Award Winning International Filmmaker — Lili Huang
William Harris Lili Huang is a highly accomplished international filmmaker working on films in both China and the US. Her work as a screenwriter, producer, and director has landed her numerous prestigious awards with her short film “Mei Mei” receiving five awards, including Best Screenplay and Best Film.
Lili was born and raised in China with a passion for storytelling.
This passion led her to one of the top three film schools in China—the Shanghai Theatre Academy. It was there that she received her MFA in Film Directing.
She also wrote and directed her first short documentary film “Xi Xi” at the film school of STA which went on to receive the Best Director of Documentary at the Golden Panda Awards.
Wanting a diverse educational background, she studied at the New York Film Academy in Los Angeles and received her MA in Film & Media Production.
It was during that time that she started working on another short film—“Mei Mei”—as the writer and director. The film features a compelling story of a young girl struggling with her identity.
From there, Lili’s career quickly rose to new heights. She worked on a number of award-winning films and co-production films between China and the US with a high budget including “The Bombing” and “The Jade Pendant.”
With her already accomplished work in the film industry, she landed a job at a film financing company based in Hollywood called “Starlight Media,” which has financed a number of successful films, such as “Midway,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” and “Marshall.”
Around that time, she was selected to be a screenwriter for an animated feature film project called, “Sang Sang” which was adapted from the book: The Girl from the French Fort. This experience inspired her to leave Starlight Media to focus on screenwriting, directing, and producing to pursue her filmmaking dreams.
Due to Lili’s outstanding reputation for her work on “The Jade Pendant,” she received a recommendation and was offered the opportunity to participate in the production of the feature film “Horizon” (a Western Drama), which was directed by Kevin Costner and is currently in production.
Having an entrepreneurial mindset, she established her own filmmaking company—T&T Media—and is currently working on many different film projects.
These projects include a feature film, “Long Way to Go,” as well as a documentary called “Maverick Women (You & Me).”
The documentary tells a thought-provoking and controversial story about “Single Moms by Choice.”
The film covers a unique story from a female perspective of single women who have children through IVF technology.
As with any journey, there is always something to learn. One of the biggest pieces of wisdom that Lili has to offer has to do with the importance of hard work and direction. She comments: “Keep working hard, choose the right direction and timing, hold on to your dreams, and remain resilient.”
As for the future, she hopes to make a meaningful impact in the film industry. She explains:
My dream is to become a successful and notable screenwriter, producer, and director worldwide who can deliver compelling stories that inspire and captivate audiences. I aspire to make a meaningful impact in the film industry through my passion for storytelling and my dedication to producing high-quality work.
All in all, Lili Huang’s unique creative vision and dedication to her craft have led to her success. With her newly established film company and the numerous projects she has taken on, her story is just beginning and is sure to reach new heights in the coming years.