{"id":35276,"date":"2026-09-16T16:08:33","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T20:08:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=35276"},"modified":"2026-09-16T16:08:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T20:08:33","slug":"oscar-nominated-sean-wang-street-fighter-director-kitao-sakurai-to-mentor-storytellers-in-new-taaf-grant-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinemadailyus.com\/?p=35276","title":{"rendered":"Oscar-Nominated Sean Wang, Street Fighter Director Kitao Sakurai to Mentor Storytellers in New TAAF Grant Program"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u24d2Courtesy of The Asian American Foundation<\/p>\n

The Asian American Foundation<\/a> (TAAF) is inviting creatives nationwide to apply for its new\u00a0<\/em>TAAF Asian+American Storytelling Initiative<\/strong><\/a>, a grant and mentorship program supporting original stories about overlooked Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) figures, communities, and moments in American history.<\/p>\n

The initiative builds on TAAF’s ongoing digital interview series,\u00a0<\/em>The United States of Asian+America<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,<\/em>\u00a0produced in partnership with Wong Fu Productions, which spotlights the AAPI pioneers and innovators behind some of the country’s biggest industries and cultural shifts. TAAF\u2019s Asian+American Storytelling Initiative\u00a0<\/strong>aims to expand the series\u2019 scope by turning it into a community-powered movement, inviting creatives nationwide to spotlight overlooked narratives, uncover new perspectives, and cultivate a sense of belonging for the over 25 million AAPIs who call this country home. It also marks one of TAAF\u2019s most ambitious creative efforts to bring AAPI history to life, building on its commitment to increase representation and shift culture in classrooms, on screens, and in everyday life.<\/p>\n

Creatives across a variety of visual media are encouraged to apply, including filmmakers, journalists, artists, podcasters, animators, and digital creators. Selected storytellers will receive a grant ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, a one-on-one mentorship session with a member of TAAF’s selection committee, and amplification support through TAAF’s social channels and national partner network.<\/p>\n

[tf-tv]<\/p>\n

“TAAF’s\u00a0research<\/a>\u00a0has repeatedly found that much of the general public lacks personal connections with AAPIs and gets much of its information about our communities from social media, TV shows, and movies. That means media remains one of the most powerful tools we have to shape public understanding about our histories and lived experiences,\u201d\u00a0said Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cBy collectively uncovering and amplifying untold AAPI stories, we’re ensuring what people see reflects who we really are, and that our history and contributions are shared for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE SELECTION COMMITTEE<\/strong><\/p>\n