Jun Li
Born (1991-08-03) August 3, 1991
London, UK
EducationChinese University of Hong Kong,
University of Cambridge
OccupationFilm director
AwardsGolden Horse Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (2021)

Jun Li (Chinese: 李駿碩; born 3 August 1991[1]) is a Hong Kong film director and screenwriter. Li made his feature film debut with Tracey in 2018. He won the Golden Horse Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 58th Golden Horse Awards in November 2021 for his second film Drifting.

Early life

Li was born in London and grew up in Hong Kong.[2] Li originally studied architecture at the University of Hong Kong but later dropped out.[1] He then studied journalism and communications at Chinese University of Hong Kong. After graduation, he worked as a television reporter. He later quit to obtain his Master of Philosophy in gender studies at the University of Cambridge.[2][3] He then moved back to Hong Kong and worked at the University of Hong Kong as a research assistant.[4]

Career

Li began making short films as a research assistant under Petula Ho at the University of Hong Kong.[4] He and his short film Liu Yang He (2017) won the Fresh Wave Award and Best Director at the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival.[2]

Li made his feature film debut with Tracey in 2018 about a married trans woman transitioning in her 50s. Li was brought on later in pre-production, after another director quit the project and actors Philip Keung and River Huang have been cast.[4] He was nominated at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Screenplay (alongside Shu Kei and Erica Li) and Best New Director.[5] Li has not received a Hong Kong government subsidy (such as the First Feature Film Initiative) for all his feature productions. He cited the lack of perceived commercial viability of LGBT films as a barrier to winning such initiatives.[2]

His second film Drifting (2021) is about homelessness and addiction in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. It competed at the International Film Festival Rotterdam Big Screen Competition.[6] The film was nominated for 12 awards at the 58th Golden Horse Awards, making it the most nominated film from that year. He was himself nominated Best Director, Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay, winning the latter.

Style and influences

Li cites Ken Loach, Spike Lee, Stanley Kwan, and Ann Hui as his influences.[2]

Personal life

Li is gay.[7]

Filmography

Directing, Writing, Editing, Producing

Year Title Director Screenwriter Editor Producer Notes
2017 Liu Yang He Yes Yes Yes No Short film[3]
2018 My World Yes Yes Yes No Short film
Tracey Yes Yes No No
2021 Drifting Yes Yes Yes No
Plain Sailing No No No Yes Short film

Acting

Year Title Role Notes
2018 I Miss You When I See You [7]

Awards and accolades

Year Award Category Work Result Notes
2018 55th Golden Horse Awards Best Live Action Short Film My World Nominated
2019 24th IFVA Awards Open Category Silver
38th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Screenplay Tracey Nominated alongside Shu Kei and Erica Li
Best New Director Nominated
2021 58th Golden Horse Awards Golden Horse Award for Best Feature Film Drifting Nominated
Golden Horse Award for Best Director Nominated
Golden Horse Award for Best Adapted Screenplay Won
Golden Horse Award for Best Film Editing Nominated alongside Heiward Mak
2022 27th IFVA Awards Open Category Plain Sailing Won director: Sasha Chuk

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "三十而立:從一時衝動,到回歸自己——專訪導演編劇李駿碩 - 20210926 - CULTURE & LEISURE". 明報OL網 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kwong, Wilson (2021-02-23). "International Film Festival Rotterdam 2021: Interview with Director & Writer Jun Li of DRIFTING". Film Inquiry. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  3. 1 2 "Hong Kong New Talents". hknt.hkiff.org.hk. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  4. 1 2 3 Andrew Heskins (2019-05-01). "Jun Li interview: "It's like we have this adventure together" | easternkicks.com". www.easternkicks.com. Retrieved 2022-01-14.
  5. Lee, Edmund (2019-02-12). "Project Gutenberg leads nominations for Hong Kong Film Awards". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  6. Scateni, Serena (2021-02-13). "Director on his film about life on the mean streets of Hong Kong". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  7. 1 2 Kerr, Elizabeth (2018-11-22). "In "Tracey," Actor-Director Jun Li Explores Trans Identity and More". Zolima City Magazine. Retrieved 2022-01-04.


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