Who received the Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund grants?

Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor were named the inaugural recipients of the fund.

What is the purpose of the CAPE and TAAF fund?

The fund supports the career longevity of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers by providing post-production grants.

How much funding did Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor receive?

Each filmmaker received a post-production grant of $50,000.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Asian Filmmakers Get $100K Boost for Next Projects

Asian Filmmakers Get $100K Boost for Next Projects

8 Dec, 2025

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Summary

Two AAPI filmmakers received $50,000 grants for feature film completion.
The fund supports emerging Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers.
Grants aim to sustain careers beyond a debut film.

Asian Filmmakers Get $100K Boost for Next Projects

The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) have announced Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor as the first recipients of the 2025 Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund. Each writer-director will receive a $50,000 post-production grant to finalize their respective feature films, "Josephine" and "Patel."

Launched in January 2025, this fund aims to bolster the long-term careers of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) storytellers amid growing demand for authentic narratives. To be eligible, filmmakers needed to be in the final stages of production or post-production for their second to fifth feature films.

This program marks a significant investment in sustaining AAPI filmmaking talent. CAPE highlighted the critical gap in funding after a first feature, emphasizing this fund's unique role in supporting filmmakers' ongoing careers, thereby enriching the landscape of Asian American cinema.