Yao Liu

Ziyao Liu is a Chinese writer/director based in Los Angeles, originally from the “West Virginia” of China. She creates emotionally resonant stories that explore womanhood, immigration, and grief—often with absurd humor that transcends language and culture. Looking ahead, she is especially drawn to directing projects in comedy, family, sci-fi, and thriller genres.

She holds an MFA in directing from UCLA and a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her short films have screened at Academy-qualifying and international festivals. Her feature script CHIPPED was a semifinalist for the 2023 Humanitas New Voices Fellowship, and her short DAISY IS GONE was a finalist for the 2020 CAMERAderie Initiative x Women in Media, winning Special Jury Recognition at the 2024 VC Film Fest. In 2023, she directed THE WHISTLE through the CBS Leadership Pipeline Challenge, earning a $50,000 donation for Boyle Heights Beat.

She is a recipient of fellowships and awards from Visual Communications, the MPAA, and Art with Impact.