ZIYUAN HE

Ziyuan (Leomax) He, who was born in Yunnan, China, received his bachelor’s degree in Digital Media Arts from Communication University of China. Ziyuan collaborated with the local government to make a number of propaganda film focused on anti-drug and patriotic themes, which not only enhanced his filmmaking skills but also deepened his understanding of life through the stark contrast between reality and the depicted image.

Following his years of work in China, he relocated to Los Angeles, where he earned an MFA in Film Directing from CalArts. He is a Nespresso Talents 2021 alumnus, recipient of the 2022 Sundance Institute Asian-American COLLAB Scholarship, directing fellow of 17th FIRST Training Camp and participant of the BAFTA Newcomers program. 

His previous short films have explored themes of escapism and tiny miracles in life, streaming on Mubi and Cathayplay. Currently, he is developing his first feature, a personal story that carries a sobering sense of intoxication in its narrative.