LOS ANGELES, CA – April 3, 2025 – The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched the Janet Yang Endowment to Celebrate and Preserve Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Filmmaking, a landmark initiative under its Academy100 campaign. This global effort aims to diversify revenue streams, broaden the Academy’s international footprint, and foster deeper connections with film lovers worldwide as it prepares for the next century. The endowment will provide sustained financial support for Asian and AAPI-focused programming at the Academy Museum, while also facilitating the acquisition and preservation of significant works within the Academy Collection. Named in honor of Academy President Janet Yang—the organization’s first Asian American leader—the endowment recognizes her trailblazing commitment to advancing diversity and representation in the film industry.
“As a proud Asian American, it has been a privilege to serve alongside Janet Yang in support and celebration of Asian and AAPI filmmakers,” said Amy Homma, Director and President of the Academy Museum. “This endowment builds upon the Academy’s decades-long dedication to preserving Asian cinema through our collection and extends that mission through the museum’s public programming and exhibitions.”
Yang, reflecting on the endowment’s significance, remarked, “As the Academy continues to expand its global presence, the future of our non-profit cultural institution is strengthened by deepening our reach and impact with the international film community, including Asian and AAPI communities. I am so honored that this endowment will support the preservation of international cinema and the education of future generations of filmmakers, cinephiles, and filmgoers.”
To mark the endowment’s debut, the Academy Museum will present Raising the Lantern: A Celebration of Chinese-Language Cinema, a limited-run film series curated by Yang, running from April 10 to May 24. The lineup showcases Chinese-language films from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan previously submitted for the Academy Awards® International Feature Film category. A highlight of the series is a special May 9 event featuring a 35mm screening of Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), sourced from the Academy Film Archive, followed by an on-stage conversation between Lee and Yang commemorating the film’s 25th anniversary. Before the screening, Gold House and the Academy Museum will co-host a reception celebrating Yang’s enduring legacy.
Since its inception, the Academy Museum has been a vital platform for celebrating Asian and AAPI cinema. Its exhibitions have showcased artifacts like costumes from Eiko Ishioka’s collection and Jessica Yu’s poignant Oscar® acceptance speech. The museum has also honored luminaries such as Bruce Lee with a dedicated gallery and hosted the groundbreaking Hayao Miyazaki exhibition, the first major North American retrospective of the Japanese filmmaker’s work. In March 2025, it debuted Director’s Inspiration: Bong Joon Ho, a tribute to the Oscar-winning South Korean director, running through January 10, 2027.
The museum’s commitment extends to its year-round programming, spotlighting works by acclaimed Asian and AAPI filmmakers including Gregg Araki, Joan Chen, Arthur Dong, Bong Joon Ho, Sammo Hung, Song Kang-ho, Lisa Lu, Yasujirō Ozu, S.S. Rajamouli, Satyajit Ray, Yim Soon-rye, and Youn Yuh-jung. These screenings frequently feature in-person appearances by notable figures, enriching the audience experience.
The Janet Yang Endowment stands as a testament to the Academy’s evolving mission to preserve cinematic heritage and amplify diverse voices, ensuring that the contributions of Asian and AAPI filmmakers resonate for generations to come.
