The Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) celebrates its 35th anniversary of its work spotlighting, cultivating, and supporting Asian and Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry with CAPE’s 35th Anniversary Gala in downtown Los Angeles this October.
Presented by Lexus, the CAPE 35th Anniversary Gala will honor Asian and Pacific Islander Luminaries who have shone in the industry and have had longstanding connections with CAPE’s long history. Hosted by comedian and actor Asif Ali (Hulu’s Deli Boys, Apple TV+’s Shrinking, and Netflix’s Verified Stand Up), CAPE will honor actors Randall Park and Manny Jacinto and will announce more at a later date. New York-based rising indie alternative rock band Chanpan will serve as the musical guests for a special performance.
“In our professional fellowship and accelerator programs, we ask our cohort: how can you expect others to hire you as a storyteller if you cannot tell your own personal story to them?” Michelle K. Sugihara, Executive Director and CEO of CAPE, said in a press release. “For this 35th Anniversary, it’s our time to share our CAPE history, and many of those we are featuring and honoring –Randall Park, Manny Jacinto, Asif Ali and Grace Dumdaw, the lead singer of Chanpan– all have their part in our history outside their own incredible feats in their careers.”
The organization, founded in 1991 by Asian American executives Wenda Fong, Fritz Friedman, and Chris Lee, began as a space for Asian and Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry to gather as a community. As it grew, it evolved into an official non-profit organization. It eventually expanded from screenwriting competitions/funding (CAPE New Writers Award) to formal fellowships, accelerator programs, and grant opportunities for writers, filmmakers, and executives at all levels in television and film. The CAPE New Writers Fellowship will celebrate its 15th year in 2027. CAPE currently has seven active programs: New Writers Fellowship, Showrunner Incubator, Leaders Fellowship, Animation Directors Accelerator, Emerging Executives Committee, Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund, and the Beyond Japan Filmmaker.
CAPE alums include Park (who received the 2011 CAPE New Writers Award), filmmakers Alice Wu (Saving Face, The Half of It), Beth de Araújo (Josephine), Liz Sargent (Take Me Home), and more.
CAPE’s anniversary gala typically takes place every five years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization’s 30th anniversary was not celebrated. Now, 10 years after their last gala, the organization will host another, with more programs and partnerships, including Lexus, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Suntory Global Spirits.
“I started my journey as CAPE’s Executive Director when we last celebrated a milestone – our 25th anniversary,” added Sugihara. “I’m excited to celebrate both CAPE’s 35 years and over a decade of uplifting our community.”
For more information about the CAPE 35th Anniversary Gala, visit capeusa.org/gala.