Jessica Liu is a filmmaker with a dark sense of humor sharpened by a childhood spent between Shanghai and the Bay Area. Raised by her grandma abroad, she returned to the U.S. not speaking the same language as her mom—which made for excellent observational skills, a fondness for awkward silences, and a lifelong obsession with behavior that goes beyond words.
Jessica Liu is a filmmaker with a dark sense of humor sharpened by a childhood spent between Shanghai and the Bay Area. Raised by her grandma abroad, she returned to the U.S. not speaking the same language as her mom—which made for excellent observational skills, a fondness for awkward silences, and a lifelong obsession with behavior that goes beyond words.
Jessica Liu is a filmmaker with a dark sense of humor sharpened by a childhood spent between Shanghai and the Bay Area. Raised by her grandma abroad, she returned to the U.S. not speaking the same language as her mom—which made for excellent observational skills, a fondness for awkward silences, and a lifelong obsession with behavior that goes beyond words.
Influenced by satirical films and the absurdity of the mundane, Jessica tells stories of repressed characters unraveling. Her work blends emotional depth with biting wit and has screened at Academy-qualifying festivals like Cinequest, LA Shorts, and Dances With Films, and streaming on Prime
She’s a 2025 Stowe Story Labs Fellow, a 2024 Alliance of Women Directors Rising Director Fellow, a 2024 Satellite Collective Fellow, and a 2023 Frieze LA Fellow with Endeavor Content, Ghetto Film School, and Fifth Season. WhoHaha once named her a “Comedic Creator to Follow". Her debut feature, Better Life—a satirical dark comedy featuring and executive produced by Randall Park—goes into production September 2025.
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