Before entering the comedy world, filmmaker and comedian Kate Lee Moran felt isolated growing up as a Korean adoptee.
Moran, who was born in Seoul and raised in Buffalo, New York, often got into fights with her classmates. She found comfort and empowerment through performing arts. Despite initially focusing on acting and comedy, Moran later shifted to producing and directing to amplify marginalized voices.
Through initiatives such as “The Revolution,” a stand-up comedy show featuring women and non-binary comics, and events highlighting diverse talents, Moran has consistently supported inclusivity. After attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she honed her comedy skills at the Peoples Improv Theater. Here, she met Edward Yoo Pokropski, a comedian and a two-time Emmy-nominated senior writer and producer at NBCUniversal, who shared her passion for showcasing Asian voices. A producer contacted them about the concept of a comedy festival dedicated to Asian talents.
“Ed and I are both Korean adoptees, which is honestly a coincidence,” Moran tells NextShark. “We didn’t know each other before we were connected. Ed and I started collaborating, and we were like, ‘Oh, this is perfect. Let’s create this festival because there’s really a need.’ It was just kind of a match made in heaven.”
The project officially became the Asian Comedy Festival (ACF). Its first event in 2020 featured a variety of comedic acts, including star Ronny Chieng. Since then, ACF has been the largest and longest-running New York City-based international comedy fest aimed at showcasing diverse voices within the Asian and Pacific Islander community.
The debut, coinciding with Lunar New Year, was a great success despite initial concerns about attendance. With full crowds, long lines, and a diverse audience, the festival exceeded the founders’ expectations and highlighted the desire for Asian representation in comedy.
“We had a ton of people show up,” Moran shares. “It was not all Asian Americans who were coming to see this. It was a very diverse audience who were there to enjoy and partake in the festival. I think it made us all really emotional that our stories are worth hearing, that they’re valid, that they’re specific but universal. And that’s what we all really believe in and continue to this day.”
In addition to uplifting AANHPI talents and bringing joy to audiences, the ACF founders have made it a goal to support Asian-owned small businesses, working with numerous Asian entrepreneurs and raising over $22,000 for local AANHPI charities.
Moran and Pokropski credit their co-founder, Yao King, for the remarkable and meticulous work. King's interests range from supporting the arts to helping the underprivileged and advocating for social issues and representation.
The king talks about how ACF has changed from being originally planned as a purely money-making project to now focusing more on helping the community and performers. He also shares stories showing the festival’s impact, like how it has introduced people to small Asian-owned businesses and received praise from comedians for treating and supporting emerging talents in the industry respectfully and financially.
“Every year we choose a nonprofit to partner with, and we give any remaining funds to that nonprofit,” King says. “I think that was the crucial part of ACF's development. We're trying to help the community and all the performers… Our product sponsors have all been Asian-founded brands in commerce, intentionally seeking a win-win situation not only for the comics, but for anyone who partners with us. They benefit from the donation at the end of the year, and we've had record donations every year.
For this year’s festival and their fifth anniversary, ACF is teaming up with the nonprofit organization Welcome to Chinatown. The organization helps meet the important needs of the Chinatown community and its entrepreneurs. The festival will take place at the newly established Asian-owned social club, Sugar Mouse. According to King, this decision aligns with the festival’s aim of supporting Asian-owned businesses, serving as an opportunity to help promote the opening of the club.
Their stated mission to serve the community is also reflected in their selection of the ACF lineup. While talent is a priority, they also aim for diverse representation within the AANHPI diaspora and a balance between established and up-and-coming comedians. This year, they are exploring a new format by teaming up with established Asian-run comedy shows and performers such as Asian AF, Asianology, Banana Ketchup and Boba Gays.
Looking forward, Pokropski envisions expanding the comedy festival’s reach across the U.S., with plans for possible pop-ups or specials on streaming services. The founders also hope to establish the festival as an institution that fosters connections, provides support and encourages growth for comedians, small businesses and Asian-owned restaurants.
“We really want to be known nationally and then get to a place where we’re not needed anymore, where Asian-owned businesses and comics are so well-established and so mainstream that we don’t need the extra support,” Moran says. “That’s the dream.”
Thinking about the importance of AANHPI Heritage Month, Pokropski urges Asian comedians to stay true and resist pressure to conform to stereotypes. Stressing the festival’s dedication to inclusivity and acceptance, Pokropski confirms that comedians should feel empowered to be themselves without compromising their individuality or cultural identity.
“Representing the Asian community is enough,” Pokropski says. “We’re hoping to welcome everyone in any way possible.”
Moran also stresses the significance of finding one’s community as a source of support and validation. Like Pokropski, she encourages individuals to embrace their diverse stories and experiences within the AANHPI diaspora.
Kate Lee Moran said that the most important thing she learned from the festival is the value of finding a community. She believes that your community is where your heart and truth are, and when you have doubts or self-hatred, you should turn to your community for support. She emphasizes the diversity of everyone's stories and the importance of embracing the diaspora. She describes their community as diverse and loving, and encourages others to find their own supportive family.
The festival performances are scheduled for May 7, 14, and 15. You can purchase tickets on the ACF official website. You can find tickets for the festival performances on the official website of the ACF.
