DIRECTORS

Xinyan Yu is an Emmy-winning journalist and filmmaker with nearly 15 years of experience crafting intimate, character-driven films across continents. From factory floors in rural Ethiopia to wildfire zones in Hawaii, she specializes in vérité and investigative storytelling that combines cinematic intimacy with journalistic rigor through a deeply human lens. A former BBC producer turned independent filmmaker, Xinyan has directed, produced, and shot documentaries for PBS Frontline, NOVA, American Masters, BBC News, and NHK. She is a New America National Fellow, a Firelight Media Doc Lab Fellow, and a Yaddo alum.