In 2021, while many American dance companies still had never hired an Asian choreographer, Phil Chan, Georgina Pazcoguin, and Jessica Tong launched the 10,000 Dreams Virtual Choreographic Festival to spotlight a different Asian American choreographer each day during the month of May (Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month) to spotlight these underrepresented voices. From this first festival, five choreographic commissions to major American ballet companies were offered to festival artists (four of which went to female-identifying individuals), cementing the importance of film in sharing our community's choreographic talents and getting professional opportunities in the 21st-century dance ecosystem.

The festival continues to expand through added opportunities under Co-Directors Jesse Obremski and Jie-Hung Connie Shiau, who have collectively worked with companies such as A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Gibney Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Limón Dance Company, and presented films at Dance on Camera Film Festival, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the London International Web & Shorts Film Festival (UK). The festival's mission is to provide visibility and support for Asian American creatives working with dance on camera.

The 10,000 Dreams Film Festival 2026-2027 will have a virtual presentation in June 2027. Stay tuned for announcements on when and where the Film Festival and added Arts and Advocacy Workshops will be touring. The 10,000 Dreams Film Festival will have their full season of programming (July 1st, 2026 - June 30th, 2027) to tour and be presented through Gold Standard Arts Foundation. Due to a successful Lunar New Year Gala, we are thrilled to be able to eliminate our submission fees this year, removing a barrier for visibility for more artists in our community.

Additionally, there will be two cash prize awards: Choreography Award, and Performance Award. Finally, two Honorable Mentions acknowledged in Direction, Choreography, Cinematography, Costume Design, and Original Composition respectively.

We welcome all submissions for the 2026-2027 season through the guidelines below.

Awards & Prizes

- CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD ($1,000 CASH PRIZE)
- PERFORMANCE AWARD ($,1000 CASH PRIZE)
- 2 HONORABLE MENTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED IN DIRECTION, CHOREOGRAPHY, CINEMATOGRAPHY, COSTUME DESIGN, AND ORIGINAL COMPOSITION RESPECTIVELY.

The Performance Award and the Choreographer Award will be granted in July 2027 after the selection of the Film Festival program.

The selected films will receive GSAF 10,000 Dreams Film Festival 2026-2027 "Official Selection" laurels.

The Honorable Mentions acknowledged in Direction, Choreography, Cinematography, Costume Design, and Original Composition respectively will receive "Honorable Mention" laurels.

Rules & Terms

- At least one principal creative artist (director, choreographer, and/or performer) must have an Asian and/or Pacific Islander identify artist living in North America (United States and Canada). Their work needs to be clearly represented in the dance film. Please note that having more Asian and/or Pacific Islander presence a part of your film supports your submission.
- Each submission must be no longer than 20 minutes (credits included).
- There is no age or artistic expression limitation.
- All dance films of any genre and physical language are accepted.
- Dance films should have been filmed after January 1st, 2020.
- An individual may only submit one film per festival year.
- Individuals submitting must have copyright permissions for all submitted media and art connected to their film. Additionally, they must be able to demonstrate these rights upon request. By submitting, individuals understand they may be addressed when it comes to the rights of their submitted film(s) and guarantees to Gold Standard Arts Foundation that they have all of the rights and permissions for their film submission.

For additional questions, please contact info@goldstandardarts.org at GSAF.