS on HBOMax
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 27: Running Point, Season 1, Episodes 1, 2, & 3 on Netflix
Day 28: Running Point, Season 1, Episodes 4, 5, & 6 on Netflix
Day 29: Running Point, Season 1, Episodes 7 & 8 on Netflix
Day 30: Running Point, Season 1, Episodes 9 & 10 on Netflix
✨New Blog Post✨
Day 31: K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix
✨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
Per tradition, each like on Instagram will be matched in monetary donations to an organization or cause that directly supports the AANHPI community. Previous recipients include CHIRLA, PEAK, CAPE, and Lahaina Restoration. I was contemplating skipping donation likes this year. As we all know, this is an uncertain time for Americans, and as someone who is a gig worker, I can be tight with my money. But it seems too important to skip. This year, we will be raising money for the 1882 Foundation! Named after the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, the 1882 Foundation's mission is to "continue to broaden public understanding of the laws, their history and relevance today" through programs, conferences, and events. 1882 was 144 years ago, and yet I feel like we are repeating some of the same exclusions today. As parts of our country chants to build walls, as camps are being built, and people are being abducted, deported, or worse, how far have we truly come? These minority groups have become scapegoats and stereotyped. People who did it "the right way" are being demonized. The same way the Chinese and Black American communities were demonized years ago. It is important, now more than ever, to learn our history. I hope that people continue to experience the efforts of the 1882 Foundation the way I did last year. So, be sure to spread the word! 1 like per post = $1 donated! I will also be highlighting Asian American women-owned businesses on each blog post.
Happy AANHPI Month, everyone! Whether you are Asian, love someone who is, or believe in equality, let us all support and celebrate this one (small) part of what makes us who we are! In a time where immigrants aren't welcome, mah-jong is being appropriated, people are drinking hot water, and matcha has become a "basic white girl drink," now is the time to show everyone how proud we are to be Asian. To speak up and speak out against adversity. This is the time for us to share ALL the wonderful and amazing parts of our culture. I am excited to share yet another year with you all as we watch movies and shows created by some amazing women! As always, use this time (and any time) to get involved with your community, learn from your elders, and celebrate with your fellow Asians! We're going up (up, up) and this is our moment (you know it's gonna be golden...ohh...up, up, up...) 💛
Hashtags to follow along: #TheAPAHMProject2026 #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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