Renegades | Gold Gala 2025 Edition
Following this year's Gold Gala—our biggest, annual community gathering—we revisit past Renegades who've reflected upon the importance of community in their own journeys
Welcome to Renegades, a series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way.
On May 10th, we gathered our community for our annual Gold Gala in Los Angeles, California to celebrate not only our collective achievements but also each other. For this week's Renegades, we revisited past features to showcase just how integral community has been to their individual careers and our shared success. Read all seven original features here!
Samantha Quan
Academy Award-Winning Producer, Anora
I don’t think that there was one defining moment for me. I have had different jobs in the industry—as an actor, as a crew member, as a producer, and I have had wonderful moments in each. For me, I love being part of the process of making stories come alive. Working with other filmmakers, actors, and talented craftspeople over the years has been so inspiring and I have learned so much from every individual and experience (whether good or bad). I just want to keep moving, keep learning, and keep making things to the best of my ability.
Quan on her early career and a defining moment that confirmed her passion for working in the entertainment industry, from her 2024 Renegades feature
Nabil Aliffi
Fashion Executive (Neiman Marcus, Selfridges, Urban Outfitters)
My career has only been made possible by the generosity of people who took a chance on me. I've had many mentors, along the way, at each of these organizations. Sometimes, when you feel you're working against the grain or you sense that imposter syndrome creeping in, it's best to surround yourself with those who want you to win. They are not always easy to come by, but those who are rooting for you will show themselves. Because they see something in you that you may not even see in yourself. When you're blessed with that, it's your duty to then pass it on to someone else.
Aliffi on his transition from journalism to fashion marketing, from his 2024 Renegades feature
Auli’i Cravalho
Actress, Moana 2
As a young woman of Pacific Island descent, I find myself pulled in a few groupings, either AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) or Native American. I root for any and all minorities that get to tell their stories authentically and loudly, and I look forward to working with a multitude of people who have that same drive. I’m excited to be growing as a producer to help more vibrant and authentic stories get their time in the sun
Cravalho on furthering the inclusion of Native Hawaiian stories in Hollywood, from her 2024 Renegades feature
Lee Isaac Chung
Director, Minari, Twisters
I took a “video as art” class by Michael Roemer in my last year at Yale. I took it out of curiosity and to fulfill a category I needed to graduate, but I found that it pulled me in entirely. I spent all my time that semester working on short films for the class. Sometimes I’d be editing a project at night, and the next thing I know, the sun is coming up because I lost all track of time.
Last year, I wrote to Michael Roemer to thank him for letting me take the class, because normally, that class was only for art majors. I told him it helped me find my calling. He wrote back with a spin on a quote by Pascal: “You were searching for it because you had already found it.”
Chung on the professor who gave him the first opportunity that sparked his passion for filmmaking, from his 2024 Renegades feature
Shruti Ganguly
Filmmaker and Writer
I believe that many of us have come together with the awareness and determination to work against this “space for one” attitude, and that all South Asian stories should not solely be from a primarily Indian and Hindu monolith. There is so much more to our culture—in our similarities as well as our differences. In terms of impact, one can only hope that we can make it a little easier for the generations to come—but nothing will ever be a replacement for unrelenting, hard work.
Ganguly on what she hopes will be the lasting impact of her work, from her 2023 Renegades feature
Janet Yang
President, Academy of Motions Picture Arts and Sciences
We can never get complacent. We have to always think about the future. The future is in the hands of the younger generation. We have to nurture talent. We have to encourage them to speak up and speak out. We have to remind them that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and they're looking at us and we need to remind them it takes work. It takes work. It takes awareness. It takes community building. It takes advocacy. And we just have to keep doing the work because things can slip easily.
Yang on the importance of reaching and engaging with younger generations, from her 2022 Renegades feature
Andrew Ahn
Director and Co-Writer, The Wedding Banquet
My advice to aspiring filmmakers is to build your community of collaborators, peers, and supporters who will help you feel less alone as you navigate the industry. Your community will help you understand your own interests, show you potential artistic and creative paths, and motivate you to make work that is meaningful to the people around you. I’m so thankful for the people I met at various film festivals like Frameline, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the San Diego Asian Film Festival. These festivals helped me create a foundation on which I’ve been able to build my creative practice and professional career.