Zi'en Cui

Trailblazing the queer cinema in China, Zi'en Cui was born in 1971 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, and has been active in the filmmaking industry since 1996. He is renowned for directing avant-garde films primarily in the documentary and LGBTQ+ genres, with his most celebrated works including "Enter the Clowns" and "Queer China, 'Comrade' China", the latter of which won the Teddy Award for Best Documentary at the Berlin International Film Festival. Cui's authorial style is distinguished by its bold exploration of LGBTQ+ themes and its unflinching critique of societal norms in China. With a heart as brave as his storytelling, Zi'en Cui is not just a filmmaker, but a beacon of hope for the marginalized and the voiceless in his homeland.