New AANHPI Gathering Across the Industry Connects 260+ Entertainment Leaders

Over 260 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) leaders, creatives, executives, storytellers, entrepreneurs, and community builders gathered at Rideback Ranch in Historic Filipinotown for the inaugural Across the Industry event, a new gathering designed to strengthen connections within the AANHPI entertainment community and broader creative industries. Hosted on Sunday, May 31st by Augie Max Vargas and Narumi Inatsugu, and presented by The Vargas Company and Rumiville Inc., the event brought together professionals from film, television, streaming, technology, music, business, culture, philanthropy, and public service during AANHPI Heritage Month. Unlike traditional industry events, Across the Industry intentionally avoided panels, awards, fundraising, red carpets, or extensive programming, focusing instead on creating space for authentic connection among professionals whose paths do not often intersect despite working within the same entertainment ecosystem.

Members and leadership from major entertainment guilds, academies, unions, cultural organizations, community groups, and civic leadership circles attended the unofficial gathering, which provided a rare opportunity for AANHPI professionals across the entertainment industry to connect in a shared environment centered on conversation, collaboration, and relationship-building. Augie Max Vargas, founder of The Vargas Company and co-host, noted that a common thread he heard all night was a feeling of joyful emotion where attendees felt inspired and part of a community larger and stronger than many realize. Narumi Inatsugu, CEO of Rumiville Inc. and co-host, emphasized that the event was bigger than networking, serving as a reminder that community is one of the most powerful forces in the industry, fostering new ideas, relationships, and a more connected future.

The event also featured professional headshot activations, curated brand participation, community experiences, and opportunities for attendees to build new relationships across industries that rarely gather together in the same room. The success of this inaugural gathering has already sparked conversations about future editions of Across the Industry and the continued development of the platform as an annual opportunity to strengthen community, collaboration, and connection across the AANHPI entertainment community and beyond. This gathering represents a significant step toward fostering a more inclusive and interconnected entertainment industry, where diverse voices and talents can come together to shape the future of storytelling and media.