Meet Young Man Kang | Young Man Kang | Filmmaker & Festival Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Young Man Kang and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Young Man, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
At the heart of the Prayer International Series is connection — spiritual, cultural, and human.

Recently, I completed nine El Camino episodes, bringing the total to 36 episodes filmed across multiple countries. Each episode is produced locally, working with regional actors, artists, musicians, and crew members. This model creates immediate opportunities for local creatives while giving them global exposure through international festivals and online platforms.

The series also promotes the cities where we film — not as tourist advertisements, but as emotional landscapes. We highlight their culture, history, and spirit through personal stories. Viewers discover new places through the lens of faith, reflection, and human resilience.

Beyond economics, the deeper impact is spiritual and emotional. The Prayer International Series addresses universal themes — doubt, perseverance, forgiveness, compassion, and inner transformation. In a time when the world often feels divided, these stories invite reflection instead of reaction. They encourage people to pause, reconnect, and rediscover hope.

In addition to filmmaking, I serve as Festival Director of LA WEBFEST and founder of the Hollywood Series Awards. Through these platforms, we create meaningful opportunities for independent creators from around the world to be recognized on a Hollywood stage.

A recent example that deeply moved me was when Best Actress at the Hollywood Series Awards was presented to Meriem Amiar for her series El’ Sardines. It was a historic moment — the first time an Algerian actress received this recognition on our platform. What followed was extraordinary: her fans and supporters across Algeria celebrated passionately on social media. It felt as though an entire country was sharing in that pride. Moments like this remind me why we do this work — discovering talent from every corner of the world and helping amplify their voices internationally.

Ultimately, my mission is to build bridges — between countries, between cultures, and between emerging talent and global audiences. Film can entertain, but it can also elevate, empower, and unite. That is the social impact I strive for through every project and platform I create.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work lives at the intersection of faith, global storytelling, and independent filmmaking.

I am the creator of the Prayer International Series, a multi-country anthology that has grown to 36 episodes, filmed across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Most recently, I completed nine El Camino episodes — a deeply personal spiritual journey that expanded the series in both scale and depth.

Was it easy?
Not at all. It has been very hard.

There were financial uncertainties, logistical challenges, language barriers, cultural differences, and personal struggles. Many productions were created while I was facing my own inner battles. What helped me overcome those challenges was daily prayer. Prayer became my discipline, my grounding, and my creative reset. Instead of fighting obstacles aggressively, I learned to surrender, reflect, and move forward with clarity.

What sets my work apart is that I do not just travel to film — I collaborate locally. Every episode is built with regional actors, artists, and musicians. The cities are not just backdrops; they become characters. The stories are rooted in spiritual transformation, resilience, and inner conflict — themes that connect universally across cultures.

I am also proud of building platforms beyond my own films. As Festival Director of LA WEBFEST and founder of the Hollywood Series Awards, I have created opportunities for creators worldwide to be recognized in Hollywood. Discovering and elevating talent from different countries has become an extension of my artistic mission.

Professionally, my journey was not a straight line. It required risk, persistence, and reinvention. I learned that consistency is more powerful than speed. I learned that leadership requires humility. And I learned that storytelling is not about perfection — it is about honesty.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is this:
My work is about connection. Between cultures. Between artists. Between human struggle and hope. I believe film can be more than entertainment — it can be reflection, healing, and a bridge between people who may never otherwise meet.

I am still learning. Still growing. Still praying. And still creating.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting, I would first take them to a place that holds deep personal meaning for me — 8000 Sunset Strip, formerly home to the Laemmle Sunset 5 theater (now the Landmark). In 2001, my very first feature film Cupid’s Mistake premiered there. In the late 1990s, I used to sit in that theater dreaming that one day my own film would play on that screen. That dream came true. Shortly after, I earned a Guinness World Record for creating the least expensive feature film ever to open in a U.S. theater. Every time I visit, it reminds me that dreams are possible in this city.

For the week, I’d begin with coffee at Urth Caffé on Melrose, followed by a walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a hike to Griffith Observatory for those iconic views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign. The Getty Center would be essential for art, architecture, and inspiration. Venice Beach would give them a taste of LA’s eclectic creative spirit.

For classic Hollywood history, I’d take them to Musso & Frank Grill — you can feel the legacy of cinema in the room. For a timeless evening atmosphere, The Roger Room or The Tower Bar captures that old-Hollywood elegance.

But I would also take them beyond the city.

One unforgettable experience would be a day trip to Temecula wine country. The rolling vineyards, open skies, and slower rhythm provide a beautiful contrast to Hollywood’s fast pace. It’s a place to breathe, reflect, and enjoy California’s natural beauty.

And if they were ready for something truly cinematic, I would take them to Death Valley. The vast silence, dramatic landscapes, and raw desert power feel almost spiritual. It looks like another planet.

Death Valley also holds deep personal history for me. In the early 2000s, I shot two feature films there — The Last Eve and Death Valley Diary. Filming in that extreme environment was physically demanding and creatively transformative. The desert teaches you humility. You cannot control nature — you must respect it and adapt. Every time I return, I’m reminded of my early independent filmmaking days and the perseverance it took to survive and create.

If time allows, we’d drive along the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu, because no LA visit is complete without the ocean at sunset.

For me, Los Angeles is about contrast — dream and reality, city and desert, ambition and reflection. I would want my friend to experience all of it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I thank God. Through daily prayer, I found the strength and guidance to continue this journey. Many of the Prayer International Series episodes were born during difficult seasons in my life, and prayer became the foundation that carried me through each production.

I want to recognize the incredible artists, actors, and collaborators who have trusted me across 36 episodes of the Prayer International Series. From local performers in Lisbon, Madrid, and Bilbao, to actors in Brazil, Korea, and beyond — each one brought their heart and soul into these stories. Independent filmmaking is built on courage and faith, and I am deeply grateful for their belief in the vision.

Many artists have walked this journey with me multiple times. Priscila Buiar (4 episodes), Borja Salgado (4 episodes), David Ogrodowski (4 episodes), and Ingrïd Pedroza (3 episodes) have each contributed tremendously to the growth of this series. As co-producer, Alma Castañeda (4 episodes) has also played an important role in shaping several chapters of this project.

One special episode, Prayer Guadalajara, was inspired by the work of Marcela Solana, a Mexican contemporary visual artist and author. Her autobiographical book Entrégala a la bestia (Give Her to the Beast), which explores spiritual trauma and personal transformation, deeply influenced that episode’s creation. It reminded me how art can emerge from pain and become a form of healing.

I am also deeply grateful to the sponsors and supporters who believed in the spiritual dimension of the Prayer International Series. They trusted the vision — not just as entertainment, but as a meaningful artistic and spiritual endeavor. Their faith in the project made many productions possible.

Through LA WEBFEST and the Hollywood Series Awards, I have also witnessed the extraordinary passion of creators around the world. I would especially like to dedicate this shoutout to two individuals who shaped my journey. Michael Ajakwe Jr., the Emmy Award-winning founder of LA WEBFEST, laid the foundation for everything I have been able to accomplish in the web series world. His vision of uplifting independent creators continues to inspire me, and I am honored to carry that legacy forward.

I also want to recognize Jean-Michel Albert, founder of Marseille Webfest and an exceptional showrunner. His global perspective and encouragement pushed me to think beyond borders and see storytelling as an international bridge.

No film is created alone. Every episode carries the fingerprints of many hearts, many prayers, and many believers. I am simply grateful to be part of that shared journey.

Website: https://www.youngmankang.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ymkfilms/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ymkfilms/

Twitter: https://x.com/kimchiwarrior

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kimchiwarrior

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KimchiWarrior

Other: LA WEBFEST:
https://www.lawebfest.net/

Hollywood Series:
https://www.hollywoodseries.net/

Image Credits
1. Young Man Kang at Bilbao Seriesland 2025 Award Ceremony
2. Young Man Kang filming Prayer Lisbon at Griffiths Wall
3. Young Man Kang filming Prayer El Camino episodes with cast and crew
4. Young Man Kang filming Prayer El Camino episodes with cast and crew
5. Young Man Kang filming Prayer Lisbon under a rainbow blessing
6. Young Man Kang, Priscila Buiar, and the team on the set of Prayer Petrópolis
7. Young Man Kang serving as Jury Member at Die Seriale 2025, Germany
8. Prayer International Series – 36 Episodes
9. Prayer El Camino 9 Episodes