Gold House Launches Zero-Budget Shorts Fund for South Asian Creators

Gold House has launched the Gold Stack Shorts Fund, a new partnership with South Stack Studios designed to finance proof-of-concept shorts and micro-series centered on South Asian narratives. The organization announced the initiative on Friday night at The Majestic Downtown in Los Angeles during its annual Gold Diwali celebration.

The fund serves as a financial backing mechanism for emerging creators, allowing them to develop initial concepts without the full budgetary risk of a feature-length production. Submissions for the program remain open through November 30. Gold House will announce the selected projects on January 10, positioning the winning works for potential screening at the upcoming Sundance Film Festival.

The launch event coincided with the promotional push for the film “Ramayana: Rise of a Legend,” which opens in theaters worldwide on November 5. Gold House characterized the movie as the largest film ever produced in India. The event featured a DJ set and dance floor themed around the film, with stars Ranbir Kapoor and Yash attending alongside filmmakers Nitesh Tiwari and Namit Malhotra.

Bing Chen, executive chair and CEO of Gold House, stated that the group intended to honor the cultural foundations of the South Asian community. He noted that the organization aims to support creators and founders who understand that long-term success requires sustained effort over decades rather than immediate recognition.

The evening included a debut of a one-off carrom board hand-painted by luxury designer Anita Dongre in collaboration with Gold House. The piece reimagines the traditional South Asian tabletop game as a modern design object. Guests also viewed the Cuyana x Gold House Marigold Charm, a limited-edition item released earlier in October.

The event drew attendees from entertainment, media, fashion, and business sectors. Notable guests included Tan France, Freida Pinto, and Dhar Mann. The guest list also featured Saheli Khan, Aishu Devan, and Sehaj Sethi from “Avatar: Seven Havens,” alongside Hannah Simone, Janina Gavankar, and Manish Dayal.

Sponsors for the gathering included Smartwater, Glance, McKinsey & Company, and Google’s 100 Zeros. Rasoi Catering provided regional dishes, while Bhindi Jewelers hosted a jewelry experience. The event was produced by BMF Productions and followed the recent release of Gold House’s Diwali Cultural Guide.