On Saturday night, leaders in the Asian American film and television industry descended on the Beverly Hilton to celebrate the Unforgettable Gala, produced by Character Media. The event, now in its 22nd year, has become a cornerstone celebration of API talent, growing from its founding in 2002 to one of the industry’s most anticipated evenings. 2024 proved to be another exciting year for Asian American representation on mainstream film and television with shows like the live-action Netflix series Avatar: The Last Airbender, Shōgun and the film Dìdi receiving a majority of the honors.
This year’s voting committee selected a diverse slate of honorees, showcasing the remarkable creative excellence and cultural impact coming from the AAPI community. One member of the selection committee, actor Daniel Wu, reflected on his career and the progress he has witnessed in the industry. “I think we’re in a golden era,” Wu shared. “From Crazy Rich Asians until now, a whole slew of projects have emerged that would have never happened before. Twenty years ago, nothing was happening for Asian Americans in Hollywood. Now, we’re recognizing incredible stories and telling great Asian American narratives.”
The evening began with a vibrant red carpet event, where actors, content creators, and influential movers and shakers greeted the press, many of whom were Asian American correspondents. The sense of community was palpable as talent engaged generously with the media and guests alike. Even major stars like Joan Chen, Awkwafina, and Sherry Cola, who didn’t have time for interviews with all press, made a point to take photos and interact with the crowd.
Among the notable attendees were show host Stephanie Hsu, Awkwafina, Sherry Cola, and Jimmy O’Yang—familiar faces to the current generation of TV and film audiences. The evening also welcomed Asian American icons who have paved the way, such as Joan Chen, Lisa Ling, and Tia Carrere, alongside fashion icons, emerging stars, and digital content creators like popular podcaster Helen Wu-Wang (Asian Boss Girl), GoldenTV host Michelle Park (The Takeaway) and YouTube Star Chelsea Sik (Alan’s Universe). Representatives from influential organizations such as CAPE and Gold House further underscored the industry’s collective commitment to uplifting API voices.
Hoa Xuande, the Breakout in TV Honoree for his enigmatic performance as The Captain on HBO’s The Sympathizer, spoke passionately about the importance of nuanced representation: “We don’t see it on TV a lot. So, for me to be able to really get deep into a Vietnamese character and actually give them dimension—to show layers on a global stage—was incredibly meaningful. It’s important for people to watch and understand a part of history that’s quite significant, especially in American history. It felt like we were finally being seen as human.”
Izaac Wang, the Breakout in Film Honoree for his titular role in Dìdi, shared a heartfelt anecdote about working with Joan Chen, Honoree for Actor in Film: “It’s such a funny story because I grew up in an age where I didn’t really watch older movies, especially with stars like Joan Chen. So at first, I was like, who is this lady? But then as I learned more about her, I was like, holy crap. I’m literally working with a triple OG. At first, it was like, who’s this? And then it became, oh my God, I’m working with Joan Chen. And now I’m like, wow, I worked with Joan Chen.”
Additional honorees from the evening included Anna Sawai, recognized for Actor in TV for her Emmy Award-winning performance as Mariko in Shōgun; Sean Wang for his directorial work on Dìdi; Rachel Kondo for her writing on Shōgun; the Vanguard Award, presented to the cast and creators of Avatar: The Last Airbender; and Hiroyuki Sanada, honored as a Global Icon.
Continuing the theme of honoring icons from Asian American film history, Justin Chien, star of The Brother’s Son and a new cast member on Avatar: The Last Airbender, reflected on the profound experience of working with Michelle Yeoh: “I remember when I first saw Everything Everywhere, All at Once. After I booked the show, I started crying because I was like, this woman might play my mother. Um, there aren’t enough superlatives to list out for Michelle Yeoh. She’s the best. She’s a dear friend. We still text from time to time. She’s nurturing, she’s professional, she’s kind. She holds everyone around her to a high standard while still being incredibly warm. And she’s just a wonderful role model.”
Actor Archie Kao remarked on the progress of API representation in the industry while acknowledging the work still to be done: “The studios have greenlit projects featuring Asians. But in the end, they still have to resonate with the wider audience, or they won’t stay around. The onus on creators fundamentally is to tell stories that reach a wider audience. It goes in waves, driven by market economics, creative interests, and so forth. Sometimes it’s true representation, and sometimes it’s not.”
One of the great honors of being invited to the Gala is the opportunity to meet other members of the community that continue to inspire. Melissa O’Neil, who plays Officer Lucy Chen on The Rookie shared her excitement: “Oh my gosh. I thank you for asking me that question, because I have been gearing myself up to observe from afar, and I forget that it’s okay to approach people and say hello. I definitely am very excited to see Jon Chu if he is here. I don’t know if I’ll have the courage to say hello, but I just think everything that happened with Wicked, especially like all the practical effects with the turning clock and the train—it was just incredible. And David Suh, who is like a photography icon, I can’t wait to say hello to him. He really inspires me.”
Maria Zhang, from Avatar, expressed admiration for the film Dìdi: “I don’t know why I haven’t gotten to it earlier, but I watched Dìdi last night, and everyone told me how wonderful it is. I knew I was going to love it, but I loved it even more than I expected. I think everyone can relate to that feeling of wanting to connect with your parents and making friends at a young age. I have a soft spot for coming-of-age stories in general, so I adored it. I’m so excited to meet the cast and the director, Sean Wang.”
Momona Tamada, also from Avatar, reflected on the experience of being surrounded by so much talent: “I think it’s just like being in this room. It’s so inspiring. Just to see what everyone is doing—it’s so validating.”
The run of the show included energizing performances from AAPI performers like Wonho, Thuy, The Jets and Jocelyn Enriquez, heartfelt acceptance speeches, and appearances by notable presenters. Highlights included a performance by the band 98 Degrees. The night concluded with a lively afterparty, where honorees and guests celebrated the year’s successes and the progress that’s being made. The Unforgettable Gala underscored the industry’s growing momentum in fostering diverse stories and recognizing talent across the AAPI community.
The gala will air nationwide as a live-to-tape awards show special on Wednesday, Dec. 18, on ChimeTV, powered by GoldenTV, with repeat airings available on cable, on demand, and via streaming services.
