Layla Zhuqing Ji

Layla Zhuqing Ji, born and raised in Shenyang, China. She first came to the U.S. alone when she was 18 years old to pursue a double major in Business Management and Radio/TV/Film Production at Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ). She finished her double major within four years and graduated with honors. She was accepted into top film schools in the U.S with scholarships. In order to become a film director who understands the whole picture of the film industry, she joined the Creative Producing Program at the Columbia University MFA Film Program in 2011 and graduated in 2014. As a trilingual international filmmaker (Mandarin, English and Korean), Layla's films have been awarded by numerous film festivals around the world. In 2015, Layla's feature film script received the "Best Young Director's Project Award" from China Film Foundation Wutianming Film Fund. She was invited to Venice Days at the 72nd Venice Film Festival. In 2016, another feature film script won the "Best Commercial Value Project" and the "Motion Picture Association of America" Awards at the Beijing International Film Festival. Layla's first feature film Victim(s) was produced in Malaysia in 2018. The film won the "Silver Mulberry Award" at the Udine Far East Film Festival, and the "Audience Award" at the Nara International Film Festival. It was in competition at several film festivals such as First International Film Festival and New York Asian Film Festival, etc. It was also officially selected for many festivals such as the Golden Rooster International Film Festival (China), San Diego International Film Festival, Aichi International Women's Film Festival, and Glasgow International Film Festival, etc. In 2021, Layla directed the official promotion short film for the Golden Rooster Award. Golden Rooster is the most prominent film award in China and it was its 40th anniversary that year. In 2022, Layla filmed her first commercial feature film All These Years in China, the film is expected to be released in early 2023. Layla travels between Los Angeles and Mainland China. She is particularly drawn to topics that are socially relevant. She wants to share her voice through filmmaking and delivers positive messages to the world.