CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) have named Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor as the inaugural recipients of their 2025 Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund. Each will receive a post-production grant of $50,000 to complete their feature films "Josephine" and "Patel," respectively.
The grantees will also benefit from networking opportunities through CAPE and TAAF's networks, as well as filmmaker memberships from Film Independent. This support is aimed at helping sustain the long-term careers of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers, a growing demand in an industry that has historically struggled to represent authentic voices.
To qualify for the grants, applicants were required to submit live-action narrative feature film projects that were at least 90% through principal photography or in post-production. The project must also be the recipient's second, third, fourth, or fifth feature film.
Michelle K. Sugihara, executive director and CEO of CAPE, praised Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor for their talents and voices, stating that "Josephine" and "Patel" will contribute to the canon of Asian American storytelling. She noted that funding support has been scarce for debut filmmakers, making this grant opportunity particularly significant.
Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF, echoed Sugihara's sentiments, highlighting the growing demand for nuanced AAPI stories and the importance of supporting talented artists at all stages of their careers. He expressed hope that programs like the Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund can help grow and sustain filmmakers' long-term careers.
Beth de Araújo is a writer-director who recently featured in Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Her short film, "I Want To Marry A Creative Jewish Girl," won best screenplay at the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Her feature film "Josephine" follows an 8-year-old girl's journey to regain control after witnessing a crime in Golden Gate Park.
Ravi Kapoor is a writer-director-actor based in LA, who wrote and directed the quirky heist comedy "Four Samosas." His latest project, "Patel," is a deadpan gangster tragedy that explores the world of Indian American motel owners in the 90s. The film stars Utkarsh Ambudkar, Richa Moorjani, Kal Penn, and Kunal Nayyar, among others.
The Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund aims to support the career longevity of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers as demand for authentic AAPI stories continues to grow.
The grantees will also benefit from networking opportunities through CAPE and TAAF's networks, as well as filmmaker memberships from Film Independent. This support is aimed at helping sustain the long-term careers of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers, a growing demand in an industry that has historically struggled to represent authentic voices.
To qualify for the grants, applicants were required to submit live-action narrative feature film projects that were at least 90% through principal photography or in post-production. The project must also be the recipient's second, third, fourth, or fifth feature film.
Michelle K. Sugihara, executive director and CEO of CAPE, praised Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor for their talents and voices, stating that "Josephine" and "Patel" will contribute to the canon of Asian American storytelling. She noted that funding support has been scarce for debut filmmakers, making this grant opportunity particularly significant.
Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF, echoed Sugihara's sentiments, highlighting the growing demand for nuanced AAPI stories and the importance of supporting talented artists at all stages of their careers. He expressed hope that programs like the Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund can help grow and sustain filmmakers' long-term careers.
Beth de Araújo is a writer-director who recently featured in Filmmaker Magazine's 25 New Faces of Independent Film. Her short film, "I Want To Marry A Creative Jewish Girl," won best screenplay at the Hollyshorts Film Festival. Her feature film "Josephine" follows an 8-year-old girl's journey to regain control after witnessing a crime in Golden Gate Park.
Ravi Kapoor is a writer-director-actor based in LA, who wrote and directed the quirky heist comedy "Four Samosas." His latest project, "Patel," is a deadpan gangster tragedy that explores the world of Indian American motel owners in the 90s. The film stars Utkarsh Ambudkar, Richa Moorjani, Kal Penn, and Kunal Nayyar, among others.
The Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund aims to support the career longevity of Asian American and Pacific Islander filmmakers as demand for authentic AAPI stories continues to grow.
. It's about time we got some more representation, you know? These young filmmakers are killing it with their unique perspectives and styles - Beth's film "Josephine" sounds like a real tear-jerker, and Ravi's "Patel" is already getting me curious about the 90s Indian American motel scene 
. The fact that they're getting this support means that there's actually hope for these filmmakers to make a career out of it too - not just a one-hit wonder 
. We need more programs like this Rising Filmmakers Finishing Fund, and I'm glad CAPE and TAAF are leading the charge 
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. I mean, what's the real purpose here? Is it just a PR stunt to make TAAF and CAPE look all good? I don't know if I believe that funding will actually help these filmmakers in the long run. It's just going to be another way for studios to say they care about diversity and then try to sell more movies with "diversity" claims 
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! It's so cool that CAPE and TAAF are supporting these talented filmmakers with grants and networking opportunities 
. Beth de Araújo and Ravi Kapoor deserve it, tbh - their projects sound amazing 
. And I love that Michelle K. Sugihara and Norman Chen are emphasizing the importance of supporting debut filmmakers - it's not just about funding, but also about giving them a platform to grow 
. Can't wait to see what these talented individuals do next 
!
These grants are gonna make a huge difference in the careers of Beth and Ravi, two talented filmmakers who already have amazing projects under their belt 
It's not just about the money either - it's about the connections and networking opportunities they'll get to expand their reach 
And let's be real, it's about preserving the careers of filmmakers like them who are already pushing boundaries in this industry. They're paving the way for the next gen of AAPI storytellers 
It's about time we see more AAPI voices on the big screen 
their projects are gonna bring so much depth to our screens 
! $50k can be a huge help in finishing projects and getting them out there 
. It's about time we saw more authentic AAPI stories on screen too 
What I'd love to see next is more platforms for AAPI filmmakers to showcase their work. Maybe like a streaming service just for them? 
We need to keep pushing the conversation forward and give these artists the chance to shine. 
this is amazing news!!! CAPE & TAAF are doing such great work supporting AAPI filmmakers 
. 50k can make all the difference in post-production, and I'm so glad they're investing in these films 
. Michelle & Norman are total rockstars, btw 
. Can't wait to see "Josephine" and "Patel" on screens near me 