AFI Conservatory

Director

Jina Miao

Jina Miao is a writer/director, born and raised in Shanghai. She
received her master's degree from AFI Conservatory-Directing
Program.
Growing up on the seedy outskirts of Shanghai, she spent a lot of
time in gambling dens with her parents when she was a kid, where
she witnessed first-hand, the lives of gamblers, loan sharks and
gangsters.
She is driven to create films that depict the lives of those in
marginalized communities, with all their limitations and layers of
complexity. She believes in a non-judgmental filmmaking approach
that builds a bridge between audiences and diverse communities
across the world.

Producer

Yichen Ma

Yichen Ma received her BA from University of California, San
Diego. While studying Visual Art Media, she discovered her
passion for filmmaking.
Yichen Ma graduated from AFI producing program. As an associate
producer, her film The Monkey King has been selected by Student
Academy finalist.
She is now working on her first feature Unspoken. She believes
that films offer a rare and powerful escape from everyday life
and shows us the endless and diverse possibilities this world
has to offer.

Cinematographer

Siwei Li

Born and raised in Chengdu, China, Siwei Li is a cinematographer based
in Los Angeles and Shanghai.
He graduated from the cinematography program at American Film Institute
Conservatory under the mentorship by Stephen Lighthill, ASC, and Bill
Dill, ASC. Before AFI, he has also studied film and photography at the
School of Cinematic Arts, USC and the University of Westminster in UK.
His narrative works has screened at festivals worldwide. His 35mm film
Ashes, won Best Cinematography Award at Berlin Indie Film Festival 2021.
It also took home the Best Student Film at Cinegear Film Series 2021…
He has also shot a large number of commercials and fashion films.
Production companies and clients include Icon Films, CFA, GQ China,
City Football and Goalfun Sports.
His interest in cinematic arts was ignited since his childhood watching
movies non stop. To him, cinema is the art to discover and share the
truth of human emotions.

The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap recently ranked the American Film Institute Conservatory as the Best Film School in the United States in 2020.

Alumni of this elite program includes some of the most talented filmmakers working in the industry, such as

David Lynch - Mulholland Drive,

Patty Jenkins - Wonder Woman,

Tarrence Malick - Tree of Life,

Darren Aronofsky - Black Swan, etc.

Editor

Chris Hong

Christopher Hong is a Korean-American film editor from Virginia. After a career as a writer in the advertising industry, Chris switched gears to pursue his true passion in film. He has edited numerous films including two features Wild Blue, Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man and a handful of shorts that have screened around the world.

Production Designer

Mengqing Yuan

Mengqing Yuan graduated from the CalArts Scenic Design program. Her creative and professional experience includes designing for narrative and experimental films, immersive environments, live events, stage plays, experimental animation, photography, and music videos while cooperating with companies such as HBO and Disney. The films she has worked on have screened at numerous festivals and won many awards, including Student Academy Awards.

Join Us

Hi! We are still looking for passionate and creative partners to tell this story with us together. Please submit the form on the side if you are interested!

Feel free to contact us if you want to know more about our project:

yma1@afi.edu

(619) 573-3977