New American Perspectives
Presented by
Celebrating Immigrant and Foreign-born Artists and Filmmakers
The New American Perspectives program shines a spotlight on immigrant and foreign-born artists, celebrating the powerful impact that diversity has on contemporary cinema and media in the United States. The program centers the voices of immigrant artists through film screenings, filmmaker Q&As, a master class, and a panel discussion.
We are honored to introduce the 2025 NAP cohort: Shih-Ching Tsou (b. Taiwan), Lloyd Lee Choi (b. Canada to Korean parents), Leon Le (b. Vietnam), Nani Sahra Walker (b. Nepal), and Amy Wang (b. China).
Amy Wang will also participate in HIFF’s Guest Filmmaker Program, which brings artists from around the globe into K–12 classrooms in Hawai’i to speak with students about their careers in filmmaking.
Since 2000, the Vilcek Foundation has supported immigrants and their contributions to the arts and sciences through collaborations with organizations like the Hawai’i International Film Festival. Starting in 2007, the Vilcek Foundation has partnered with HIFF to present the New American Perspectives (NAP) program, which serves as a platform to highlight the voices of immigrant artists. The unique perspectives of these creative, entrepreneurial filmmakers enrich film and bring forth new, inspiring narratives.
The Vilcek Foundation is a private operating foundation, a federally tax-exempt nonprofit organization under IRS Section 501(c)(3). To learn more, please visit vilcek.org.
Shih-Ching Tsou
NAP FEATURED FILMMAKER
Shih-Ching Tsou is the writer, director, and producer of LEFT-HANDED GIRL, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and was chosen by Taiwan for the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards. In her directorial debut, Tsou explores themes of identity, tradition, and resilience in the face of generational trauma and societal expectation. Tsou moved to the United States from Taiwan in 1998 to earn her master’s degree in media studies at the New School, in New York. Since then, Tsou has co-created TAKE OUT with Sean Baker in addition to co-producing films TANGERINE and THE FLORIDA PROJECT. Her film RED ROCKET was presented at the Hawai’i International Film Festival as part of the New American Perspectives Program in 2021.
AMY WANG
A Chinese-Australian writer, producer and director, Amy Wang’s debut film SLANTED was awarded the 2025 Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize at SXSW. A graduate of AFI, Amy’s short UNNATURAL was earned gold at the Young Director Awards at Cannes Lions 2018, and her feature script WENDI made the Black List. Amy has been a writer for numerous notable features including CRAZY RICH ASIANS 2 for Warner Bros, THE BROTHERS SUN and the limited series FROM SCRATCH for Netflix.
LEON LE
From Vietnam, Leon Le is a multidisciplinary artist whose career spans Broadway, international tours, and film. With a foundation in dance, singing, and acting, Leon transitioned into filmmaking to explore themes of race and sexuality through Asian perspectives. After Leon’s short film DAWN aired in 2012, Leon wrote and directed TALKING TO MY MOTHER (2015), which screened at over 100 festivals worldwide. His feature debut, SONG LANG (2018), received widespread critical acclaim and won more than 50 international awards. Leon’s latest feature, KY NAM INN, continues his examination of identity and Vietnamese culture.
LLOYD LEE CHOI
Lloyd Lee Choi is a Korean-Canadian writer and director based in Brooklyn. His debut feature, LUCKY LU, recently premiered at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight and TIFF. The film is based on his 2022 short SAME OLD, which premiered at Cannes and NYFF and won honors at TIFF and Raindance. His recent short CLOSING DYNASTY won the Crystal Bear at Berlinale, Audience Award at SXSW, Grand Jury Prize at AFI Fest, and additional honors at Palm Springs and the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. Lloyd has also received Sundance NHK, TIFF/CBC Screenwriters, and TIFF/CJ ENM K-Story Awards for his writing.
NANI SAHRA WALKER
Nani Sahra Walker is an Academy Award-winning executive producer and independent writer, director, and producer whose work focuses on amplifying underrepresented stories. A native of Kathmandu now based in Los Angeles, she executive produced the acclaimed shorts KYLIE (Sundance 2023), MERMAN (Tribeca 2023), and THE LAST REPAIR SHOP (Telluride 2023), winner of the 2024 Oscar for Best Documentary Short. Her feature OTHER NATURE (2012) screened at BFI Flare, Frameline, Outfest, and festivals worldwide. She teaches at UC Berkeley’s documentary program and mentors filmmakers at American Film Showcase, and the USC School of Cinematic Arts. SHAKTI (2025) is her narrative directorial debut.
NEW PERSPECTIVES IN FILMMAKING
OCT 19, 12:00 PM | Consolidated Kahala Theatres
New American Perspectives (NAP) presented by the Vilcek Foundation shines a spotlight on immigrant and foreign-born artists, celebrating the powerful impact that diversity has on contemporary cinema and media in the United States.
HIFF Resident Historian Duncan Caillard moderates a free panel discussion with NAP Filmmakers Lloyd Lee Choi (b. Canada to Korean parents), Leon Le (b. Vietnam), Nani Sahra Walker (b. Nepal), and Amy Wang (b. China). The lively conversation will center on their artistic careers, approaches to storytelling, and their experiences in the United States.