- The Beverly Arts
- Jul 29
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA),
Los Angeles, California, USA. 22nd July, 2026. The International Documentary Association (IDA) held its seventh "Getting Real '26" conference at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Los Angeles, California. The conference a biennial conference for documentary filmmakers and industry professionals, and has grown to become the largest peer-to-peer gathering of documentary practitioners in North America. Members of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) attended the conference party including TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, Professor Lingyun Xiang, LABA Advisor, and Natalie Chen, LABA Coordinator.
Writer Manuel Betancourt, producer Zoë Morrison, and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA
Director of Photography Christopher S. Nibley and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA
TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, Natalie Chen, LABA Coordinator, and musician Steven Meeks
The attendees enjoyed a hybrid format that provided a collaborative space for the documentary community to engage in meaningful discussions and address the ethical, creative, production, distribution, and sustainability challenges facing the field. The programming brought together participants from diverse sectors of independent filmmaking, geographic regions, and career stages, creating opportunities for emerging and established filmmakers to exchange ideas and perspectives.
Anisa Hosseinnezhad, IDA Membership & Individual Giving Program Manager, and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA
Aly Vredenburgh, Founder/CEO of We Belong Institute and Natalie Chen, LABA Coordinator
Natalie Chen, LABA Coordinator
About International Documentary Association
The International Documentary Association, founded in 1982, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes nonfiction filmmakers, and is dedicated to increasing public awareness for the documentary genre. Their major program areas are: Advocacy, Filmmaker Services, Education, and Public Programs and Events. Based in Los Angeles, the IDA has approximately 2,800 members in over 50 countries, providing a forum for supporters and suppliers of documentary filmmaking.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Art Hearts Fashion, Mogo, MDSUN, Shennel Trading, XAVVI, ISEGSTAR, World Peace One, Crab Grabber, InLight Foundation, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Yi Ke Art in Beverly, Wenkang Xue Design Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation
Singer Grace Field, TV host Joey Zhou, founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA), and Deborah Castine MD
Los Angeles, California, USA. 8th July, 2026. The Chinese American Cultural Exchange Association (CACEA) held a gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills, located at 300 S. Doheny Drive in Los Angeles, to plan its 10th anniversary celebrations and formally announce new appointments. CACEA founding chair, Susan Wang, and CACEA co-chair, Harrison Engle presented appointment certificates to 13 distinguished individuals representing a range of sectors, naming them as CACEA co-chairs and board members. Since its inception, CACEA has remained dedicated to strengthening friendship and promoting mutual cultural understanding between the people of China and the United States.
CACEA co-chairman Harrison Engle
The event was hosted by renowned bilingual television host Joey Zhou, founder of Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA); Tony Award winner Grace Field; and LABA Icon Awards recipient Deborah Castine MD. CACEA co-chair Harrison Engle, a Hollywood director and founder of the International Documentary Association Awards, began the evening's presentations. Speaking on behalf of the CACEA Board of Directors, he highlighted the organization’s past accomplishments, its continuing commitment to philanthropy, and ongoing mission to foster exchanges between China and the United States in culture, the arts, education, film and television, health, and trade.
CACEA founding chairman Susan Wang
Susan Wang warmly welcomed the guests and delivered a presentation focused on CACEA’s goals and longstanding mission of cultural exchange. Under her leadership, the association has created numerous platforms for interdisciplinary and cross-cultural engagement. CACEA has organized professional forums, networking events, and public showcases addressing film and television production, culinary culture, economic cooperation, and health and wellness, including the integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. Through these initiatives, CACEA continues to foster greater understanding, cultural exchange, and meaningful collaboration among people from diverse backgrounds.
For many years, Wang has also been deeply committed to humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors, leading CACEA in its support of vulnerable communities and international charitable-aid projects. She has provided assistance to underserved regions in Asia and Africa, supported the construction of educational facilities in mountainous and disadvantaged communities, and helped improve learning conditions for local children. In addition, Wang has organized medical, educational, and livelihood-assistance programs designed to help underprivileged children gain access to healthcare and schooling.
Hollywood legend Nancy Bretzfield
During a special presentation, Hollywood veteran Nancy Bretzfield was appointed a CACEA co-chair by the organization’s Board of Directors. She received her official appointment certificate from Wang and Engle. Bretzfield is an actress and former Olympic figure skater who performed under the stage name Nancy Czar. Her film credits include Wild Guitar (1962), Winter A-Go-Go (1965), and The Wild Scene (1970). She later retired from the entertainment industry.
Bretzfield was married to Samuel Stuart Bretzfield who began serving as Honorary Consul of Bangladesh in the United States in 1977. Following his death in 1986, Bretzfield assumed the position and served as Honorary Consul of Bangladesh for nine years. Early in her career, she was also romantically linked to Elvis Presley, and their relationship became widely known in Hollywood circles.
CACEA founding chairman Susan Wang, Nancy Bretzfield, and CACEA co-chairman Harrison Engle
One of CACEA’s most successful initiatives has been the establishment of an overseas Traditional Chinese Medicine service base in Los Angeles. Over the past decade, the association has developed the program with support from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office at the national and Jiangsu provincial levels, the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. CACEA has frequently hosted complimentary medical clinics where local U.S. experts, prominent community figures, and members of overseas Chinese communities could participate in and experience Traditional Chinese Medicine services.
The association has also organized major cultural events, including the “Affection of China” Mid-Autumn Festival Gala; the North American tour of the China Oriental Performing Arts Group; the North American tour of Liu Xiaoqing’s stage production Wu Zetian; the East-West Directors Forum; and the Sino-U.S. International Documentary Forum. CACEA also co-hosted the Sino-U.S. Culinary Culture Forum with Carlos Amezcua, a prominent American television news anchor and 22-time Emmy Award winner. The association has frequently partnered with the U.S.-China Cultural Association to present a large-scale Chinese American Spring Festival Gala.
Artist Todd Williamson
Following the presentations, Todd Williamson, former Chair of the West Hollywood Arts Commission; Barry Simon, Chair of the UNA-USA California Chapter of the United Nations Association; and Sir Laurent Khaiat, President of La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs in Beverly Hills, were appointed CACEA co-chairs. Their official certificates were jointly presented by Wang and Engle.
Eight distinguished individuals were also appointed to the CACEA Board of Directors: Grammy Award winner and voting member Henry Lipatov; distinguished physician Dr. Deborah Castine; Tony Award winner Grace Field; Emmy Award winner Jacqueline Lewis; celebrity photographer Sheri Determan; acclaimed artist Carolyn Stevenson; model and actress Dustin Quick; and television host Gloria Jimenez.
Harrison Engle, Susan Wang, Todd Williamson, Barry Simon, and Laurent Khaiat
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang and CACEA responded proactively to community needs by donating protective equipment and medical supplies to local hospitals in Los Angeles and medical institutions in cities throughout China, contributing to efforts to combat the virus.
Wang and other key CACEA members also visited nursing homes in the United States to provide care, companionship, and emotional support to elderly residents. These efforts demonstrated the association’s continuing commitment to social responsibility and humanitarian service.
In recognition of her sustained contributions to humanitarian service and philanthropy, Wang received the Fernando Award for Humanitarian Service in 2019.
Singer Grace Field
In addition to the presentations, the gala featured entertainment by singer Grace Field, who has performed on Broadway and at the White House. She captivated guests with her rendition of the demanding musical-theater song “Think of Me.” Her performance became one of the evening’s highlights. In 2026, Field is scheduled to portray Marilyn Monroe in the new Broadway production, That’s Love.
This year marks CACEA’s 10th anniversary. In November, the association will host a grand anniversary gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills. The event will bring together distinguished international guests together along with celebrities and prominent members of the local community. The celebration will include International performances and charity awards ceremony. CACEA welcomes international guests who share its passion for global arts, cultural exchange, and philanthropy to participate in this milestone occasion.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Art Hearts Fashion, Mogo, MDSUN, Shennel Trading, XAVVI, ISEGSTAR, World Peace One, Crab Grabber, InLight Foundation, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Yi Ke Art in Beverly, Wenkang Xue Design Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation
- The Beverly Arts
- Jul 11
Updated: Jul 11
Artist Ke Yi
Los Angeles, California, USA. 10th July, 2026. Artist Ke Yi, Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) Blue- Chip artist and recipient of the LABA Icon Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2025, has achieved another distinction: three of his paintings—Fishing Port, Red Boat, and The Chinese Rose—have been appraised at a combined value of $2.75 million by MTW, a leading art appraisal firm. On February 21, 2026, one painting alone, The Chinese Rose, was appraised at $1.5 million.
Ke Yi, also known by his Chinese name, Yi Ke, was born in Fushun, Sichuan, in August 1953. He previously served as a professor and supervisor of master’s and doctoral candidates at Sichuan University, specializing in interdisciplinary research combining literature and music. From 2010 to 2014, he served as president of the Sichuan Conservatory of Music.
In 2019, Shinhan University in South Korea awarded him a doctorate in education. He currently holds the titles of Honorary Dean of the Violin Academy and Honorary Director of the Guqin Research Center at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music.
Ke Yi plays violin
After retiring in 2014, Ke Yi began a career in oil painting and developed a distinctive style characterized by what he calls “musical thinking within painting.” By 2025, he had created more than 2,200 oil paintings. His notable works include European Refugee Crisis, Soul Returning to Seda, Beihai Scenery, Chasing the Wind, and My Heart Will Go On, as well as several series dedicated to musicians and artists. His work encompasses portraiture, natural landscapes, and cultural history, reflecting his wide-ranging experience as a musician, artist, performer, and educator. Ke Yi embodies the spirit of an “all-around artist,” remaining committed to the essence and integrity of artistic creation.
Artist Ke Yi
In March 2025, the LABA Icon Awards were held at the Luxury Gala Academy Awards viewing celebration at the Hilton Hotel in Universal City, California. The LABA International Art Festival organizing committee attended with distinguished guests and honorees from many parts of the world. The Luxury Gala featured celebrities, red carpet, entertainment, fashion shows, displays, and other activities. In recognition of his accomplishments as an international television host, master of ceremonies (MC), and founder of the Los Angeles Beverly Arts, TV host Joey Zhou received the “2025 Luxury Gala Best MC Award.”
Artist Ke Yi, Marla Maples, and TV host Joey Zhou
The LABA Icon Awards was co-hosted by Carlos Amezcua, a 22-time Emmy Award-winning news anchor; Dustin Quick, a model and actress, and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA. Notable LABA guests included Marla Maples, actress, television personality, philanthropist, and former wife of President Donald Trump; Paul Ottosson, a three-time Academy Award winner and LABA co-chair; Harrison Engle, director, filmmaker, and LABA co-chair; Todd Williamson, former chair of the Hollywood Arts Council and a LABA co-chair; Sharon Amezcua, financial entrepreneur and LABA co-chair; and Douglas Ivanovich, international music producer and LABA board member.
Marla Maples and artist Ke Yi his painting, The Chinese Rose
Other distinguished LABA attendees included artist Rosana Largo Rodriguez, director of the Spanish National Children’s Museum of Science, Technology, and Art and European Chair of LABA; Karen Han, a Grammy Awards judge and LABA board member; Sir Laurent Khaiat, a LABA board member; and Joey Zhou, founder and chairman of LABA and the LABA Triennial International Art Festival.
Artist Ke Yi with his award and presenter Marla Maples
During the ceremony, Marla Maples personally presented Ke Yi with the LABA Icon Award for Lifetime Achievement. Paul Ottosson also took the stage to give special congratulations to Ke Yi on his distinguished career and well-deserved award. Ke Yi has a studio location in downtown Los Angeles where he is currently collaborating with domestic institutions to produce commercial art prints of The Chinese Rose. This initiative aims to present a premium artistic offering—crafted to international standards—to the many art enthusiasts and collectors who admire Ke Yi’s work.
The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Art Hearts Fashion, Mogo, MDSUN, Shennel Trading, XAVVI, ISEGSTAR, World Peace One, Crab Grabber, InLight Foundation, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Yi Ke Art in Beverly, Wenkang Xue Design Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation