Films have the power to change our culture. And the filmmakers who tell these stories can also have a significant impact on our industry and communities. The 2025 Changemaker Award winners embody this spirit of impact, and that’s why we’re proud to announce that this year’s Film Independent Changemaker Awards are going to Andrew Ahn, Aaron T. Edmonds and Jomo Fray.
Andrew Ahn is a queer Korean American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His film The Wedding Banquet premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and his films Fire Island, Driveways and Spa Night have premiered at festivals like Sundance and Berlinale and have won numerous awards including the John Cassavetes Film Independent Spirit Award. He has served as a mentor for Pacific Arts Movement’s Reel Voices, Outfest’s OutSet and the Sundance Institute’s Native Filmmaker Lab.
Aaron T. Edmonds is Vice President of Film at Hartbeat.
Andrew Ahn is a queer Korean American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His film The Wedding Banquet premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and his films Fire Island, Driveways and Spa Night have premiered at festivals like Sundance and Berlinale and have won numerous awards including the John Cassavetes Film Independent Spirit Award. He has served as a mentor for Pacific Arts Movement’s Reel Voices, Outfest’s OutSet and the Sundance Institute’s Native Filmmaker Lab.
Aaron T. Edmonds is Vice President of Film at Hartbeat.
- 7/10/2025
- by Film Independent
- Film Independent News & More
Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards, has selected 30 filmmakers for Project Involve 2023 and with a renewed partnership with Laika Studios expanded the stop-motion animation track into a two-year program, selecting five filmmakers.
Project Involve is a free nine-month program for writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, programmers and entertainment executives from diverse backgrounds. During the program, participants meet one-on-one with film industry mentors, create short films and attend master workshops taught by top film professionals and industry networking events.
Now in its 30th year, Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. Alumni include Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Linda Yvette Chávez, Marvin Lemus and Aaliyah Williams (Gentefied), Effie T. Brown (The Inspection), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Justin Simien (Dear White People).
“We’re elated to welcome the 2023 Project Involve Fellows...
Project Involve is a free nine-month program for writers, directors, producers, editors, cinematographers, programmers and entertainment executives from diverse backgrounds. During the program, participants meet one-on-one with film industry mentors, create short films and attend master workshops taught by top film professionals and industry networking events.
Now in its 30th year, Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from communities traditionally underrepresented in the film industry. Alumni include Andrew Ahn (Fire Island), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Linda Yvette Chávez, Marvin Lemus and Aaliyah Williams (Gentefied), Effie T. Brown (The Inspection), Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and Justin Simien (Dear White People).
“We’re elated to welcome the 2023 Project Involve Fellows...
- 1/30/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
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