For years, Asians on screen were exoticised or reduced to clichés. With monumental achievements, including the seven‑Oscar sweep by the Michelle Yeoh vehicle Everything Everywhere All at Once, it is clear that the entertainment industry is at a turning point. The spotlight on Asian representation in Hollywood is brighter now than ever, yet these victories in visibility are undeniably hard‑won milestones in a long struggle for cultural recognition. They also come at a time of rising anti‑Asian sentiment during the Covid‑19 pandemic.
But it is progress, much of which is being driven by changemakers such as Adele Lim. The Malaysian producer, director and screenwriter amplifies Asian soft power—a term used to describe influence through economic and cultural prowess rather than coercion or military might—through authentic storytelling. Lim was in Singapore to speak at the Milken Institute Asia Summit 2023 and attend the inaugural Gold Bridge dinner in September—held in celebration of the expansion of Gold House, an organisation caught up with her at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, where she was checked into for the duration of her stay.
