Gold House and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) have revealed their fourth annual Gold List which highlights outstanding work in film by Asian Pacific creatives in the past year.

Notable winnersinclude Past Lives (including director Celine Song and actress Greta Lee), May December’s Charles Melton, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, Olivia Rodrigo, The Boy and the Heron, and a historic number of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander honorees. 

Last year, 2023 Gold List winner Everything Everywhere All At Once — along with actors Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan — broke records, becoming the most-awarded film of all time. According to Gold House’s research, 22% of films grossing over $100 million at the post-pandemic domestic box office featured an Asian Pacific director, screenwriter, or lead actor.

This year’s Gold List also features a record number of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander honorees. Lindsay Watson won Breakout Performance for her moving role in The Wind & the Reckoning. Taika Waititi received an honorable mention for Best Original Screenplay for Next Goal Wins. As well as Stan Walker for Best Original Song ‘I AM’ from Origin.

Other winners include both luminaries and rising stars. The Boy and The Heron, widely thought to be master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s final film, won Best Animated Feature as well as an honorable mention for Best Original Screenplay, and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, written by Dave Callaham, Phil Lord, and Christopher Miller, earned Best Adapted Screenplay. Olivia Rodrigo received Best Original Song for “Can’t Catch Me Now” from The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and Polite Society was voted Breakout Independent Film. 

In the non-fiction categories, To Kill A Tiger received Best Documentary and Between Earth and Sky received Best Documentary Short. WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko and Yellow round out the Gold List with their wins for Best Animated Short and Best Live Action Short, respectively.  

“The Gold List was created to ensure awards seasons and mainstream society are up to date on the most worthy creative work — particularly work from communities that have been historically overlooked or excluded,” says Jeremy Tran, Executive Director and COO of Gold House, said in a press release. “Every visible success leads to numerous unseen doors that are opened for new creative development, production, and distribution opportunities for these communities.” 

“In the aftermath of a particularly tumultuous year, including hard-fought gains on the labor front, we are excited to uplift these outstanding titles and talents for awards consideration,” said Michelle K. Sugihara, Executive Director of CAPE. “These incredible projects deepen the pool of nuanced storytelling and reflect the vibrant multitudes of our communities.” 

For Gold House and CAPE, amplifying Asian Pacific talent during the awards race serves as an extension of the critical cultural consultation and research, next-generation talent fellowships, and groundbreaking #GoldOpen movement from the two organizations — collectively ensuring the authentic and affirming portrayal of Asian Pacific stories while propelling them to the top of the box office, including hits like Crazy Rich Asians, Parasite, and Everything Everywhere All At Once.

The Gold List spans 14 categories, voted on by prominent leaders from the Gold Open Advisory Council, Gold House Members, CAPE Board Members and Advisors, and entertainment industry heavyweights. 

The full list of Gold List selections are below:

Best Picture

Past Lives

Honorable Mentions: Monster and Perfect Days

Best Director

Celine Song (Past Lives)

Honorable Mentions: Hayao Miyazaki (The Boy and the Heron) and Tran Anh Hung (The Taste of Things)

Best Performance in a Leading Role

Greta Lee (Past Lives)

Honorable Mentions: Ashley Park (Joy Ride), Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 4), Koji Yakusho (Perfect Days), Sakura Ando (Monster), and Teo Yoo (Past Lives) 

Best Performance in a Supporting Role

Charles Melton (May December)

Honorable Mentions: Riz Ahmed (Fingernails), Sabrina Wu (Joy Ride), Sherry Cola (Joy Ride), Simu Liu (Barbie), and Stephanie Hsu (Joy Ride)

Best Original Screenplay

Celine Song (Past Lives) 

Honorable Mentions: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong and Teresa Hsiao (Joy Ride) and Hayao Miyazaki (The Boy and The Heron)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Dave Callaham, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse)

Honorable Mentions: Adrian Tomine (Shortcomings) and Taika Waititi and Iain Morris (Next Goal Wins)

Best Animated Feature

The Boy and The Heron

Honorable Mentions: Elemental, Nimona, and Suzume 

Best Documentary Feature

To Kill A Tiger

Honorable Mentions: a.k.a. Mr Chow and Liquor Store Dreams

Best Original Song

“Can’t Catch Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes)

Honorable Mentions: “I AM” by Stan Walker (Origin) and “All Love Is Love” by Bowen Yang, Aaron Jackson, Josh Sharp, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally (Dicks: The Musical)

Best Animated Short

WAR IS OVER! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko

Honorable Mentions: Our Uniform and The Old Young Crow

Best Documentary Short

Between Earth and Sky

Honorable Mentions: Island in Between and Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó 

Best Live Action Short

Yellow

Honorable Mentions: Closing Dynasty, Eid Mubarak, and Take Me Home

Breakout Performance

Lindsay Watson (The Wind & The Reckoning)

Breakout Independent Film

Polite Society

For more information about the Gold List, visit thegoldlist.org.