Dennis Tran

For many Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities, conversations around mental health have historically been shaped by stigma, silence, and the pressure to persevere. At the same time, society has misunderstood gaming – dismissing it as a distraction – rather than recognizing it as a meaningful source of connection, creativity, and self-expression.

The fifth annual Gold House Gold Gala returned to The Music Center in Los Angeles on May 9, bringing together more than 650 leaders across entertainment, business, technology, sports, fashion, and social impact to celebrate the newly unveiled 2026 Gold100 List. Formerly known as the A100, the rebranded Gold100 recognizes the Asian Pacific leaders shaping global culture and the future of the modern economy.

Across the Asian diaspora, mental health is often shaped by silence, stigma, and survival. It’s not that these experiences don’t exist; rather, they’re unnamed, misunderstood, or carried quietly across generations. According to Nielsen, 58% of AANHPI audiences make a conscious effort to support media from creators that reflect their identity. Long and short films has become some of the most powerful ways we begin to acknowledge and give language to those experiences.