Emmanuel Li

Emmanuel is a young, queer filmmaker whose imaginative tales often follow drifters and dreamers on the fringes of society, and whose visual eye frequents the realms of nature, magical-realism and physicality in motion and performance.

Coming from a multi-disciplinary background in theatre, magic, music and more, he brings an eclectic range of influences to each of his narrative shorts, music videos, fashion films and beyond. Versatile in style and genre and restlessly playful with form and aesthetic, his work always welcomes audiences into vibrant, expressive worlds. Each populated by distinctive characters, galvanised by memorable musicality and brimming with wry humour and an earnest poignancy. In 2019, he co-founded youth-led production collective Big Tent Films, under which numerous shorts and music videos have been produced which have screened and been awarded at festivals worldwide, as well as cultivating almost 1 million views on YouTube.

At the BFI Future Film Festival 2021, Emmanuel was the recipient of the Best New Talent award for his short 'MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD'.