Why Asian American Filmmakers Are Behind Sundance 2026’s Buzziest Titles

The history of the Sundance Film Festival is rife with iconic premieres of films from East Asian American voices — Gregg Araki’s “Mysterious Skin.” Justin Lin’s “Better Luck Tomorrow.” James Wan’s “Saw.” Chloé Zhao’s “Songs My Brothers Taught Me.” Andrew Ahn’s “Spa Night.” And in just the last few years, Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari” and Celine Song’s “Past Lives.”

But in 2026, East Asian American filmmakers — and women in particular — showed up to Sundance in a major way, dominating the...