‘Past Lives,’ Charles Melton Lead Gold List of Asian Pacific Islander Awards Contenders

After last awards season’s banner haul for artists of Asian descent, Gold House and CAPE are hoping the community will strike gold again.

The two leading Asian Pacific nonprofits in the entertainment industry have revealed the results of their fourth annual Gold List, which draws attention to the top API hopefuls in the awards race. “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,” Gold House executive director and COO Jeremy Tran said in a statement. “Every visible success leads to numerous unseen doors that are opened for new creative development, production and distribution opportunities for these communities.”

Celine Song’s Past Lives tops the Gold List with four selections, plus an honorable mention, while May December’s Charles Melton, The Boy and the Heron and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse are Oscar contenders who also landed spots. To date, 27 Gold List honorees have become Oscar nominees or winners.

“What an amazing honor to be part of this year’s Gold List!” Song said in a statement. “As writer, director and on behalf of my incredible producers, it means a lot for this movie about an Asian-American immigrant woman to be celebrated by the community that so many of us in front of and behind the screen belong to. A special congratulations to our Nora and Hae Sung: Greta Lee and Teo Yoo. Thank you so much to Gold House for your support of this story and this film — it’s ours to share with the world.”

Added Melton in a statement, “It is incredible to witness the tremendous work our community continues to bring to the global stage. Let us continue to empower and uplift one another through new portrayals and experiences across artistic mediums.”

With Pacific Islanders usually overshadowed in the aggregated API identity grouping, the Gold List organizers noted that this year’s edition features a record four Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders artists recognized: The Wind & the Reckoning’s Lindsay Watson was chosen for Breakout Performance, while Taika Waititi (Next Goal Wins), Keanu Reeves (John Wick: Chapter 4) and Stan Walker (Origin) received honorable mentions for, respectively, original screenplay, lead performance and original song. Walker’s song “I Am” did not make the Oscar shortlist, but the powerful and stirring anthem for Ava DuVernay’s epic film, featuring lyrics in both English and Māori, is worth hearing.

“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,” CAPE executive director Michelle K. Sugihara said in a statement. “These incredible projects deepen the pool of nuanced storytelling and reflect the vibrant multitudes of our communities.”

The Gold List is selected by the Gold Open Advisory Council, Gold House members, the CAPE Board and advisors and other entertainment industry leaders. (This reporter voted on this year’s list.)

See the full 2024 Gold List below.

Best Picture: Past Lives

Honorable Mentions: Monster, Perfect Days

Best Director: Celine Song (Past Lives)

Honorable Mentions: Hayao Miyazaki (The Boy and the Heron), 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), 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), Stephanie Hsu (Joy Ride)

Best Original Screenplay: Celine Song (Past Lives)

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

Best Adapted Screenplay: Dave Callaham, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse)

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

Best Animated Feature: The Boy and the Heron

Honorable Mentions: Elemental, Nimona, Suzume

Best Documentary Feature: To Kill a Tiger

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

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

Honorable Mentions: Stan Walker – “I Am” (Origin); Bowen Yang, Aaron Jackson, Josh Sharp, Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally – “All Love is Love” (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, Take Me Home

Breakout Performance: Lindsay Watson (The Wind & The Reckoning)

Breakout Independent Film: Polite Society