A documentary film about Kiyoshi Kuromiya — Japanese American activist, civil rights leader, and HIV/AIDS advocate — scheduled to premiere in fall 2026.

KIYOSHI is a documentary film about Kiyoshi Kuromiya (1943–2000), one of the most remarkable and underrecognized activists of the 20th century. Born in a Japanese American internment camp, Kuromiya dedicated his life to fighting for freedom — his activism touching virtually every major social justice movement of his era: civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, the anti-war movement, AIDS activism, and healthcare equity.

These experiences culminated in perhaps his most consequential work. At the dawn of the internet, Kuromiya created the Critical Path AIDS Project — an early website providing life-saving treatment information at a moment when such information was nearly impossible to access. For people living with HIV/AIDS, it was often a lifeline.

The film is directed by Glenn Holsten and conceived with Executive Producer Keith Brand, with Co-producer Rob Buscher leading community organizing. Teresa joined the project in 2023 as co-producer and project manager, and lead fundraiser — advising on goals and strategy, keeping the project on schedule and within budget, and writing and reporting on all grants in close collaboration with director Glenn Holsten. The William Way LGBT Community Center is the institutional partner. Primary support comes from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

The current political moment — marked by the resurgence of detention camps, mass deportations, and renewed attacks on LGBTQ+ communities — gives the film added urgency. Scheduled to premiere in fall 2026, KIYOSHI offers not only historical documentation but a roadmap for activists today.

Partnerships Japanese American Citizens League, Philadelphia Chapter · Philly Asian & Queer · PhillyCAM · University of Pennsylvania Asian American Studies Program

Learn more at kiyoshifilm.com · Instagram

Partnerships Japanese American Citizens League, Philadelphia Chapter · Philly Asian & Queer · PhillyCAM · University of Pennsylvania Asian American Studies Program