LOS ANGELES, CA – March 2026 – The AAPI Entertainment and Casting Summit, an industry gathering dedicated to supporting Asian American and Pacific Islander voices, recently convened at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. The summit featured Amy Kouxiao Zhang as a speaker. Ms. Zhang, a member of the South Park Commons Founder Fellowship (a selective program that backs early-stage founders in technology and creative industries), addressed the intersection of traditional cinema, vertical short-form drama, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in modern storytelling.
Bridging Cinematic Excellence and Digital Commercial Success
As a digital content producer, Ms. Zhang provided insights into the evolving “Attention Economy.” Vertical short-form drama, designed for mobile viewing, has become a fast-growing format for digital storytelling in markets across North America and Asia. Her work in the digital space includes commercial hits such as My Teenage Great-Grandma, which has drawn hundreds of millions of views on TikTok, and Darling, Please Come Home, which has reached tens of millions of views on the ReelShort platform. Ms. Zhang focused on how these new formats are reshaping commercial viability for AAPI creators globally.
Advocacy Through Innovation and Professional Recognition
During the industry panels, Ms. Zhang joined a cohort of producers, directors, actors, casting directors, and entertainment executives to discuss the future of AAPI representation. Drawing on her experience with films selected at FIAPF-accredited festivals, including Hongfu Hotel (Tribeca 2024 World Premiere) and When Big People Lie (Telluride 2024 World Premiere), she discussed how AI tools can lower barriers to entry for minority storytellers. By combining her background in established festival circuits with new technology, Ms. Zhang outlined a practical roadmap for AAPI creators to achieve both artistic merit and mainstream market reach.
Artistic and Technical Leadership in Modern Production
Ms. Zhang’s contributions to the summit reflected her work as a filmmaker exploring new methods of cinematic production. A highlight of her participation was the exclusive screening of the trailer for “A Man of One Cut,” a future project from Manna AI. As the lead creative behind the film, Ms. Zhang’s presentation of this AI-integrated narrative at the USC School of Cinematic Arts served as a case study in modern production. Manna AI’s flagship project represents an effort to combine narrative filmmaking with AI-driven production tools, a direction Ms. Zhang continues to develop through her work as a producer and content lead. Her efforts bridge technical entrepreneurship and cinematic craft, reflecting an active role within the evolving Los Angeles film community.
ABOUT THE KEY FIGURES AND ORGANIZATIONS
About Amy Kouxiao Zhang
Amy Kouxiao Zhang is an award-winning filmmaker and the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer (CCO) of Manna AI Inc. Her portfolio includes the TikTok series My Teenage Great-Grandma, which has drawn hundreds of millions of views, and the ReelShort series Darling, Please Come Home, which has reached tens of millions of views. Ms. Zhang’s work has been honored by the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) and has been featured at FIAPF-accredited festivals, including Tribeca, Telluride, and Cannes. Her film Anshan Diaries was a finalist for both the Student Academy Awards and the Golden Horse Awards (2021), while The Rowboat earned the 2023 DGA Student Film Award. She is a member of the South Park Commons Founder Fellowship, through which SPC has committed $1 million in investment to Manna AI Inc., where she leads the development of AI-native interactive films and series.
About the AAPI Entertainment and Casting Summit
Founded by Alex Zhi, the AAPI Entertainment and Casting Summit is a professional gathering at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. It brings together industry veterans, including producers, directors, and casting directors, to foster professional opportunities and enhance the representation of AAPI talent across film, television, and emerging digital media platforms.
About the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA)
The USC School of Cinematic Arts is widely recognized as a top institution for film and media studies. By hosting industry-focused summits, SCA continues its tradition of facilitating dialogue among media professionals and tech-driven creators.
